Snake Eyes for high G ukulele

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Anne Ku

When I composed “Year of the Snake” in the run up to Chinese New Year of the Snake in January 2025, I did not expect it would take me on a new journey, one of exploring the twelve major pentatonic scales in composition. Writing the twelve pentatonic pieces for high G ukulele “sort of” took over my life and the “Daily Music Writing Project.” As I get ready to publish the Chinese Zodiac Suite, I revisit this first piece and rename it “Snake Eyes” for good reasons.

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Sacred Cow for high G ukulele

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Anne Ku

My medley of pentatonic melodies for high G ukulele has grown into 76 bars on four pages. This new length far exceeds the “short” pieces I had intended for the Chinese Zodiac set. Rather than reducing “Holy Cow” to two pages, I wrote a new piece for the Chinese Zodiac sign of the ox, bull, or cow. It’s called “Sacred Cow” for a good reason.

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Music, Meal, Movie, Show or Concert

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Anne Ku

Because it’s a big deal to get together in-person these days (after the pandemic), why not add music making, sharing a meal together before or after the “event” ? The social inertia required to make something happen translates to doing more than we normally do – making the most of going out. Make music, share a meal, watch a movie or show or concert TOGETHER.

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12 Chinese Zodiac Tunes

Posted on February 15, 2025 by Anne Ku

For me, knowing the Chinese Zodiac sign helps me approximate a person’s age. Knowing that person’s Western Zodiac sign helps me anticipate the timing of a birthday in the year. Having just finished writing twelve pentatonic instrumental pieces for the high G ukulele, one for each Chinese Zodiac animal, I am eager to share how these original tunes relate to the Chinese Zodiac signs.

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Guinea Pig for high G ukulele

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Anne Ku

Last but not least, the pig arrives to claim the 12th animal in the Chinese Zodiac Cycle. The cat was still asleep, for the mouse did not wake him up. That’s why the cat has been chasing the mouse ever since. The story now ends with guinea pig, as the twelfth pentatonic tune for high G ukulele. I use the three remaining major pentatonic scales in this solo instrumental piece.

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Gift Horse for high G ukulele

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Anne Ku

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. My days of waking up naturally, stumbling to my computer, picking up my high G concert ukulele, and sitting in my office chair to compose music for the ukulele are ending. Such is the luxury of time. All the time in the world to compose. The third project (record my music) should start on 1st March 2025. Already late in starting my second project this year (get my music published) I will have to multi-task or parallel process to compose, publish, and record. The gift of time. The gift of freedom. The horse is the 11th animal sign in the 12 Chinese Zodiac Tunes I’m writing.

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100 Days of Ukulele 2024

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Anne Ku

The 100 Days Ukulele Project invites you to document 100 consecutive days of doing something with the ukulele. At the extreme, you can record 100 videos of yourself playing 100 different pieces. At the minimum, you can post a picture of you and your ukulele. The project is about committing yourself to play the ukulele. Does writing new music for the ukulele count? What about practising every day for 100 consecutive days?

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Monkey Around for high G ukulele

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Anne Ku

Monkeys have four limbs that are not only independent but also extremely flexible. They can climb, leap, run, hang, flip, and do almost everything except fly. Some monkeys can even swim. If ukulele players treat their fingers like monkey limbs, what’s possible? Let’s monkey around and see.

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Ukulele Chord Chart or Chord Table

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Anne Ku

Apparently the single most important piece of paper for ukulele players is a ukulele chord chart or ukulele chord table. Whether you’re a complete beginner or advanced beginner, you will need to look for the chord diagram, if it’s not on the song sheet and you don’t know it by heart. I have created many varieties of ukulele chord charts in jam sessions and my classes. But where is THE one I can use on my website?

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Doggy Bag for high G ukulele

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Anne Ku

REALLY? I can hear dog lovers scream. “Is this the best name you can come up with?” My ninth original piece from the 12 Chinese Zodiac Tunes is dedicated to the dog. I choose the letters D – G and B A G, which spell “Doggy Bag.” The instrumental piece is pentatonic for high G ukulele.

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