It is so easy to get complicated. As usual, before I opened my eyes while still in bed, I was mulling over how to simplify “One Finger at a Time.” All the best laid plans of mice and men went awry when I tried to develop the instrumental piece last night. Were there bits I could re-use in a new piece for Level I of my new book? I heard “roaming hands and rushing fingers” as a teenager. When translated to the ukulele it’s suddenly “Roman Hands & Russian Fingers” for the high G ukulele!
Borrowing the triplets from “Romance Anónimo” I concluded the importance of exercising the right thumb, index and middle fingers for fingerpicking.
I love diminished chords because they can move chromatically in pitch. Even better, with only three strings fingerpicked, just form the G7 shape and off you go!
I got stuck in bar nine. How do I get from D#dim to A or A7? Put a “N.C.” for no chords and ladder my way there.
The continuous playing of notes opens the possibility of dynamic expression. To this end, I added not just the usual soft and loud but also subito (suddenly) very soft, crescendo and diminuendo signs.
New Ukulele Course Starts Today
I look forward to introducing the ukulele to the adults enrolled in the new six week evening course funded by a grant. The library provides the ukuleles (which can be checked out with a library card), music stands, and the 20-page Fun with Uke Festive Edition book. It’s entirely free to take this course after enrolment. More information.
Pick! Pluck! Play!
I am not sure if “Roman Fingers & Russian Hands” belongs to the first or second level of the book “Pick! Pluck! Play!”
The last page “Ukulele Chords” of the new book contains a table of ukulele chord diagrams ordered alphabetically for the chords used in the book.
I’m thrilled about releasing these two books as a precursors (prerequisite) to the 12 Chinese Zodiac Suite, which contains three skill levels.
I am recording all my new compositions in the 100 Days of Ukulele 2025 project. To me, this challenge means uploading a new video recording of a new piece each consecutive day from 1st March to 8th June 2025.
For other recent compositions and arrangements by Anne Ku, please visit the Daily Music Writing Project or scroll through the consecutive blog posts.
