Gallop on First for high G ukulele

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Anne Ku

Skipping a few notes from “Wander on One” changes the movement from wandering (meandering) to a gallop. “Gallop on First” is a short piece for high G ukulele in 6/8 time. The left hand finger movement should be the same. The two pieces can be played one after another for comparison.

Continue reading →
Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Skip the Second for high G ukulele

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Anne Ku

Following “Wander on One,” I aimed at composing a short piece deliberately using only the four notes on the four open strings and the four notes that requires pressing the second fret on the high G ukulele. To this end, I also enlisted a few “necessary” notes on the third fret. “Skip the Second” doesn’t mean to not play the second fret. On the contrary, it requires playing on the second fret as well as a few instances of the third fret. Because the first fret is not used at all, I recommend to use your left hand index finger on the second fret.

Continue reading →
Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Harmonizing B-A-C-H

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Anne Ku

One reason why the four notes of B-A-C-H work so well on the ukulele is that these notes can all be played on the A-string on frets 1, 0 (open), 3, and 2 consecutively. As we tend to hear the melody as the highest pitch in any chord, it makes sense to explore all the chords that offer this possibility. And there are many indeed to harmonize any melody with the notes of B-A-C-H.

Continue reading →
Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

B-A-C-H in a Minuet for high G ukulele

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Anne Ku

Was Johann Sebastian Bach born on March 21st or 31st? Regardless which, organists all over the world celebrate his birthday the entire month of March by playing his works and giving concerts. To join the celebration, I wrote a piece for high G ukulele that can be played as a solo or duet (with given chords) that pays tribute to the letters in his name, which JS Bach himself famously used in his compositions, juxtaposed with fragments of the most famous minuet that bears his name.

Continue reading →
Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Waltz Up the Neck for high G ukulele

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Anne Ku

What do you call sheet music that looks challenging and sounds beautiful but is deceptively easy and fun to play? That’s the kind of music I want to write. For beginners, it looks intimidating to see a lot of notes and fret numbers that leap beyond number 3 and jump around.

Here’s an easy piece to get you to slide your left hand (fretting hand) fingers up and down the neck, hence the title “Waltz Up the Neck.” I will teach this piece as a starting warm-up at the next 3 Chord Thursday session, to celebrate our fifth anniversary.

Continue reading →
Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wander on One for high G ukulele

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Anne Ku

The six eighth notes in six / eight time meander or wander on open strings and the first fret of the high G ukulele. “Wander on One” is a short piece I wrote for fingerstyle ukulele in the second book of “Pick! Pluck! Play!”

Continue reading →
Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Walk With Fingers for high G ukulele

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Anne Ku

Alternating the index and middle fingers to “walk” the strings prevents repetitive strain and produces a better sound than using the same single finger repetitively. It’s also possible to “walk” the index and middle fingers on the fretboard when alternating strings on the same fret. I wrote a short piece making use of this principle to walk with fingers.

Continue reading →
Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Inch with Index Finger for high G ukulele

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Anne Ku

I am renaming my new work for high G ukulele to fit into a new book I’m putting together. All of the titles start with an action verb. “Six Note Dance in F” is now retitled “Inch with Index Finger” for the left hand (or fretting hand) uses only the index finger to press on either the E-string or A-string of the ukulele.

Continue reading →
Posted in ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading →
Posted in Chinese, sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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.

Continue reading →
Posted in Chinese, sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment