Ukulele Underground Podcast Ukulele Underground

Video Podcast and Timestamps: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/04/improvising-memes-tuup115/


How do you use “Memes” to Jump in on Songs and Improvise? Aldrine shares his secret tips to playing along to other people even when you’re unsure of the songs, keys, or chord switches. This leads into a discussion on improvising, and how you can use simple songs to “Meme” to your audience. Two viewers ask questions on plucking with your Fretting Hand, and improving your Strumming Speed. The guys respond to a viewers comment on being intimidated by the Improv Masters, Kalei and Corey, and show how even the pros use simple tricks to make effective solos. Aldrine gives his own examples of how he is trying to improve on his ukulele journey, and how he is still a student too. At the end of the day, everything comes down to having Fun!

Video Podcast & Timestamps: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/04/fusing-ukulele-jazz-big-bands-tuup114/

What happens when you rearrange a Western Ukulele Instrumental Concept Album for Jazz Big Band? This Week Aldrine and Mike are sharing their experience playing and planning for the KCC Jazz Festival. We start off with a relatively quick conversation about Double Flats/Sharps, Reading the Youtube Comments, and Aldrine’s T-Shirt, then we dive into Aldrine and Mike recounting the Jazz Festival. Aldrine explains what it was like collaborating with KCC Music Director, Sarah Tochiki to rearrange songs from his Album Bandito Tyler. Aldrine also shares his fears of playing at the Jazz Festival, and criticizing his own performance. We get some last minute questions about Beginner Ukulele Book Recommendations, and Chord Shape Viability before showing off gifts from UU Member, Yoda.

Video Podcast and Timestamps: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/04/essential-festival-items-tuup113/


What are Essential Items you bring to a Festival? Do you even need to bring an Ukulele to a Festival, and should you bring your most “Expensive Ukulele” or should you bring a “Beater”? The team tries to help a viewer define a group of notes, and explain why they aren’t pentatonic, and why you don’t necessarily need to name them. Aldrine explains the advantages and disadvantages of different Ukulele Bridge Types. The podcast is topped of with recounting the Kauai Ukulele Festival and giving a preview of Aldrine’s workshop for the Monopolele Festival.

Video Podcast and Timestamps: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/04/memorizing-without-sheet-music-tuup112/
Is Sheet Music necessary for Memorizing a song? In this Week’s Podcast Aldrine will show you how you can build your Music Instincts; Memorize songs using Numbers and Feelings; and play the “Wrong” Chord while playing the “Right” Song. We’re giving all of our opinions on when it’s appropriate to use and perform with TABS/Sheet Music.

Video Podcast and Show Notes: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/04/tapping-in-two-minutes-tuup111/

Learn how to Tap in 2 Minutes! This week, the guys are challenging Aldrine to teach a Tapping Riff as fast as he can. After Aldrine’s Tapping Speedrun, he explains the theory behind Tapping. The Team discuss learning Party Trick Riffs vs learning to apply the same Flashy Techniques. As an Example of Elegant Application of Tapping, the guys geek out about the genius of Jake’s Album and Song, Dragon. This leads to an appreciative analysis of Ernie Cruz Jr. and the rest of the Cruz family. A Songwriting Challenge winner is picked while also drifting into a tangent about Dead Media. Aldrine ask’s the last question of the podcast: what is the Algorithm’s effect on Creativity?

Show Notes and Timestamps: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/03/building-confidence-through-little-oopsies-tuup110/


What does Pirate Ships, Sister Act and Building Confidence have in common? Answer: This Week’s Ukulele Underground Podcast. The guys start off the Podcast by playing their Song Submissions for the Songwriting Challenge, and making plans to get their own Pirate Ship. A member ask Aldrine if there are specific Thumb Picks for Ukulele, and if he has recommendations? The team discuss how you can Build Your Confidence even if you make little “Oopsies” or play a wrong note? The podcast is topped off with what pickups does Aldrine use, and where can you get the best Acai bowl?