UCL2 - WEEK 1
"Bring Me Sunshine"
Welcome to week 1.This week you will explore how to play barred chords, revisit the calypso strum and discover the half chuck strum whilst adding an arpeggio picking pattern to the intro of Bring Me Sunshine.
As always, make sure you stretch out your shoulders, arms and fingers before class and warm up with the finger gym exercise. All of the techniques you will explore today are just introductions so go at your own pace for now. You will get plenty more opportunities throughout the term to practice these techniques.
As always, make sure you stretch out your shoulders, arms and fingers before class and warm up with the finger gym exercise. All of the techniques you will explore today are just introductions so go at your own pace for now. You will get plenty more opportunities throughout the term to practice these techniques.
FINGER GYM EXERCISE 1
Let's begin with a quick warm up, and remember to do some stretching and limbering up before you begin.
This is your finger gym challenge for the 1st half of term. Make sure you have the PDF handy for each session. Starting at 60BPM.
This is your finger gym challenge for the 1st half of term. Make sure you have the PDF handy for each session. Starting at 60BPM.
HOW TO PLAY BARRED CHORDS
A barred chord requires the use of your index finger to bar two or more strings at the same time whilst using your other fingers to complete the rest of the chord shape. Barred chords generally cover all 4 strings and although they can take a bit of getting used too.
EXERCISE: Watch the video below to see how to practice barred chords effectively:
EXERCISE: Watch the video below to see how to practice barred chords effectively:
BARRED CHORD SHAPES
Here are some of the barred chords that you will be exploring throughout various songs and exercises throughout this course.
EXERCISE: Watch the video below to see how to play the following 5 barred chords:
EXERCISE: Watch the video below to see how to play the following 5 barred chords:
|
|
|
|
|
HALF-CHUCK STRUm
A half-chuck strum is a rhythmic strum where the pitch of the strings are deadened to the point that only a percussive sound is heard. The chuck beat is represented by a blue 'X' and in this case, falls under beat number 2. A full chuck (AKA: Chuck Strum) would also have a chuck at beat 4.
You will explore that strum later on in the course. For now get used to chucking on beat 2. As you can see the strum looks very similar to the calypso strum so if you can play that, you are half way to playing a half chuck!
You will explore that strum later on in the course. For now get used to chucking on beat 2. As you can see the strum looks very similar to the calypso strum so if you can play that, you are half way to playing a half chuck!
EXERCISE: Watch the video below to see how to play a half chuck strum.
ARPEGGIOS
An arpeggio is the formal name for picking the individual notes of a chord in an ascending or descending order. It can be a great way to add a fancy intro to a song and is often used throughout songs! To give you a few examples of songs that use arpeggio picking, here are some songs that you may be familiar with:
Download the PDF below for some examples of Arpeggios that you will practice in class. There is a short one to start this weeks song too! Enjoy.
- You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry & The Pacemakers
- Everybody Hurts - REM
- Hallelujah - Alexandra Burke / Leonard Cohen / Jeff Buckley
Download the PDF below for some examples of Arpeggios that you will practice in class. There is a short one to start this weeks song too! Enjoy.
BRING ME SUNSHINE
We are going to ease you into playing those barred chords. This song contains two barred chords, a D major and a D7. While you may find them difficult and fuzzy at first, I promise that with more practice, they will become second nature.
TIP: Don't panic if you don't get those barred chords right away, you can still play the song effectively by playing the open D and D7.
Bring Me Sunshine was originally written in 1966 by the composer Arthur Kent, with lyrics by Sylvia Dee. It was first recorded by The Mills Brothers in 1968 has been recorded by many artists including Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee , Chet Atkins and Michael Ball to name but a few. You may be more familiar with the Morcambe & Wise version, which they made famous as the opening song for their 2nd season of the Morcombe & Wise TV show aired on the BBC.
For more information about the song, CLICK HERE.
For a more recent version, played on ukulele and performed by one of my favourite uke infused bands, THE JIVE ACES, who I had the honour of meeting when they came to tour Liverpool last year!
TIP: Don't panic if you don't get those barred chords right away, you can still play the song effectively by playing the open D and D7.
Bring Me Sunshine was originally written in 1966 by the composer Arthur Kent, with lyrics by Sylvia Dee. It was first recorded by The Mills Brothers in 1968 has been recorded by many artists including Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee , Chet Atkins and Michael Ball to name but a few. You may be more familiar with the Morcambe & Wise version, which they made famous as the opening song for their 2nd season of the Morcombe & Wise TV show aired on the BBC.
For more information about the song, CLICK HERE.
For a more recent version, played on ukulele and performed by one of my favourite uke infused bands, THE JIVE ACES, who I had the honour of meeting when they came to tour Liverpool last year!
Have a listen to your part with just vocals and percussion.
To download the MP3 track to your device to help with practice offline, click the button below:
VIDEO TUTORIAL
This video will be available within 24 hours of your class taking place. Check back in as this is a great way to help with home practice.
NOW OPEN