Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Tahitian Ukulele Playing Info
I’ve noticed that a lot of Tahitian songs are played in the Key of C.
A typical I-IV-V chord progression that may be played: CFG7 or (G) C
C chord Positions
F Chord Positions
* ignore fingering
notes on G and C strings
G7 (G) Chord Positions
Lead "EE" Strings Notes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKWyyszpbBo&feature=channel_video_title)
Lead work is done by strumming a C6 chord (all open strings) and playing different notes on the
"EE" string:
Open: EE note, 1st
fret: F note, 3rd
fret: G note, 5th
fret: A note, 7th
fret: B note, 8th
fret: C
note, 10th
fret: D note, 12th
fret: E note Can also play the F chord as an F6 chord shown above and add the B &
C notes at the 7th
and 8th
frets of the "EE" string while strumming
Can also play the G chord as an G6 chord shown above and add the C & D
notes at the 8th
and 10th
frets of the "EE" string while strumming
Double-Stop Thirds
In a lot of Tahitian music you may hear double-stop “thirds” being played on the
ukulele. See below for a figure showing notes in the C Major scale and double-stop
“thirds” in the Key of C played on the C & E and E & A strings. These double-stop
thirds are basically abbreviated chord forms that can be substituted for a regular
chord. For example, if you add the notes in () you get the normal chord shape. Try
working these out for the other figures below or for other keys.
Dm Em F G Am Bm C Dm
A|--------(2)----(3)---(5)-----(7)-----(9)----(10)--------------|
E|--1------3------5------7------8------10------12------13-------|
C|--2------4------5------7------9------11------12------14-------|
g|-(2)-------------------------(9)----(11)----(12)--------------|
Double-stop Thirds on the C and E strings
F G Am Bm C Dm Em F
A|--0------2------3------5------7------8-------10------12----|
E|--1------3------5------7------8------10------12------13----|
C|---------------------------------------------------------|
g|---------------------------------------------------------|
Double-stop Thirds on the E and A strings
Dm Em F Gm Am Bb C Dm
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--1------3------5------6------8------10------12------13------------|
C|--2------4------5------7------9------10------12------14------------|
g|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Double-stop thirds on the C and E strings
F Gm Am Bb C Dm Em F
A|--0------1------3------5------7------8-------10------12------------|
E|--1------3------5------6------8------10------12------13------------|
C|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
g|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Double-stop thirds on the E and A strings
Check out the videos below for further info on double-stops. Not all on ukulele, but the concept is the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0_GP0Ov6oU&feature=channel_video_title (C&E strings)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp4yw1IkGAs&feature=channel_video_title (A&E strings)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emGsKtxU8dA&list=FLYfBnPJXKpjqFIg-Ga3Su-A&index=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KpU6pkMQ2o&list=FLYfBnPJXKpjqFIg-Ga3Su-A&index=2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBCfcbBKu8A&list=FLYfBnPJXKpjqFIg-Ga3Su-A&index=3
Tahitian Ukulele Instructional Videos on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI_FGFimiqg&feature=channel_video_title
Kanua Ukulele DVD Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGMTreHdd_Y&feature=channel_video_title
Tuning and Bridge positioning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g54jHOoUnjc&feature=channel_video_title
Tuning Backwards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-kFhkd3sgs&feature=channel_video_title
Standard Ukulele Chords
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0UDA__jHpk&feature=channel_video_title
Alternate Ukulele Chords
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgV_jRAzs24&feature=channel_video_title
Higher Octaves of C Chord
http://www.youtube.com/user/kanua8#p/u/3/50N53hYdde8
Higher Octaves of G7 Chord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcYlXcJj8CI&feature=channel_video_title
Summary of Higher Octaves Chords
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP7dgYCNVfI&feature=channel_video_title
Beginner Intros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb6zOl2bU9A&feature=channel_video_title
Advanced Intros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT-GOfodc88&feature=channel_video_title
Exits to Songs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVRMDlzk91o&feature=channel_video_title
Strumming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbj2Pi-Ahlo&feature=channel_video_title
Advanced Strumming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKWyyszpbBo&feature=channel_video_title
Lead Work on EE Strings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtg0-9IRg3Q&feature=channel_video_title
Ukulele Lead Work on F & G7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDMrctLLccY&feature=channel_video_title
Ukulele Lead Work Summary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfRQdi4OmgA&feature=channel_video_title
Kanua 8 String Ukulele Demo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI9ZUId2dII
Tahitian Ukulele Lesson in Rarotonga
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_TpWc3gmm8&feature=related
Pahoho Tahitian Ukulele Lesson (in French)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDifXI5uFx8&feature=related
Pahoho played on the Tahitian Ukulele
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0_GP0Ov6oU&feature=channel_video_title
Double-stops on the C & E Strings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp4yw1IkGAs&feature=channel_video_title
Double-stops on the A & E Strings
Tamari’i no Tahiti http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGA5NxTC3Zc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqFZI8TVWQI Here is a nice Tahitian song that’s not hard to play where you can try out some of the
info. in this document. Experiment with octaves of the chords, lead work on the EE
strings and double-stop thirds.
C F6 C
Tamari'i nō Tahiti i mua ē (x2),
F6 G C
'A ti'a i ni'a……. mai te hitira'a o te rā (x2),
F6 G C
Haere i mua, haere i mua aue (X2)
Intro 1 (similar to what’s heard in the YouTube video)
F6 G C
A|-----5------------5----10------------7----10----------------------|
E|-8-7-5-------10-8-7-OR-7-------12-10-8-OR-0-----------------------|
C|-----5------------7----7-------------7----0-----------------------|
g|-----5------------7----7------------------0-----------------------|
Intro 2 (alternate with melody on the AA strings)
F6 G C
A|-3-2---------5-3--2--------7-5--3-----3---------------------------|
E|-----1------------3---------------OR--3---------------------------|
C|-----2------------2-----------------------------------------------|
g|-----2------------------------------------------------------------|
The Tahitian Ukulele
The following information about the Tahitian ukulele is taken from Wikipedia:
The Tahitian ukulele is significantly different from other ukuleles because it does not have a sound box. The body——including the head and neck——is usually carved from a single piece of wood, with a wide
conical hole bored through the middle. A tahitian Ukulele can often be carved out of three pieces of wood
with the sides being made out of different woods. This is however just for decoration.
At the back, the bore is about 4 cm in diameter; at the front it is about 10 cm in diameter. The hole at the front is covered with a thin piece of wood, on which the bridge sits, so the instrument works rather like a
wooden-skinned banjo. Indeed, some of these instruments are referred to as Tahitian banjos. The strings
are usually made from light-gauge fishing line——usually green in colour (usually around 40—50 lb). The instrument seems to be a relatively recent invention, popular in eastern Polynesia, particularly French Polynesia. It is reported to have been introduced to the Cook Islands in 1990 by the band Te Ava Piti as a newly invented instrument.
Tuning a Tahitian ukulele
These instruments may have just four strings——or some strings may be paired, so that the instrument has six or eight strings.
The strings or pairs (“courses”) are tuned to A6 D6 F#6 B5 or G5 C6 E6 A5 (See Scientific pitch
notation for a description of these codes).
After the Hawaiian ukulele was invented, the Hawaiians referred to a similar, eight-string instrument tuned GCEA as a taro-patch fiddle. Before the invention of the ukulele, taro-patch fiddle referred to the rajão.
Those who are familiar with ukulele chords will find that the same chord shapes will fit these tunings, but that the chords will be transposed and inverted.
I bought my Tahitian ukulele from Mr. Kaota Puna of Kanua Ukuleles located in Auckland, New Zealand. The following is information he provided about tuning the ukulele.
“Yes the Tahitian and Cook Island ukuleles are tuned to GG CC EE AA. However, the EE strings are the
highest tuned strings on the ukulele and are an octave higher in sound …. EE strings are the highest tuned followed by CC, AA and GG that is the lowest tuned strings on these Tahitian Cook Islands style
ukuleles.”
“Another way is to tune it to the D G B strings on a guitar then tune it to G, go down to the 5th
fret
… Play the D string at this point on the 5th
fret and this will be G
Play the G string at this point on the 5th
fret and this will be C
Play the B string at this point on the 5th
fret and this will be E
Play the D string at this point on the 7th
fret and this will be A”
Ukulele Strings
As far as the strings go, they are basically monofilament fishing line. I’ve seen websites stating different
lbs test line being used; anywhere from about 20lbs to 40 lbs. From the info I got with my ukulele, Mr Puna said he uses 10kg, 0.45mm Black Magic fishing line. He also said there is another brand called
Eagle Claw that can be used. He did state not to use Trace Line.
Places to Buy Tahitian Ukuleles
Asonu http://www.asonu.com/ Probably the best place to buy a Tahitian ukulele. Prices are reasonable and the sound is good.
Bora Bora Realtor
http://www.tahitiukulele.com
Marquesas island style ukes shipped from California. Prices seem reasonable
Black Pearl Designs http://www.blackpearldesigns.net/tahitian-ukulele.html
Tikiri Polynesian Instruments http://www.tikiripolynesianinstruments.com/uke.htm For more information and to order an ukulele, call 1-808-822-9447
E-bay Tahitians ukuleles appear on E-bay from time to time
Craigslist (Try Hawaii & California)
