Arranging. It's the all-too-often-overlooked skill that brings music to life... or not. Over the years, there is one simple strategy I've relied on time and time again. It's so simple that it's easy to miss. Plus: why not singing is one of the most important techniques for us singers. Uke Heads new single "Hearts On Fire": https://www.youtube.com/w…

Are you afraid of strings that go squeak in the night? My latest educational project, Ragalele, brings the magic of Indian Ragas to the ukulele: https://www.ragalele.com Uke Heads new single "Hearts On Fire": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hGrTIBBjnY My online ukulele courses (some free, some paid): https://www.uketropolis.com…

Music theory is a form of understanding that comes after you play and experiment. A lot. At least that's my opinion. In this episode I make my case for playing first and asking questions later. Enjoy! I'm on tour in Ontario and Quebec! Join me for an in-person ukulele workshop: https://www.jameshillmusic.com/tour Uke Heads new single "Hearts On Fir…

Travis picking is named after Merle Travis, the Country-Music Hall-of-Famer who popularized the technique. If you're a bit bored with the same old strumming and picking techniques you've been using, well, it's Travis picking to the rescue! The thumb goes back-and-forth, the fingers dance on the melody. Simple, right? Not exactly. Like any physical …

My new album Uke Heads comes out tomorrow, February 16th, 2024! But it's not just my album, it's a project that has become a global community. How did an idea go from doodles on scrap paper to a full album with over 165 players from 15 countries? In this special episode, taped live at the Uke Heads Gathering in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Chris Parsons a…

"Angeline the Baker" (also known as "Angelina Baker") is one of the most well-known songs in the Old-time repertoire. It's appeal is a bit of a mystery: it only has two chords and its melody is pentatonic, meaning it doesn't even use all the notes of the major scale. And yet it contains multitudes. I continually return to this melody for its simple…

Is it legal to use a pick on the ukulele? Yes! Once and for all, YES! In fact, it's a gateway to some really interesting sounds. Specifically, it brings a level of agility to your melodies that is unlike anything else and it opens the door to tremolo flatpicking which can bring a new kind of lyricism to your playing. So, shine up your flatpicks and…

Can't do the Vulcan salute? No problem! Stretching your fingers apart (think "live long and prosper") isn't the only way to play challenging chords. In this episode, we explore the difference between stretching for the notes in a chord and reaching for the notes in a chord. Although posture is a huge topic that we can't possibly cover in one episod…

The triple strum: it's one of my favourite ukulele topics... ever! I've been fascinated by this technique since I was a kid. Today, we get to dig into the magic of the triple strum and discover how left-hand muting takes this already-great strum to a new level. If you're looking for a bucket-list ukulele experience, check out the Ukulele Hideaway i…

Welcome back! I took a bit of time off to do a tour and release a new album but I'm back now and I have several episodes lined up for the coming weeks. This week I'll show you a simple strategy you can use in your practice to figure out which left-hand fingerings will work best. It's a simple thing but it can make a huge difference! Reminder: next …

This week, two topics: 1) How can you have a chord with no root? 2) Ideas for managing stage fright through creative pre-concert prep. Learn ukulele with James: www.uketropolis.comVon James Hill

A short, bite-sized bonus episode for ukulele teachers. Here's a technique you can use in the classroom RIGHT NOW: turn any one-chord song (e.g. Row Your Boat, Frere Jacques, Every Night, etc.) into a soulful rocker. It's easy and fun. Definitely something you want to have in your bag of tricks as a classroom teacher, private instructor or communit…

Welcome to Season 4 of the Uketropolis Podcast! To kick things off, a question from Uketropolis student Doug leads us to explore the relationship between speed and style in music. Specifically, we take a page from jazz saxophone technique in an attempt to have it all: speed and style.Von James Hill

In this final episode of Season 3, we tackle a thorny musical question: how can your ukulele be in tune and still play out of tune? It's a question that will take us on a fascinating listening journey. Ultimately, you'll discover why tuning to the song may be the only way around this tuning paradox.Von James Hill

Jazz teaches us many things. Even if we're not playing jazz, we can apply the lessons learned to many areas of music-making. In this episode: how jazz teaches us to do more with less (e.g. easier ways to play the B-flat chord), and how jazz encourages us to find our own personal musical style (e.g. artfully re-writing a melody to fit within a small…

There's an open question in the ukulele community: what to do when the tuning of the baritone doesn't mesh with the tuning of the other ukuleles in an ensemble? In this episode we explore this vexed question and as well as some possible solutions. BONUS: this episode includes a preview of my ukulele-orchestra arrangement of George Bizet's "Farandol…

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a bridge between standard tuning and baritone tuning? Turns out, there is! In this episode: how to make the transposition between standard and baritone tuning in the most painless way possible.Von James Hill

Are your hands too small for baritone ukulele? Probably not. That being said, there's one chord that might give you trouble: the diminished 7. In this episode: a workaround for the diminished 7 that works on all sizes of ukulele, not just baritone.Von James Hill

A bonus lightning round of the most common baritone-ukulele questions.Von James Hill

People who love baritone ukulele really love baritone ukulele. Why? We kick off Baritone Month with a simple question: "What makes baritone ukulele so great?"Von James Hill

This month is all about our favourite BIG ukulele. Welcome to the land of D-G-B-E tuning! Tune in starting next week for episodes about the benefits of baritone, how to make the transition to bari painlessly and how to better understand the place of the baritone in ukulele ensembles. #BariIsBeautiful…

Navigating the ukulele fretboard is a bit like playing chess: sometimes it's mathematical, other times it's intuitive. Because there's no perfect solution for left-hand fingering it's a perennial topic among players of all levels. In this episode I offer three principles you can use when coming up with your own fretboard fingerings. The examples in…

It's one of the most common student questions: when I'm improvising or composing, how do I know which notes to use? In this bonus episode, we explore practical and intuitive ways to create melody. Spoiler alert: in the end, there's only one scale you absolutely need to know...Von James Hill

Booster Uke is one of the most popular courses at Uketropolis for good reason. Who wouldn't want to learn easy ways to play Blues, Gospel, Pop and Jazz tunes? It's pure musical magic courtesy of a fretboard phenomenon called Chord Twins. But what happens at the fringes of the Chord Twin concept? What happens when we stop analyzing and, instead, use…

Alex Beds interviews James on his Ukes With Podcast. Get to know Alex better: Ukes With Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ukeswithalex/episodes Alex's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ukeswithalex Alex's Website and Original Songs: https://www.alexbeds.co.uk/ Southern Ukulele Store: https://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk…

Brad Bordessa's new online course brings important elements of traditional Hawaiian teaching into the digital age. It's a brave new approach to online education... and it might just work.Von James Hill

Slide ukulele slows us down and helps us savour the music we make. Here's how to get started with this beautiful style right away: an easy, gentle and fun introduction to the "slow uke movement." Bonus: get two free slide ukulele lessons with me here: https://www.uketropolis.com/slide. Enjoy!Von James Hill

What does it mean to explore the fretboard in all directions? It brings discoveries at every turn: move across the strings for speed and efficiency and or along a single string to gain understanding. To join the next live taping of the Uketropolis Podcast, go to uketropolis.com/podcast Get two free lessons from my new course Americana Ukulele. Go t…

What is the jazz strum and how can it be so simple given the complexity of jazz? Find out in this episode. To discover the world of ukulele jazz, go to: www.uketropolis.com/jazz or www.uketroplis.com/baritonejazz (get a free lesson!) To join the next live taping of the Uketropolis Podcast, go to uketropolis.com/podcast (it's free to attend).…

Why is the ukulele better at dancing (i.e. rhythm) than it is at singing (i.e. lyrical melody playing)? What can we do to get the most lyrical sound from the ukulele? Find out in this episode of the podcast. To join the next live taping of the Uketropolis Podcast, go to uketropolis.com/podcast Get two free lessons from my new course Americana Ukule…

Join me on a new musical adventure as we explore the wide-open spaces of Americana Ukulele! Watch my performance of "Are You My Sunshine": https://youtu.be/OsAMEyCStxQ Get 2 free lessons on slide ukulele: https://www.uketropolis.com/slide Sign up for the full Americana Ukulele course: https://www.uketropolis.com/americana…

My new online course, Americana Ukulele, is coming out on Thursday, March 9th! The course includes lessons on bottleneck slide ukulele, clawhammer, three-finger bluegrass picking, Travis picking, mandolin-style chords and flatpicking. It's gonna be big fun. Join me on March 9th for a special episode of the podcast; I'll walk you through the course …

One of my favourite episodes from the podcast archives, this is "House of Mirrors." It combines creativity, pedagogy and technology in a novel way that can bring more excitement into your own ukulele practice. Join me on the first Thursday of every month for Uketropolis LIVE! on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jameshillmusiq/streams. B…

Join the next Uketropolis LIVE and be part of the podcast! Bring a uke, bring a friend, bring a question on the first Thursday of next month. It's free to attend. Details at www.uketropolis.com/podcast.Von James Hill

Join the next Uketropolis LIVE and be part of the podcast! Bring a uke, bring a friend, bring a question on the first Thursday of next month. It's free to attend. Details at www.uketropolis.com/podcast.Von James Hill

Join the next Uketropolis LIVE and be part of the podcast! Bring a uke, bring a friend, bring a question on the first Thursday of next month. It's free to attend. Details at www.uketropolis.com/podcast.Von James Hill

The Uketropolis podcast is now taped LIVE on the first Thursday of every month.Von James Hill

Join James live every Thursday in May for Uke Heads Q&A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_FUXbUQfwo Follow Uke Heads on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukeheadsmusic Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ukeheadsmusicVon James Hill

Links for in this episode: Melanie Doane Uschool Ukulele U on CBC KidsVon James Hill

Mentioned in this episode: 1879 Apparel Booster Uke JHUI Teacher Certification ProgramVon James Hill

Download the free handout for this episode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h5sqyp11pvdq47f/Uketropolis-Podcast-Note-Wheel.pdf?dl=0 (Note: you do not need to register for Dropbox to download the file. If prompted to register, simply close the pop-up and proceed to the download.)Von James Hill

What is a delay pedal? How is it like a house of mirrors? And how can it help you in your teaching and practice? Listen in as James creates soundscapes on-the-fly with the help of a BOSS DD-5 digital delay.Von James Hill

Links: Ukulele Funbook by Zsolt Schäfer: www.ukulelefunbook.com Treasure map activity: www.canonclub.ca (near bottom of page)Von James Hill

Free handout of Plaisir d'amour, the song James demonstrates in this episode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5ct39zcovmk95ua/Uketropolis-Podcast-Plaisir-dAmour-Handout-C6.pdf?dl=0Von James Hill

When you're teaching (or self-teaching), how much truth is too much? When does information become counter-productive in the learning process? Explore these questions and more as we grapple with an interesting student question about the Harmonized C Scale.Von James Hill

Free sheet music: https://www.dropbox.com/s/a4lx26j04hvlgpp/Dona-Nobis-Pacem-in-F-C6-Tuning.pdf?dl=0 Free mp3 download: https://www.dropbox.com/s/k0hsick6ntggluy/James-Hill-Dona-Nobis-Pacem.mp3?dl=0Von James Hill

Let's tie up some loose ends with a "lightning round" of questions from Uketropolis this week. Felt picks vs. guitar picks, thumb position for chording, figuring out the chords when there are no chord diagrams, and how to manage a melody once you add harmony parts to it.Von James Hill

For information about the California Ukulele Hideaway, go to: https://www.musicworldretreats.com/ca-ukulele-hideaway-2022-james-hillVon James Hill

Lorna MacPhee's 1980 article on canons: https://ukuleleintheclassroom.com/ukuleleyes/canons-as-reading-weaponryVon James Hill

Why are minor keys so confusing? Why are there multiple minor scales? Why can't life just be simple?Von James Hill