Category Archives: Ukelele

October 25, 2013 · 2:49 pm

“A Kiss to Build a Dream On,” with vocals

I’ve only taken two ukelele lessons in the two years and change I’ve been playing this thing. I like the way I sound more than I used to, but I feel like it’s time to get back into instruction so I can develop better technique.

No regrets; playing the uke has provided me with some truly sublime moments. When I find myself playing a familiar song moderately well, it can be exhilarating.

I’m not shy when it comes to karaoke, but I am intimidated by the idea of uploading an MP3 where I’m singing and playing. Karaoke is only as permanent as your friends are sober, but MPEG-2 Audio Layer III is forever. Confidence is overcoming my temerity, since I liked the way “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” sounded with this morning’s coffee and decided to share. Here’s Louis Armstrong’s version:

And here’s mine:

Thanks for listening.

1 Comment

Filed under Music, Personal, Ukelele

Tagged as 1930s, jazz, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Hammerstein

December 25, 2012 · 4:14 pm

Merry Christmas.

I played this on my Lanikai LU-21BEK baritone ukulele; it has a pickup, so I recorded this with a Yeti mic aimed at a small amp.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

DaXmasSong (MP3, 24.7MB)

My (online) vocal debut: “La Vie en Rose”

I generally assume no one’s paying much attention to what I post on Twitter, so I was surprised and challenged when a friend asked me to post my results last week. Calling my bluff, in a sense.

Humblebrag: singing in public doesn’t freak me out too much. I’ve won two singing contests on two different cruise ships and I’m comfortable doing karaoke with friends, but posting this is different than belting “Luck Be a Lady” with a boozy crowd on a Saturday at The Mint. What we post online lasts forever. (cheesy echo) Forever…forever…forever…

Anyway. Here’s me singing “La Vie en Rose.”

La Vie en Rose, (MP3, 1.6 MB, 1:44)

Now that I know most common chords on the baritone ukelele, it’s time to start working on my technique. It’s a peculiar instrument, so finding an instructor has been a challenge. If you know someone who teaches baritone uke in San Francisco, let me know.