Tag Archives: fingerstyle ukulele

LIVE 168 • Monsarrat Ave (Kamaka HF-3D)

Fingerstyle, Live, Ukuleleblue sky guitar, blue sky ukulele, classical ukulele, diamond head, fingerstyle ukulele, Hawaiian koa, honolulu hawaii, Honolulu Zoo Fence Art, kaimuki, Kamaka HF-3D, Kamaka Koa Deluxe Tenor, Kamaka Tenor Ukulele, Kapiolani Bandstand, Kapiolani Community College, Kapiolani Park, Leahi, Monsarrat Avenue, nick borho, peaceful ukulele, relaxing ukulele, solo ukulele, Telefunken M60, Waikiki, Waikiki Shell

Here’s a recent recording of “Monsarrat Avenue.” This original solo ukulele piece pays tribute to the mellow vibes of the area around Monsarrat Avenue, which runs near Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head towards Kapiolani Community College. There are so many little things to love on (or just off) Monsarrat: the Honolulu Zoo and its fence with local artists selling their wares, the wafting of music from the Kapiolani Bandstand or the Waikiki Shell, Kapiolani Park itself with the powerful beauty of Leahi, Diamond Head, in the background; nearby is a lovely little district of restaurants and shops. After that, you pass rows of Kaimuki homes with people riding their bikes on quiet side streets as Monsarrat Avenue meanders and changes name to Diamond Head Road; it then passes by Kapiolani Community College – home of a popular (crowded) weekly Farmer’s Market – and curls around the back side of Diamond Head.

Recorded with a Kamaka Koa Deluxe Tenor ukulele (Kamaka HF-3D, high G with either Uke Logic Soft Tension or Ko’olau Aho strings, and a Thomastik-Infeld CF-27 flat wound third string) and a Telefunken M60 small diaphragm condenser microphone.

LIVE 161 • Glass Ball Slack Key (Kamaka HF-3D)

Live, Ukuleleblue sky guitar, chicken in the straw ukulele, fingerstyle ukulele, Hawaii, Kamaka HF-3D, Kamaka Koa Deluxe Tenor, ki ho’alu, nick borho, Slack Key, slack key ukulele, Telefunken M60

Glass Ball Slack Key is a favorite chestnut (or perhaps kukui nut) of uke players in Hawai’i; it’s a fun little ditty that is sure to please aunty or uncle. I learned this song watching and listening to the great Led Ka’apana over the years. A recorded version can be found on the classic Led Live album. Many other ukulele players have covered the song over the years as well. Hope you enjoy.

LIVE 155 • 4+ Minutes Ukulele Improvisation (Kamaka HF-3 Tenor)

Live, Ukuleleblue sky guitar, blue sky ukulele, fingerstyle ukulele, Hawaiian koa, Kamaka black nylon strings, Kamaka HF-3, Kamaka tenor strings, Kamaka Tenor Ukulele, Neumann TLM 103, nick borho, relaxing ukulele, ukulele improvisation

Here’s some improvisation I recorded one day on a standard Kamaka HF-3 tenor ukulele. The Kamaka tenor is a classic ukulele sound – for strumming of course, but also for single note lines. The strings are the stock Kamaka brand black nylon strings with a wound low G – the Kamaka nylon strings have a soothing, mellow, jazzy tone – but also some nice sparkle and definition. It’s a classic set that wears well. Hope you enjoy.

Recorded with a Kamaka Koa Tenor ukulele (Kamaka HF-3, low G with stock Kamaka brand black nylon strings and a Thomastik-Infeld CF-30 flat wound fourth string) and a Neumann TLM 103 microphone.

LIVE 141 • “Horn” Improv – Nick Drake Uke Cover

Classic Rock, Live, Ukuleleblue sky guitar, fingerstyle ukulele, Horn, Kamaka HF-3D, Kamaka Koa Deluxe Tenor, nick borho, Nick Drake, open tunings, peaceful ukulele, Pink Moon, relaxing music, relaxing ukulele, Telefunken M60, tranquil song

Here’s an improv around Nick Drake’s “Horn” I recorded one day between takes of another song I was working on. Appearing as a sort of interlude on the Pink Moon album, Horn is a fascinating little study of a song in its own right. I love the simple, atmospheric melody, and think it translated well to ukulele. Hope you enjoy.

Recorded with a Kamaka Koa Deluxe Tenor ukulele (Kamaka HF-3D, high G with Uke Logic Soft Tension strings and a Thomastik-Infeld CF-27 flat wound third string) and a Telefunken M60 microphone.

LIVE 035 • Glass Ball Slack Key / Chicken in the Straw

Live, Slack Key2008, brittni paiva, chicken in the straw, dancing cat, fingerstyle guitar, fingerstyle ukulele, glass ball slack key, Hawaii, Holualoa, ka’apana, Koaloha Pineapple Soprano Uke, kona coffee, kona hawaii, led kaapana, led live, ledward, Pineapple Sunday, slack key guitar, turkey in the straw

From the vaults, Glass Ball Slack Key is a favorite chestnut (or kukui nut) of uke players throughout the islands. Also known as “Chicken in the Straw” or “Turkey in the Straw” in Hawai’i (though different from the Bluegrass / fiddle song), this is a fun little ditty that is sure to please aunty or uncle. I learned this song watching and listening to the great Led Ka’apana (it’s also on the classic Led Live CD). Many other ukulele players have covered the song over the years as well. Hope you enjoy.

Recorded with a Koaloha Pineapple Soprano ukulele and a matched stereo pair of Shure KSM 141 microphones in Holualoa, Hawai’i, 3/6/08.

LIVE 032 • Cannonball Rag on Ukulele

Fingerstyle, Live2009, Cannonball Rag, fingerstyle guitar, fingerstyle ukulele, Hawaii, Holualoa, Koaloha Conert Uke, Merle Travis, ukulele

From the vaults, here is a version of Cannonball Rag I improvised on the uke one day back in ’09. The uke is a little out of tune, but sometimes it’s hard to get those friction pegs to stick. Hope you enjoy.

Recorded with a Koaloha concert ukulele and a matched stereo pair of Shure KSM 141 microphones in Holualoa, Hawai’i, 2/3/09.

BlueSkyGuitar.com

Slack Key and Fingerstyle Guitar