| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| alika207 |
Posted - 10/20/2012 : 03:09:02 AM
Iaorana! / Aloha!
For any of you who may not have read my occasional posts here, I'll tell you that I mostly just strum my 'ukulele when I sing Hawaiian songs or any other popular songs that I think sound good on it. I don't really see myself as ever becoming a finger picker, but who knows?
Anyway, as a lot of you might remember, I got the instrument re-strung with a low G string. I had a high G when the instrument was given to me for my birthday and hated it because I prefer having the top string be the lowest note of the chord like Braddah Iz did. No offense to high G strummers.
If I ever want to strum using a Tahitian sound, would I have to completely re-string it so that the three lower strings are an octave up, or will it work to tune them as they are? |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| berean_315 |
Posted - 01/03/2013 : 06:56:49 AM
Hi Alika,
You don't have to restring. A number of Tahitian bands have a regular uke player as well as one with a tahitian uke. I think the main thing is the strum pattern. It's more of a continuous type strum emphasizing certain beats. Check out the video below as well as others on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI9ZUId2dII
I recently posted some Tahitian songs I've been working on playing a regular uke. It has a low "G" string and the "A" string is monofilament fishing line.
Tamari'i no Tahiti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=522wJd3j7HI
Fakateretere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoNpMrER5nA
Te Tama Maohi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEjnpN63RB0
Te Akakino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xxSz_QzP60
Gerald |
| Retro |
Posted - 10/20/2012 : 07:09:32 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Konabob
...It's distinctive sound comes not only from the constructions technique (it is more or less a short banjo with a thin wooden head, and an open back), but also from the type of strings that it is strung with.
And the playing technique - the speed and style of strumming is related to the Tahitian drumming beats. |
| Konabob |
Posted - 10/20/2012 : 07:01:29 AM
Hi Alika,
Looking forward to seeing you here in Kona in the near future!
I am no expert on the Tahitian 'Ukulele, but Dennis Lake has a nice one. It's distinctive sound comes not only from the constructions technique (it is more or less a short banjo with a thin wooden head, and an open back), but also from the type of strings that it is strung with. Again, I am only going from things I have read and seen, but all eight of the strings are fishing line. (Abundant in Tahiti, and probably in New England, right?)
This web site has a lot of great info on the instrument, including string information
http://tahitianukulele.blogspot.com/
Aloha,
-Konabob |
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