A Guide to Guitar Chords

A full copy of my book "A Guide to Guitar Chords" is available on www.Scribd.com for preview.

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Music Culture guitar chords

I'm using Scribd's iPaper for all my onile articles and slowly added full access to my books.

Develop Your Own Uniqueness

Develop Your Own Uniqueness:The guitar world has always been obsessed with who is faster or better. The reality is that all good players are fast and knowledgeable about chords, improvisation and harmony.

What makes one different than another is not the external factors of technique but the unique projection of personality that comes through the music. Just as you meet one person that you like and another person that you don't like, the audience is only affected by their own individual response to a player.

Does the player move them or not? After all, the audience is not in a position to judge a player on the basis of his or her technique or knowledge. The audience can only react. This is ultimately a good thing.

Bill Evans said something that I always admired . He said you must please yourself. Play what pleases you. You can't chase players or styles or trends. In essence, he was saying find your own voice.

From a marketing point of view, you have to find an audience that likes your style, your sound, your personality.

If you become your own unique self, you'll never be disappointed with the results!

(Via ChuckAndersonGuitar.)

Curt Sheller - This is so true. I often get questions from students like "Who is better, this guitarist or that guitarist." I tell them that they are all different. You can give any to great guitarists, even not so great guitarists the same gear, pick and level of ability. If the play the same some through the same gear and even the same notes. They will sound different. Take the Wolf Marshall, the author and great mimic of other players. He still sounds like Wolf Marshall.

Chuck Anderson Latin Casino Story

Here is a great story from Chuck Anderson on how he landed the lucrative Latin Casino gig.

Tijuana Taxi on Uke

Here is a cool arrangement of the classic Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass song performed on ukulele. The tuning is standard "C" tuning gcea with a low "G".

The Three Words

The Three Words:There are three words commonly used in music that should be avoided - or at least redefined.

These words are Practice, Play and Rules.

Practice - This implies boring repetition. It's uncreative and unproductive.

Play - This connotes casual fun - a frivolous, optional activity.

Rules -These are a rigid set of "laws" which must be followed.


I would suggest that the word Practice be replaced with the word Explore.

I would suggest that the word Play be replaced with the word Work.

I would suggest that the word Rules be replaced with the word Principles.

Why?

When you explore music, it becomes fun and exciting. To explore is to discover!

Work in the music business is not like work in any other field. Most musicians feel blessed to make music their career. So work in this context is joyful not tedious.

The Principles of music hold the key to the development of your potential. Within these principles, there is unlimited opportunity to expand your creativity.

(Via ChuckAndersonGuitar.)

New Car and Blog

Our new 2009 Honda Sport Fit and dedicated blog for it.

my2009hondafit.blogspot.com


Here is an image of our new Honda Sport Fit. This is the second sport fit that our family has. My daughter has a 2008 Sport Fit.

This is my wife and my first Honda. It is a really cool car. I'll be using this blog for tracking our life with this new car.

We picked the car up October 2, 2009 from Pottstown Honda. We didn't think we would be getting one till mid or late October as these cars are flying off the lot and the 2009's are not that abundant. Ours was found at Independence Honda in Bloomsburg, PA. As this is such a popular car we had to pay MSRP. IT di think it is a good deal. At least we didn't have to deal with the dealer for the loan. I have been a member of Benchmark Federal Credit Union in West Chester, PA since my Dad got mi in when I was 16, a long time ago. For more info on our home states and town visit my Pennslyvania page at www.CurtSheller.com

Some of the great feature that I like about this car are the many ways that you can configure the seats for hauling stuff.

Now if we could just afford to trick it out with some wheels and other accessories with out effecting the mileage.

I'll be posting the mileage with every fill up.

THE BEATLES FOR UKULELE (book)

THE BEATLES FOR UKULELE
(book):


Ukulele players can strum, sing and pick along with 20 Beatles classics! "All You Need Is Love," "Eight Days a Week," "Good Day Sunshine," "Here, There and Everywhere," "Let It Be," "Love Me Do," "Penny Lane," "Yesterday," more. 72 pp. ($12.95)

(Via Elderly.com Latest - Ukulele.)

Pink Panther Solo Ukulele Arrangement

The Pink Panther Theme

Posted a very cool solo ukulele arrangement the Henry Mancini classic, the Pink Panther Theme.

This theme is just three (3) chords: Em, C7 and F7.

The Pink Panther - Solo Ukulele Arrangement

Protest the Ukulele BAN !!!! at Take Me Out to the Ball Game Anniversary

Protest the Ukulele BAN !!!! at Take Me Out to the Ball Game Anniversary:

I am mounting a protest to right the wrong of the ukulele NOT being allow at the celebration of the 100th birthday of “Take me out to the Ball Game” Twin brothers won the Baby Ruth song competition with a great rendition with a ukulele/tuba combo. The reward was they could sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at the Major League All-Star Game. The ukulele was not allowed as part of the performance. I don’t understand the decision. I don’t what I am going to do, just yet. But I will not let our collective ukulele voices be unheard. Below are some the gory details of this injustice from Al Wood of Ukulele Hunt.

Terry Truhart

Baby Ruth held a contest to celebrate the 100th birthday of Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Entrants sent in their rendition of the song and the winner was decided by public vote. Obviously, the winner was a ukulelist, Adam Wilber. The prize was to sing at the MLB All Star Game. But, as Gary pointed out, the ukulele was banned and he had to sing along with a belching organ. Shame on you MLB. Give the public what it wants: ukes by the barrel-load.

I suggest your protest by grabbing these chords and playing it outside the offices of the MLB in protest. If it helps you to get as drunk as Eddie Vedder when you do it, I have no objections.

(Via Ukeaholics's Weblog.)

The Value of Formal Music Study

The Value of Formal Music Study:
Should you study music with a teacher or should you "wing" it on your own? This question always comes up in this type of discussion about music.

An objective assessment of the two alternative approaches leads me invariably towards the formal route. Why? Because without guidance, there is a tendency to go in circles, What do you practice, when do you move to the next topic? When are you doing something wrong? How do you practice what doesn't exist to you?

Many complain about time as a factor leading to the decision not to study. I would suggest that exactly the opposite is true. Those with less time need the efficiency of study. Without it, there's a tendency to "practice" what you're already good at. Study ensures that you will be working on your weaknesses. The results of self teaching are obvious. A player may get good at one thing but have blatant weaknesses in another.

If you use famous players in the past as your justification for not studying, you'd be wrong! Wes Montgomery was self taught - there's your justification. But is it? Wes was self taught because there were no teachers at that time. I don't mean no qualified teachers. I mean no teachers. Wes told me "Make sure you study. Don't do what I did."

All this, of course is premised on the presumption that you study with a qualified teacher. What makes a teacher qualified and how do find such a teacher? We'll save that one for the next installment.

(Via ChuckAndersonGuitar.)

Guitar Players' Issues

Guitar Players' Issues:

It's unbelievable to me how weak guitar players are on knowing the notes on their own instrument!

No other instrument suffers from this same fate. Imagine a piano player not knowing the note names of the keys...or a trumpet player not knowing what notes come out if they push specific valve combinations. An amazingly high percentage of guitar players don't know the notes on the neck. Is it more difficult than other instruments? No doubt. But that's the price you pay for playing the guitar.

This problem has certainly been created by the guitar world's penchant for tablature and chord picture diagrams. Despite this, there is no excuse for the failure on the part of guitar players to learn what is absolutely rudimentary on any other instrument.

If you need help overcoming this particular problem, check out my handbook Unlocking the Guitar - Notes on the Neck. It gives different approaches to learning the notes as well as several drills to master the topic. It's available at www.ChuckAndersonGuitar.com

(Via ChuckAndersonGuitar.)

CurtSheller.com New look

Yet another site redesign at www.CurtSheller.com, Curt Sheller Publications. This one is more a behind the scenes tweaking of the internal files (css).

Ukulele Arrangement and Performance of While My Guitar Gently Weeps

I always loved George Harrison of the Beatles. As a young guitar player in the lates 60's and early 70's just learning the guitar George was a great inspiration. After Jake Shimabukuro do his version on uke I decided to try my hand at it and in the original key.

There is a ukulele TAB available of this arrangement at www.CurtSheller.com/scores/uke/WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps.shtml

I'm using a Pono cedar top, rosewood back and sides ukulele from Ko'olau Guitar & Ukulele.

Curt Sheller Publications Updates

Page Updates and Additions

Newest entries for CurtSheller.com (CS), JazzGuitarResources.com (JGR) and UkuleleClubs.com (UC). Most current listings are at top of list

• (CS 23-JUL-2008) Updated the UkuleleLessons Core Chords Level 1, Part 1.


• (CS 23-JUL-2008) Updated the UkuleleLessons Creating Intros and Turnarounds.


• (CS 22-JUL-2008) Yet another site redesign for Curt Sheller Publications at ChuckAndersonGuitar.com.


• (CS 18-JUL-2008) Total web site redesign for Chuck Anderson at ChuckAndersonGuitar.com. I through this together in just a couple of days. Turned out great.


• (CS 17-JUL-2008) updated the following pages with new information:
  Ukulele Festivals
  
• (CS 15-JUL-2008) New web site and book launched: UkuleleStrums.com and my new book A Guide to Ukulele Strums.


• (JGR 13-JUL-2008) added luthier Lubos Naprstek of Hamburg, NJ to the luthier pages.


• (CS 11-JUL-2008) updated the following pages with new information:
  D Major Chord Fingering Options ( ukulele ),
  Tiki,
  Super Mario Brothers Main Theme
  


• (CS 10-JUL-2008) added this really cook band, Friends of Dean Martinez out of Austin, Texas. I came across them while watching a new DVD I bought on the Salton Sea titled Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea. A great documentary by Tilapia Film.


• (JGR 09-JUL-2008) added violinist Kailin Yong to the musicians page.

Cool Font - Weird Bill

How cool is this font.

I've actually paid for it and have used it on one of my new ukulele books and two of my web sites. The new www.UkuleleStrums.com that is a companion site to my new ukulele book A guide to Ukulele Strums. I also redesigned my UkuleleChords.net web site and used the font.

Weird Bill is Squid's tribute to his most prominent influence, Bill Campbell, model kit box illustrator extraordinaire and creator of the Weird-Ohs!. Bill's series of goofy monster model kits in the early 1960s was such a hit that it has been reissued twice! Weird Bill is fun, freaky, frantic and full of frenetic frappery! For more info on Bill Campbell check out www.bonediggers.com

Driving 55...

I've been driving 55 the last few weeks. Just put the cruise control on 55 and let it, well not fly, but hopefully save some gas.

One thing I have noticed is that I'm not passing anyone. Haven't passed anyone on the highway in two weeks. And, when I first did this driving 55 thing, I felt like I was doing something illegal by driving the speed limit.

Driving 55 on cruise control has its benefits. I can drive the 18 miles on US 422 from Pottstown, PA the King of Prussia, PA and never have to put the brakes on. I get passed by everyone. Just have to watch on of the Bozo's, sorry Bozo, doing 80 doesn't rear-end me.

I have been getting close to 30 mpg on my old (130,000 plus miles) Hyundai. But, I want more.

I've even been doing the now air conditioning in town.

UkuleleChords.net Web Site Redesigned

I really wanted to use this new font I bought called Weird Bill. IT is a retro font harking back to my childhood. And, my Ukulele Chords site seemed like a good candidate to use it on.

Weird Bill
Weird Bill is Squid's tribute to his most prominent influence, Bill Campbell, model kit box illustrator extraordinaire and creator of the Weird-Ohs!. Bill's series of goofy monster model kits in the early 1960s was such a hit that it has been reissued twice! Weird Bill is fun, freaky, frantic and full of frenetic frappery! For more info on Bill Campbell check out www.bonediggers.com

Check out the new UkuleleChords.net site. I'll be adding a lot of cool content over the next several months.

Chuck Anderson Unveils New Web Site

Chuck has a new site!!! Finally getting all that he has to offer out the world.

www.ChuckAndersonGuitar.com

As a JAZZ GUITARIST, Chuck broke into the Philly Jazz scene with the Chuck Anderson Trio in 1973. The group featured Al Stauffer on bass and rotated Jim Paxon, Ray Deeley and Darryl Brown on drums. The trio played concerts throughout the East Coast and recorded its first album in 1975. The album originally titled Mirror Within a Mirror is included in a compilation CD titled The Vintage Tracks. This CD released in 2005, contains all of the trio recordings from the mid to the late 70's. Another CD titled Angel Blue - A Tour of Jazz features Chuck in a sextet setting.

Noted as a COMPOSER as well as a concert guitarist, Chuck has recorded 7 CDs: Passages from the End of Autumn, Kaleidophon, The Art of the Neo-Classical Guitar, Christmas Wishes, The International Collection, Angel Blue, Music from the Light, and The Vintage Tracks.

As an EDUCATOR, Chuck Anderson directed the Medley Music School for 8 years. He founded and operated his own private music school for another 8 years. The school employed 12 teachers and had over 400 students. He was elected Artist in Education for the state of Delaware. Chuck was a consultant in the development of the guitar curriculum for Aula de Musica, a private music conservatory in Spain. He was also elected as the only American member of the International Advisory Board for LIPA, the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts. Chuck has lectured at colleges in the United States and Europe. In addition, he has privately trained professional musicians, composers and music educators.

As an AUTHOR, Chuck has been published by several companies. Publications include: Music Pursuing the Horizon, An Improvisational Approach to Rock and Blues Guitar, Reflections for Guitar, Modular Phonetic Rhythm, Master Picking and The 6 Secrets of Guitar Fingering including Scale Charting. Other books include: Mastering the Modes, The Private Music Teacher’s Guide, Hi Tech Guitar and Advertising Music - The Business, A series called Unlocking the Guitar features topics such as learning the notes on the neck, strums and tunings. He also developed and was featured in an 8 hour video series called Harmonic Tonalities, the Songwriter’s Master Classes.

New Ukulele Strums Book and Site Released by Curt Sheller Publications

July 15, 2008

Curt Sheller Publications today announced the release of a new book for ukulele players titled "A Guide to Ukulele Strums" by Curt Sheller. One of the first skills a ukulele player learns is the art and craft of strumming, playing rhythm. This refers to an accompaniment technique suitable for the singer, singer-songwriter or someone who plays a support role for another instrument.

Strumming requires a specific set of skills. They are: 1) Memorization of chords 2) The ability to switch chords smoothly and 3) The ability to choose and execute a suitable rhythmic strum. It is this 3rd skill that is the focus in "A Guide to Ukulele Strums".

If your goal is to expand your strum vocabulary, Then "A Guide to Ukulele Strums" is your answer.

For more information, visit their web site at www.curtsheller.com.

There is also a companion site for A Guide to Ukulele Strums (www.UkuleleStrums.com) that will add and expand on the principles and strums explored in the book.

Chuck Anderson Performs - Pirouette

Here is Chuck Anderson performing his original composition "Pirouette" on Miles of Music (www.worldofguitar.com) hosted by Bob Miles. www.ChuckAndersonGuitar.com, www.worldofguitar.com


As a Jazz guitarist, Chuck broke into the Philly Jazz Scene with the Chuck Anderson Trio in 1973. The group featured Al Stauffer on bass and rotated Tim Paxon, Ray Deely and Darryl Brown on drums. The trio played concerts throughout the east coast and recorded its first album in 1975. the album, originally titled Mirror Within a Mirror is included in a compilation CD titled Teh Vintage Tracks. This CD, released in 2005, contains all of the trio recordings from the 70's.

With huge success of Jake Shimabukro's video and recording of George Harrision's While My Guitar Gently Weeps. I whipped up my own version of the song. My version is in the original key of Am.

George Harrison was a big fan of the ukulele and this is great song to play on the uke.

This is not the Jake arrangement. I've done my own arrangement for a low "G", C tuning and in the original key. This is based on the arrangement that I perform in concert in a George Harrison medley with Here Comes the Sun.

Enjoy, Curt

House Industries: Studio Lettering

House Industries: Studio Lettering:

New family of hand-lettering style typefaces by House Industries’ Ken Barber. Check out the amazing OpenType substitutions and contextual alternates.

House Industries’ is a great font house and I have a few of the fonts on my FAS (Font Acquisition Syndrome) list to buy.

I especially like their Tiki and Shaq collections.

Curt Sheller Publications Update and Additions

New pages and updates the Curt Sheller Publications main site

New Pages

• Fonts

  Love really cool and well designed fonts. Be sure to check out the House Industries listing

• All Tiings Tiki

  Seems the tiki and ukulele go hand-in-hand. Or tiki and tiki culture is just cool!!!

• Ukulele Videos

  Some cool videos that are a nice introduction on what is possible on the ukulele.

• Ukulele Festivals


• Ukulele Care

Updates and New Information

• (CS 08-JUL-2008) updated the following pages with new information:
  Lessons - Repertoire
  


• (CS 08-JUL-2008) added My Favorite Things to the Repertoire page. Includes a PDF of the melody and play-along MP3 file


• (CS 06-JUL-2008) added a new page on Fonts.

  As a graphic designer and artist fonts, icons and such have always intrigued me. I just havbe to watch that I don't fall into FAS ( Font Acquisition Syndrome )

• (CS 02-JUL-2008) updated the following pages with new information:
  Ukulele Tunings
  Tuners & Metronomes
  


• (CS 01-JUL-2008) In honor of the 4th of July in the USA I've updated my solo ukulele arrangement page for the national anthem The Star Spangled Banner


• (CS 01-JUL-2008) updated the following pages with new information:
  Ukulele Videos,
  Ukulele Musicians,
  Ukulele Books,
  Guitar & Ukulele Charts,
  My Personal Music Bio
  


• (CS 01-JUL-2008) added a new page on Tiki.

  I always liked tiki and the associated tiki culture, especially the art. I've worn a small tiki necklace for the past 30 plus years.

Seiko SXt-1 Chromatic Clip-on Tuner

Seiko SXt-1 Chromatic Clip-on Tuner

I'm testing yet another clip-on tuner. I've been through a few of this clip-on type of tunes with my ukuleles.

This Vibration-Sensing Clip-on Chromatic Tuner is a new tuner that I'm using on my ukuleles. I've used the Meisel, Korg and Intellitouch clip-on tuners.

The Meisel rattles and the Korg didn't hold up to my travels of toting a ukulele everywhere and the Intellitouch's battery cover won't stay on.

I have a web page on the tuners at www.CurtSheller.com/tuners.shtml.

Double Ukulele Carry Bag by Kala Ukuleles

Double Ukulele Carry Bag by Kala Ukuleles

This double ukulele carry bag holds two tenor sized ukuleles.

This looks pretty intriguing.

Kala Ukulele has a full like of ukuleles and accessories.

Kala has over 40 models currently offered, there is an instrument to fit everyone's tastes and budget. Please check out our Hawaiian Koa, Solid Spruce Top, Mahogany and Kala Color Ukuleles.

Windy City Uke Fest

When: August 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2008
VIP Reception on July 31st at 9 PM

www.WindyCityUkeFest.com

Where: The Tiki Terrace (www.thetikiterrace.com)

Just outside Chicago in Des Plaines, IL
1591 Lee St, Des Plaines, IL 60018
NE Corner of Lee/Manheim & Oakton


This will be the largest ukulele festival in the Midwest. Chicago has had a strong ukulele history from ukulele manufactures to great ukulele performers. We wish to continue the aloha spirit and share with you everything the ukulele has to offer. The `ukulele is the gift that keeps on giving. We will have performers and ukulele instructors from around the world giving world-class ukulele workshops. Come and delight in three fun-filled days of ukulele paradise. We will have a UkeTube stage where any uke player can show their stuff. The main stage will have top performers from the ukulele community. We will have starter workshops for people and kids that have never played a musical instrument of any type.

We have lined up:

Mark “Spanky” Guiterrez, Gerald Ross, Victoria Vox, Windy City Islanders, Kimo Hussey, Ali Lexa,
Tim Sweeney, Seeso, Lil’ Rev, Abe Lagrimas Jr., Steven P. Slivka and the Boar’s Head Orchestra, Barefoot Hawaiian, Jonathan Carreira, Keenan Kamae, Lopaka, Ukulele Tonya, Curt Sheller, and others.

We will have raffles, ukuleles, sing-a-longs, and ukulele instruction workshops for all levels. We will have the best ukulele vendors, and suppliers. All the ukulele merchandise you’ve dreamed about will be there. Drooling is not allowed.

Disclaimer: All events, workshops, performers, and performances are subject to change without notice.

For more info, or if you would like to be a sponsor, please contact us at windycityukefest@gmail.com

Curt Sheller blogging

Tried WordPress and great as it was. It was too much work and spam was a pain in the %*&. So I'll give eBlogger a whirl.



Curt