Musician "Mis" Communication - Which Way is UP?

Why can't ukulele players and musician communicate using, at a minimum, basic music terms?

I hear it all the time with ukulele video lessons online, in workshop and other players. It drives me nuts! They call the "higher" stings to bottom on a ukulele. The higher strings produce higher pitches and are on the top of the music staff in standard music notation and to top lines in TAB.

Learning an instrument is tough enough.

What is up, down, higher, lower, top, bottom, ascending, descending on a ukulele?. This ukulele lesson focuses on clearing up what these terms refer to and should refer too. Up, down, higher, lower, top, bottom, ascending, descending should refer to musical pitch and not be related to gravity as we know it. Up and higher refers to the raising of pitch and down and lower refer to the lowering of pitch. Top refers to the upper note of a chord voicing or musical phrase and bottom the lowest note.

The only gravity, up - down reference that is appropriate when communication musically is, when referencing to strumming or picking. Then the normal down and up that we know works.


Here is the definitive answer to Which Way is UP?

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.