Ukulele Underground Podcast

Show Notes and Timestamp: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/03/harsh-truth-among-impostors-tuup108/

What was a Harsh Truth Aldrine needed to face in order to improve as an Ukulele Player? Aldrine shares the precise moment when someone gave him a “Harsh Truth” that pushed him to being a better player. We also hear how Aldrine learned to grow from these criticisms and how he changed his goals to better reflect himself. The guys discuss Wound, Unwound and Flatwound Low G Strings and what they prefer. A new Songwriting Challenge is set before Aldrine gets introspective on where his own Impostor Syndrome comes from, and how he deals with it.

Video Podcast and Timestamps: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/05/chord-substitutions-tuup117/

If you find a song “Boring”, use Chord Substitutions to spice them up. Kahai Challenges Aldrine to demonstrate a couple of ways you can change a song by “Replacing” one or two chords. Aldrine starts by adding notes to the base chord to make new Substitutions. On the next Level, Aldrine shows how you can use Relative Chords as Substitutions, and how you can combine both techniques to make a song your own. The guys also discuss how knowing some Music Theory is a good shortcut to find new Substitutions, but if you want to jump in, it can be as easy as Adding or Subtracting fingers from a Chord. The team shares some of their favorite examples of Musicians who didn’t know Music Theory, but still made great Music. Viewers ask about Baritones as Starter Ukes, and what Amp Settings should be used for Ukuleles before the guys open a gift box from UU Member, Rux.

Video Podcast & Timestamps: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/04/fusing-ukulele-jazz-big-bands-tuup114/

What happens when you rearrange a Western Ukulele Instrumental Concept Album for Jazz Big Band? This Week Aldrine and Mike are sharing their experience playing and planning for the KCC Jazz Festival. We start off with a relatively quick conversation about Double Flats/Sharps, Reading the Youtube Comments, and Aldrine’s T-Shirt, then we dive into Aldrine and Mike recounting the Jazz Festival. Aldrine explains what it was like collaborating with KCC Music Director, Sarah Tochiki to rearrange songs from his Album Bandito Tyler. Aldrine also shares his fears of playing at the Jazz Festival, and criticizing his own performance. We get some last minute questions about Beginner Ukulele Book Recommendations, and Chord Shape Viability before showing off gifts from UU Member, Yoda.

Video Podcast & Show Notes: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2023/11/making-fancy-chords-easy-tuup92/

This Week Aldrine is demystifying and demonstrating "Fancy Chords" aka "Neal Chords". Aldrine shows his favorite "Easy" Fancy Chords and how you could substitute them in chord patterns. As the podcast progresses, Aldrine dives deeper into the chordal rabbit hole; showing more complex chords, and how you might construct them. After swimming in the depths of chords, the guys answer questions about Capos, Expensive Ukuleles, and how someone can improve their musicality.

Show Notes and Timestamps: https://ukuleleunderground.com/2024/02/entering-the-flow-state-tuup105/

Today, the guys are joined by Mike "INSERT NICKNAME HERE" Odo to help explain what the "Flow State" is, and how musicians find themselves in that state. Before the guys dive into this topic, you know that they have to take a couple of detours talking about Disney+ and the Rock. Back on topic, the UU team discuss what the "Flow State" feels like, experiencing Flow in a band, and what songs can put them into that state. They also list songs that get them Hyped before performances. The guys answer some audience questions about Widening the groove in your nut, and Traveling with your Ukulele. It's always a blast with Mike Around. Let us know what Mike's new nickname should be?