Very clear and swingey, and your point about how to do bar chords is brilliant. Thanks for humanising the lesson with your enjoyable mistakes and comments.
I happened to be sitting here with my new low-G ukulele when I came to this video, and I can tell you that while the open chords at the beginning sound thick and NOT swingy, the closed chords Gerald is larnin' us here are really a great way to escape the thud of the G. I'm really not yet used to the low G sound at all, but I'm looking forward to learning more of how to use it. I really appreciate the details on the bar technique also.
Stephen - the uke is a tenor built by Michigan luthier Dave Talsma. Look him up on the web. He builds incredible instruments. Sinker Redwood Top, Koa sides and back, ebony fingerboard. The uke is not plugged in. The room I filmed in has many hard surfaces, hence the natural reverb. But even in sonically inert rooms the uke is incredibly sounding.
I'm new to the uke, but experienced on guitar. This lesson was so simple, yet powerful. I've heard this type of progression for years, but never understood the cord substitution. Thank you so much, looking forward to learning more from you!
I have a friend who's a guitar player. He refuses to acknowledge the uke as a legitimate instrument. He sees it as a twangy and silly toy. So, I showed him the intro to this video. Needless to say, he was completely gobsmacked! In the right hands, it just became a full jazz band! You continue to be a true inspiration!
Hello Gerald, Years ago you taught me some smooth licks on the steel guitar, now you're teaching me how to swing my ukulele. And we've never even met. When I win the lottery I intend to pay you handsomely for the great lessons. Until then know that I appreciate what you do.
Well, now that Guy Lombardo is 'playing with the angels', it sounds to me like you've got 'the sweetest music this side of heaven'. Way to go, Gerald.....
Oy, Gerald! You are a brilliant musician and teacher. Please keep your clear, enjoyable lessons coming. I love the ukelele's voice for Swing. I'm 63, and learning the ukulele. (played clarinet as a kid). Thanks again.
Thank you so much for sharing. I used to play gypsy style swing guitar. Caused by a disabiliy i had to switch to Ukulele now. You saved my life letting ukuleles swing!!!! I starteted today practising your progressions. God bless El
Gerald, pay no attention to the critics! For me, you're the best. Great instruction and I love the swing style. Thanks so much for taking the time to make these. Add more whenever you can...although I'll be working on these three for a looong time. Troy
Thanks so much Gerald! I love this style of music and am just getting started on ukulele. Thanks to you taking the time to share, I'll be able to learn this WAY faster than if I had to do it on my own.
Hey Gerald hope all is well. Thanks for sharing. I meant to ask you how is your experience on Talsma ukes? I own the Collings UT2 mahogany. Any advice you can share?
Thanks so much for opening my eyes. I'm a pianist, but translating to jazz to ukulele has been impossible, but particularly showing me how to do a barre effectively is the most useful thing on this video. Inspiring! I'll be back for more.
I would never attempt what others are calling jazz progressions before this because they are presented in a complicated way.. Your stuff sounds so good when you play it & you stay so relaxed... maybe I can do some things, says I. At least I can strive to be this relaxed while playing open chords... HAHAHa
Great lesson Gerald. I have learned a lot from you at uke fests and progressing up the fretboard via barre and closed chords sure makes for some fun playing.
Thanks for the input NYUKULELE and thanks for viewing. Quite honestly... when I play a DIM chord I don't consciously think of the name of the chord. I go more by feel. I know it's important when teaching to get these details correct. But I think it's more important to make music sound like music. If a student of mine thinks "I need to play the diminished chord that starts at the 4th fret" and that student plays the song beautifully... I've accomplished my goal as a teacher.
I like this comment a lot :) I'm just starting on my Uke journey, but have been swing dancing for around a decade and this is SO important in both areas. Expressing feeling with technical mastery is what it's all about :)
Thank you for this. After having my uke hang on the wall used once a year you have inspired me. Not as hard as I thought to make nice music that I enjoy and it even sounds good. Old rockabilly guitar player here and those tunes can actually sound cool on a uke.
Hey Gerald, thanks so much for this lesson! Great teaching style and personality - your tips have helped me see improvement already in my playing from just this one video!
Hi Gerald, this is totally great. You are not only a brilliant player, but you can teach. That is a combination rarer than a flying pig! I have been plunking on open strings for almost twelve months (and still loving it), but your style is inspiring. I shall also buy your model ukulele. My sincere thanks. If ever you are in Australia I will buy you dinner. Cheers, Ron Domby
Gerald, just a point here about cutting the sustain. You say you are relaxing you fingers to mute the sound. Actually, the process is better understood, in MHO, as pushing down on the strings when you strike the chord. Semantics? Perhaps, but I find I can do this muting if I think about pressing down the chord shape when I strum. It's coordinated: strike and strum. Letting up pressure comes then without having to think about it. Forget the idea of relaxing. I think it confuses people (at least it confused me in the beginning of my uke training).
Gerald, one comment you made that rings so true....diminished chords are made for the ukulele. You can slide them up 4 frets at a time in the change and sound like a pro!
I know you posted this a long time ago, but it is awesome! I've played guitar my whole life (even jazz band way back in High School, lol) but just recently picked up my Fluke Uke I've had for years and started jammin on it....I love your sound and style!
Thanks Gerald. Ukulele is my first instrument and i've only been playing for a month. Your explanation of sustain control through chord substitution is a very useful piece of this very big puzzle I've been assembling as I come to grips with the Uke. Your barre explanation it'self was a revelation and has already improved all the barres that I've been struggling with. ... A big thank-you for that alone! I must admit I'm struggling with the chord changes and I'm finding it much easier to hold the bar on the C and sneak my middle finger down and under to the first string, to complete the C#dim. I've also discovered it sounds good on my baritone using the same patterns though I haven't been bothered yet learning the transposed names of the chords to suit. Thanks again. Hitting the subscribe button now but I'm afraid I will need to thrash at this for a few days before I will be ready for the bridge in part 2.
I appreciate the lesson Gerald thank you.. it's going to be a while before my fingers bend enough for some of those chords but listening to you it will be worth the effort ..
Love the swing lessons! It will take me awhile to digest as I am very new to uke but I know what I like! One thing I noted is that my chord inversion book names your Dm6 as a Dm7 so I'm a little confused about that. Since I do not also play guitar I don't know if your brain switched to guitar for a moment. Anyway, love your swing style! 😄
Note the Dm6 bar chord shown is incorrect. (Needs to contain a B note to be a Dm6) He is playing a Dm7 bar chord. Also note that the C#Dim can also be called a C7b9.
Very clear and swingey, and your point about how to do bar chords is brilliant. Thanks for humanising the lesson with your enjoyable mistakes and comments.
At last a Jazz player NOT using a low G. You retain the sound of ukulele and swing like mad. Thank you.
@Gee Ling I have LOW and High G on the same uke... nice.
I happened to be sitting here with my new low-G ukulele when I came to this video, and I can tell you that while the open chords at the beginning sound thick and NOT swingy, the closed chords Gerald is larnin' us here are really a great way to escape the thud of the G. I'm really not yet used to the low G sound at all, but I'm looking forward to learning more of how to use it. I really appreciate the details on the bar technique also.
Awesome. First time I've been informed on the value of closed as opposed to open chords. Such an elegant approach. Excellent stuff.
Thanks for watching!
Stephen - the uke is a tenor built by Michigan luthier Dave Talsma. Look him up on the web. He builds incredible instruments. Sinker Redwood Top, Koa sides and back, ebony fingerboard. The uke is not plugged in. The room I filmed in has many hard surfaces, hence the natural reverb. But even in sonically inert rooms the uke is incredibly sounding.
I'm new to the uke, but experienced on guitar. This lesson was so simple, yet powerful. I've heard this type of progression for years, but never understood the cord substitution.
Thank you so much, looking forward to learning more from you!
I have a friend who's a guitar player. He refuses to acknowledge the uke as a legitimate instrument. He sees it as a twangy and silly toy. So, I showed him the intro to this video. Needless to say, he was completely gobsmacked! In the right hands, it just became a full jazz band! You continue to be a true inspiration!
Thanks
You are an absolute delight to watch. Straight forward, concise and oh so entertaining. Thanks for such a great instructional vid! Love from HK
Hello Gerald,
Years ago you taught me some smooth licks on the steel guitar, now you're teaching me how to swing my ukulele. And we've never even met.
When I win the lottery I intend to pay you handsomely for the great lessons. Until then know that I appreciate what you do.
Thanks Keith! When you win the lottery email me and I'll tell you where to send the money. :)
Your are an excellent teacher. Thank you.
Well, now that Guy Lombardo is 'playing with the angels', it sounds to me like you've got 'the sweetest music this side of heaven'. Way to go, Gerald.....
Oy, Gerald!
You are a brilliant musician and teacher. Please keep your clear, enjoyable lessons coming. I love the ukelele's voice for Swing. I'm 63, and learning the ukulele. (played clarinet as a kid). Thanks again.
Husband and I enjoyed the lesson. A delight to watch, and will use the technique to add to our ukulele fun. Thanks!
When he said we gonna make it sound like this a wide grin spread on my face. That was good!
Thanks
Thank you so much for sharing. I used to play gypsy style swing guitar.
Caused by a disabiliy i had to switch to Ukulele now.
You saved my life letting ukuleles swing!!!!
I starteted today practising your progressions.
God bless
El
+TheElrondo Thanks Elrondo! Good luck!
Gerald, pay no attention to the critics! For me, you're the best. Great instruction and I love the swing style. Thanks so much for taking the time to make these. Add more whenever you can...although I'll be working on these three for a looong time. Troy
Gerald Ross, I love all your videos, including jams. I’m a big fan and working on this swing thing. I also love blues. Thx for your videos.
Glad you like them!
I appreciate you explaining why using these chords! This is exactly the tutorial I was looking for, thank you :)
Thanks so much Gerald! I love this style of music and am just getting started on ukulele. Thanks to you taking the time to share, I'll be able to learn this WAY faster than if I had to do it on my own.
It is a tenor uke made by Dave Talsma. It has a MI-SI under the saddle pickup. I am amplifying the uke with a Roland AC-33 amplifier.
And what strings.
I have a Kala Triback Limited edition with the misi pickup.
Greetings from the Netherlands.
Fantastic Uke and sound
Hey Gerald hope all is well. Thanks for sharing. I meant to ask you how is your experience on Talsma ukes? I own the Collings UT2 mahogany. Any advice you can share?
Eric He You won’t go wrong with a Talsma uke. Excellent craftsmanship, beautiful sound and easy playability.
Gerald Ross appreciate it, really value your advice glad to hear from you.
Hi Gerald , when ive discover your channel i can t stop to see your video very thanks
Thanks so much for opening my eyes. I'm a pianist, but translating to jazz to ukulele has been impossible, but particularly showing me how to do a barre effectively is the most useful thing on this video. Inspiring! I'll be back for more.
Thanks Derry!
I just spent the last 8 minutes and 22 seconds smiling :) Thank you!
I would never attempt what others are calling jazz progressions before this because they are presented in a complicated way.. Your stuff sounds so good when you play it & you stay so relaxed... maybe I can do some things, says I. At least I can strive to be this relaxed while playing open chords... HAHAHa
Thanks for posting all this wonderful material Gerald. You are a true inspiration!
Like the way you described diminished cords. Very cool
great sound never tried this sound on my uke will give it a spin now tks for posting
Really good. Someone who knows what he is doing but doesn't just show off but shows how. Brass tacks.
Great lesson Gerald. I have learned a lot from you at uke fests and progressing up the fretboard via barre and closed chords sure makes for some fun playing.
really enjoyed your presentation, many thanks
thanks and God bless you Mr. Ross!
You are a great teacher , and thanks so much for sharing your skill with me . I am inspired by your talent and wonderful smile. Maholo
Thanks William!
Totally brilliant. I went from playing open chords to making my ukulele sing. Thank you.
Glad the lessons helped! Have fun!
Great Lesson, I have been using these shapes up and down the fretboard as a warm up exercise, has helped me a lot. Thank You
Thanks Jim.
Great lesson and great sound. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your tutorials.
Thanks for the input NYUKULELE and thanks for viewing. Quite honestly... when I play a DIM chord I don't consciously think of the name of the chord. I go more by feel. I know it's important when teaching to get these details correct. But I think it's more important to make music sound like music. If a student of mine thinks "I need to play the diminished chord that starts at the 4th fret" and that student plays the song beautifully... I've accomplished my goal as a teacher.
I like this comment a lot :) I'm just starting on my Uke journey, but have been swing dancing for around a decade and this is SO important in both areas. Expressing feeling with technical mastery is what it's all about :)
Thank you so much Ross! You are adorable and full of knowledge & flow. Keep it up my friend!
Thank you for this. After having my uke hang on the wall used once a year you have inspired me. Not as hard as I thought to make nice music that I enjoy and it even sounds good. Old rockabilly guitar player here and those tunes can actually sound cool on a uke.
Hey Gerald, thanks so much for this lesson! Great teaching style and personality - your tips have helped me see improvement already in my playing from just this one video!
OMG! Awesome! I'm a professional jazz singer trying to get a grip on jazz uke. So helpful!!!!!
Glad to help Mia!
Fantastic 😍🙏 that Uke 😮🕺 beautiful
Absolutely excellent tutorial, Gerald . . . Happy Strumming, Mike Lynch
Gerald, thanks for the info and yes I surely will look him up!
Fantastic lesson. I want tot learn the Ukulele stomp now!!! On to the next video!
Finally, some one who teaches me jazzy substitutions! Yeah!
Enjoy
...brilliant lesson...!🕺
Hi Gerald, this is totally great. You are not only a brilliant player, but you can teach. That is a combination rarer than a flying pig! I have been plunking on open strings for almost twelve months (and still loving it), but your style is inspiring. I shall also buy your model ukulele. My sincere thanks. If ever you are in Australia I will buy you dinner. Cheers, Ron Domby
great lesson! well explained and easy to digest
Thanks. Glad you got something out of it.
Thank you.this helps me a lot, to understand; how to get a jazzy tune.
LineoLemon Thanks for watching!
Gerald, just a point here about cutting the sustain. You say you are relaxing you fingers to mute the sound. Actually, the process is better understood, in MHO, as pushing down on the strings when you strike the chord. Semantics? Perhaps, but I find I can do this muting if I think about pressing down the chord shape when I strum. It's coordinated: strike and strum. Letting up pressure comes then without having to think about it. Forget the idea of relaxing. I think it confuses people (at least it confused me in the beginning of my uke training).
Gerald, one comment you made that rings so true....diminished chords are made for the ukulele. You can slide them up 4 frets at a time in the change and sound like a pro!
You are right Tony Chew! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the insights, Gerald. And what a sweet, engaging personality you have!
Thanks Mikko!
OMG, that was wonderful, great swing. Thank you very much.
Oh my LORD... I LOVE you... THANK YOU. You GROOVER!!!
Absolutely brilliant! This is exactly the lesson I needed, thank you so much!
Can't wait for followup videos!! :-)
Great teaching: one lesson and I sound like a jazzer already! Been playing Formby style for years, but loving this. Thanks you are a great teacher ;)
Excellent video.
Thanks Geral
that's a nice intro video
Great tutorial. I'm just getting my first uke tomorrow so I may be a while catching up but I love your style. thank you.
Even if I don't want to play swing, this is still a very valuable lesson.
Excellent, thanks!
I agree with howlinhobbit, can't wait for parts 2, 3, etc!
Imeriale..amazing, great!!
Thanks
This lesson changed my playing!
like this one year ago. Now i'm ready for this!
nice tutorial
I know you posted this a long time ago, but it is awesome! I've played guitar my whole life (even jazz band way back in High School, lol) but just recently picked up my Fluke Uke I've had for years and started jammin on it....I love your sound and style!
Thanks Gerald. Ukulele is my first instrument and i've only been playing for a month. Your explanation of sustain control through chord substitution is a very useful piece of this very big puzzle I've been assembling as I come to grips with the Uke.
Your barre explanation it'self was a revelation and has already improved all the barres that I've been struggling with. ... A big thank-you for that alone!
I must admit I'm struggling with the chord changes and I'm finding it much easier to hold the bar on the C and sneak my middle finger down and under to the first string, to complete the C#dim. I've also discovered it sounds good on my baritone using the same patterns though I haven't been bothered yet learning the transposed names of the chords to suit.
Thanks again. Hitting the subscribe button now but I'm afraid I will need to thrash at this for a few days before I will be ready for the bridge in part 2.
I appreciate the lesson Gerald thank you.. it's going to be a while before my fingers bend enough for some of those chords
but listening to you it will be worth the effort ..
+Richard Davies Don't give up Richard. You can do it!
keep up the lessons Gerald you have a nice easy style that i like :-) thanks again
Terrific lesson! Thank you so much.
great tutorial man!
great sound, great technique, great explanation ...great everything!
this is a keeper.
cheers ! :)
cant wait for part 2!
Nice, a lot of great playing tips here -- thx!
Excellent.
Thank you Teresa!
Nicely done.
Thanks
Great! More please.
can't wait for part 2... and 3... and...
your uke looks so cool.. the fret and everything... sounds great as well.. (y)
The idea of bringing the bar finger over more is great - it seems a little harder at first but I can tell right away it's cleaner
Good luck with your musical progress tp63us!
always had trouble with the bare chords, thanks for the tip!
hi! that's some nice work! can you please make a tutorial on django's minor swing, on ukulele :)
that was SWEEEEET!!!!!!..thanks gerald
That was amazing! Thanks for the tutorial
Geez finally someone who knows how to teach barre chords 😊👍🏼
Thanks.
Very good
Nice tutorial Gerald. You rock . . . er, no, I mean . . . you swing
Love the swing lessons! It will take me awhile to digest as I am very new to uke but I know what I like! One thing I noted is that my chord inversion book names your Dm6 as a Dm7 so I'm a little confused about that. Since I do not also play guitar I don't know if your brain switched to guitar for a moment. Anyway, love your swing style! 😄
+Dawn Whitehead It's a Dm7, my mistake. Don't worry so much about chord names. Think of them as movable shapes up and down the fingerboard.
I totally agree. My left brain just gets a little cranky! LOL! Anyway great lesson. Thanks much for the reply. 😆
Very helpful!
Really superb, thank You!
I LOVE THIS! Darn you are amazing...Thanks for the video...
VERY nicely done! *****
I take my hat off to you sir!
Note the Dm6 bar chord shown is incorrect. (Needs to contain a B note to be a Dm6) He is playing a Dm7 bar chord. Also note that the C#Dim can also be called a C7b9.
Lovely sounding. Subscribed!
Love this, will work on it with my concert uke, you make it fun and also prob make it easier then it is, thanks for the vid x
@yourliver1:
Good luck - the tune is on my Ukulele Stomp CD. It's called "Ukulele Stomp". Wanna see my copyright? :)
Fantastic presentation......👍
+Joe Shea Thanks Joe!
Great tutorial, Gerald! I'm moving on to the next one. 8-)
Love it!
This dude has uke swag!
You are great ! thank you ive been looking for this for ages x
Just subscribed. Excellent.