Jul 9, 2018

Beginning Classical Ukulele: Lesson 4 - Dynamic Markings


This one is a challenge!

There are some difficult fingerings and dynamic markings!

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Find all my fingerstyle and chord melody solos here.

An understanding of the basics is necessary to establish before attempting this course, if you've completed the Play Ukulele NOW Method and Songbook you'll have all the basic instruction you need to do this!

IMPORTANT! Before attempting this lesson, these preliminary lessons must be mastered:

Are you holding the ukulele wrong? Avoid these 5 mistakes

Beginning fingerstyle ukulele made easy

Here's a video on beginning fingerstyle and two basic song you can play to get it down (thee piece you are about to learn in in the intro to this video)

The lessons above will lay the groundwork needed to begin classical ukulele - do not skip them.

Also you should complete the previous lessons in this mini-course as well:


Beginning Classical Ukulele: Lesson 1 - Scottish Dance - Mauro Giuliani

Beginning Classical Ukulele: Lesson 2 - Country Dance - Ferdinando Carulli

Beginning classical Ukulele Lesson 3 - Ukrainian Folk Song


Learn about Dynamic Markings


In this lesson I talk a little bit about playing softer and louder by applying more pressure to the strings. This creates dynamics which makes any piece much more exciting.

In classical music many pieces will have markings indicating where you are to play softer or louder, these are called Dynamic Markings. 

The two basic dynamic indications in music are:
  • p = piano, meaning "soft"
  • f = forte, meaning "loud"
More subtle degrees of loudness or softness are indicated by the following:
  • mp = mezzo-piano, meaning "half soft"
  • mf = mezzo-forte, meaning "half loud"

Crescendo and decrescendo:
  • crescendo translates as "increasing"
  • decrescendo translates as "decreasing"
These symbols below indicate gradually playing softer or louder (the one on the left, louder and the one on the right softer)





You will find these marking in the piece you are about to learn.


Play Fractured Mirror


There are fingerings for the right and the left hand on the piece. You will notice some challenging left hand fingerings, use the fingering indicated - no shortcuts.

In this lesson there is information bout the right hand fingering.

Hold down chords and let notes ring where-ever possible.

Specific performance notes


Measure 2 & 6: Slide up to the note on the 2nd fret from the 1st fret

Measure 3 & 4: Hold down your first and third fingers add the second and fourth while still holding your first and third

Measure 8 & 16: slowly strum the chord with your thumb at the 12th fret

Fractured Mirror PDF

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