Ukulele For Dummies (48 page)

Working with chord riffs

Because the ukulele is primarily a chord instrument, chord-based riffs tend to work very well. Figure 11-9 (Track 56) shows a Kinks/Black Keys-style chord riff.

Strengthening your single-note riffs

In contrast to chord riffs, single-note riffs can sound a bit weak on the ukulele.

To compensate, however, you can include
drones
(notes that sound constantly against a moving line). The drone technique works in the same way as the strumming-up method that I describe in Chapter 9. Play the riff on the E- and A-strings and play the chord backing on the g- and C-strings.

For example, the riff in Figure 11-10 is in the key of C. Listen to Track 57, Part 1, for an example.

This riff can be beefed up by adding the open g- and C-strings (from the C chord) and strumming up to them to create the riff in Figure 11-11 (Track 57, Part 2).

Combining chords and single notes

Combining the two types of riffing can be highly effective. The chord part creates a big blast and the single note part gives you room to breathe. Figure 11-12 (Track 58) is an AC/DC-style riff that combines chords and licks.

Discovering Rock Soloing Techniques

Rock guitar soloing has built up a huge array of little tricks that can be transferred to the ukulele. Some of them (such as double stops and slides) work brilliantly on the uke. Others (such as bends) present more of a challenge. This section focuses on the most effective ideas from rock and how to incorporate them into your ukulele soloing.

Double stopping

Double stops
are pairs of notes played simultaneously. They can be very effective on the uke. Playing two notes bolsters the sound and makes it more interesting.

You can use double stopping in your solos in a couple of ways:

Harmonise the notes in the lines you're playing. The result is you have a pair of notes each time with a set distance between them. Figure 11-13 (Track 59, Part 1) uses this technique to create a Fleetwood Mac-style phrase.