100 Days of Ukulele - 48/100 - “Shake Sugaree”
Originally Uploaded May 20, 2018. Day 48/100: “Shake Sugaree” (1967) became famous after it was recorded by Elizabeth Cotten (but I don’t know if she wrote it or if the lyrics go back further than that). Cotten is also well known for “Freight Train,” which she wrote when she was eleven years old, and I do love that song, but I like this one even more. Recording ten verses with identical chord structure and melody is an interesting challenge -- by about verse 8, I felt like my picking pattern was simultaneously running on auto-pilot AND falling apart. I sort of couldn’t feel the strings under my fingers anymore. Today’s also the first day I threw in the little three-note picking run, to get closer to Cotten’s original sound, so that needs work. Cotten played guitar so beautifully -- and she did so as a left-hander with a guitar strung for a righty but held upside down (!) -- so I have a long way to go. Even simplified, though, this is a fun song. It’s so repetitive that playing it is more like practice drills than other songs, but it’s sweet enough I don’t get tired of it. I hope you’ll forgive the rough spots. --- Anyone can join my free, public monthly Zoom and YT playalongs. Find the dates on Patreon (you do not have to be a Patron to view them or to join): https://www.patreon.com/posts/faq-helpful-80384009 SUPPORT: To help me write and share songs, chord sheets, and tutorials, consider supporting me on Patreon (and get bonus content): https://www.patreon.com/newukenewyork Thank you, current Patrons, for your support! MORE LINKS: Practice With Me playlist: https://tinyurl.com/practiceuke One-Take Tutorials playlist: https://tinyurl.com/onetaketut Livestream Clinics: https://tinyurl.com/livestreamclinic New Uke New York Song Index: https://tinyurl.com/NUNYIndex
Originally Uploaded May 20, 2018. Day 48/100: “Shake Sugaree” (1967) became famous after it was recorded by Elizabeth Cotten (but I don’t know if she wrote it or if the lyrics go back further than that). Cotten is also well known for “Freight Train,” which she wrote when she was eleven years old, and I do love that song, but I like this one even more. Recording ten verses with identical chord structure and melody is an interesting challenge -- by about verse 8, I felt like my picking pattern was simultaneously running on auto-pilot AND falling apart. I sort of couldn’t feel the strings under my fingers anymore. Today’s also the first day I threw in the little three-note picking run, to get closer to Cotten’s original sound, so that needs work. Cotten played guitar so beautifully -- and she did so as a left-hander with a guitar strung for a righty but held upside down (!) -- so I have a long way to go. Even simplified, though, this is a fun song. It’s so repetitive that playing it is more like practice drills than other songs, but it’s sweet enough I don’t get tired of it. I hope you’ll forgive the rough spots. --- Anyone can join my free, public monthly Zoom and YT playalongs. Find the dates on Patreon (you do not have to be a Patron to view them or to join): https://www.patreon.com/posts/faq-helpful-80384009 SUPPORT: To help me write and share songs, chord sheets, and tutorials, consider supporting me on Patreon (and get bonus content): https://www.patreon.com/newukenewyork Thank you, current Patrons, for your support! MORE LINKS: Practice With Me playlist: https://tinyurl.com/practiceuke One-Take Tutorials playlist: https://tinyurl.com/onetaketut Livestream Clinics: https://tinyurl.com/livestreamclinic New Uke New York Song Index: https://tinyurl.com/NUNYIndex