Tahitian Ukulele Playing Information

Compiled by Gerald Readore

greadore@airmail.net

Tahitian Ukulele Playing Info

Ive noticed that a lot of Tahitian songs are played in the Key of C.

A typical I-IV-V chord progression that may be played: CFG7 or (G) C

C chord Positions

F Chord Positions

* ignore fingering notes on G and C strings

G7 (G) Chord Positions

Lead "EE" Strings Notes

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKWyyszpbBo&feature=channel_video_title)

Lead work is done by strumming a C6 chord (all open strings) and playing different notes on the "EE" string: Open: EE note, 1 fret: F note, 3 fret: G note, 5 th th note, 10 fret: D note, 12 fret: E note
st rd th

fret: A note, 7

th

fret: B note, 8

th

fret: C

Can also play the F chord as an F6 chord shown above and add the B & th th C notes at the 7 and 8 frets of the "EE" string while strumming

Can also play the G chord as an G6 chord shown above and add the C & D th th notes at the 8 and 10 frets of the "EE" string while strumming

Double-Stop Thirds
In a lot of Tahitian music you may hear double-stop thirds being played on the ukulele. See below for a figure showing notes in the C Major scale and double-stop thirds in the Key of C played on the C & E and E & A strings. These double-stop thirds are basically abbreviated chord forms that can be substituted for a regular chord. For example, if you add the notes in () you get the normal chord shape. Try working these out for the other figures below or for other keys.

Dm

Em

Am

Bm

Dm

A|--------(2)----(3)---(5)-----(7)-----(9)----(10)--------------| E|--1------3------5------7------8------10------12------13-------| C|--2------4------5------7------9------11------12------14-------| g|-(2)-------------------------(9)----(11)----(12)--------------| Double-stop Thirds on the C and E strings

Am

Bm

Dm

Em

A|--0------2------3------5------7------8-------10------12----| E|--1------3------5------7------8------10------12------13----| C|---------------------------------------------------------| g|---------------------------------------------------------|

Double-stop Thirds on the E and A strings

Dm

Em

Gm

Am

Bb

Dm

A|-------------------------------------------------------------------| E|--1------3------5------6------8------10------12------13------------| C|--2------4------5------7------9------10------12------14------------| g|-------------------------------------------------------------------| Double-stop thirds on the C and E strings

Gm

Am

Bb

Dm

Em

A|--0------1------3------5------7------8-------10------12------------| E|--1------3------5------6------8------10------12------13------------| C|-------------------------------------------------------------------| g|-------------------------------------------------------------------| Double-stop thirds on the E and A strings

Check out the videos below for further info on double-stops. Not all on ukulele, but the concept is the same. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0_GP0Ov6oU&feature=channel_video_title (C&E strings) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp4yw1IkGAs&feature=channel_video_title (A&E strings) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emGsKtxU8dA&list=FLYfBnPJXKpjqFIg-Ga3Su-A&index=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KpU6pkMQ2o&list=FLYfBnPJXKpjqFIg-Ga3Su-A&index=2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBCfcbBKu8A&list=FLYfBnPJXKpjqFIg-Ga3Su-A&index=3

Tahitian Ukulele Instructional Videos on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI_FGFimiqg&feature=channel_video_title Kanua Ukulele DVD Intro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGMTreHdd_Y&feature=channel_video_title

Tuning and Bridge positioning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g54jHOoUnjc&feature=channel_video_title

Tuning Backwards http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-kFhkd3sgs&feature=channel_video_title Standard Ukulele Chords http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0UDA__jHpk&feature=channel_video_title Alternate Ukulele Chords http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgV_jRAzs24&feature=channel_video_title Higher Octaves of C Chord http://www.youtube.com/user/kanua8#p/u/3/50N53hYdde8 Higher Octaves of G7 Chord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcYlXcJj8CI&feature=channel_video_title Summary of Higher Octaves Chords http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP7dgYCNVfI&feature=channel_video_title Beginner Intros http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb6zOl2bU9A&feature=channel_video_title Advanced Intros http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT-GOfodc88&feature=channel_video_title Exits to Songs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVRMDlzk91o&feature=channel_video_title Strumming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbj2Pi-Ahlo&feature=channel_video_title Advanced Strumming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKWyyszpbBo&feature=channel_video_title Lead Work on EE Strings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtg0-9IRg3Q&feature=channel_video_title Ukulele Lead Work on F & G7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDMrctLLccY&feature=channel_video_title Ukulele Lead Work Summary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfRQdi4OmgA&feature=channel_video_title Kanua 8 String Ukulele Demo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI9ZUId2dII Tahitian Ukulele Lesson in Rarotonga http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_TpWc3gmm8&feature=related Pahoho Tahitian Ukulele Lesson (in French) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDifXI5uFx8&feature=related Pahoho played on the Tahitian Ukulele http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0_GP0Ov6oU&feature=channel_video_title Double-stops on the C & E Strings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp4yw1IkGAs&feature=channel_video_title Double-stops on the A & E Strings

Tamarii no Tahiti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGA5NxTC3Zc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqFZI8TVWQI

Here is a nice Tahitian song thats not hard to play where you can try out some of the info. in this document. Experiment with octaves of the chords, lead work on the EE strings and double-stop thirds.

C F6 C Tamari'i n Tahiti i mua (x2), F6 G C 'A ti'a i ni'a. mai te hitira'a o te r (x2), F6 G C Haere i mua, haere i mua aue (X2)

Intro 1 (similar to whats heard in the YouTube video)

F6 G C
A|-----5------------5----10------------7----10----------------------| E|-8-7-5-------10-8-7-OR-7-------12-10-8-OR-0-----------------------| C|-----5------------7----7-------------7----0-----------------------| g|-----5------------7----7------------------0-----------------------|

Intro 2 (alternate with melody on the AA strings)

F6 G C
A|-3-2---------5-3--2--------7-5--3-----3---------------------------| E|-----1------------3---------------OR--3---------------------------| C|-----2------------2-----------------------------------------------| g|-----2------------------------------------------------------------|

The Tahitian Ukulele

The following information about the Tahitian ukulele is taken from Wikipedia: The Tahitian ukulele is significantly different from other ukuleles because it does not have a sound box. The bodyincluding the head and neckis usually carved from a single piece of wood, with a wide conical hole bored through the middle. A tahitian Ukulele can often be carved out of three pieces of wood with the sides being made out of different woods. This is however just for decoration.

At the back, the bore is about 4 cm in diameter; at the front it is about 10 cm in diameter. The hole at the front is covered with a thin piece of wood, on which the bridge sits, so the instrument works rather like a wooden-skinned banjo. Indeed, some of these instruments are referred to as Tahitian banjos. The strings are usually made from light-gauge fishing lineusually green in colour (usually around 4050 lb).

The instrument seems to be a relatively recent invention, popular in eastern Polynesia, particularly French Polynesia. It is reported to have been introduced to the Cook Islands in 1990 by the band Te Ava Piti as a newly invented instrument.

Tuning a Tahitian ukulele

These instruments may have just four stringsor some strings may be paired, so that the instrument has six or eight strings. The strings or pairs (courses) are tuned to A6 D6 F#6 B5 or G5 C6 E6 A5 (See Scientific pitch notation for a description of these codes). After the Hawaiian ukulele was invented, the Hawaiians referred to a similar, eight-string instrument tuned GCEA as a taro-patch fiddle. Before the invention of the ukulele, taro-patch fiddle referred to the rajo. Those who are familiar with ukulele chords will find that the same chord shapes will fit these tunings, but that the chords will be transposed and inverted.

I bought my Tahitian ukulele from Mr. Kaota Puna of Kanua Ukuleles located in Auckland, New Zealand. The following is information he provided about tuning the ukulele. Yes the Tahitian and Cook Island ukuleles are tuned to GG CC EE AA. However, the EE strings are the highest tuned strings on the ukulele and are an octave higher in sound . EE strings are the highest tuned followed by CC, AA and GG that is the lowest tuned strings on these Tahitian Cook Islands style ukuleles. Another way is to tune it to the D G B strings on a guitar then tune it to G, go down to the 5 fret Play the D string at this point on the 5 fret and this will be G Play the G string at this point on the 5 fret and this will be C Play the B string at this point on the 5 fret and this will be E Play the D string at this point on the 7 fret and this will be A
th th th th th

Ukulele Strings
As far as the strings go, they are basically monofilament fishing line. Ive seen websites stating different lbs test line being used; anywhere from about 20lbs to 40 lbs. From the info I got with my ukulele, Mr Puna said he uses 10kg, 0.45mm Black Magic fishing line. He also said there is another brand called Eagle Claw that can be used. He did state not to use Trace Line.

Places to Buy Tahitian Ukuleles

Asonu http://www.asonu.com/ Probably the best place to buy a Tahitian ukulele. Prices are reasonable and the sound is good.
Bora Bora Realtor http://www.tahitiukulele.com

Marquesas island style ukes shipped from California. Prices seem reasonable Black Pearl Designs http://www.blackpearldesigns.net/tahitian-ukulele.html

Tikiri Polynesian Instruments http://www.tikiripolynesianinstruments.com/uke.htm For more information and to order an ukulele, call 1-808-822-9447

E-bay Tahitians ukuleles appear on E-bay from time to time

Craigslist (Try Hawaii & California)