Slides: Smooth Note Transitions
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
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Aslideconnectstwonoteswithoutliftingyourfinger.Thepitchmovescontinuouslyfromonefrettothenext.Donewell,itmakesamelodysoundeffortless.
##HowtoSlide
Fretanote,pickit,thenmoveyourfingeralongthestringtoahigherorlowerfretwhilemaintainingenoughpressuretokeepthenotesounding.Usethepadofyourfingertip,nottheverytip.Keepthemovementeven.Landcleanlyonthedestinationfret.
##Ascendingvs.Descending
Ascendingslides(lowfrettohigh)areeasiertostartwith.Tryslidingfromthe5thtothe7thfretontheAstringwithoutre-picking.YoushouldhearasmoothglidefromEtoF#.
Descendingslidesneedslightlymoreconsistentpressuresincestringtensiondecreasesasyoumovedown.Slidefromthe7thtothe5thfret,keepingpressuresteadythroughout.
##PicktheStartortheEnd
Youcanpickthestartingnoteandthenslide,orslideintothetargetnoteunpicked.Thefirstapproachisclearerandworksinmostmelodiccontexts.Thesecondismoreexpressive,commoninbluesandvocal-styleplaying.
##UsingSlidesinPhrases
Aslideworksbestasaconsciouschoice.Whenyouplayatwo-notestep,tryitbothways-pickedseparatelyandslid-andhearwhichfitsthephrase.Notesinaflowingmelodiclinearegoodcandidates.Notesatthestartofaphraseusuallystandalone.
##PracticeExercise
OntheAstring,play:5th,7th,5th,3rdfret.Thenplayitagainwithslidesintoeachnoteafterthefirst.Thenreverse:descendwithslides.Keeppressureconsistentalltheway.Practiceuntilthemovementstopsrequiringconsciousthought.
##QuestionsandAnswers
**Howdoyouslidenotesonukulele?**
Pickastartingnote,thenmoveyourfrettingfingeralongthestringtothetargetfretwhilemaintainingenoughpressuretosustainthepitch.Usethepadofthefingerforsmoothercontact.Youcanpickthestart,theend,orneitherdependingontheeffectyouwant.
**Whydoesmyukuleleslidesoundscratchyormuted?**
Scratchinessmeanstoomuchfingerpressure-easeupslightly.Amutedslidemeanscontactbrokemid-movement-pressabitmorefirmly.Findthemiddle:firmenoughtosustain,lightenoughtomovesmoothly.