Amazing Grace - ukulele improvisation

[elisdadster]

My goodness Ken, this is just wonderful.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

@elisdadster I have recorded this tune so many different ways. One of my favourite hymns.

[TomEMun]

I like it every way you play it. That's a song that keeps changing in my mind every time I play it too. I always hear new chords and different sounds between the notes. I love to listen to your music.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

@TomEMun I must have recorded this song quite a number of times now. I try to do it differently each time.

[TomEMun]

I daydream when I hear this too....and remember all my family and friends that have passed on. YOU are sooooooo great! Thanks for posting your music!

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

@TomEMun This song is one of my favourites too. Thanks.

[Ukulele650]

Have you ever made tabs for this? it's exactly what I want to play.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

@Ukulele650 There is a version of the song (but not this one) in my Hymn Tune eBook which is available from my website.

[MLOI18775]

Very nice indeed Ken. What kind of Ukelele do you play?

Thanks.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

@MLOI18775 I mostly play Ohanas, but this one is a Kanile'a.

[MLOI18775]

@KenMiddletonUkulele Ok, great sound. Thanks.

[ncmassey1]

Enjoyed this very much!

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you.

[heyitsandres]

amazing.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks.

[LaMelodieHiladih]

Its a really good version to daydream ;)

Awesome!

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks.

[LauKinSing]

I liked the jazz touch, i'd have liked to hear more of that in personal preference. But very nice job. Have any tips for a starter ukulele player? :D

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

1. Concentrate on a good tone. Almost any ukulele is capable of producing a good sound sound.

2. Smooth finger nails.

3. Practice what you can't do, not what you can.

[LauKinSing]

@KenMiddletonUkulele thanks, I know I read this a little late. 3 weeks late. But the advice is a great help.

[abecane]

ayayay this is beautifuul..

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks.

[northernhawk]

pretty good

[tryuker]

Very pleasant redition. A great hymn too!

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks.

[tryuker]

Hi Ken, I've been playing ukes since I was 10 and now 72, however I first heard this hymn when I was about 14 and loved it ever since. It's good to hear the uke again so prominent in its current revival. All the best!!

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks.

[sinner48]

nice job ken

[okvolleyball]

great job .

[ukulelesinger]

Sweet.

[jennaestar]

wow. pretty. *****

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks.

[woodstocksp3]

This is awesome! Great job, I love your style! 5 stars without a doubt.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks very much. Your comments are really appreciated.

[phillipsderek]

Nice! Loved the improvised section, especially the palm muting. Unusual effect for a uke but it worked well.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks Derek.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Actually, Derek, I didn't even know I was doing any palm-muting. But I've just looked at again and you are right, of course.

[jazzju]

Very nice. Some blues, some folk, and some reverb. :-)

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you, Jeremy.

[SierraNevadan]

Loved it Ken.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks very much, Lynn.

[doogey9]

Ken,

I really enjoyed this.....and the slight reverberation was perfect.....very sweet sounding.

Todd

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you, Todd.

[g0dkarma1]

Amaz....;)Always a pleasure Ken.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you.

[GrumpyCoyoteTunes]

Beautiful - love the improv. Really sweet tone.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

The Kanile'a tenor comes over really well doesn't it.

[scooterrev]

To misqoute some old pop tune lyrics, "I like dreamin'. Cause dreamin' can make it mine." Nice new twist on an old familiar hymn. Dream on.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you Darrell.

[deach69]

Awesome Ken. This is your version of "rocking out"!

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

It's as close as I usually get, Deach. But there's certainly lots of mistakes.

Thanks again. KEN.

[deach69]

But when you rock out, it's not about accuracy. It's about going with the feeling and getting lost in the music. It was nice seeing you do that.

[iamblinkin]

Great job Ken :)

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks very much.

[russbuss415]

wish i could improvise like you. that was amazing indeed!

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

thanks Russ. I haven't played the ukulele long, but I have played one instrument or another for around half a century.

[casetone2514]

Great variations on a well known theme. You took the tune to some really unexpected places that were very pleasant to visit. Particularly liked the blues run-down at the end.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

I lost track when I went into auto-pilot.

[casetone2514]

I used to play with a group of friends and if one of us went "off-piste" a bit whilst improvising the cry would be, "it's close enough for jazz". Auto pilot can be a good improvisational tool as long as it doesn't take you too far off course. Trouble is, how far is too far? Anyway, as I say, I really enjoyed the variations.

[UKISOCIETY]

Great improvising, Ken. I love to do that with hymns, but haven't done so in a while. It's interesting to see the creative process in action.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks you, Alan.

[apassionateplayer]

gorgeous. Ukelele captures this song in a way few ohter instruments could.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

The ukulele is amazingly versatile, isn't it?