Category Archives: Fingerstyle

UD#73 Chord Weaving: Finger-picking Patterns

Posted on by

Chord Weaving: Finger-picking Patterns (UD#73) from Ukulele in the Dark with Guido Heistek   Sometimes we want a different sound from strumming. Something perhaps a little more sparse, spacious, woven together. So, it can sometimes be nice to pick the notes of a chord one at a time, instead of strumming it. This is sometimes referred to as “playing broken chords.” The simplest way to do this is to fret a chord in your left hand and pick the notes one at a time with your right hand. Here is an example with a C chord. We pick one string   …Continue Reading

UD#53 Latin Rhythms: Picking Patterns for Bossa and Samba!

Posted on by

Latin Rhythms: Picking Patterns for Bossa and Samba!  (UD#53) from Ukulele in the Dark w/ Guido Heistek Here’s a video of me playing a tune called Blue Bossa with my Mya Moe baritone, Martin T-1 and a little help from my looper pedal. Please give the video a look. It will give you an idea of the type of the rhythm and groove that I am interested in teaching today. BASIC BOSSA NOVA: Before I start talking about technical details like fingering and counting I’d like you to get a really clear idea of the rhythm that we are going   …Continue Reading

UD#30 Thumb and Finger Notes: Travis Picking

Posted on by

UD#30 Thumb and Finger Notes: Travis Picking from Ukulele in the Dark w/ Guido Heistek Travis picking is a right-handed finger picking technique named after Merle Travis, here is a video: As you can hear from the video, Travis picking creates a beautiful layered texture where the thumb of the right hand lays down a steady beat as the fingers (or finger in the case of Merle) add chord and melody notes. It’s very important technique for playing folk and blues music. Also many singer-songwriters use it as a staple technique. Players like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney and   …Continue Reading

Welcome to Ukulele in the Dark. I am regularly creating new lessons for this site. Please subscribe below to receive every new lesson by e-mail. Be sure not to miss a thing!


________________________

CHORD MELODY CLUB
________________________

 

…also…

Private Online Lessons now available through ZOOM!
>SEND ME AN E-MAIL TO INQUIRE<


________________________

Something else to help you learn?

Screen Shot 2016-04-16 at 2.09.13 PMCHORD MELODY BOOK
Learn to play beautiful solo ukulele arrangements!
-Get a Copy-

 

Need help with your strumming? Try this…
HEAR THE STRUM!-VIDEOHear The Strum-DVD or INSTANT DOWNLOAD


For your listening enjoyment…
Guido Heistek-Solo Ukulele CDForSaleSolo Ukulele copy-CHECK IT OUT HERE-


SUPPORT UKULELE IN THE DARK


GIVE A LESSON AS A GIFT!
>GIFT CERTIFICATES<

MYA MOE BARITONE:

Bio

Guido Heistek holds a B.F.A. Music from Concordia University in Montreal and is a CANSTAT certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. He makes his home in Vancouver, BC.  Guido has performed in the US, Japan, Canada and Europe, and has worked as both an arranger and consultant for stage and film. Guido teaches private and small group lessons at his downtown studio: Yaletown Music . In 2011, Guido released Hear the Strum,  an instructional DVD which teaches ukulele students how to strum by ear and from the heart. In 2013 he released a CD, Guido Heistek – Solo Ukulele. In 2016, Guido released The Chord Melody Book for Ukulele.

To book a lesson or consult call:

604-605-0174   or
Send me an e-mail.

VIDEOS:

I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE:

BLUE BOSSA:

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW:

HEISTEK and PLATO:

BLUES JUST TAKE THEIR TIME (Heistek and Plato):

DON'T TAKE TOO LONG (Madeleine Peyroux):

Trip to Japan:

What people are saying…

“I just want to express my appreciation for your wonderful tutorials! I am very grateful and amazed to find a wealth of information expressed in such clear detail.”

READ MORE