When we think of the ukulele, most people probably think of an easy and cheerful-sounding instrument that’s easy to play.
If you’re hearing the ukulele being played, there’s a good chance you’re on a beach on vacation somewhere, or that you’re just toying around with the instrument in your spare time.
Even so, the ukulele is an instrument just like any other, and just like any other, some people have mastered it quite a bit more than the casual players.
As it turns out, musician James Hill is one of those masters.
For those who don’t know, Hill is something of a prodigy at the ukulele and has made a career out of it.
Although most people think of the instrument as only being able to play simple chords and not much else, Hill goes out of his way to find innovative ways to play on it.
Aside from the simple melodies, he also works in complex finger-picking as well as tapping and other percussive techniques to make the music come to life. Although he has plenty of amazing performances online, the one we’re talking about today was posted in June 2011.
Just like any other, it begins with him walking out onstage to applause.
After a moment, he picks up his instrument and is ready to address the audience.
After that, he takes a seat and says he’s doing an unplanned performance. He sits down and takes out a pair of chopsticks along with a comb. Next, he puts the ukulele down on his lap and lowers the microphone to it.
After that, he gives some instructions to his sound engineer and gets ready. As he explains, rather than playing the ukulele in the normal way, he will use hockey tap, chopsticks, a comb and a thimble to play instead.
And with that, he tells the crowd not to film it for YouTube… looks like someone didn’t follow the instructions!
After that, he explains that he’s going to put one of the chopsticks under the strings.
Next, he shows how that addition makes the instrument sound like an electronic drumming instrument!
After that, he uses the other chopstick to scratch out a fast-paced beat that sounds nothing like traditional ukulele music. A moment later, he shows how to do “ukulele hip-hop” by doing an impromptu version of Usher’s “Yeah.”
Even so, he still hasn’t even used the comb yet!
After that, he shows how the comb can be used to add a techno sound effect to the instrument!
Before long, he’s busting out a dance groove that has the audience clapping along! Next, he starts strumming up the neck of the instrument while still beating out the percussion and the crowd goes wild.
When it’s all over, the audience gives him a huge round of applause. Since the clip was posted, it has been viewed nearly three million times!
Needless to say, Hill is incredibly talented!
The best thing about this video is Hill’s limitless creativity.
Although it doesn’t sound much like the ukulele music we’re used to, his creativity shows just how far an instrument can go when you get creative with it! If you liked this, be sure to check out his other videos online as well.
Thanks to James Hill for blowing us all away once again! Be sure to watch the whole video in the link below:
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