November Jam Session

GREAT jam session last Saturday at Arbor Music Store in Magnolia. It was packed! Lots of good tunes and one guy decided to treat us all to pizza at the end. Doesn't get much better than that!
This is just a teeny bit of what went on. Need to find a better place to set the camera.

Ukulele Bluegrass

It seems that every discussion I read on learning to play ukulele lists pop and modern tunes more than any other style. Now there's nothing wrong with that, but it's not my cup of tea. I like classical, jazz and, yes, bluegrass. Most of the jam sessions I can get to are bluegrass and old timey. So that's what I've been learning. 
So now I've got a new goal for my Song List section. Since there are so few examples of bluegrass played on ukulele online, I'm going to start posting songs as I learn them along with some of my other favorites.

Progress Comes Slowly

Photo not in the camper but at a friend's bunkhouse

I've been doing better with practicing. Not as much as I'd like, but some is better than nothing. And it means I'm keeping my motivation up.
There's really so much I could be doing, but with training and walking dogs, fixing meals and cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping, there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. OK I confess. I do spend way too much time checking email and FB. I tend to leave them open so I can see if there's something new so I don't have to actually open and read them.
I'm also uncomfortable practicing, especially singing, when the door to the camper is open. My neighbor only about 8 feet away and I don't know if he's a music lover or not. Most people around here spend their days watching TV. I leave the door open sometimes to get some fresh air and to keep an eye on the dogs when they're out on their lines.
I do want to do more video recording. I've found that even old videos can come in handy. Like today I was working on D notes in the third position on bass. I had several videos of me on dulcimer which were mostly all in the key of D. I had a great little practice session with myself.

Dry Spell

I just went through a dry spell as far as practicing goes. I just couldn't get motivated to get in gear and pick up an instrument. I've read lots of good advice online on how to practice, but nothing on how to discipline myself to actually DO it.
I found some inspiration on some forums. I signed up for a forum for each of my instruments. I check in every morning and have found all sorts of encouragement and good advice.
For one thing, I've tried to set up a schedule for practicing, but my days are not all the same. If I miss my practice time, it throws me into a quandary and I end up doing nothing. So, now I'm going to try to set up my schedule each morning as I have my coffee.
It's interesting to see what other players are working on. I've gotten some great tips and ideas that I want to work on. Nothing is more deadening than to play the same scales day after day. Not that I mind scales, but I need a focus. One person said he only practices the scales that are used in a song he's working on.
I've found some backing tracks for bass scales to help me with intonation. My sister sent me a web site that has backing tracks for bluegrass music. There's so much out there , I should never run out of new things to try.

I forgot to mention that I got the golf caddy for free by joining Free Cycle. People give stuff away or ask for stuff for free on the web site. I just happened to have my request read by someone giving up golf. This was a brand new, expensive titanium caddy. I never could have afforded to buy one even half as nice.

Bass Caddy

I promised you a picture of the bass loaded onto the caddy so here it is.

Most times people put the bass back against the caddy frame but that requires more modifications. I discovered that by turning it sideways, it fit right into the support for the golf bag. In fact, all the weight is on the bag support. The end peg support is not supporting any weight. It just keeps the bass in place.
The rig is really well-balanced and very light. I've had no problems going up and down stairs. The wheel base is pretty wide and sometimes I have to make room for it to get through a narrow space, but if that's the worst of my problems, I can live with it. Love the way it folds up and slips in beside the bass in the van and keeps it from rolling over.

See post below.

Another Bass Gig

I got a phone call last night and it looks like I'll be playing bass another week with the Happy Strings Band. I'm delighted. I even cleaned out the van so the bass would fit.