The Live Ukulele Podcast
Join Brad Bordessa, a professional ukulele teacher and performer, for insightful deep-dives, interviews, and fun on The Live ʻUkulele Podcast! In these episodes you'll explore important uke lessons, hear first-hand stories from the Hawaiʻi music scene, and get to know some of the biggest names in the ukulele community.
With a background in Hawaiian music, Brad approaches the ukulele from the intuitive side. Through tips and tricks to improve your mentality surrounding music and the philosophy of the ukulele, he provides encouragement and permission to explore this four-stringed instrument in an organic way that works best for you.
Guests from Hawaiʻi and abroad join in to share heartfelt and insightful off-the-cuff conversations on a huge range of topics.
Tune in every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month for a new episode and be sure to subscribe.
- Update frequency
- every 13 days
- Average duration
- 46 minutes
- Episodes
- 113
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Eminent Ukulele with Kimo Hussey
A conversation with ukulele grandmaster, Uncle Kimo Hussey. We talk about his breaking into the scene as a fresh Air Force retiree, his approach to teaching, how he arranges, and much more.
- Solo arr…
U-Basics - Bass for Ukulele Players
How to transition into the role of bass/U-bass player for simple ensemble playing. In this episode I provide some basic tips and thoughts on how to hold down a solid low end, find a responsible pocke…
Bryan Tolentino: Professional Fairy Duster
A conversation with Hawaiʻi's own Bryan Tolentino on being a hired gun and all the skills and musical sensibilities that are required for the job.
Bryan has played and recorded with many top Hawaiian…
Too Much of a Good Thing? Notes on Learning
In this episode I muse on how social media has changed learning ukulele and how to get the most out of using TABs!
- Kingside: https://www.kingside808.com/
- The Music Lesson book by Victor Wooten: htt…
Kevin Brown: Finding the Hawaiian Sound
In this episode I talk to Maui's own Kevin Brown. A slack key guitarist and vocalist, Uncle Kevin has been weaving Hawaiian sounds since the early 70s with his band, The Waiʻehu Sons. Now primarily a…
TLUP: After Hours - Change Strings With Me
Some last minute talk story as I head to Maui for Uncle George's ukulele workshop.
Join my newsletter! It's free and I won't spam you. Get updates on new lessons and access to exclusiv…
Spice Up Your Covers with New Genres
In this episode I discuss and demonstrate the power of playing the same song in different styles. This trick can help you find inspiration and an interpretation of a stale song that can be more authe…
Learning a Song ALL the Way Through
Can you get by with piece of a song or do you really need the whole thing?
- Moveable chord shapes workshop replay: https://liveukulele.com/register/4-27-24-workshop/
- 5/25/24 Zoom workshop on making …
I'm a Proud Uke Student at the School of Hard Knocks
Sharing some stories and thoughts on receiving critique and the power of being open.
Register for my Basic Moveable Chord Shapes workshop: https://liveukulele.com/register/4-27-24-workshop/
- Institute…
4stringboy: Shredding, lack thereof, and innovating a new thumbpick design
Sammy Turton is a Denmark-based British ukulele player. He teaches out of a studio in Copenhagen and is a top-notch social media era virtuoso who would often rather create soundscapes than shred. In …
The Most Important Part of Jamming Your Uke
In this episode I talk about how to improve your timing, how it's not as hard as people think, and give some examples of what to practice.
🔥 Sign up for my Understanding the Fretboard Zoom Workshop: h…
Hualalai Keohuloa: Rock Music is Hawaiian Too
Some of the very best artists in Hawaiʻi are unknown outside of 50 miles. So is the case with my friend, Hualalai. In this episode we talk about all music being "Hawaiian" if you have Hawaiian blood,…
Using Better Arranging to Take Your Ukulele Playing to the Next Level
Some thoughts on how to vary your song approach and arrangement to create dynamics, emotion, and interest. Don't work super hard on learning to pick every syllable, instead use broad strokes within y…
Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel: Giving Back Four Strings at a Time
Hawaiʻi's premiere ukulele power duo tell all! From integrating into the Hawaiian uke scene to fundraising for Maui to the DIY ukulele artist experience.
- Craigh and Sarah's website: https://www.crai…
Iteration: Better MPG for Your Ukulele!
How to adapt material for any stage of your learning and use it for more purposes.
- Ukulele Chord Shapes print version: https://liveukulele.com/store/ukulele-chord-shapes/print/
- The Ukulele Way: htt…
Practicing Perfection: Brittni Paiva on Ukulele, Progress, and the Craft
Amongst the greatest virtuoso ukulele players from Hawaiʻi is Hilo's own, Brittni Paiva. We talk about crazy practice hours, the new-age uke scene, music production, hearing your own songs on the ste…
Single String Songbook Announcement!
Check out the new songbook here: https://liveukulele.com/store/single-string-songbook/
Join my newsletter! It's free and I won't spam you. Get updates on new lessons and access to excl…
2023 Season Finale - Updates, an Anthem, and Mahalos
A look ahead to upcoming projects, general talk story debrief, a song, and closing thoughts.
- ʻUkulele Chord Shapes print edition: https://liveukulele.com/store/ukulele-chord-shapes/print/
- One-on-on…
Keoki Kahumoku: Hawaiian From the Heart
A conversation with Grammy-winning compilation contributor, Keoki Kahumoku, about the school of hard knocks, teaching, and bringing joy to folks with Hawaiian music.
Keoki is the founder of the Center…
Tone 2: How to Improve Your Tone (w/Examples)
Tone is one of the most overlooked aspects of playing ukulele. Good tone makes everything you play sound amazing. Bad tone, well... In this episode I share about how to improve your ukulele sound wi…