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'Ukulele Project 2

Sanoe by Queen Liliʻuokalani

Peter Kun Frary

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In today's session we learn to play Sanoe by Queen Liliʻuokalani. Sanoe is more challenging than prior pieces due to its lyrical nature and use of notes in the fifth position. However, it is a fitting finale for Summer Session and a great piece to keep in your repertoire.

Queen Liliʻuokalani (1891) | Wikimedia Commons

Liliuokalani_1891

Sanoe Musings

Liliʻuokalani (1838 -1917) was the sovereign queen of the Kingdom of Hawai`i, ruling from January 29, 1891, until the overthrow of the Kingdom by a group of United States businessmen on January 17, 1893. She was an accomplished songwriter and musician, penning over 165 songs and chants, including Aloha ʻOe and Sanoe, the latter being the subject for this lesson.

The Hawaiian word Sanoe means "the mist that drifts over our mountains." In Liliʻuokalani's song it refers to a man drifting in like mists to see his lover.

The lyrics of the first verse translate as:

Where can you be, Sanoe?

Moistened by the lehua buds

Here I am

Waiting to hear your voice

Liliʻuokalani composed Sanoe while a princess in the court of her brother, King David Kalākaua.

Our Leeward CC 'ukulele class managed to record this wonderful performance of Sanoe in March 2020, mere days before the pandemic panic closed classroom teaching.

Sanoe | Performed by MUS 122Z students, 'Ukulele 2, at Leeward CC. Join them by playing along with this video!

New Notes

To play Sanoe, you need to learn new notes in the fifth position, the middle area of the fingerboard.

Fifth Position

What is the fifth position? Place your first finger on the fifth fret of the first string. You are now in the fifth position! The fifth position consists of frets five to eight, one fret for each of your four fingers. Why use the fifth position instead of the first position? Besides the availability of higher pitches, notes in the fifth position are more responsive to vibrato and glissando technique.

Four notes in the fifth position are used in Sanoe. Three of these notes—D, E and F—are found on the first string:

Fifth Position | Notes on the first string

Fifth Position | Notes on the first string ©FRARY

Fifth Position | Third finger holding the seventh fret E in the fifth position.

Playing with a Strap

Three notes—A, B and C—may be played on the second string in the fifth position. These notes are duplicates of the A, B and C you've been playing on the first string since the beginning of the term. Now you have a choice of where to play them!

Fifth Position | Notes on the second string

Fifth Position | Notes on the second string ©FRARY

The TAB notation for Sanoe specifies the fret positions. However, if you read notes, you are not beholding to TAB fingerings and, thus, are free to play A, B and C in either position as the spirit moves you.

Reinforce your knowledge by playing the new notes and speaking their names aloud. Recite over and over until it sticks in your ear and memory.

TAB Users

If you're reading tablature, you mainly need to get used to locating 5, 6, 7 and 8 TAB numbers and shifting up and down the neck. Nevertheless, learn the fifth position note names. This information will be useful for advanced studies of scales and chords.

Position Shift

To play notes in the fifth position, a position shift is required—movement of the hand to a different fret. When possible, keep the shifting finger in light contact with the string as you move along the fingerboard. For example, to shift from C (third fret) to E (seventh fret), quickly slide your third finger along the string, stopping on the seventh fret E. As you pluck the open A eighth note, bring the hand back to the first position. If you need more time to execute the shift, play the tied A notes open (rather than on the 5th fret).

Position Markers

Most 'ukuleles have 5th and 7th fret position markers on the fingerboard and/or side of the neck to guide shifts. It is helpful to look at the target, the fret you're shifting to, rather than looking at your hand as it moves. With practice, you won't have to look during most shifts but, for now, keep your eye on the fret!

Position Markers | A Kala Elite Doghair with position markers on the 5th, 7th 10th and 12th frets. Most 'ukuleles also have markers on the side of the neck.

RC bari 6

Accidentals

Sharp Symbol ()

So far, we've mainly used the seven natural notes of the C major scale: C-D-E-F-G-A-B. Additional tones may be created by lowering or raising the pitch of these notes with symbols called accidentals. For Sanoe, only one accidental is used, the sharp ().

Sharp Symbol | This symbol () raises the pitch of a note by a half step: a shift of one fret higher (one fret towards the body of the 'ukulele).

Sanoe's only sharp is on the F in the second measure of the second line. F is normally played on the first fret of the second string. The sharp tells the player to move the finger up to the second fret, resulting in a F-sharp. If reading tablature, you don't have to think about the sharp. Just read the number and you're good!

Sanoe and F-Sharp | Play F-sharp on the second fret of the second string.

Sanoe and F-Sharp ©FRARY

Chords

Sanoe's chord transitions are relatively easy so it's all about making them sound smooth, sonorous and beautiful.

Arpeggio

Sanoe is a ballad in triple meter and, thus, works well with the P-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio we used in several prior pieces. We use the P-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio pattern on the video and the audio recordings.

P-i-m-a-m-i Arpeggio

pimami_pattern

Sanoe and P-i-m-a-m-i | First line chords with the P-i-m-a-m-i Arpeggio.

pimami_pattern

Strum

We don't use strumming in the video and audio recording but, if arpeggios are not to your liking, the Simple Strum 3/4—a single strum on the downbeat—sounds beautiful, especially if you're working with a bass player. A warm harp-like tone is desirable in this style, so strum gently with the flesh of your thumb over the end of the fingerboard.

If you prefer a more busy pattern, the Flat-Three Strum (three down strums) imparts a gentle tropical sway to Sanoe.

Sanoe Melody and Chord Tips

Practice

Finally, get the sound of Sanoe in your ear by listening to the video and/or audio track. It's a straightforward arrangement with P-i-m-a-m-i chords, melody as written and improvised harmony and fills here and there. Once you've worked out the mechanics of the piece, practice with the audio or video recordings.