Interview with Gerald Ross

Here is a mini interview that I'm conducting with various artists that are listed on this site. Some of the same questions are presented to every artist.

Gerald Ross - Guitar, Ukulele, Lap Steel Guitar, Vintage Swing, Blues, Jazz, Hawaiian

Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar

A UkeTone Recording Artist

What the critics say... Successfully blending the sounds of jazz blues and swing, Gerald Ross has created a guitar style uniquely his own. Whether he is playing jazz standards, popular favorites, delta and urban blues, Tin Pan Alley melodies, New Orleans rhythms or boogie woogie, it's bound to be a delightful surprise to any listener.

Here is a sampling of Gerold's playing: There Will Never Be Another You

Visit Gerald's web site at: www.geraldross.com

(Curt Sheller) Musicians are always interested in gear. And for ukulele players, what tuning players use? Can you talk about your current performing setup and some of the problems you might encounter when performing using a ukulele? I know traveling with a ukulele is a lot easier than my guitar.

(Gerald Ross) I currently perform with a Talsma Tenor ukulele equipped with a MI-SI active pickup. I always use my own amp, a Roland Cube Street. The 6.5” speakers in the amp are perfect for a uke – not too big, not too small. I also use an aNueNue cutaway tenor. This uke has a passive Fishman pickup in it. With that uke I use a L.R.Baggs Parametric EQ/Pre Amp between the uke and the amp. Even though I use an amp I ask the house sound person to mic the amp. This gives a little bit more beef to the tone. My stage setup also includes a vocal mic. The acoustic sound of the uke gets picked up by the vocal mic as a by-product. This is good because it adds even more “ummpfff” to the overall sound.

(CS) I was lucky enough in my early training to hook up with a great mentor in Chuck Anderson. Tell me a little about your early influences on your playing and music?

(GR) My first instrument was guitar. I am completely self taught and never had any formal lessons on any of the instruments I play. I play guitar, ukulele, bottleneck guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin, bass, harmonica and diatonic accordion.

(CS) I've found that exploring jazz and music in general on the ukulele has made me a better guitarist. The limit of four strings all of a sudden doesn't become a limit but a benefit. How has the ukulele helped you with any other instruments you might play?

(GR)The short scale of the uke has allowed me to do things that are impossible on the guitar – namely executing multi-fret stretches with my left hand. The uke has also opened my eyes as to where things are on the guitar. Because a guitar’s scale length is so long I tended to visualize things in three fret sections. The uke has “widen” my view of the fret board and has made me more fearless about venturing outside of the three fret safety zones.

(CS) When adapting a song or composition to ukulele what are some of the challenges and how do you deal with them?

(GR)The major challenge in coming up with a solo uke arrangement is how to make the arrangement sound full without a strong bass line. I only use re-entrant tuning so this is a greater challenge. Things are a bit easier if you use a low G tuning but to my ears that tuning loses much of the “ukeness” and characteristic sound of the instrument. I also try to emphasize a strong rhythmic pulse. It’s very tempting, especially on ballads to play everything free-style with much space between the chords. That’s ok for a few numbers when performing but get’s a bit boring if every song has that feel.

(CS) How did you get your start in music and interested in the ukulele?

(GR)I started on a guitar at age 13. This was during the great guitar wave of the 1960’s when everyone wanted to be the Beatles. I bought my first ukulele in 2004 as a Christmas gift to myself. I thought I was the only person in the world still playing this instrument. The uke world was a big eye opener for me (laugh).

(CS) Soprano, Concert, Tenor or Baritone. What size ukuleles do you prefer? And, the tuning or tunings you use?

(GR)Tenor – perfect size for me. Soprano – too cramped for my hands. Concert – still too cramped but a bit better. Baritone – I’ve only heard a few Baritone ukes that sound good to my ear. I feel the scale length on a Baritone is too short to support the heavy strings associated with it. This frequently results in a flabby tone. I only use the re-entrant tuning. To my ears this tuning is the characteristic uke sound. Low G sounds too guitar-like.

(CS) How is the uke scene in your area of the country?

(GR)Very good. We have a uke group in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area that meets once a month as well as a group in Lansing that meets at Elderly Instruments. Having Elderly Instruments nearby is nice too – we get to sample all the new and vintage ukes.

(CS) You perform and present workshops at various uke festivals. What type of workshops do you present? And, do you perform solo or with a group?

(GR)My workshops range from single one-hour classes to a full week curriculum. I teach beginning and intermediate Swing style uke. We cover chord substitutions, creating solo uke arrangements, single note lead soloing, finger picking etc. I also teach beginning Hawaiian and Western Swing style lap steel guitar in C6 tuning. Over the past five years I’ve taught at the Portland Uke Fest, The Augusta Heritage Swing Week, The Lone Star Uke Fest, The New York Uke Fest, The Windy City Uke Fest, The Milwaukee Uke Fest, The 3rd Annual Ukulele Ceilidh, The Midwest Uke Fest and many more. In addition, this summer I’ll be adding the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop to my resume.

(CS) Can you talk about some of your current and future projects?

(GR)I am planning a Christmas/Hanukkah CD to be released in the fall of 2010. I feel every musician should do two things in their lives 1. Record a Holiday album. 2. Record Besame Mucho. I’ve already recorded Besame Mucho (laugh).

(CS) Can you discuss you home recording setup and recording process?

(GR)I use three software packages. Pro Tools, Adobe Audition and Band In A Box. I use Band In A Box to generate bass lines for my multi-track recordings. BIAB is a much better bass player than I am and the lines it produces sound very natural. Pro Tools and Adobe Audition are multi-track Digital Audio Workstations. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Microphone wise I use an Audio Technica mic. I also record using the portable Zoom H4N digital recorder with its built in stereo mics. I take the WAV files the H4N produces and run them thru Pro Tools or Adobe for final mixing.

(CS) I see you have a pretty active performance and tour schedule. Any business tips for fellow musicians on the business and promotion side of the business.

(GR)1. Answer your emails promptly. Waiting a week to answer an email sends a negative message. Even if you have nothing to say you should at least acknowledge that you received the sender’s email.

2. Develop a thick skin. If you don’t get hired for a gig, don’t take it personally. There are many variables not in your control why you were not hired. Learn to accept NO for an answer. Don’t hound the person who gave you the NO for a reason.

3. Hire a professional graphic artist to design your business cards, website, CD covers, stationery etc. Your cousin, girlfriend or boyfriend who is “a really good artist” many times is “not that good” and many times you are stuck using their work for fear of hurting their feelings. When you hire a professional it’s a professional relationship.

4. Keep an electronic calendar and use it religiously. If someone tells you to contact them on Thursday the 19th, write it down and contact them on the 19th. Write down the most minute details on your calendar and live by these details. Sync this calendar with a device like the iPod Touch or the iPhone – that way you’ll always have the information on you.

5. Travel light on an airplane. Do you really need to take four ukes and two amps with you? Scale back to the essentials. When traveling by car, pack whatever you want.

6. Have all the details of the gig solidified before the gig. Who pays you? When will you be paid? Is there a sound system at the venue? If food is being served (wedding) are you allowed to eat? If you are allowed to eat – where do you eat? If you are selling CDs does the house take a percentage of the sales. Are there any types of songs or music that should not be played. If you are being put up in a hotel is the hotel pre-paid? If a venue says they’ll pay you back for expenses you incur have all the receipts available to present to them.

7. If you are gigging out of town and are staying at a private residence be a good house guest. Keep all your belongings in one place – don’t spread all your luggage, instruments, clothing etc all over the place. Don’t be a slob. Don’t assume the refrigerator is open to you. If you are staying with a person for a long stretch of time help out around the house (more than once) – take the person out for a meal. Remember - the person who is your host always gets into your gig for free.