4 Uke bloggers - 4 sweet arrangements!

Wow!  It's been awhile since I've blogged.  Let's just say between my job and my family, life has been a little bit crazy. 

Recently, I had the privelage to contribute a video complete with the chords for a play along for "You've Got a Friend in me" from Toy Story.  Check out the full post here...

http://theukaholic.blogspot.com/2013/07/five-uke-bloggers-on-creating-original.html

Three of my fellow uke bloggers chimed in with some of their favorite tunes as well.  Go there!  Check it out!  Pick up your ukulele and get to playing!

Got a Letter from my Darlin' - ukulele chords

This song was originally written and performed by the Memphis Jug Band.  I stumbled upon it one day while surfing around Youtube and fell in love with this tune.  Here's me playing it complete with some kazoo solos...chords are just below the video.  Enjoy!

Bust Your Kneecaps by Pomplamoose - Ukulele Chords

I have to credit my wife for turning me onto Pomplamoose.  Very talented people.  Here's a cover of one of their original tunes and the chords for you to play it yourself.



Bust Your Kneecaps by Pomplamoose
Ukulele Chords 

Monkey Man ukulele chords - Toots and the Maytals

Yep, my daughter is totally awesome!  Here we are rockin' out to this classic ska song on the ukulele.  Monkey Man was released in 1969 by Toots and the Maytals and hit number 47 on the UK singles chart.  A lot of popular covers of this one, including a notable one by The Specials and a more recent version by the

5 ukulele songs for a beginner to learn

In the last post, we talked about and diagrammed 5 chords on the ukulele that I consider to be the most important building blocks in your ukulele journey.  Those chords are C, Am, F, G, G7.  If you missed that post, check it out here.

Now that you have the groundwork laid down with those 5 basic chords, you can start to put 'em to use and strum along with a few songs.  Here's 5 songs that you can start to work on with just those 5 ukulele

5 ukulele chords for a beginner to learn

This will be a two part-er specifically geared at all you beginners that are just picking up the ukulele.  In this first part, we'll cover 5 basic chords that I consider to be the most vital "first" chords to learn. Here's part two where we cover 5 beginner songs that use these 5 chords.

I sometimes contemplate what I would do differently if I had a Delorean and I could travel back in time to when I first started playing the ukulele....of course, I would also need a flux capacitor, but anyway....

One of things that I keep coming back to is what chords I would have chosen to learn at the beginning of my ukulele journey.  As I thought about this, I narrowed it down to 5 chords that I believe are most important and essential for a beginner to build around.  It's my hope that these 5 basic chords will be a good foundation

Bob Marley - One Cup of Coffee ukulele chords

One of my favorite Bob Marley songs!  It transfers quite nicely to the ukulele.  For those of you that aren't very familiar with ska strumming, I'm hoping to do a video tutorial one of these days with some ska

All of Me - ukulele chords

One of my favorite jazz standards.  Funny enough, the first version I heard of this song was by punk rock band NOFX.  I think I like it better when Louis Armstrong sings it.  It's a fun piece to play and you can take it in a bunch of different directions.

Thankfully, someone else has done the leg work.  Check out this link to the chords pdf from Doctor Uke.

Enjoy!

Oh! Susanna - ukulele chords

Oh! Susanna was written by Stephen foster and first published in 1848.  This song sits in an elite group as one of the most popular American songs ever written.  It plays very nicely on the ukulele.  Here's a quick chord run down that should get you playing it in no time!  As always, if you need help with any of the chord formations for your ukulele, check out the Ukulele Chord Finder.

Key of C

C...............................................D7...............G7
I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee
.....C...........................................Am.........G7.....C
I'm going to Louisiana for my true love, O, to see
C............................................................D7..................G7
It rained all day the night I left.  In the morning it was dry
......C....................................................Am...G7..........C
The sun so hot I froze to death.  Susanna, don't you cry
F.............................C.......................G7
Oh!  Susanna.  Don't you cry for me
...C............................................Am....G7......C
I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee

When the Saints Go Marching In - ukulele chords

An all around awesome song!  Rumor has it that in New Orleans you'll find some street musicians with signs that read - "$5 for requests - $10 for the Saints".
Above is my rendition with my Mom!  Any musical interest and/or talent that I have comes from her.  Here's the basic chords so you can get started playing it on your own!
By the way, the chord that I use towards the end is a Cdim.  As always, you can find any chord you need right here on the Ukulele Chord Finder.

In the key of G

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,......,,,,,,G
Oh, when the saints
(still on G)
Go marchin' in
(still on G)......................................D7
Oh, when the saints go marchin' in
......................G.........G7..........C
Oh, how I want to be in that number
.....................G...........D7.........G
When the saints go marchin' in



...just repeat and you've got it.  Lots of possibilities in this one for creative variations.  Experiment and have fun!  Happy Uke'n!

Just A Closer Walk With Thee - ukulele chords

One of my favorite gospel songs!  I still remember the first time I heard it when I was about 8 years old.  It was right around the time that White Men Can't Jump came out....if you're at all familiar with the movie, you know that the opening scene features an awesome performance of this song by the Venice Beach Boys.  Do yourself a favor and check it out here on YouTube.  You may also be asking yourself what I was doing watching such a vulgar movie at a very young age.  Well, I have an older sister and brother.  In their defense, it was the edited TV version that we had on a VHS tape.  From the moment that I first heard this tune, I knew it was awesome.  Hope this chord arrangement will be a good guide for you to start jammin' on this one.  As always, if you need to reference a chord, check out the Ukulele Chord Finder (just be sure to switch it to "soprano C" for all of you GCEA players.  Here's a little video of me playing around with it if you need a little guidance.  Enjoy!

Snazzy little intro: A, F#min, A, Cdim, D6, A, F#min, A, E7

A.........A#dim..................E7
Just a closer walk with thee
......................................A
Grant me Jesus is my plea
..............A7..............D......Cdim
Daily walkin' with thee
..........D6...A............E7.............A
Let it.....be.  Dear Lord, let it be




.....just rinse and repeat.  Oh yeah, don't forget to have fun with it!

Queen - Good Company ukulele chords

One of my favorite Queen songs!  Good Company is a nice little folky ukulele piece and it's fairy simple to play.  You can even throw in some triplets and syncopation to make it give it a little extra ragtime feel.  If you're looking for the chords, here's a link from the folks at Ukulele Hunt with chords and tabs.  We are greatly indebted to them for doing all the leg work on this one.  

Of course, this tune (written and sung by Brian May) comes off of the classic "A Night at the Opera".  This album definitely lands in my top 5.  Probably the most amazing thing about this song is the fact that all the instruments in the "jazz band" parts were played with an electric guitar.  I have a DVD of the making of this album and the part where the engineer actually solos out the individual guitar parts for this is absolutely incredible. 

Anyway...enjoy the link and happy Uke'n!

Hello Dolly! ukulele chords

Here's a little video of me playing it (with an improvised jazzy breakdown)....





And here's the chords w/ the lyrics. If you get lost on the changes or strumming patterns just refer to the video for guidance. Above all, you don't have to play it exactly the same way that I play it or anybody else plays it. Music is about having fun and experimenting!

If you need to find the chords for this one, I'd recommend this ukulele chord finder. It's a pretty nifty tool to have. If you're trying to follow my video, just make sure that you select the "soprano - C" option on the chord finder so you'll be in the same key.


Intro (on the 5th fret): D9, D7, F - do this 3 times and then......Fmaj7, (now move back down the fretboard toward the open chords), C, Cdim, Dm, G7


.....C.........................Am
Hello Dolly. This is Louis, Dolly
................C....................Cdim....................Dm........G7
It's so nice to have you back where you belong
..............................Dm
You're lookin' swell, Dolly
..............Bb
I can tell, Dolly
........................G.........................G7.........................C.....Cdim...........Dm.....G7
You're still glowin', you're still growin', you're still goin'...................strong
.....................C..............................Am
I feel the room swayin' while the band's playin'
..........Gm7............Gm6...............C7.....F.........E7
Our old favorite songs from way back when

So.....
Am.............Em
Take her wrap, fellas
Am...........................Em
Find her an empty lap, fellas
Dm........................G......G7
Dolly will never go away again

C, Cdim, Dm, G7

Jazzy breakdown part (played up on the 5th fret): Fmaj7, Dm7, Ddim, C

now play the intro part again.....and then....

...................C.................................Am
I feel the room swayin' while the band keeps playin'
............Gm7........Gm6.................C7.....F.........E7
Our old favorite songs from way back when

So.....
Am.......Em
Golly gee, fellas
Am.............................Em
Have a little faith in me, fellas
Dm.......................G.....G7
Dolly will never go away
Dm.......................G.....G7
Dolly will never go away
Dm.......................G....G7
Dolly will never go away again

C, Cdim, Dm, G7, C

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Ukulele chords

Since it's Christmas time, I thought it appropriate to finally update this blog (yeah...it's been awhile). Here's the chords to one of my favorite Christmas songs, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". I hope that you have a Merry Christmas! If you need some help with the chord formations, click here.



....Em
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
....C..............B7
let nothing you dismay
...Em
Remember Christ our Savior
....C.................B7
was born on Christmas Day
...Am...............G
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
.....Em.............D
when we were gone a-stray

Chorus:
..G..........B7..........Em
O tidings of comfort and joy,
............D
comfort and joy!
...G.........B7..........Em
O tidings of comfort and joy

The Hoosier Hotshots - "She Broke My Heart in Three Places"

So that's what it sounds like. Now, go play it yourself!

D ................................B7
She broke my heart in three places
E7 ................A7 ...............D
Seattle, Chicago and New York
D ............................B7
She led me on those wild goose chases
...........E7 ...................................A7
But brother, I trailed her like a hawk
.........D7 ...................................G
It started in the moonlight, we drifted on a lake
.............E7 ...........................................A7
Down on my knees, I whispered please, give my heart a break

....from here it repeats the with roughly the same chord structure. Just listen for the changes.

So she broke my heart in three places
Seattle, Chicago and New York
She broke my heart in four places
Toledo, Albuquerque, Minneapolis and St. Paul
She broke my heart in five places
Miami, Austin, Boston, Chattanooga and Montreal
It started in Savannah, we landed in Salt Lake
In Kokomo, I whispered oh, give my heart a break
So she broke my heart in six places
Helena, Pasadena, Frisco, Kisco, Macon and Mohawk
Besides Seattle, Chicago and New York

Tabs & Chords

  If you'd like to make your own tab or chord chart, click here for some blank chord charts and tabs!

Just click on a song....

All of Me
Amazing Grace 
Bust Your Kneecaps - Pomplamoose
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Good Company - Queen
Got a Letter from my Darlin' - The Memphis Jug Band
Happy Birthday!
Hello Dolly!
Hey Soul Sister - Train
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
I Saw Stars
It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
Just a Closer Walk With Thee
Monkey Man - Toots and the Maytals
Oh! Susanna
Old MacDonald
One Cup of Coffee - Bob Marley
Real Situation - Bob Marley
She Broke My Heart in Three Places - The Hoosier Hotshots
Staten Island Slide - Craig Robertson 
When the Saints Go Marching In

Happy Birthday ukulele chords

Happy Birthday!
Ever uke player needs to know this one!  It's a great
beginner practice piece, but it's also great to know for
celebrating all those special folks in your life!

C                 G         
Happy birthday to you

                  C
Happy birthday to you

                       G  F
Happy birthday to dear name

F     C        G  C
Happy birthday to you

Old Macdonald ukulele chords

Old Macdonald

Alright, so it's not the most exciting song of all 

time, but it's a good beginner ukulele song. 

C             F     C     C   G7  C
Old MacDonald had A farm, E-i-E-i-o
    C               F        C       C   G7  C
And on this farm he had some chicks, e-i-e-i-o
       C
With a chick, chick here and a chick, chick there
C
Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick
C             F     C     C   G7  C
Old MacDonald had A farm, E-i-E-i-o

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours ukulele chords

Once again, I found myself greatly indebted to the fine folks at ukulelehunt.com for putting together a nice pdf of this Jason Mraz tune.  Grab that ukulele and start strummin'.

Click here for the chords

Hey Soul Sister ukulele chords

I'm always thankful when someone does the work for me!  

Here's a couple versions of this song in the key of C....

Hey Soul Sister - via ukulele-tabs.com

Hey Soul Sister - via ultimate-guitar.com