Ukulele Playalongs

As it’s my brother’s birthday today, here’s a swift post giving the Number One when he was born – Frank & Nancy Sinatra singing Something Stupid. For your delectation, here’s a strumalong with Stu Kulele:

 

Uke Tubes

Today would have been the 74th birthday of Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien (better known as Dusty Springfield). So here is Richard G performing his arrangement of the Bacharach & David number The Look of Love on his 1920s Gibson:

 

UkeTubes

Here’s a cheery little Tom Waits blues number for Easter - Chocolate Jesus, played by Nigel D’Eon:

 

UkeTubes

Here’s a charming cover of Japanese uke player Tsuji-Ayano’s Kaze Ni Naru (The Cat Returns Theme) from Claire:

 

UkeTubes

As today would have been George Harrison’s seventieth birthday, here’s a video from his final album Brainwashed where he’s ukeing with a few pals on the Harold Arlen & Ted Koehle number Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea:

 

PLUCking Ukes – Striking A Chord

After discussions at recent club nights from Chris & Paul about movable chords & different chord fingerings, here’s another article to help those with little or no music theory background learn about major chords.

Do have a look at our very basic intro to musical notes for complete beginners; notes on the ukulele fretboard and the Circle of Fifths (which helps explain about the different keys) first if you’re totally new to these areas.

 

Chord A Day

Csus4 ukulele chord – 31 Jan (Photo credit: Ukulele Chords)

Fancy learning a new chord every day? Then hop over to Curt Sheller’s All Things Ukulele site.

There are also a number of other useful free resources on there – including lots of lessons covering chords, techniques, learning the fingerboard, strumming, finger-picking, scales, rhythm, ear-training & songs.

Jeanette

 

PLUC Tales – Five Years & Loving It – Simon’s Ukulele Ramblings

Simon’s Well-Used Makala Uke

I’ve been playing ukulele for five years now. It began when my friend James to stay with his wife and children for the weekend in July 2007 armed with a blue Mahalo ukulele. He taught me some basic chords jotted on a piece of scrap paper and I learned I’ve Got The Whole World In My Hands. It felt really good and from this moment I was hooked. James had been taught by Mr C from the UPHoS group in Sudbury Suffolk, who was running a school club at the primary school they both worked in.

 

PLUCking Ukes – Striking A Chord

Mojo practices the uke (Photo credit: petehoffswell)

We’ve mentioned in some of our previous postings that it can be helpful to split up your playing into different components – eg chords (melody), strumming (rhythm) & singing – either to help you focus on improving each of those aspects or just when learning a new song.

Rod Higuchi (Uncle Rod), from Seattle Ukulele Players Association (SUPA), has produced a number of useful free resources to assist with developing your ability to make smooth, consistent chord changes:

 

UkeTubes

As it’s currently snowy over much of the UK, I’ve been asked to post a weather-related song before it all thaws! Here’s a cover version of Ingrid Michaelson’s Men Of Snow from Daniel Thompson: