Feb/24/09
15comments

Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra/OutKast – Hey Ya (Chords)


WIUO/Outkast – Hey Ya (Chords)

Hey Ya was the first song I – and I suspect most people here – heard from the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra. It’s coming up on half a million YouTube views and over 500 comments – most of them saying, “Is that that dude off of Flight of the Conchords? Awesome!”

The easiest way I’ve found of playing the chords is to play the D 2225 to make it an easy slide up to 4447 for the dreaded E chord.

Suggested Strumming Pattern

For most of the chords you can use this pattern:

d – d u – u d -

But there is a time signature change in there. The D chord is one bar of 2/4. So just do two down strums for that chord. Or you could really cheat and play a baritone like that dude off of Flight of the Conchords.

Twiddly Bit

Every uke group song needs a twiddly bit in to keep the show offs in the band happy.

First part of the phrase played a bar later than in the original.

I’m way too lazy to move up and down the neck, so I prefer to play it like this:

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15 Comments

  1. zym February 24th, 2009 9:17 pm

    yay for the twiddy bits :D

  2. J-Hob February 24th, 2009 9:56 pm

    Nice one, cheers!

  3. Woodshed February 24th, 2009 10:06 pm

    zym: And that’s the technically correct term. Don’t let anyone tell you different.

    John: You’re welcome.

  4. Emily February 25th, 2009 12:12 am

    Oh my, I think I just peed in my pants a little bit. Very exciting…one that will drive the BF bonkers but that I love oh so much.

  5. Woodshed February 25th, 2009 9:01 am

    Emily: If I was him, I’d be more concerned about you peeing your pants ;)

  6. Alison February 25th, 2009 9:49 am

    The original version of this song sounds weird to me now when I hear it; it just sounds more right somehow on uke. Especially with the twiddly bits!

  7. Jeff February 25th, 2009 3:07 pm

    I thank you for putting this up. I always enjoyed this song and video.

  8. Donnie Bubbles February 25th, 2009 3:37 pm

    Your including the strumming pattern is working for me. I had seen the chords before, but couldn’t make them sound anything like the song. With your strum patterns, I was torturing humanity with this ditty in minutes. Thanks again….

  9. Woodshed March 1st, 2009 8:49 am

    Alison: I must admit, I do still like the original just a lil bit more.

    Jeff: You’re welcome.

    Donnie: Glad you found it helpful. That 2/4 bar trips me up sometimes as well.

  10. Christine Louise March 2nd, 2009 3:28 pm

    Such a fun song to play! I find that if you play an Em instead of the E it’s a little easier and sounds just as good. That’s how I play it on guitar as well.

  11. Woodshed March 2nd, 2009 9:20 pm

    Christine Louise: Snap! I play it Em on the guitar as well. It gives it a different sound, but just as good (and it makes more sense than major theoretically as well).

  12. mina March 24th, 2009 10:06 am

    Cocoon made a really nice cover of this song, that makes it sound so cute ! anyone heard it ?
    thanks a lot for the chords :)

  13. Woodshed March 24th, 2009 9:12 pm

    Mina: Yeah, I’ve heard Cocoon’s version of it. I really like it. Very different to the original.

  14. Ryan McCrillik October 18th, 2009 8:07 am

    it really is bret!!! wow!

    good song, very very simple – working on a uke/guitar collaboration from here. One day i’ll ‘hey ya’ the whole world on youtube!!!

  15. Woodshed October 18th, 2009 1:39 pm

    Ryan: Look forward to hearing it.

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