May/20/10
20comments

Classical Ukulele Tabs


Francisco Tarrega – Study in E Minor

Pdf-Minstrel is a new ukulele tab site with an interesting perspective. The idea behind it is that you just use the top three strings of the uke.

The big advantages of it are that it’s easier for beginners to pick up and the same arrangement on re-entrant, low-G and baritone.

Although I do have reservations (if you’re not using the re-entrant string you’re missing the joy of the ukulele) I think it’s an excellent way to start out and there’s no arguing against the beauty of Tarrega’s Study in E Minor when it’s played this way.

Now that he’s decided to concentrate on three-string arrangements, the site’s author was kind enough to send me a bunch of his four string arrangements of classical tunes for re-entrant ukulele. And very good they are too.

Dionisio Aguado – Waltz
Spanish Traditional – El Testamento
Anon – Greensleeves
Japanese Traditional – Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
Anon – Nonesuch
Anon – Packington’s Pound
Anon – What If a Day
Japanese raditional – Takeda (Japanese Lullaby)
Anon – Where Are Those Eyes
J. S. Bach – Gavottes 1 & 2 From 6th Cello Suite
J. S. Bach – Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
Ludwig van Beethoven – Minuet
Ludwig van Beethoven – Ode to Joy
Johannes Brahms – Brahms Lullaby
Mateo Carcassi – Adantino
Ferdinando Carulli – Country Dance
Gaspar Sanz – Canarios
Fernando Sor – Moderato
Francisco Tarrega – Lagrima

Visit Pdf-Minstrel

20 Comments

  1. Armelle May 20th, 2010 9:32 pm

    I didn’t know the site TRI-TABS.
    There are plenty of tabs to choose from in this post, so thanks for the links!
    Excellent playing of Tarrega’s study in E minor. I really like it. I am definitely going to try and learn that piece.

  2. Woodshed May 21st, 2010 7:23 am

    Armelle: It’s brand new, so you’re forgiven for not knowing! Good luck with the piece.

  3. L.bo Marie May 21st, 2010 12:57 pm

    I’m going to be very good and not make and yoda comments about “and very good they are too”… oh…wait…
    ;)
    just got an email from the boss, work is delayed for 2 hours… I’m going out to the garden to try some of these out!
    Thanks

  4. alec May 21st, 2010 1:12 pm

    You ruined it for me by introducing John King’s books; nothing’s fun anymore, and nothing sounds as good if it’s not campanella. Still fun to re-arrange them a bit to include the fourth string and campanella style. Your classical book will use campanella I figure?

  5. HumbLE uKer May 21st, 2010 3:00 pm

    Thanks Al for the nice video and for letting me and a few others know about this TRI-TAB site. It gives me an added benefit of not having to choose which ukulele to play. I personally really enjoy thse classical arrangements in general since they work on finger picking and musical timing.

  6. Woodshed May 22nd, 2010 5:37 am

    L.bo Marie: Make me wish I had a garden you do.

    alec: Some of it will be. And some of it will be more strum based. I’m trying to move away from campanella style a little for the ebook because I don’t want it to be a JK rip off.

    HumbLE uKer: Glad you like them.

  7. Bossarocker May 22nd, 2010 12:15 pm

    Nice vid, Al. I see what you mean now about the small, ladylike hands ;-)

  8. snojimbo May 26th, 2010 10:33 am

    Thanks Woodshed for promoting Tri-Tabs. It’s a nice website for introducing us newbies to the joys of fingerpicking (ooer missus). Within a few minutes I was playing a (just about) recognisable version of Hey Jude. The wife ‘named that tune’ after my second attempt, so I was very pleased with myself. Makes a change from strumming.

  9. Sterling May 27th, 2010 6:24 am

    The version of El Testamento is absolutely amazing, it sounds almost as nice as it would if played on a normal guitar or spanish guitar. Good find Woodshed!

  10. Woodshed May 27th, 2010 8:45 am

    snojimbo: Glad you’re finding it useful.

    Sterling: Thanks, although the praise shouldn’t go to me.

  11. José Damián January 22nd, 2011 6:48 pm

    Really nice, I´m going to try it now. Someone feel like to tab the Tarrega´s Big Vals? Maybe I´ll try it soon…

    Thanks

  12. sopian agus April 16th, 2011 8:24 am

    wonderpull….

  13. James June 6th, 2011 9:30 pm

    This is a beautiful arrangement – it manages to capture Tarrega’s study on a ukulele without losing the beauty of the piece.
    Great work, seriously great work.

  14. Woodshed June 7th, 2011 12:26 am

    James: Glad you enjoyed it.

  15. Rona Cooper June 25th, 2011 10:44 pm

    Thanks for those tabs. It is lovely to hear a ukulele can be played in those classical tunes. I appreciate your work on these for our pleasure, learning and fun.

  16. Chae young July 12th, 2011 7:20 am

    What if a day is originally composed by Thomas Campion but John Dowland made it popular with his lute. :) Just a piece of random info.

  17. Woodshed July 14th, 2011 7:23 am

    Rona: Thanks! Glad you like.

    Chae: Thanks very much for the info.

  18. Mat/Tia August 12th, 2011 2:52 pm

    I could be wrong, but I think the Tarrega study in E minor has a 3/4 time signature, not a 4/4.

  19. Woodshed August 13th, 2011 8:57 am

    Mat/Tia: Yeah, I’m pretty sure you’re right.

  20. BasementRuthie November 30th, 2011 12:30 pm

    I have a question: does this piece ever get called Romanza, or Romance d’Amour? Or is it a piece that gets mashed up with Romanza a lot? My dad wanted me to find the tabs and learn a piece of music he called Romanza, but I keep finding this Tarrega in Em.

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