Jul/19/12
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Kermit the Frog – Rainbow Connection (Instrumental Tab)

Kermit the Frog – Rainbow Connection (Tab)

I’ve been meaning to do an instrumental version of this Muppet song (written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher) for ages. It’s a lovely little tune and I’ve kept things as simple as I could.

After the intro, there’s no fancy picking at all. It’s all done with the thumb.

Intro

If you want a simple, thumb-playable version of the intro you can use this:

Bars 7 and 8

Changing the fretting on the C-string from the middle finger to the index finger should make it easier to reach up to the fifth fret with your pinky.

Bars 11 and 12

Keep the notes in brackets soft. You can throw in a bit of fancy filigree here if you like but make sure it’s quiet enough so it doesn’t overpower the melody.

Same deal in bars 19 and 20; and 27 and 28.

Bars 21 to 24

Keep the fifth fret barred with your index finger.

Bars 31 and 32

I found this to be the trickiest move in the whole tune. Try keeping the fifth fret playing for the last note but start moving your other fingers ready for the A chord.

Melody Version

Rainbow Connection (Melody version)

Here’s a melody only version for you to do with as you wish.

Buy the MP3

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32 Comments

  1. kwokkie July 19th, 2012 7:47 pm

    Such a beautiful song! Thanks for posting this. It’s a bit difficult for a beginner like me at the moment, but…
    Someday I’ll learn it, the Rainbow Connection. :-)

  2. cardboardfrog July 19th, 2012 10:58 pm

    it seems like ages since you uploaded this to youtube and i’ve been waiting to learn it since,
    Also i think its your fault i had this stuck in my head at graduation, it’s not a bad thing but at the same time it’s a short song.
    Thanks very much woodshed, another good un

  3. Coco July 19th, 2012 11:49 pm

    I have been singing this all day long, can’t get it out of my head, then WHAM. You post this fantastic tablature. All my thanks are yours, good sir.

  4. Nico July 20th, 2012 5:11 am

    Beautiful! Thank you for putting this up. Good to see you bust out the Ohana too, I’ve missed it!

  5. krabbers July 20th, 2012 9:12 am

    right this is me set for the weekend, thanks Al

  6. Joanne July 20th, 2012 9:52 pm

    Nice! I did a one-note version 2 months ago~
    I am evil, so i will advertize~

    Low G edition: http://aplacetochill.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/lesson-07-rainbowconnectionlowg.pdf
    High G edition: http://aplacetochill.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/lesson-07-rainbowconnectioninc.pdf

  7. Wawi July 21st, 2012 7:42 am

    I like it! It’s so beautiful, thank u! :)

  8. Chris Q July 21st, 2012 2:18 pm

    That’s great Al; I’ve been playing a chord version (in a different key) but that’s really lovely.

  9. tooney July 22nd, 2012 9:47 pm

    You’re awesome, Al. Perfect for uke and so beautifully played. What’s the secret to getting emotion out of your playing?

  10. pepamahina July 23rd, 2012 5:52 am

    A wonderfully arranged version soulfully played. This is a great one Al, thank you.

  11. Woodshed July 23rd, 2012 3:52 pm

    kwokkie: Thanks! Good luck when you tackle it.

    cbf: Was it that long ago? I can’t even remember!

    Coco: I caught your psychic vibes!

    Nico: I actually play that uke the most.

    krabbers: I hope you had fun with it!

    Joanne: Nice work! Thanks for that.

    Wawi: Thanks!

    Chris Q: Glad you like!

    tooney: Hmm, I don’t know. It’s something I’ve never felt I’m good at. I’d say make use of dynamics. And try to play relaxed (and not speed up – which is something I’m always doing).

    pepamahina: Thanks! I’m blushing!

  12. RickyRicky July 24th, 2012 5:23 pm

    Thanks again for placing this song up… May I ask, since the original is in a key of G, and plays so wonderfully on a Low-G uke, why did you transpose it to C? Does it make it easier to pick?

    Thanks,
    Ricky

  13. Woodshed July 24th, 2012 8:21 pm

    RickyRicky: I tried out a few keys and decided I liked C best. I don’t play low-G.

  14. RickyRicky July 24th, 2012 11:38 pm

    Wow, that Uke sounded like a Low-G but now that you mentioned it… My mistake.. =) I guess I shouldn’t work and uke at the same time. heh

    Thanks again for the great tab

  15. Woodshed July 25th, 2012 10:35 pm

    RickyRicky: You shouldn’t work at all! All uke, all the time!

  16. Jimmy July 28th, 2012 6:16 am

    woodshed dun grown a beard!!!

  17. Woodshed July 28th, 2012 6:56 am

    Jimmy: Where’ve you been? That was months ago!

  18. tooney October 14th, 2012 12:50 am

    I’ve got a real love/hate relationship with that A chord in the 32nd bar.

  19. Woodshed October 14th, 2012 10:41 am

    tooney: Hmm, you could try playing it 2452 if that makes it any easier.

  20. Carol Ann January 22nd, 2014 12:59 am

    Thanks, a bunch! I appreciate your site and your ipad app. Both are helpful in helping me learn new things.

  21. Woodshed January 22nd, 2014 11:17 am

    Carol Ann: Thanks very much!

  22. Artawest June 23rd, 2014 11:47 pm

    I wanted to thank you for making the tabs and videos freely available. I just got a ukulele as a gift and your website has been helpful in getting me started.

  23. tooney June 24th, 2014 1:24 am

    Artawest: Congratulations on your ukulele. You have good taste in teachers. Woodshed is a fabulous resource for all playing levels. He’s a great arranger, great player (the videos are a huge help), he’ll answer any and all questions you have, and as you’ve seen yourself, is a really welcoming place for newbies. We’re all lucky to have him. Now if he’ll only return from holiday, dagnabit!

  24. Woodshed June 24th, 2014 10:21 am

    Artawest: Thanks very much! It’s great to hear that it’s helping.

    tooney: Thanks so much! You’re so kind. I’m blushing!

  25. Laurie October 22nd, 2015 1:12 am

    Thank you . It’s beautiful. I am going to try my best to play it!

  26. tooney October 22nd, 2015 1:52 am

    Laurie:

    Keep at it. Woodshed is a great arranger and you’ll find his arrangement will make you sound lovely. Good luck, and knock ’em dead.

  27. Laurie December 17th, 2015 3:25 pm

    Just wanted to thank you for the arrangement of this piece. I have practiced this for awhile and appreciate that the finger work is not such a stretch for my small hands. Tooney was right in saying that you are a great arranger and that you will make my playing sound lovely.

  28. Woodshed December 18th, 2015 7:18 am

    Laurie: Thanks so much! You’re both very kind.

  29. Michelle March 24th, 2016 12:32 am

    This is so great! I’ve been working on it for a while and can finally play it reasonably well.

    I really want a version with the bridge… “All of us under its spell… we know that it’s probably ma… gic…” I’m too much of a newbie to work it out. But I feel like something is missing from the song without the bridge.

  30. Woodshed March 24th, 2016 10:53 am

    Michelle: Thanks! Sorry, no plans to expand it.

  31. Alex January 16th, 2017 2:38 pm

    Thank you for this! This is now my happy song and I can’t stop humming it or practising it on my (beginner) ukulele. I am also using this to block out negative emotions. What a great tune and arrangement!

  32. Woodshed January 16th, 2017 5:15 pm

    Alex: That’s great! Glad you like it.

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