Erste Ubungsstucke fur Solo Ukulele
Wilfried Welti has just released a new free tab ebook Erste Ubungsstucke fur Solo Ukulele and was kind enough to let me share it. The arrangements are very simple and suitable for people just starting out with solo ukulele.
It goes along with his solo ukulele crash course for people new to solo ukulele (it’s currently in German only but he’s working on an English version and Google does a reasonable job in the meantime).
Links
Winter Wonderland (Tabs)
I did the chords for this Bernard and Smith tune way back in 2008 so it’s long overdue a run through a tabbed version.
I’ve gone with a chord arrangement for most of the tune. That means I’m just holding down chords and strumming. Then emphasising the melody while letting the other strums hang back.
The other main technique is picking the C-string with my thumb and flicking my index finger up across the E- and A-strings. I do that right at the start of the verse (second half of bar 4) and in the, “In the meadow…” section (bars 14-19).
The only bit of pure fingerpicking comes in the descending line in bar 20.
Links
Even though it features no animal noises whatsoever*, A Christmas Fucking Miracle is one of my favourite Christmas songs.
For this tab of the intro I’m picking all the strings at the same time. That way all the notes are played simultaneously just like a piano (as opposed to strumming where they sound at very slightly different times). It seems like a subtle difference but it really helps match the sound of the original.
Links
Buy it on iTunes
RunTheJewels.net
More Christmas tabs
* Unexpected connection: That Colbert bit was directed by Christmas ukulele album maker Ballard C Boyd
Time for the annual Uke Hunt Christmas time-waster.
– Grab a pen and paper
– Display knowledge.
– There might be spoilers in the comments.
– Check the answers here (no peeking).
– Return in triumph or despair and share you score in the comments.
If you’re reading by email or feed reader you may need to click through to the post to see everything.
Name the Chord
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Name the Brand
Click for a bigger version.
6.
By The Donotron
7.
By LazyLibrarian
8.
By FolsomNatural
9.
By Kyle Nishioka
10.
By NGdesigner
Name the Cover
Who first released the songs these ukulele orchestras are covering?
11. Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
12. Exeter Ukulele Club
13. Tickhill Ukulele Group
14. Jerome Ukulele Orchestra
15. Grand Old Uke of York
Name the Celeb
16.
a) Patti Labelle
b) Maya Angelou
c) Michelle Obama
d) Oprah Winfrey
17.
a) Dolly Parton
b) Madonna
c) Cyndi Lauper
d) Cameron Diaz
18.
a) Shailene Woodley
b) Cara Delevingne
c) Margo Roth Spiegelman
d) Jennifer Lawrence
19.
a) The Kardashians
b) The Real Housewives
c) America’s Next Top Models
d) The Osbournes
20.
a) Nerd³
b) Jacksepticeye
c) PewDiePie
d) Markiplier
Name the Lyric
Which songs – oft covered on ukulele – are these lyrics from?
21. I see trees of green/Red roses too.
22. I look at the world and I notice it’s turning.
23. Magic, madness, heaven, sin/Saw you there and I thought/Oh my God, look at that face.
24. I’m laughing at clouds/So dark up above.
25. Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains.
Name the Theme Tune
This is a uked version of the theme tune to which…
26. …recently revived 80s supernatural movie.
27. …90s sitcom.
28. …TV medical drama.
29. …animated series.
30. …blockbuster podcast.
Check the answers here
Past Quizzes
Ukulele Quiz 2014
Ukulele Quiz 2013
Ukulele Quiz 2012
Ukulele Quiz 2011
Ukulele Quiz 2010
Ukulele Quiz 2009
The Pretenders – 2000 Miles (Chords)
I’ve written up the live version of this one because it’s lovely (as is Mark Kozelek’s version). The only difference in the arrangement is the long, faded in intro is cut down.
It’s dead easy to play. Just three chords and you can use one strum all the way through. The only weirdness is the lyrics fit around the chords a little strangely.
Suggested Strumming
You can use this strum all the way through:
d – d u d –
In the verses play that twice for G then once each for C and D. In the bridges do it twice for each chord.
Twiddly Bits
There are a couple of ways you can play the riff. This version sticks closely to the original:
But I like playing it adjusted a bit and with a capo at the 7th fret:
Here’s how that looks:
Playing the chords with a capo at the 7th fret also sounds great. You just need to change the chords you use. With the capo instead of C – D – G it’s F – G – C.
Here’s a version with one uke playing the low chords, one playing the high chords and one playing the capoed intro:
This quick descending lick crops up at the end of the intro to the original version:
Links
I’m taking my How to Play Ukulele Chord Progressions ebook off sale at the end of the year. It was the first one I wrote and it’s a bit long in the tooth compared to my others. If you want to get it before it departs I’ve dropped the price from $17 to $7 until it leaves. You can pick up a copy here.
New Releases
– New record on the way from UOGB Ever Such Pretty Girls. It’s a collection of punk songs including my all time favourite of theirs My Baby Does Good Sculptures.
– Elof & Wamberg’s – Byen Sover
– El Gran Rubí from La Familia de Ukeleles
– On a Christmas Morning by The Grand Old Uke of York.
– Tyrone and Lesley’s Baubles
Learning
– Halifax Ukulele Gang’s Holiday Songbook
You can hear a never before heard track from me on the new episode of the UNPLUGTHEWOOD podcast.
I’ve been doing a few quick tabs and videos as inspiration hits. I’ll be posting collections of them on here. Or you can keep up with them on my social media: Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr.
Eagles of Death Metal – Complexity
Weezer – El Scorcho
White Stripes – 7 Nation Army
CCR – Fortunate Son (Intro)
Enter Shikari – Sorry You’re Not a Winner
The Libertines – Gunga Din
Ghost – From the Pinnacle to the Pit
