My ebooks are available in the EU again thanks to Gumroad getting on top of the VAT situation. Sorry about the delay on that.
Learning
– Two great new ukulele blogs: Jonathan Lewis has a site for tabs of his spectacular campanella arrangements of traditional tunes, and Ukulele Go! covering everything uke related including reviews, lessons, links and general uke miscellany.
– Aaron and Nicole Keim’s A Ukulele Handbook: a beautiful, illustrated beginner’s guide.
New Releases
– I’ve kicked off the Ukulele 2015 playlist on Spotify with Victoria Vox, Kimo Hussey, Seryn, The Vespers and the ubiquitous Meghan Trainor.
– Speaking of Kimo Hussey, he has a new album Low G.
– Not often I come across some ukulele on my trips to DatPiff but my last visit turned up two: a fantastic uke riff on Vee Tha Rula and Kid Ink’s fantastic Out In Pari on the VRSES EP and a much more brief the IZ-sample on Jermone N Da House by Trinidad James.
Ukes
– KoAloha have been busy. They’re relaunching their entry level KoAlana ukes and introducing a the new Opio range of mid-priced ukuleles.
– The Brian May Uke.
Kickstarting
Videos
– Ukulele controlled quadcopter
– Why make uke videos?
– Musical preview of Portlandia.
New ruling for air travel: U.S. Department of Transportation now say musicians who board planes must be allowed to carry on their instruments provided they fit in the overhead bin.
James Newton Howard ft. Jennifer Lawrence – Hanging Tree (Tab)
After last week’s two nightmare difficulty posts something much more straight forward this week.
Like the original, I start my version off with just the melody. It’s a great traditionally inspired melody (written by the guys off of The Lumineers) and is plenty strong enough to hold your attention alone. I’m just picking this with my thumb but you can use fingers if you’re comfortable with that.
Then from bar 17 I introduce a few chords but still keep it very minimal. Again, I’m just using my thumb to play these. Strumming down the strings whenever there’s more than one note.
Links
USA and Canada
Allegheny Ukulele Soiree
Location: Penn State Altoona, Altoona, PA 16601
Date: March 22, 2015
Performers: Victoria Vox, Stuart “Stukulele” Fuchs, Colin Coleman
Website: http://soiree.alleghenyukes.com/
Ashokan Uke Fest
Location: Conservation Hall, Ashokan Center
Date: May 22 to 25, 2015
Performers: Joel Eckhaus, Ben Hassenger, Paul Hemmings, Marcy Marxer, Heidi Swedberg, Gerald Ross and Ruthy Ungar
Website: http://ashokan.org/camps/uke-fest/
Blackwater Ukulele 2015
Location: 3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Moncks Corner, South Carolina 29461
Date: September 13, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://festival.charlestonhotshots.com/
Denver Ukefest
Location: The Brew on Broadway, 3445 S. Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113
Date: May 14 to 16, 2015
Performers: Leftover Cuties, Victor & Penny, Victoria Vox, Lil’ Rev, Danielle Ate The Sandwich, and Stuart Fuchs
Website: http://swallowhillmusic.org/events-and-festivals/denver-ukefest/
Dock Street Uke Camp
Location: Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date: September 18 to 20, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://ukecamp.blogspot.co.uk/
Funky Frets Uke Fest
Location: Trinity Church, 250 Sweinhardt Rd, Boyertown, PA 19512
Date: October 2 to 4, 2015
Performers: Victoria Vox, Lil’ Rev, Gerald Ross, The Aloha Boys, Ben Carr.
Website: http://www.funkyfretsukefest.com/
Great Minnesota Uke Gathering
Location: El Rancho Mañana near Richmond, Minnesota
Date: May 29 to 31, 2015
Performers: Open Microphone, Led Jams, Workshops
Website: http://www.GreatMinnesotaUkeGathering.com
International Ukulele Ceilidh
Location: Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Date: October 22 to October 25, 2015
Performers: Stuart Fuchs, Chalmers Doane, Melanie Doane, L’il Rev, Jim D’Ville, Ken Middleton, Gerald Ross
Website: http://www.ukuleleceilidh.ca/
La Crosse Uke-A-Palooza
Location: Best Western-Midway Hotel, 1835 Rose Street, La Crosse, WI
Date: May 17, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.cheezlandukeband.com/uke-a-palooza.html
Lake Anne 6th Annual Ukulele Festival
Location: Lake Anne Plaza, Reston, VA
Date: July 11, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://lakeanneplaza.com/event/6th-annual-ukulele-festival/
Martha’s Vineyard Ukulele Festival
Location: Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs, Ma.
Date: September 19, 2015
Performers: Faith Ako, Jim & Liz Beloff, Ken Middleton, Steve McNie
Website: http://www.mvukefest.com/
May Day Play Day
Location: Modesto Church of the Brethren, 2301 Woodland Avenue, Modesto, CA 95358
Date: May 16, 2015
Performers: Strummin’ Wonders of Woodbridge Manteca, River City Ukulele Band of Roseville, Strum Bums of Grass Valley.
Website: http://funstrummers.com/4.html
Menucha Ukulele Band Camp
Location: Corbett, Oregon
Date: March 23 to 27, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://menucha.org/programs/uke-band-camp
Midwest Uke Fest
Location: Folkcraft Instruments, 22133 Main Street, Woodburn, IN 46797
Date: August 15 to 26, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.midwestukefest.com/
Mighty Uke Day 5
Location: Old Town Lansing, Michigan
Date: May 8 to 10, 2015
Performers: Victoria Vox, Stuart Fuchs, Gerald Ross, Susan Picking, Saldaje, Andy Wilson, Ukulele Dwight
Website: http://mightyukeday.com
Milwaukee Ukulele Festival 2015
Location: The Sunset Playhouse, 800 Elm Grove Rd. Elm Grove, WI
Date: November 21, 2015
Performers: Stu Fuchs, Amanda Lynn Boisen, Victor and Penny, Lil Rev, Milwaukee Hot Club, The Fabulous Heftones, John Nicholson, Dave “Bones” Boyles, Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Richard Ash and many others
Website: http://mufest.com/
Mini Uke Day
Location: Livonia, MI
Date: October 24, 2015
Performers: Manitoba Hal, The Fabulous Heftones, Ben Hassenger
Website: http://mightyukeday.com/mini-uke-day/
Montreal Uke Fest
Location: Montreal (Quebec), Canada
Date: August 21 to 22, 2015
Performers: Julia Nunes, Ryo Natoyama, Gerald Ross, Victoria Vox
Website: http://montrealukefest.com
The Oakridge Ukulele Festival
Location: Oakridge, Oregon
Date: August 7 to 9, 2015
Performers: Patty Sage, Richard Colombo, Jim D’Ville, Craig Chee
Website: http://oakridgeukulelefestival.com/
Palm Strings Ukulele Festival
Location: 400 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
Date: February 6 to 8, 2015
Performers: Victoria Vox, Michael Powers, Craig Brandau, Cali Rose and Jason Arimoto.
Website: http://playuke.net/2015-palm-springs-details
Port Townsend Ukulele Festival
Location: Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, Washington
Date: October 7 to 11 or October 14 to 18, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://centrum.org/the-port-townsend-ukulele-festival/
Reno Ukulele Festival
Location: Nugget Resort, Sparks, Nevada
Date: April 30 to May 3, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://playuke.net/reno
Rocky Mountain UkeFest
Location: Durango Arts Center, Durango, Colorado, 81301
Date: July 10 to 11, 2015
Performers: Heidi Swedberg, Daniel Ward, John Bartlit
Website: http://rockymountainukefest.com/
San Diego Ukulele Festival
Location: Cal State San Marcos, 333 S Twin Oaks Valley Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078
Date: June 6, 2015
Performers: Taimane Gardner, The Daniel Ho Ukulele Trio, UkuLenny, Brandon Cruz, Alison Marae
Website: http://www.sandiegoukefestival.com/
Santa Monica Ukulele Festival
Location: Santa Monica High School. 601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Date: April 18, 2015
Performers: Abe Lagrimas, Jr., Jim and Liz Beloff, Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel and Cali Rose and Craig Brandau
Website: http://www.santamonicaukulelefestival.com/
Schuylkill Valley Boys Folk Festival
Location: Garrett Mill Park, Garrett Mill Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073
Date: September 13, 2015
Performers: Schuylkill Valley Boys, Mainline/Philadelphia Ukulele Club
Website: http://schuylkillvalleyboys.net/
Silver Creek International Ukulele Carnival
Location: Two Harbors Minnesota, USA
Date: August 21 to 23, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.twoharborsukulelegroup.com/
South Florida Ukulele Fest
Location: 1350 East Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL
Date: March 20 to 21, 2015
Performers: James Hill, Gerald Ross, Steve Boisen, Tommy Lee Stryder
Website: http://www.southfloridaukulelefest.com/
Strathmore Uke & Guitar Summit
Location: The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD
Date: August 15 to 19, 2015
Performers: James Hill, Jim and Liz Beloff, Del Rey, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
Website: https://www.strathmore.org/events-and-tickets/2015-uke-summit
Tampa Bay Ukulele Festival
Location: New World Brewery, 1313 East 8th Avenue, Tampa
Date: October 24, 2015
Performers: Alex Bonyata and Bella Beyer, AmandaLynn, Poly Essence
Website: https://www.wmnf.org/wmnf_events/uke-it-out-wmnfs-first-ever-tampa-bay-ukulele-festival/
Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway
Location: Holiday Inn St. Pete North – Clearwater, 3535 Ulmerton Road
Clearwater, FL 33762
Date: November 6 to 8, 2015
Performers: Aldrine Guerrero, Manitoba Hal, Danielle Ate The Sandwich, Stuart Fuchs, Mike Hind
Website: http://www.tampabayukulele.com/
Tunes In The Dunes V
Location: Lincoln Cultural City Center, Oregon
Date: September 18 to 20, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://tunesinthedunes.com/
UkeFest VA 2015
Location: Cultural Arts Center, 2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Date: November 6 to 7, 2015
Performers: Lil Rev, Aloha Boys, Ali Thibodeau
Website: http://www.ukefestva.com/
Uke New Jersey 3
Location: Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, NJ, 07960
Date: August 28 to 30, 2015
Performers: Li’l Rev, Sarah Maisel and Craig Chee, Jim & Liz Beloff
Website: http://www.folkproject.org/ukefest/ukefest.shtml
Uke-Nique – Ladies of Ukulele
Location: Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St, San Francisco, California 94110
Date: November 22, 2015
Performers: The Corner Laughers, Caroline Joy Alegre, Alzara & Brother Spellbinder
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/963100883753378/
Uke-nique Festival
Location: The Makeout Room, 3225 22nd St, San Francisco, California 94110
Date: March 15
Performers: Alzara & Brother Spellbinder, Sylvie Simmons, Amity Rose, Karla & Khoi (Corner Laughers)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1575521006021552
Uketoberfest
Location: Interlochen, MI
Date: October 3, 2015
Performers: Madcat Ruth, Frank Youngman, The Ukulele Kings
Website: http://college.interlochen.org/uketoberfest
Ukulele Festival of Northern California
Location: Chabot College Campus, 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward, CA 94545
Date: April 26, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalnorcal.org/
Ukulele University
Location: Cascades Academy, Bend, Oregon, USA
Date: July 17 to 19, 2015
Performers: Craig Chee, Sarah Maisel, Aaron and Nicole Keim, and Rhan Wilson
Website: http://ukeu.info/
Ukulele World Congress
Location: Needmore, Indiana
Date: June 5 to 6, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: https://ukuleleworldcongress.wordpress.com/
Utah Uke Fest
Location: Historic City Hall, American Fork, UT
Date: July 18, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://utahukefest.org/
Utah Ukulele Festival
Location: Willow Park, Logan, Utah
Date: August 1, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://utahukefest.com/
Vancouver Ukulele Festival
Location: St James Hall, Vancouver, Canada
Date: March 6 to 8, 2015
Performers: Sarah Maisel, Craig Chee, Victoria Vox, Aaron & Nicole Keim, John Nash, Ralph Shaw and Daphne Roubini.
Website: http://www.rubysukes.ca/vancouver-ukulele-festival/
West Coast Ukulele Retreat
Location: Asilomar, Monterey Peninsula
Date: May 13 to 17, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://westcoastukuleleretreat.com/
Hawaii
Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival
Location: Kings’ Shops and Queens’ MarketPlace, Waikoloa Beach Resort
Date: March 7, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/waikoloa.htm
Uke Ohana
Location: Pu’u O Hoku Ranch & Halawa Valley, Molokai, Hawaii
Date: May 22 to 26, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://ukeohana.com/
Ukulele Festival
Location: Kapiolani Park, Waikiki, Oahu
Date: July 19, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/oahu/index.htm
Ukulele Picnic in Hawaii 2015
Location: Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii
Date: February 8, 2015
Performers: Mark Yamanaka, John Keawe Kohala, Kris Fuchigami and Brittni Paiva.
Website: http://www.ukulelepicnicinhawaii.org/en/
United Kingdom and Ireland
Cardiff Ukulele Festival
Location: St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Date: March 28, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukenights.co.uk/
Grand Northern Ukulele Festival 2015
Location: Lawrence Batley Theatre
Date: May 22 to 24, 2015
Performers: Manitoba Hal, Sarah Maisel, The Quiet American, Craig Chee, Phil Doleman, Zoe Bestel, Chonkinfeckle, Mother Ukers, and U.K.E.
Website: http://northernuke.com/
Grand Southern Ukulele Festival
Location: Albert Rd & The Kings Theatre, Portsmouth
Date: October 9 to 11, 2015
Performers: Victoria Vox, Phil Doleman, Ukulelezaza, Ben Rouse, Krabbers
Website: http://www.southernuke.com/
Leamington Ukulele Festival
Location: Newbold Comyn Arms & Grounds, Leamington Spa. CV32 4EU.
Date: July 4, 2015
Performers: Lynda Styne & Red Hot Duo, Chonkinfeckle, Matt Richards
Website: http://spa-strummers.co.uk/fest2015.html
Lincoln Ukulele Band Birthday Bash
Location: Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln LN1 3DY
Date: April 19, 2015
Performers: Phil Doleman, Lincoln Ukulele Band
Website: http://www.lincolnukuleleband.moonfruit.com/
Rye Ukulele Festival 2015
Location: The Cinque Ports, Cinque Ports St, Rye, East Sussex
Date: May 24, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://ryeukuleleexperiment.co.uk/rye-ukulele-festival/
Skipsea Ukulele Festival
Location: Skipsea Village Hall, Bridlington Rd, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire YO25 8TJ
Date: April 2, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.facebook.com/SkipseaUkuleleFestival
Summer Strum
Location: Hoylake Rugby Club, Hoylake, Wirral, UK
Date: July 4 to 5, 2015
Performers: Wirral Ukulele Orchestra, Mighty Flea, Splintered Ukes, Ukulele Club Liverpool
Website: http://summerstrum8.wix.com/summerstrum
Uke East
Location: Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG
Date: September 19, 2015
Performers: Anything Goes Orchestra, Zoe Bestel, Phil Doleman, Krabbers
Website: http://uke-east.co.uk/
Ukes for UNICEF – Ukulele Festival
Location: Berkhamsted Civic Centre
Date: February 28, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukesforunicef.com/
Ukulele Day
Location: Reeth Memorial Hall, Reeth, Swaledale, North Yorkshire. DL11 6QT
Date: March 28, 2015
Performers: Yoredale Ukulele Strummers, Keith Stephen Hot Club Trio
Website: http://reethmemorialhall.weebly.com/coming-soon.html
Ukulele Festival of Great Britain
Location: The Norwood Arms, 1 Leckhampton Rd, Cheltenham GL53 0AX
Date: June 19 to 21, 2015
Performers: James Hill, Ryo Natoyama, Herb Ohta Junior, Ukulele Bartt, Tobias Elof, Tomoki Sato, Hot Potato Syncopators and Zoe Bestel
Website: http://www.ukulelefestival.co.uk/Home.aspx
Ukulele Hooley
Location: Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
Date: August 22 to 23, 2015
Performers: Andy Eastwood, Del Ray, George Elmes, Phil Doleman, Winin’ Boys
Website: http://www.ukulelehooley.com/
York Ukulele Festival
Location: RED COW MUSIC, 13 Goodramgate, York
Date: June 20, 2015
Performers: Grand Old Uke of York, Ukulele Sunshine Revival, Tenfoot Ukes
Website: http://www.redcowmusic.co.uk/
Europe
Czech Ukulele Festival
Location: Unetice, Prague, Czech Republic
Date: July 24 to 26, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelefestival.cz/?sJaz=en
Helsinki Ukulele Festival
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Date: May 22 to 24, 2015
Performers: Ken Middleton, Chris Hough
Website: http://www.uke.fi/start/
Morkelele – Morecambe Summer Ukulele Spectacular
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire, UK
Date: July 10 to 11, 2015
Performers: Uff & Dave Trio, Mersey Belles, Dead Mans Uke
Website: http://www.etickets.to/buy/?e=12267
My Big Fat Greek Ukulele Adventure
Location: Askeli Beach, Poros Beach, Greece
Date: September 19, 2015
Performers: Seeso, Matt Lindahl
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/678798715542758/?notif_t=plan_user_joined
Paris Ukulele Festival
Location: La Bellevilloise – 21 rue Boyer – 75020 Paris
Date: May 14 to 16, 2015
Performers: The Sweet Hollywaiians, Les Poupées Gonflées, Les Rois du Macadam, Yan Yalego, Dust Sweepers
Website: http://www.ukuleleboudoir.com/festival/
Ukulucca International Ukulele Festival
Location: Villa Rossi, Via Villa Altieri 1672, Lucca, Italy
Date: June 27 to 28, 2015
Performers: Ukulollo, Tomoki Sato, Ryo Natoyama, Ukulele Bartt
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/441131649400965/441131652734298/
Vienna Ukulele Night
Location: Heiligenstädter Straße 31, Bogen 217, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Date: August 28, 2015
Performers: Das Erste Wiener Heimukulelenorchester and ChiliFish
Website: https://www.facebook.com/viennaukulelenight
Australia and New Zealand
Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival
Location: Carrington Hotel, 15-47 Katoomba Street, Katoomba NSW
Date: February 13 to 15, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.bluemugs.com.au/
Dandenong Ranges Ukulele Festival (DRUKE)
Location: Burrinja Cultural Centre, Upwey, Victoria
Date: May 29 to 31, 2015
Performers: Tomoki Sato, AJ Leonard, Lucy Wise, Paul Jonson
Website: http://www.burrinja.org.au/projects/dandenong-ranges-ukulele-festival
The Huskisson Uke Muster
Location: Huskisson, Jervis Bay New South Wales 2540
Date: June 16, 2015
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.facebook.com/vangonesinstumentalandchoralensemble
Lauder Ukulele Festival
Location: Lauder Green, Lauder, Omakau
Date: February 5 to 8, 2015
Performers: Keith Lightfoot, Hyram Ballard, The Misfits, Pic’N Mix, Aspiring Ukes and LX Ukes.
Website: http://www.lauderukefest.com/
Meadow Mushrooms Ukefest
Location: Geraldine, New Zealand 7930
Date: July 3 to 5, 2015
Performers: The Nukes, Formidable Vegetable Sound System
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1597746007126465/
Melbourne Ukulele Festival
Location: Thornbury Theatre, 859 High Street, Thornbury VIC 3071, Australia
Date: March 13 to 15, 2015
Performers: Victoria Vox, Ralph Shaw, Ukulele Russ
Website: http://muf.org.au/
SPRUKE 2015 – Brisbane’s Ukulele Festival
Location: South Bank TAFE campus, 66 Ernest Street South Brisbane, Queensland Australia
Date: October 2 to 4, 2015
Performers: Aldrine Guererro, The Nukes, Bosko & Honey, Kahiwa Sebire
Website: http://www.spruke.net.au
Sunshine Coast Ukulele Festival
Location: Borumba Deer Park, Imbil
Date: March 13 to 15, 2015
Performers: Sarah Maisel, Craig Chee, Matthew Fagan, Mic Conway and Mike Jackson.
Website: http://www.sunshinecoastukulelefest.com/
The Staves – Facing West (Chords)
I’m more excited for the new Staves album than I am about any other record apart from Meow the Jewels this year. The Staves with Justin ‘off of Bon Iver’ Vernon producing is a dream team.
To tide myself over I’ve written up the chords to the ukulele song from the first album Facing West.
The chords themselves are dead simple. If you’re okay singing it in F then you’ve got no problems.
But in the original they’re tuned down one fret (so is Dodie ‘dodleoddle’ Clark in her version if that’s the one you’re interested in). So you’ll have to do that if you want to play along. Alternatively you could put a capo on the first fret and play these slightly more troublesome chord shapes:
Facing West (Capo Chords)
Suggested Strumming
You can use this strum twice for every chord all the way through the song:
d – d – – u d u
Or this strum sounds great with a touch strum on the first strum. You play a touch strum by just hitting the g-string (although if you hit the C-string as well it’s not a big deal). It gives the strum a bit more variety.
Here’s how it looks (slow then up to speed):
Links
Buy it on iTunes
Bon Iver chords for Skinny Love and Michicant
Don’t forget you can get 50% off all of my How to Play Ukulele ebooks.
Learning
– New instructional DVD from Del Rey Memphis Uke Party (thanks to Howard).
– Easy Ukulele Songs Podcast.
– N.B. Bailey and Keoki E Ukulele Solo Book.
– Halifax Ukulele Gang’s second songbook.
Ukes
– Lots of new ukes on display at NAMM 2015. Lots of great photos and videos in Hawaii Music Supply’s coverage: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4.
– Three new ukes amazing looking ukes from KoAloha.
– Amy Crehore’s Tickler # 3: “Twitch” Concert Ukulele. She talks about it with the Huffington Post.
– Kala’s Elite Ukulele. Their first ukes made in the US.
New Releases
– UkePunk’s Punk Police
– Victoria Vox’s When the Night Unravels
– Ukular Reactor – Mother Ukers
Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk (Tab)
Here’s one if you’re looking for a challenge. There are lots of jumps around the neck, syncopated rhythms, twists and turns, and tricky strum blocking to get to grips with.
On part that isn’t too difficult is the strumming hand. Most of the song my right hand is just strumming sixteenth notes. The rhythm is created by muting and playing strings with the left hand.
For example, in the intro you play a constant strum, hold down the chord stabs and mute the g-string (I use the thumb of my fretting hand), otherwise mute all the strings.
Here’s a video of it done slowly then up to speed:
The verse is done in a similar way. Strum constant sixteenth notes and mute the strings when nothing is played. The difference is you also have to mute all but one string. That can get tricky and it takes a lot of practice. I call this strum blocking and I did a tutorial on it here. It’s a great way to give a piece lots of attack and a strong rhythm.
In this song I mostly mute the g-string with my thumb, C-string with my middle finger, E-string with my ring finger and the A-string with the underside of my index finger. But you’ll need to play around with it and see what works best for you.
Here’s the first line of the first verse played slowly then up to speed:
Note: in the tab I’ve noted the muted strums with just one x to keep the tab clean. But you do strum all the strings.
Other note: In the video I mess up the ‘Saturday night…’ bit in the middle section. It should sound the same as it does in the bridge sections.
Links
Buy it on iTunes
More funk tabs and chords
Five funky riff tabs
2015 started off with a fair amount of upheaval over here. A new batch of EU VAT rules (over here VAT means sales tax, troosers means pants, collywobbles is a three legged dog and peaky blinders are the things horses wear on their eyes) came into effect for digital products. And governments didn’t bother telling anyone smaller than a giant megacorp (I, like most single person businesses, found out via social media near the end of December).
Long story short: before VAT was charged at the selling country rate. I’m in the UK and comfortably below the threshold so never had to charge any. The new law means I have to charge VAT at different rates in every EU country I sell in, collect location information on every one and keep it for 10 years. Which is way more of an admin burden than I can manage.
So my How to Play Ukulele ebooks were off sale in January while I found a new seller and had the site rejiggered. And, unfortunately, the ebooks are still unavailable in EU countries other than the UK until I can find a good alternative.
But it’s not all bad news. I’ve moved sales onto Gumroad. They’re a great service and there are some big advantages of using them. No more PayPal and more mobile friendly downloads.
50% Discount & Price Drops
I’ve sold a few ebooks via Gumroad already and it’s gone very smoothly. But since the system is still bedding in if you buy before Sunday 8th February you can get 50% off any of the ebooks using this code:
UPDATE: Sorry, this offer has expired.
If you do have any problems ordering just shoot me an email at ukulelehunt@gmail.com
Also, there’s a new ebook multipack: the Soloing Multipack which contains How to Play Blues Ukulele and How to Play Slide Ukulele. Usually it’ll be $19 for the pair but I’m starting it at $17 (the price of the blues ebook alone). So with the discount code you can get both for $8.50.
I’ve also dropped the price of How to Play Classical Ukulele from $9 to $7.
The Good Stuff
No More PayPal
PayPal is very useful. But sometimes it can be a right pain in the arse (most notably a long-running inability for PayPal UK to get along with Amex). I’ve heard from a few people who have trouble with it or just don’t want to use it. And I completely sympathise with that opinion.
Gumroad just uses credit/debit cards. It’s all handled by Gumroad who are super safe payments and fully compliant. I never get to see any of your credit card info. So you don’t have to worry about me using your card to fund my plans to launch a line of ukulele-themed perfumes.
More Mobile-Friendly Downloads
I launched my first ebooks back in November 2007. Back then there was no iPad, no Android and the internet was in black and white. Nowadays many people are using the ebooks on their mobile devices. And Gumroad makes it much easier to do that than the old seller did.
Now you’ll be able to download all the PDFs and tabs straight to a mobile device and open it in your favourite ebook reader (e.g. iBooks, Kindle).
The only files you won’t be able to download to your mobile device (without an app that can handle zip files) are any audio examples accompanying the ebooks. Those you’ll still need to download to a computer and transfer if needs be.
The Bad Stuff
No Sales to EU outside the UK
Because of the VAT rules I’ve had to exclude buyers from EU countries other than the UK. But I am looking into ways of making them available in the near future.
Asylum Street Spankers – It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie (Chords)
It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie by Billy Mayhew is a big ukulele favourite so there are a ton of versions around. I the Asylum Street Spankers’ version because it’s a real education in chord inversions. You’re going to have to be on the ball to keep up.
Christina Marrs is using D-tuning for this but I’ve stuck with C-tuning (using similar chord shapes). That means it’s played high up the neck so pay attention to the fret numbers in the chord charts.
Easy Chords
It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie (Easy Chords)
Here’s a much simpler version of the chords. It’s in the same key so mix and match between them as you see fit.
I recommend starting by learning the simple version then gradually adding in elements you like from the difficult version.
Also, take a look at the Ukulele Boudoir version which is in the same key and take elements of that you enjoy.
Suggested Strumming
Other than the one-strum-per-chord into this should get you most of the way through:
d – d – d u d u
Links
Buy the Asylum Street Spankers version
I’m a Bear in a Lady’s Boudoir chords
Guy Forsyth – Waking Life (Tab)
