Gustavo Santaolalla – The Last of Us (Tab)

Gustavo Santaolalla is my absolute favourite film composer. He first came to prominence with the films Amores Perros and The Motorcycle Diaries. Then went on to win Academy Awards for Brokeback Mountain and Babel.

No doubt part of the reason I love his music is his extensive use of a ronroco (a large version of, the ukulele’s cousin, the charango). It’s that instrument he used for the theme tune to his first game soundtrack The Last of Us. And it’s an incredibly beautiful tune. Here’s a fascinating video of him discussing his work on it with a short clip of him playing it live.

Because the ronroco uses reentrant tuning, the tune transfers nicely to the ukulele.

Performance Notes

All the way through I’m using thumb and two finger picking. The thumb plays the g- and C-strings, the index finger plays the E and the middle finger plays the A.

When you’re playing this try to always emphasises the melody. In the first section (bars 1 to 11) that’s every note on the g-string. So pluck more forcefully with your thumb.

Then it switches to the A-string in bars 12 to 24. So in that section pick more strongly with your middle finger.

The section in bars 27 to 34 is a little different. There isn’t a strong melody here. But do give a little more emphasis to the notes on the A-string on the third and fourth beats of each bar.

Also, try to vary the dynamics as you play. Having louder and softer sections through the piece.

Links

Buy the original on iTunes
TheLastOfUs.playstation.com
More game theme tabs

View Ukulele Festivals 2014 in a larger map

Here’s a preliminary list of the ukulele festivals scheduled for 2014. If you have details on any others leave a comment or send me a message and I’ll get it added to the list.

USA and Canada

Vancouver Ukulele Festival 2014

Location: St James Hall, Vancouver, Canada
Date: March 8 to 9, 2014
Performers: Danielle Ate The Sandwich, Aaron Keim of The Quiet American, Ralph Shaw, virtuoso Guido Heistek and Ruby & Smith, Daphne Roubini, and more
Website: http://www.rubysukes.ca/vancouver-ukulele-festival/
Local Amenities: Map

4th Annual Menucha Ukulele Band Camp

Location: Corbett, Oregon
Date: March 24 to 28, 2014
Performers: Paul Hemmings, Gerald Ross, Greg Canote, Jere Canote, Aaron Keim, Nicole Keim
Website: http://menucha.org/programs/uke-band-camp
Local Amenities: Map

20th ‘Ukulele Festival of Northern California

Location: Chabot College Campus, 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward, CA 94545
Date: April 6, 2014; 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalnorcal.org/
Local Amenities: Map

6th Annual Reno Ukulele Festival

Location: John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, Nevada 89431
Date: April 24 to 27, 2014
Performers: Leftover Cuties, Heidi Swedberg, Daniel Ho, Gerald Ross, Brook Adams, Ralph Shaw, Jim D’Ville, Dominator, Jason Arimoto
Website: http://playuke.net/
Local Amenities: Map

Arizona Banjo & Ukulele Blast

Location: Omni Tucson National Resort, 2727 West Club Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85742
Date: May 22 to 24, 2014
Performers: Del Ray
Website: http://www.4stringbanjos.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Mighty Uke Day 2014

Location: Old Town Lansing
Date: May 9 to 10, 2014
Performers: Sarah Maisel, Craig Chee, Gerald Ross.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/180847702019438/ and http://www.mightyukeday.com/
Local Amenities: Map

May Day Play Day 2014

Location: TBA
Date: May 17, 2014; 9:30 am to 4 pm
Performers: TBA
Website: http://funstrummers.com/4.html
Local Amenities: Map

Ashokan Uke Fest 2014

Location: Ashokan Centre, Olivebridge, New York, USA
Date: May 23 to 26, 2014
Performers: Sarah Maisel, Jim D’Ville, Lil’ Rev, Gerald Ross, Cathy Fink, Ruthy Ungar
Website: http://ashokan.org/camps/uke-fest/
Local Amenities: Map

5th Annual West Coast Ukulele Retreat

Location: Asilomar, Monterey Peninsula
Date: May 28 to June 1, 2014
Performers: Heidi Swedberg, Daniel Ward, James Hill, Stuart Fuchs, Rick Turner, Andy Andrews, Dave Egan, Elaine de Man, Kumu Pomaika’i
Website: http://ukuleleretreat.com/
Local Amenities: Map

California Ukulele Academy

Location: Alpine Meadows Conference Center, Southern California
Date: May 29 to June 1, 2014
Performers: Lil’ Rev, Fred Sokolow
Website: http://playuke.net/ca-uke-academy
Local Amenities: Map

Ukulele World Congress VI

Location: 4600 Plum Creek Road, Needmore, Indiana, USA
Date: June 6 to 7, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/236184839465/
Local Amenities: Map

Mighty MO Ukulele Festival

Location: Cedar Creek
Date: July 10 to 13, 2014
Performers: Brook Adams, Flea Bitten Dawgs
Website: http://www.mightymoukefest.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Ukulele University 2014

Location: Deschutes County Fairgrounds, Redmond, Oregon, 97756, United States
Date: July 18 to 20, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukeu.info/
Local Amenities: Map

Utah Ukulele Festival

Location: Willow Park, Logan, Utah, USA
Date: September 27th
Performers: Dan Scanlan
Website: http://utahukefest.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Oakridge Ukulele Festival 2014

Location: TBA
Date: August 1 to 3, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.oakridge-lodge.com/events/ukulele-festival/
Local Amenities: Map

Midwest Uke Fest

Location: 22133 Main Street, Woodburn, IN 46797
Date: August 16 to 17, 2014
Performers: Lil’ Rev, Bing Futch, Richard Ash
Website: http://www.midwestukefest.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Montreal Uke Fest 2014

Location: La Sala Rossa, 4848 Saint-Laurent, Montreal
Date: August 23, 2014
Performers: James Hill, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Aaron Keim, Manitoba Hal
Website: http://montrealukefest.com/
Local Amenities: Map

The Port Townsend Ukulele Festival

Location: Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, Washington
Date: September 3 to 7, 2014
Performers: James Hill, Joel Eckhaus, Francis Doo, The Hula Honeys (Ginger Johnson and Robyn Kneubuhl), Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Fred Sokolow, Gerald Ross, the Canote Brothers, Del Rey
Website: http://centrum.org/the-port-townsend-ukulele-festival/
Local Amenities: Map

Blackwater Ukulele Festival 2014

Location: Cypress Gardens, South Carolina, USA
Date: September 13, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: http://festival.charlestonhotshots.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Albuquerque Ukekopelli Family Music Festival

Location: African-American Performing Arts Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date: September 26 to 27, 2014
Performers: Heidi Swedberg, ‘Lil Rev
Website: http://abqukefest.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Tunes In The Dunes IV

Location: Westwind, Oregon
Date: September 19 to 21, 2014
Performers: James Hill, Anne Janelle, Sarah Maisel, Craig Chee, Kate Power.
Website: http://tunesinthedunes.com/
Local Amenities: Map

UKEtoberfest

Location: Willamalane Adult Activity Center, Springfield, OR, USA
Date: October 10 to 12, 2014
Performers: Aaron Keim, Casey MacGill, Stuart Fuchs
Website: http://uketoberfest.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Milwaukee Ukulele Festival 2014

Location: Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove
Date: October 18, 2014
Performers: The Flea-Bitten Dogs, Stu Fuchs, Mitch Chang, Seeso, Aaron Baer, John Nicholson, Denny Rauen, Jon Prown, Lil’ Rev, Matt Daniels
Website: http://mufest.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway

Location: Tampa Bay, Florida, USA
Date: November 7 to 9, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.tampabayukulele.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Ukefest Virginia 2014

Location: Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Rd. Glen Allen, VA 23060
Date: November 7 to 8, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukefestva.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Hawaii

14th Annual Waikoloa Ukulele Festival

Location: Kings’ Shops and Queens’ MarketPlace in Waikoloa Beach Resort
Date: March 1, 2014; 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/waikoloa.htm
Local Amenities: Map

Uke Ohana Molokai 2014

Location: Pu’u O Hoku Ranch & Halawa Valley, Molokai, Hawaii
Date: May 23 to 27, 2014
Performers: Lono and Hui O Mele Nei
Website: http://ukeohana.com/
Local Amenities: Map

6th Ukulele Picnic Picnic in Hawaii 2014

Location: Sunset at Kakaako Waterfront Park
Date: May 25, 2014; 8:30 am
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelepicnicinhawaii.org/en/index.html
Local Amenities: Map

44th Annual Ukulele Festival

Location: Kapiolani Park Bandstand, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
Date: July 20, 2014; 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Performers: Willie K, Raiatea Helm of Ohta San of Hawaii, Adrien Janiak of France, Ryo Montgomery of Australia, Fulare Pad of Japan and more
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/
Local Amenities: Map

9th Annual Maui Ukulele Festival

Location: Maui Arts & Cultural Center – Kahului, Maui
Date: October 12, 2014; 1:00 to 6:00 pm
Performers: Herb Ohta Sr. (Ohta-San), Jake Shimabukuro, Holunape, Raiatea Helm, Manoa DNA, Paula Fuga, Richard Ho’opi’i, Brittni Paiva, Kelly Boy Delima, Derek Sebastian
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/maui.htm
Local Amenities: Map

United Kingdom and Ireland

Ukes for UNICEF 2014 – Ukulele Festival

Location: Berkhamsted Civic Centre
Date: March 1, 2014; 11:30 am to 5:00 pm
Performers: The Fog, Nico’o: Kapiolani Boyz, Sam Brown and the International Ukulele Club of Sonning Common, Sunnyside Serenaders, Katie’s Jumping Fleas, Ken Middleton, Keef Jackman, UkieToones, BURP!, BSUS, David Powell, Ver Players and most importantly krabbers.
Website: http://www.ukesforunicef.com/
Local Amenities: Map

First Cardiff Ukulele Festival

Location: St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, UK
Date: March 22, 2014; 2 pm to 6 pm
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukenights.co.uk/
Local Amenities: Map

N’Ukefest 2014

Location: The Cotton Arms, Cholmondely Road, Wrenbury, Cheshire CW5 8HG
Date: May 16 to 18, 2014
Performers: Phil Doleman, Chonkinfeckle, Krabbers, The N’Ukes, Ooty And The Cloud
Website: http://www.nukefest.com/
Local Amenities: Map

D’Ukulele Festival

Location: Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford; Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, Essex
Date: May 17, 2014 and July 26, 2014; 12 pm to 5 pm
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.d-ukes.co.uk/dukulele/
Local Amenities: Map

York Ukulele Festival 2014

Location: 13, Goodramgate, YO1 7LW York
Date: June 2014 (no specific date yet)
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/408274069295867
Local Amenities: Map

5th Annual Ukulele Festival of Great Britain

Location: Cheltenham Town Hall
Date: June 20 to 22, 2014
Performers: Taimane, Sarah Maisel, Craig Chee, Ukulele Uff & Lonesome Dave, Ryo Natoyama, Tomoki Sato, UKE, Ukulollo & Siwar, Phil Doleman and more
Website: http://www.ukulelefestival.co.uk/Home.aspx
Local Amenities: Map

Leamington Spa Ukulele Festival

Location: Leamington Spa, UK
Date: July 12, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: http://spa-strummers.co.uk/
Local Amenities: Map

Ukulele By The Sea

Location: Dun Laoghaire, Ireland
Date: August 23 to 24, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: http://ukulelehooley.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Grand Northern Ukulele Festival 2014

Location: Huddersfield Town Hall
Date: September 13 to 14, 2014
Performers: Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Del Ray, Andy Eastwood, Chonkinfeckle, The Mother Ukers, Krabbers, Zoë Bestel, The Anything Goes Orchestra, Tricity Vogue & her All Girl Swing Band, The UKEBOX.
Website: http://www.northernuke.com/2014-festival/
Local Amenities: Map

Europe

Caldogno Ukulele Meeting

Location: Villa Caldogno, Via Giacomo Zanella, 3, 36030 Caldogno Vicenza, Italy
Date: June 20 – 22, 2014
Performers: Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Kimo Hussey, Enrico Farnedi
Website: http://www.ukulele.it/?p=619
Local Amenities: Map

FIUL 2014

Location: Rue Du Haut Du Mont, Charmois Devant Bruyères, France
Date: July 4 to 6, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: http://fiul.weebly.com/programme.html
Local Amenities: Map

Ukulelefestival Freiburg

Location: Zachäusgemeinde Auwaldstr. 88, 79110 Freiburg-Landwasser, Germany
Date: July 12, 2014
Performers: Ukulele-Freiburg-Orchester (UFO), Pit & Gofel, U´Kings
Website: http://www.ukulelefestival-freiburg.de/
Local Amenities: Map

2nd Czech Ukulele Festival

Location: Únetice, Prague, Czech Republic
Date: July 25 to 27, 2014
Performers: Ken Middleton, Ondrej Šárek
Website: http://www.ukulelefestival.cz/
Local Amenities: Map

UkeTown 2014

Location: Ploossche Hof 85, ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Date: October 5, 2014
Performers: The D’Ukes
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/758508337499425/?fref=ts
Local Amenities: Map

Uke-East

Location: Hellesdon Community Centre, Middletons Lane, Norwich NR6 5SR
Date: October 25, 2014
Performers: Sophie Madeleine, Phil Doleman, The Toots
Website: http://uke-east.co.uk/
Local Amenities: Map

Pulga Saltitante

Location: Largo Conde, 4550-102 Castelo de Paiva, Portugal
Date: TBA
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pulgasaltitante001
Local Amenities: Map

Australia and New Zealand

5th Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival

Location: Carrington Hotel, Katoomba, Australia
Date: February 7 to 9, 2014
Performers: Ukulele Ladies, Three Little Boys, The Central Coast Ukulele Club, Uke-East Big Band, The Shining Wits, CSUkes, and more
Website: http://www.bluemugs.com.au/
Local Amenities: Map

The Melbourne Ukulele Festival 2014

Location: Local Haunted Castle (the Northcote Town Hall)
Date: March 7 to 9, 2014
Performers: The Nukes, Ukulele Russ (Alaska), Matthew Fagan, Manitoba Hal (Canada), The Melbourne Ukulele Kollective, The Brass Traps, Cat House
Website: http://www.muf.org.au/
Local Amenities: Map

Sunshine Coast Ukulele Fest

Location: Borumba Deer Park, Imbil, Queensland, Australia
Date: March 14 to 16, 2014
Performers: Jim D’Ville & Gideon Freudmann, Manitoba Hal, AJ Leondard & Jenny Rowlands
Website: http://www.sunshinecoastukulelefest.com/
Local Amenities: Map

2014 Cairns Ukulele Festival

Location: TBA
Date: July 3 to 6, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: http://cairnsukulelefestival.net/2014-dates/
Local Amenities: Map

2014 Newcastle Newkulele Festival

Location: Newcastle Jockey Club, Darling Street, Broadmeadow, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Date: October 24 to 26, 2014
Performers: James Hill, The Pockets, AJ Leonard, Tyronne and Lesley and Bosko & Honey
Website: http://www.newkulelefestival.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Asia

Ukuleles For Peace Galilee Gathering

Location: Harashim, Galilee, Israel
Date: March 21 to 23, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ufpgalileegathering
Local Amenities: Map

3rd Thailand International Ukulele Festival

Location: Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand
Date: October 19 to 20, 2014
Performers: Kalei Gamiao, Aldrine Guerrero, Derick Sebastian, Benny Chong, TJ Mayeshiro, Rio Saito, Pao Gumba, Alan Soo, Malaysia Ukulele, Loco Mango, Apple Show, Gail Sophicha, and more
Website: http://thailandukulelefestival.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Oyama Ukulele Festival

Location: Water Square Special Stage, Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture Kizawa 147
Date: August 23 to 24, 2014; 10 am to 6 pm
Performers: KYAS, Lagoo, Frog Sleep
Website: http://oyama-ukulelefestival.com/
Local Amenities: Map

Philippine Ukulele Festival

Location: Gateway Mall, Araneta and Hard Rock Cafe Makati
Date: November 22 to 23, 2014
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineUkuleleFestival
Local Amenities: Map

After a hard fought battle and over 1,000 votes in the Ukulele Video of Year vote the winner is Rob Pachol (AKA Sanford and Song) with Adrien Sala and Tesia Rhind playing As the Living Do.

The video is the first in Rob’s “Sanford and Songwriter” series where he hooks up with a local songwriter and adds ukulele accompaniment. It’s a real masterclass in how to use your ukulele to enhance a song without overwhelming it. He weaves his lines into the song so deftly that it seems the song was written with them in mind. I learned a lot from watching and listening and it’s a deserving winner.

It was a close run vote all the way and the runner up, Jontom’s Born to Run, deserves a shout out too.

Rob was kind enough to answer a few questions on how the video came to be and tips on how to accompany songwriters with your ukulele.

We’re used to seeing you playing solo, what made you start the Sanford and Songwriter series?

I started the series to freshen up the channel a bit, and to promote some songs by locals who’s material I happen to like, with an emphasis on Adrien Sala’s music.

I also wanted to join the ranks of players trying to pull the ukulele out of its pigeonhole a bit, as far as how it can sound as an accompaniment instrument. Adding ukulele to a song doesn’t mean your song has to end up sounding like a Prius commercial. You know what I mean. (As far as I know there isn’t even a ukulele in that Prius commercial, but you THINK there is!)

How did you get together with Adrien and Tesia?

I’ve known Adrien for awhile, but the three of us came together to play the ceremony at a friend’s wedding a couple years ago. That’s how I met Tesia. I really fell in love with Adrien’s songs and the way our picking styles complimented each other, and then Tesia’s voice.

What sort of preparation do you do before the video? How much rehearsing goes on beforehand?

The only preparation for the songwriter series stuff is my learning the song beforehand, and coming up with a complimentary arrangement. A week or so later we run the song a couple times, then video a few takes. Not much to it, unless the featured songwriter doesn’t like a detail I’m playing, then I have to fudge around a few minutes for replacement parts. (“As the Living Do” was of course video’d by Mike Latschislaw. That’s why it looks so much better than my usual Canon camera junk.)

What are your top tips for accompanying others?

I suppose the first tip is to play in service of the song, and to the songwriter’s wishes. Although this is where things can get touchy, especially if you’re like me and easily grow attached to the parts you create. Adrien and I were recording an instrumental track to one of his songs, and he didn’t like the way I was bending a note. A typical sort of blues bend, but on ukulele I thought it sounded somewhat unique. He thought it sounded “too Winnipeg”. Ha! I fought for the bend, and he acquiesced, but I really should’ve stopped being a jerk and stopped bending. I should just go out and write my own songs full of bendy ukulele if it means that much to me.

Another simple tip is to arpeggiate the chords instead of strumming along. Particularly when accompanying a guitar part. This is where the ukulele can really be used to it’s fullest potential. You can easily do suspended chords over the guitar’s simple major chords and they wont clash. They add a lot of “air” to the sound. If someone is strumming along in D, try arpeggiating a Dsus4 (maybe it’s a Dmaj add 11?) Anyway, the chord position is 0220. I LOVE that chord…

What can we expect from you in 2014? When are you releasing a record?

2014 is the year to get it in gear and record some music. Adrien? Tesia? We did record some demos in 2012 which we intended as a springboard to greater things, but life kind of got in the way. Adrien had a baby girl, Tesia got married and has been working hard on her band Sibyl, and I’ve been waiting for a kick in the ass.

Links

Subscribe to Sanfordandsong on YouTube
Adrien Sala on MySpace
Tesia Rhind’s band Sibyl

Man Man – Deep Cover (Simple Chords)

With the range of instruments Man Man used it was only a matter of time before a ukulele showed up. And sure enough this ukulele ditty cropped up on their latest album On Oni Pond prompting quite a few chord requests.

The chord chart shows the basic chords of the song. Around those he’s doing some fancy bits of filigree that you can find below. But the song works really well without them if you prefer to play it that way.

Simple Strumming

You can use this pattern almost the whole way through:

d – d u d – d u

Do that twice for every chord. Make sure you swing the strum (so the down strums last longer than the up strums – you can get a feel for it by listening to the song).

Here’s how that sounds:

Simple Strum

The one exception is the C-C7-C bit at the end of the verses.

Do the main pattern once for the C. Then either play the lick or do this once each on the C7 and C:

d u d u

Chord Variations

For the F chord play two down strums. Then take you middle finger off the g-string and strum up (Fadd9 chord). Then hammer you middle finger back on so you’re back to F. Then strum down and up. Then go back to taking your finger off and play that part twice more.

Together the pattern looks like this (with the hammer-ons indicated by Hs)

The first bar of the A7 you do the same thing. The difference is you take off your index finger and hammer that on. So you’re switching between these chords:

For the second bar you play a down strum of A7 with your middle finger on the A-string, first fret. An up strum on A7. A down strum with your middle finger on the E-string, first fret. Then up on A7. And repeat that. Together it looks like this:

Here’s a video of that section played slowly:

The Dm section is exactly the same as the F. The only difference is you take off and hammer-on your middle and ring fingers.

Similarly with the C7. You take off your index finger and hammer that back on in the first bar. Then it’s d u d u for the C and C7 or you play the lick.

Other Twiddly Bit

Here’s the little downward pattern at the end of Verse 2:

Links

Buy it on iTunes
Visit ManManBandBand.com

Full Playlist

Early contender for next year’s Ukulele Video of the Year from Anne Janelle with some beardo on ukulele. Still plenty of time to cast your vote for the 2013 video of the year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t forget to cast your vote for Ukulele Video of the Year. Currently Jontom is in the lead with Walk off the Earth second.

It’s not often you see an interesting, well written piece about ukuleles in the mainstream media so Vulture’s article In Defense of the Ukulele is very welcome. It’s a follow up to an interview with Cristin Milioti (the ukulele-playing mother of How I Met Your Mother) and the anti-uke hate she provoked.. It makes some thought provoking points about ukulele and gender-shaming.

Bill to make the ukulele the state instrument of Hawaii. But it does have some competition from the ipu (which has a better claim in my opinion).

The Ukulele Is Not The Happiest Instrument In The World…Rant!

Team ukulele has been out in force at the Olympics with Julia Mancuso winning bronze in the alpine skiing super combined and luger Kate Hansen causing delight and disapproval with her warmup routine.

Pictures

– Amy Crehore’s Twitch uke is approaching completion.
– Bird ukulele
– AFP chord chart art
– Ukulele Joe Thomas
– Uke diagrams

Videos

– Automatic strummer
– The woes of having a cat that isn’t weird enough to make internet money (via thingsisawthatilove).

We Shall Overcome (Instrumental Tab)

I couldn’t let Pete Seeger week pass without writing up this song in some form. In the spirit of the song I’ve kept the arrangement super simple. I go through the verse three times. Getting more strident each time.

First Time Through

I’m just playing the melody. Picking it out with my thumb.

Second Time Through

Harmonising the melody. I’m picking this with my thumb on the lower string and index finger on the higher string.

Third Time Through

Playing the melody back with the chords. I’m just using my thumb here. Strumming up to the melody note.

Links

The Pete Seeger version on iTunes
More Pete Seeger songs

The nominations are i, they’ve been fed through a highly complex algorithm and a final list of candidates has been spat out. Now it’s time to vote for you favourite. If you’re reading by email or feed reader and can’t see the voting doodle click here to be taken to be taken to the blog.

Rules

– Voting closes at midnight at the end of 23rd February.
– You only get one vote.
– Even if you already know who you’re voting for check out the other videos.
– Use whatever criteria you want. I’ll be voting for the one I like the most. (Who wins isn’t as important as getting some exposure for excellent videos)

Voting Closed

Here are the results:

Sanford and Friends: 476 votes 41%
Jontom – Born to Run: 408 votes 35%
Walk off the Earth – Royals: 163 votes 14%
Elof & Wamberg – Øresundreel: 37 votes 3%
Little Miss Higgins – Early Morning Thief: 28 votes 2%
James Clem – Big River: 27 2%
Sarah Humphreys – Why Don’t We Just Stay Home: 15 votes 1%
Dingus Khan – Knifey Spooney: 8 votes 1%
Moselele – Do They Know It’s Christmas: 3 votes 0%

The Contenders

Watch the playlist

Sanford and Adrien Sala and Tesia Rhind – As the Living Do
Elof & Wamberg – Øresundreel
Little Miss Higgins – Early Morning Thief
Moselele – Do They Know It’s Christmas
Walk off the Earth – Royals
Jontom – Born to Run
Sarah Humphreys – Why Don’t We Just Stay Home
James Clem – Big River
Dingus Khan – Knifey Spooney

When I heard about the death of Pete Seeger I knew I’d have to dedicate a week to him. He was a massively important figure in music and important in a way you don’t see very often. As a musical middleman.

None of the Seeger pieces I’m featuring are entirely his own work (even Turn, Turn, Turn takes its lyrics from Ecclesiastes). And Seeger’s versions of these songs aren’t the best known (or necessarily the best versions). But he had an amazing knack for taking songs from across the globe that had been overlooked and presenting them in such a compelling and accessible way that they were begging for others to take the song and run with it.

He was also unusual in how strongly he knitted music and politics together. And he did it so effectively he was dragged before the House Un-American Activities Committee to answer for such Un-American activities as singing at the “May Day Rally: For Peace, Security and Democracy.” How many musicians today could you imagine being called before government for their political opinions?

But if you still care about making your voice heard today is the EFF’s The Day We Fight Back campaign protesting against mass surveillance. Head to TheDayWeFightBack.org to join the campaign.

Pete Seeger Chords

The Tokens – The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Walk off the Earth – Little Boxes
The Weavers – Pay Me My Money Down
Pete Seeger – Turn, Turn Turn

Coming up: tab for an instrumental version of We Shall Overcome.

The Tokens – The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Chords)

This song has a tortured and unpleasant history. There’s an overview of the song’s history here (including a link to the brilliant Rolling Stone article by Rian Malan on the subject).

The short version: The song Mbube was written and performed by South African Solomon Linda in 1939. Folk song collector, Alan Lomax heard the song and suggested it to Pete Seeger. Pete Seeger adapted it under the misheard name Wimoweh with none of the royalties going to Linda. That was adapted again for the startling song The Lion Sleeps Tonight with none of the royalties going to Linda. Most profitably it was using by Disney in The Lion King without any royalties going to Linda’s family. Initially. After legal wrangles the family eventually got some money. But not before Solomon Linda died in poverty and his youngest daughter contracted AIDS and died, unable to afford retroviral drugs.

But despite its disheartening back-story the song has produced three incredible records (it’s the Disney one I don’t think is up to much).

Suggested Strumming

For the strum start of like this:

d u x u d u x

Then change to the next chord for the final upstrum and play the pattern again:

u d u x u d u x

And keep repeating that.

Which sounds like this:

Strum

If you prefer you can replace the chnk with a strong down strum.

Links

Buy Solomon Linda’s Mbube
Buy Pete Seeger’s Wimoweh
Buy The Tokens’ The Lion Sleeps Tonight
More Pete Seeger chords