Don’t Let Us Get Sick is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It’s incredibly raw and emotionally direct. And given extra poignancy by the fact that Zevon would be diagnosed with cancer two years after writing. I can barely make it through without breaking down in tears.
I’ve kept the arrangement very simple to match the original. The picking is thumb and two finger but I don’t use the g-string at any point so the thumb is always on the C-string.
I do hope you and your loved-ones are keeping happy and healthy.
I like to keep a list of songs that use just the most common ukulele chords. Arranged by the order people usually learn them in. And with people panic buying ukuleles, I thought it was about time for an update.
C, F and G (or G7)
If you prefer, you can use G7 in the place of G or vice versa for any of these songs.
The arrangement is in two parts. The first run through the verse is played campanella style (with the notes ringing into each other). Then it’s played in a fuller arrangement with chord backing. Both are one with one finger per string picking.
If you’ve been around the ukulele world a while, you’ll be familiar with Dominic ‘Dominator’ Pieranunzio’s ukulele tabs. They were a great resource so it was a bit concerning that he and his site disappeared from the internet. But, fear not, he’s still doing well and his tabs are still available here on this spammy-looking but apparently Dom-approved site (thanks to @UkeGap for the info).
Stargirl sees the return of the manic pixie ukulele girl.
Patreon
I launched the Uke Hunt Patreon last month and I’ve been knocked out by the number of people that have just straight in on back. A huge thanks to those people. It’s really spurred me on to keep producing this month. Particular thanks go to Tenor backers:
Following on from yesterday’s Tunes You Know But Can’t Name post, with a tune I only knew as, “that chicken song from the cartoons,” until I found out it had an actual name. Chicken Reel was written in 1910 by Joseph Daly but was adopted and adapted into the bluegrass catalogue.
And I’ve gone with a very bluegrass inspired version played fast and loose. I use thumb and two finger picking all the way through. Plus, I make liberal use of campanella which means I long parts of the A section are played just on open strings. Leaving your fretting-hand to play Candy Crush, fill out your taxes or tear an apple in half.
The C section is based on a part many bluegrass players include that I love. It really doubles down on the chicken theme by including a clucking sound.
Here’s a selection of short tunes you’ll have heard a load of times in your life but might not know the name of. These pop up everywhere and have become musical shorthand. That makes them ideal tunes to learn and pull out of the bag whenever the situation calls for it and get a cheap laugh.
This is the one tune I did know the name of. For extra spookiness, pick the strings close to the bridge or use a capo as high up the fretboard as you like.
This tune is over 200 years old and was most famous as the tune played by big ben at the top of the hour. Since then it’s become the tune played by a million clocks and doorbells.
I’m playing harmonics with my right-hand here to give it an extra bell-like quality. But the tune will sounds just fine played without them.
The new song from The Strokes has got me very excited for the new album. So much so I decided to tackle a song from their debut and got carried away. As well as the chords, I’ve written up a bit of group arrangement of the song as well.
Suggested Strumming Pattern
I play down-up strums the whole way through the song. But if you want to be more authentic you can use double-time down-strums.
The group arrangement is made up of four parts. Firstly, the chords are exactly the same as above. Next is the lead part. This is closely based on the lead guitar song but with a few octave changes so it all fits on uke. This is the part to give to the Flash Harrys in your group.
Next is the melody part which I’m playing on baritone ukulele. Because the melody line and the lead guitar part match each other so much, I wanted to create separation between them. Using the baritone means that they’re an octave apart and create a fuller sound. Which I think works particularly well in the chorus.
Finally, there’s the bass part. Which I play, inexpertly, on guitar. It’s all played on the bottom four strings so you can transfer it directly to bass ukulele (or bass guitar if that’s your kink). Here’s the tab for that.
After bouncing off BoJack a couple of times, I finally started watching it in earnest after I was told to watch this fantastic bit with K Flay’s Blood in the Cut riff. After that it rapidly became one of my favourite shows of all time.
For most of the medley I’m either using strums (with a few picked notes mingled in) or thumb and two finger picking.
The song that works best on ukulele is the outstanding I Will Always Think of You. Which is such a dead-on pastiche I had to double check it wasn’t a long lost Cole Porter song.
The trickiest to pull off is Back in the 90s. That includes some quick Cotton picking i.e. the thumb alternates between the g- and C-strings with the index and middle fingers playing the melody on the E- and A-strings respectively.
The full tracklist:
A Horse with No Name (America)/Special Feeling/Avant Gardener (Courtney Barnett)/I Just Met My Perfect Match/Generic 90s Grunge Song/Mr Peanutbutter’s House/Blood in the Cut (K.Flay)/I Will Always Think of You/Back in the 90s/Stars (Nina Simone)/Boxer vs. Raptor
