So, to save you from the social disgrace I experienced, I’ve put together a mini-ebook covering the basics that every first time uke owner needs to know. Here’s what it contains:

Five Things to Know.
Five Chords to Learn.
Five Songs to Play.
Five Websites to Visit.
Five Things to Get Free.
Five Things to Buy.
Five Videos to Watch.
Five YouTube Channels to Subscribe to.

You can download it free by here (Right click and select ‘Save As…’):

So You’ve Just Bought Your First Ukulele (PDF)

It’s released under a Creative Commons License. So you can email it people, let people download it on your site, print it out and hand it round to people – so long as you keep the content as it is.

UPDATE: The Ukulele Hero T-shirt I mention in the ebook is being taken down this Sunday (27th December) – so if you want one don’t hang about.

I’ve asked T-Shirt Hell why it is. They said, “Most of the shirts are 7 or 8 screens each as opposed to 1, 2, or 3 like the rest of our shirts. If we can’t sell a decent amount of them each week, they’re just too expensive to produce.”

Update to the update: They’re not being sold any more. I’m thinking of getting someone to design something similar myself.

Update to the update to the update: The shirts are now back after being down for a total of 5 days. Either my ceaseless complaining to them had an influence or these guys are scam artists.

Update to the update to the update to the update: Gone again. I give up.

MP3

Another melody notes plus chords Christmas tune. Must admit, I can’t stand this one.

Strumming

This bit is quite tricky. I’m using all down strums but you have to be careful how many strums you use.

F = 6 down strums
Gm = 2 down strums
C7 = 1 down strum
Gm = 1 down strum
F = 2 down strums

Next you repeat that pattern again. Then:

F = 1 strum
D7 = 2 strums
Gm = 3 strums
C7 = 3 strums
F = 3 strums

Then you do the first pattern again and you’re done.

Other Single Note Versions

Silent Night
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

MP3

Since it’s Christmas I thought I’d let you take a break from the tricky arrangements and I’d put up a couple of single note arrangements (along with easy chords) of a couple of Christmas tunes. For kids, newbies and people too drunk and bloated to play anything more complicated.

Suggested Strumming

Like a lot of Christmas songs, it’s a waltz so I’m using:

d – d u d -

If it’s too easy for you, you can try to play the very tricky all harmonics version. Or you can split the difference and play the middling version in How to Play Christmas Ukuele.

Garfunkel and Oates – Me, You and Steve (Chords)

It’s not often I do requests for non-commenters any more. Partly because I despise people in general and partly because most requests look like this, “Song request – Mr. Brightside by the killers and the ukulele is by Julia Nunes.” But this week I’m doing a three requests from people who seemed quite nice and, more importantly, requested songs I wanted to do anyway.

The first one is for one of the funniest songs from Garfunkel and Oates (Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome). As always with their songs, I need to slap a big NSFW on this one. And there are two bits of Micucci good news. She’s currently recording the next series of Scrubs and she will be playing played at Uketober Fest in Griffith Park LA along with fellow Uke Hunt favourites: , Madame Pamita and The UkuLady.

Suggested Strumming

Two down strums for almost all the chords. The only exceptions are the G in the intro (which last for four beats) and the last line of the middle section (one down strum for each chord lasting four beats each – you can pluck a few individual notes as well if the mood takes you).

Get it on iTunes

Requested by Ed.

Rocky and Balls – Gaysong (Chords)

I think this song wins the award for shortest time between being put up and me getting requests. And it’s a pretty good one for beginners – no fancy jazz chords to worry about in this one.

Suggested Strumming

Try:

d – d u d u d -

Buy it on Bandcamp

The Lancashire Hotpots – Oh No, He’s Turned Emo (Chords)

After some Manglish from Zee Avi, here’s some Lanclish from the Lancashire Hotpots. If you’re planning on going to see the Hotpots on their Northern tour you’re in for an extra treat. They’re being supported by the Re-entrants (find the dates here)

Suggested Strumming

Dead easy song, this one. There are only two chords. And this strum will see you through.

d – d u – u d -

Really, that strum works for just about every song.

If you want to add an extra bit of fanciness to the chords, add a few G diminished chords at the start of the G7 bars.

Twiddly Bits

Even if you’re not interested in playing this song, it’s well worth learning this little lick. It’s a standard.

Noah and the Whale – Jealous Kind of Love (PDF)

This little uke tune cropped up on the B-side to Shape of My Heart. It doesn’t seem to be available any more, but it’s rather lovely and a simple three chord song so I thought I’d write it up. The video cuts off but you can hear the whole thing on their MySpace.

Suggested Strumming Pattern

d – d u – u d -

Twiddly Bits

The uke doubles up the whistling part in the intro and after the choruses.

MIDI

Buy Noah and the Whale

Kate Micucci & William H Macy – It’s Time to Get Laid (Chords)

She might not have had the chance to jam with him when they were making the film, but junkets give you much more time for ukeing it up. Bart Got A Room looks like a damn funny film. It’s got people from Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development and Scrubs in. How could it not be? I’m sure it’ll be out in the UK sometime in 2011.

The song is a pretty straight forward, 4 chord affair. So it shouldn’t present any problems.

Suggested strumming

Other than the single strums that crop up, the main strumming pattern is old faithful:

d -d u – u d -

Watch Bart Got A Room Trailers
Buy Kate Micucci’s music

I Wanna Be Like You (Chords)

This one is a big favourite with ukulele groups (as ably demonstrated by the Hull Ukulele Group). But it could have been written for Hobbit to sing. It’s a perfect fit. Which is a whole lot more than you can say about the Jonas Brothers. I somehow find it hard to believe they spend anguished nights desperately wishing they could rid themselves of their wild instincts and join respectable society.

Although they do have a glint in their eyes which seems to say, “Teach me to destroy so I may be truly respected.”

Suggested Strumming Pattern

d – d u – u d u

Twice for each chord until you get to G7. Just one strum for that. Then the pattern twice for C and A7, once for D7, once for G7.

Next bit is a little tricky timing wise. Strum the pattern once for C. Then down once on C and down three times on G7.

Twiddly Bits

The intro goes like this:

Also on the C and A7 in the chorus Hobbit is switching between the chords and strumming all the strings open.

Buy the original.
Buy Snake Suspenderz stuff.

Ingrid Michaelson – You and I (Chords)

I’m slightly concerned this one is going to anger the Indie Gods. Particularly since she’s played it with Jason Mraz a few times. But I’ve had a bunch of requests for it and I took a lot less convincing than I did with the song that won’t be named (henceforth to be known as ‘the Scottish song’).

The chords are pretty simple and ideal for beginners. She does use the less common variations of F and Am (with the A string at the third fret). But if you find that tricky, use the ones you’re familiar with.

Suggested Strumming

Here’s the strumming pattern she uses:

d – d u – u d u

Play it twice for each chord in the verses and once for each chord in the chorus. An exception is in the, “You and I/You and I” where you do d – d u once each for the F and G chords.