The Ventures – Hawaii Five-O (Tab)
September 6, 2009
The Ventures – Hawaii Five-O (Tab)
MIDI
A strange tune this one. Each time the theme rolls through it goes up by a semitone. To make it easier to remember, I’ve kept pretty much the same arrangement each time through (rather than going for the easiest arrangement each time).
The twiddly bits go a bit high, so you’ll need to play it on a tenor. I’ve made a few changes to the tune: one of the twiddly bits is lowered an octave and I’ve sliced a bit off the end.
The Ventures / U900 – Walk Don’t Run
September 3, 2009
The Ventures/U900 – Walk Don’t Run (Tab)
Another tab based on the adorable two-some’s version of a Ventures tune.
I say ‘based on’ because I think they’re using low-G ukes. That would certainly make a few bits easier to play. Particularly the D note (C string, 2nd fret) which would be easier to play on the G string, 5th fret on a low-G. But it’s perfectly playable on a re-entrant. You just need to remember to slide your hand down for the A string, 5th fret rather than playing it with your index finger.
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Buy the original.
The Ventures / U900 – Diamond Head
September 1, 2009
The Ventures/U900 – Diamond Head (Tab)
As well as being seven shades of adorable, U900 have excellent taste in covers. So I’ll be putting up tabs based on their two tunes along with my own arrangement of a Ventures tune.
It’s not often I say this, but you can use a pick on this one. The first part in particular is very tricky without one. Plus it’ll help the solo uke stand out against the chords.
Visit them on MySpace
Buy the CD on YesAsia.com
Buy the original.
Donna Summer – Hot Stuff (Tab)
August 2, 2009
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Last in the series of Not Guitar Riffs for Ukulele and it’s a corker. I’m not sure it works on ukulele quite as well as some of the others. But still. Hot stuff.
If you’re feeling adventurous. You could do a prebend on the E string at the third fret and release it for the first two notes of the last bar.
Van Halen – Jump (Tab)
July 30, 2009
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Another glorious slice of 80s cheese. The second single I ever bought was by Valen Halen (although it was Hagar era Halen). Which was something of departure from my first ever single: Chas ‘n Dave’s Snooker Loopy. If anyone thinks they’ve got me beat in the embarrassing-first-single stakes (or CD or download if you want to make me feel old), leave a comment.
Keep the chord stabs nice and short. In this example I add chnks on the beats to keep the rhythm going.
Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F (Tab)
July 28, 2009
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As you might have guess, there’s going to be a fair proportion of 80s cheese in the keyboard riffs for ukulele series. And it doesn’t come much more 80s than the theme tune to Beverley Hills Cop. The 80s must be the only time in pop music history that it was fashionable to be German.
Keep the notes in this one short and muted by resting the underside of you picking hand just in front of the bridge.
Matt and Kim – Daylight (Tab)
July 26, 2009
I do worry a great deal about keyboards coming into fashion again. If we tolerate this, it’s only a matter of time before we’re wearing shoulder pads, watching Dallas and having competitions to see who can spunk the most money up the wall.
Having said that, Daylight by Matt and Kim is a damn fine song.
Like Kids by MGMT, I’m playing the E and A strings with half-up strums.
Ting Tings – Great DJ (Tab)
July 23, 2009
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I’m pretty sure this one is just a heavily effected guitar. But I snuck a non-guitar riff through in the guitar riff series, so it’s payback time. Besides, it’s a lot of fun to bust this one out. I’ve included the definitely-a-guitar part as well.
MGMT – Kids (Tab)
July 22, 2009
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There’s a debate on the best way to play this on Uker Tabs, so here’s the way I think it’s best to play it. My version includes the melody and the chords. I think it needs that extra bit of body on the ukulele.
Where there are notes played on the E and A strings, I’m doing a sort of half-up strum with my index finger.
And why not do your ukulele up like this to match the tune.
A-Ha – Take Me On (Tab)
July 19, 2009
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That ‘Literal Video’ thing got old fast. Nevermind, the Take On Me one was amusing.
Ukebucket did a rather fine cover of this tune. You can download it here.
