Devo/L’Uke & GUGUG – Girl U Want (Riff Tab)

I smiled quite a lot as well.

This tab is taken from GUGUG and L’Uke’s excellent version of the tune. I’ve tabbed up Gus’s part. Daniel’s playing the same thing but in the rather unusual E tuning (bEG#C#). Finn is playing the chord with an E under the riff.

And, of couse, I couldn’t resist working out the solo as well.

Those chords are also the ones in the, “Look at you with your mouth…” section. So that’s pretty much the whole song.

Part of the Guitar Riffs for Ukulele series.

Uke Hunt Retrospective

I do sometimes have it brought home to me that not everyone hangs on every single word I say. Hard to believe, I know. So here are a few things that are popular, good or over-looked that might have slipped by you.

The Most Popular Tabs and Chords

Well, it’s all fairly obvious stuff. Exactly what you’d expect.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Beirut
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Wait! What? Yes, Daft Punk is the fourth most visited tab/chord post on the blog. No, I don’t know why.

My Favourite Tabs and Chords

James Bond Theme – I think it’s the best arrangement I’ve done. Other people tend to think it’s…
Baby Elephant Walk – I like this one but it needs some work.
Sophie Madeleine – Take Your Love With Me – Just a brilliant chord progression.
Davy Graham – Angi
Naked As We Came – yeah, it was only yesterday. But I like it.

I Should Have Just Stayed in Bed

I toiled for hours. Deep into the night I sat playing. Sweat dripping from my brow. Blood dripping from my fingers.

Bollocks to you James Earl Jones. Sometimes you build it and no-one comes.

Carl Ray Villaverde’s version of Tears in Heaven
Chopin’s Funeral March
Mara Carlyle’s Baby Bloodheart

The How to Play Ukulele eBooks

I’m reliably informed by proper internet marketing people that I should sell my ukulele ebooks a lot harder than I do. Because most people visiting Uke Hunt would have no idea they existed – I’m sure quite a few regulars might not know – and those that do know they exist might not know that I’m the one who wrote them.

I don’t want to go all hard sell on them, but I will make them a bit more obvious. Because I think they’re really good and I’m proud of them.

The Interviews

Most viewed:

Rod Thomas – this one has been viewed over 10,000 times. I couldn’t be happier to give him any exposure I can – he’s the nicest guy in the world. And I have a man-crush on him.
Kate Micucci – is also very sweet. But I don’t fancy her as much as I do Rod.

My faves:

Gus from GUGUG
Dean ‘Minor Constellations’ Engle and Madeline Ava – Both insanely talented young lyricists. Dean has released a new album which you can download free on Rack & Ruin Records (click the album cover). Madeline’s stuff has disappeared from the interwebs along with CLLCT (*sobs*). After reading about her on here, Dean asked Madeline to marry him. I’m still hoping it’s going to happen – it’d make me the happiest blog-pimp in the world.

Useful Stuff

Slash chords – People are always asking, “how do you play B/C on a ukulele?” or some such. I think part of the problem is that people don’t know what to Google when they have that problem. So if you don’t know what a slash chord is, read the post now.
Blues scale and Pentatonic scale – essential if you ever want to do any improvising and solo shenanigans.
10 Reasons You Need to Buy a New Ukuele – psychologists say that people buy based on emotion then search for logical reasons to justify it. That’s certainly true of a lot of uke purchases.

Some Things Just Don’t Catch On

Me (in August 2007): Hey, here’s an idea. Why don’t I do a post with photos of me making stupid faces? And I’ll have a little test-what-you’ve-learnt bit at the end. Wow, everyone’s going to be really engaged with this post. I should do this all the time.

The Internet: Zero comments.

Corner Laughers, Tomotaka Matsui: UkeTube

New videos from the Corner Laughers, GUGUG, The Sweet Hollywiians’ Tomotaka Matsui on lap steel ukulele and plenty more. [Read more]

Buy A GUGUG Ukulele Collection

Before we get down to business, Guitar Center are having a bit of a Black Friday blowout. Buy today and the code SAVE15 will get you 15% off (it doesn’t work on all ukes, but it does work on the Cordoba, Mitchell and Applause). They’re also advertising 10% on Saturday and Sunday with the coupon SAVE10, but you should be able to get the same deal all the way up to Christmas with the code TENOFF.

If you’re looking to build yourself a GUGUG style ukulele collection, the first thing you’ll want to do is stock up on plastic ukuleles. And you can usually pick them up on eBay fairly cheaply.

Right now there’s this TV Pal and this Flamingo.

With plastic ukes, you get extra marks for the original box. This Carnival comes with the original box – a different design to the GUGUG Carnival box (left).

As for non-plastic ukes, I only remember seeing Gus play two: the wildly extravagant Swinging Treholipee (as seen in the Daydream Believer) and a Bushman Jenny.

Fin’s collection, on the other hand, is much easier and cheaper to replicate. All you need is a red Mahalo and a Stagg.

Also on eBay this week…

Mahalo have started making a guitarlele. Very strange body shape and the sort of rock bottom price you’d expect from Mahalo.

Ukulele necklace.

Ukulele kitsch of the week: ukulele shades.

GUGUG Week: Fin Raucous

Fin’s turn for some routine interrogation.

How did you and Gus get together?

I met Gus on my first day at Secondary school and we started jammin’ together a few years later. The fickle finger of fate I suppose.

What are your favourite songs to play on the uke?

All sorts of stuff really. At the moment my top tune is probably Guantanamo Bay by the Space Cretins but anything with a good beat will do.

What’s in your uke collection?

Just my trusty mahogany soprano Stagg and the old battered Mahalo I rode in on.

What tips do you have for anyone looking for YouTube ukulele stardom?

Pick a good tune and be creative but most of all enjoy yourself.

What plans do you have for your solo stuff?

To keep hammering it out and hope I don’t get an ASBO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order) from the neighbours for my troubles.

Visit Fin’s YouTube channel.

GUGUG Week: Honolulu Baby (MP3)

Gus Raucous – Honolulu Baby (M4A)
Gus Raucous – Honolulu Baby (MP3)

An exclusive GUGUG track today (just one – it’s the same track in M4A and MP3 according to taste) featuring Gus and his overdub orchestra (overgug orchestra??). Honolulu Baby was made famous by Ty Parvis in Laurel and Hardy’s Sons of the Desert (watch it here) and has become a ukulele favourite. There are chords for it here (although I’m pretty sure it wasn’t by Laurel and Hardy).

If you thought Gus’s description of his musical history was exhaustive, you’d be wrong. He was also in The Cobras who recorded this slice of genius under the name Gustav Temple and the Blades. And you can watch him ukeing it up with Davie from The Cobras here.

Visit GUGUG.
Puddings and Pies on eMusic

GUGUG Week: Gus Raucous

It’s always a treat when a new GUGUG video appears on the net. They one of my favourite YouTube acts, so I’ve decided to dedicate this week to them. Starting off with an interview with Gus.

How do you pronounce GUGUG and where did the name come from?

The name comes from my name. When I was setting up my youtube account I put in “Gus” which was taken (d’uh), then “GusGus” which my pal Duglas BMX from the Greorgy Girl video calls me that but then that was taken too, so I tried Gugug cos I didn’t really care by that point to be honest. So according to this story I guess it must be pronounced Gugug as in “uh huh” although to be honest it is never really spoken out loud. I should have said something more esoteric like “it’s the most fundamental human sound – the gu-gug of a baby’s first goo-goo”, or “its derived from an ancient Polynesian chant” or “gu-gu-gug’ is the sound of chugging away on a cheapo ukulele with old strings”

What’s your pre-GUGUG musical history?

Fin and I started mucking about musically when we were mere striplings of lads (well I was, Fin was always a big bastard). I used to record us playing bass and drums on one cassette player then Id record us playing along to the recording and I’d add some guitar or a borrowed Casio and we’d both sing. We wrote our first songs that way probably at the rate of about 2 a night. Eventually these musical fumblings developed into a band called Rubber Yahoo. We played fast, rough and noisy songs of our own composition – we were hardly aware of what a cover was at point let alone actually play one. Our “philosophy” if you could call it that, was, that everything must be “off-the cuff” so we wrote songs on the spot, and stuck absolutely with the original spark of an idea; consequently our songs were pretty odd. Still we seemed to be fairly popular in the Glasgow area at the time.

We went on to play in a few rock n roll bands and ska bands. We were in Wray Gunn and the Rockets, and to our eternal amusement went on tour supporting Shakin’ Stevens. I also started playing in a great pub-rock / rhythm and blues band “The Spooks’ with Davie (harmonica king) and eventually joined George’s band The Kaisers. I continued to play drums with Davie and his bands and we had a great laugh playing all over Scotland; At one point we got “blessed” by Lee Perry and had George Melly sing a few songs with us… however, The Kaisers was something else: Already fairly established, so I kind of jumped on the rolling train and immediately went on tour in Europe and the States. The Kaisers were an amazing live experience both for the audience and for us, the band. The last gig I played in with The Kaisers was in New York in 2001. After that I played more with Davie and kind of slowed down the playing in bands as work took over.

One night I was round at Davie’s and he usually has an old guitar or something to show me, but this time it was a Mahalo ukulele that he’d just bought “off the cuff’ as it were, and I thought “not really into those folky things” thinking it was like mandolin or something. But after playing it for a few minutes I thought Ok its better than I though it would be – in fact its quite good. I bought one probably the next day. Fin bought one a few months later.

You seem to have an extensive ukulele collection. Which are your favourites?

Once I’d got the ukulele bug I started buying random £15 ukes from ebay: non brand or Harmony-type with the plastic fretboard, but I don’t have them anymore cos I ve lent them all out.

My favourite ukuleles are the plastic ones. The reason for this is that I keep getting outbid on the really nice old Koa ones and vintage wooden ones on Ebay – so I opt for what I think, is the most interesting option – the mass-produced 50s plastic ones. I’ve got a few now – all from America. Specifically, I like my TV Pal; Flamingo; Lisa; Mauna Loa. Ive got about 2 of each ( I can never get my hands on a decent unwarped Islander) Ive also got a Singing Treholipee, but I broke it pretty quickly.

There was talk of you recording an album. How’s that coming along?

That’s coming on slowly. Not because Ive been labouring over it, but because I’m constantly forgetting to do it. I will do it one day soon I promise that’s all I can say. Its in the pipeline; its work in progress; its err coming along

What makes a song perfect for a ukulele cover?

Well I wouldn’t know the answer to that one, except that some bloke out of the Ukulele Orchestra of GB said “you can tell a good song if it can be played on a ukulele” or something resembling that. I suppose that’s true. I usually just try to see how a song feels on the ukulele when I play it – ie are the chords easy enough? Some songs I try are crap by the way – but hopefully you don’t get to hear them.

When it comes to the solo GUGUG multitrack stuff; then the perfect ukulele cover is one that I really want to play, like Guns of Navarone, Phoenix City, or the Joe 90 theme tune. I have to really want to cos it takes a little bit of time and effort. At the moment Ive stopped doing these as at the moment I don’t have the equipment that I need for the Gugug “Overdub” sound. As for the Gus and Fin stuff: Fin comes round to mine one evening and we just do one “off the cuff’. Usually I have half worked out a song; or we both know it a bit – but not always.

What plans are there for the future of GUGUG?

None. Maybe an instructional book “The Gugug Ukulele Method” because everyday I get asked for chords, advice on technique and what ukulele to buy. Maybe I’ll start a monthly magazine “What Ukulele?” (not that I know anything) Oh – and we’re playing at the Belgian Ukulele Festival I think in 2009. That’s it. Oh, yeah and the CD.

Ukulele Orchestra on Radio 4 and more Links

Ukulele Tonya covers the Portland Ukulele Festival.

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain interviewed on Radio 4 and written about in the Daily Express.

Todd talks to GUGUG on Folkster’s Findings.

The Rip by Portishead on Uker Tabs.

MP3s: Dent May on Fantastic Avenue, Tada Tátá on Swedesplease, Ain’t Superstitious, But has George Harrison’s Rising Sun.

“lately all I do is talk about my ukulele, but I honestly love it more than life. sometimes I just hold it to my heart and sigh because I love it so. I think maybe I’ll be a good mother if I love an instrument this much?” Quote from probably the coolest girl on the planet.

Cecil Myers the dealer with a heart.

Ukulele Songs

Ukulele Song [yoo-kuh-lay-lee song; Hawaiian. oo-koo-lay-lay song] -noun

1. A song primarily associated with the ukulele.
2. A song everyone tells you to play when they find out you’re a ukelelist.

There are certain songs that will be forever associated with the ukulele. Occasionally, these were written for the ukulele. But, more often than not, they are songs that have been taken and performed so memorably on the uke that it will be thought of as a ukulele song from that day on. This is a list of those ukulele songs that no uker can get away from.

Tonight You Belong to Me

Written by: Billy Rose and Lee David in 1926.
Essential version: Lyle Ritz, Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters. Watch the video.

Tonight You Belong to Me was written in the heyday of the ukulele, but it wasn’t until the song was used in the film The Jerk that it became almost exclusively associated with the ukulele. Although Steve Martin does a good job with the miming, the uke is provided by jazz ukulele legend Lyle Ritz.

You’ll find endless ukulele covers of this song on ukulele including versions from Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder with Sleater Kinney’s Janet Weiss and Cathy and Sarah Lee Guthrie (Cathy Guthrie also recorded a version as part of Folk Uke).

You can learn the chords to Tonight You Belong to Me from ukulele chanteuse Janet Klein and find a solo version in Jumpin Jim’s Ukulele Masters : Lyle Ritz. And here’s my transcription of the Jerk version Tonight You Belong to Me Ukulele Chords.

Ukulele Lady

Written by: Gus Kahn and Richard Whiting in 1925.

In the 1910’s and 20’s, Hawaii was all the rage. Songwriters, never being slow to let a bandwagon passed un-jumped-upon, aped the Hawaiian sound and filled songs with references to an idealised Hawaii (this came to be known as Hapa Haole). Obviously, this included many ukuleles with songs like Ukulele Moon and Ukulele Island. But, moons and islands couldn’t match the appeal of ukulele ladies.

An early version of Ukulele Lady was recorded by Vaughn De Leath. Since then it has become a favourite of people wanting to conjure up a bit of Hawaiian exotica and has been covered by Bette Midler and Kermit the Frog. Of course, it’s become a must-play for ukesters and you can watch top-notch versions by Howlin’ Hobbit and Victoria Vox. But, somehow, Petty Booka’s kitsch version of the song seems be stuck in my head permanently (you can listen to a clip via their website).

You can learn to play Ukulele Lady here or via LStrachey’s video lesson.

Tip-Toe Through the Tulips
Written by: Joe Burke and Al Dubin in 1926.
Essential version: Tiny Tim Watch the video

Tiny Tim, I think it’s fair to say, is not universally popular amongst ukulele players. His warbling, falsetto voice and camp, novelty act pretty much killed off the popularity of the ukulele for the best part of a quarter of a century. Even so, he is one of the first players people think of when considering the ukulele. To his credit, he was responsible for rescuing a number of fantastic old songs and claiming them for the uke. None more so than Tiptoe Through the Tulips.

You might not guess it from Tiny’s version, but it’s a beautiful song. If you don’t believe me, check out this version by Emily Grace and this version by Patsy Monteleone.

I’ll See You In My Dreams
Written by: Gus Kahn and Isham Jones in 1924.
Essential version: Joe Brown at the George Harrison Memorial Concert. Watch the Video.

This song was first claimed for the ukulele by Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards. You can listen to his version here. When Joe Brown performed it at the George Harrison Memorial Concert, he stole the show and the song. George himself was a big-time ukelelist and member of the George Formby Society and also prompted a ukulele tribute from Paul McCartney. Ingrid Michealson also did a fine ukulele version on her album Slow the Rain which you can hear on Last.fm.

You can learn to play I’ll See You In My Dreams this video by Mark Occhionero or in Dominator and Arch Larizza’s tab.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Written by: Harold Arlen and Yip Harbury in 1939
Essential version: Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. Watch the video.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow is the latest song to enter the ukulele canon. As far as I’m aware, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole is the first person to release a ukulele version of the song. But since he did, the song has become a ukulele staple.

It has come to greater public attention thanks to its regular use in film and TV (including 50 First Dates and Meet Joe Black). It has also been covered on ukulele by Jason Castro on American Idol and Ted’s group The Blanks on Scrubs.

You can find the chords to Jason Castro’s version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Dominator has tab of Britt Paiva’s solo version.

When I’m Cleaning Windows
Written by: George Formby, Harry Gifford and Frederick E. Cliffe in 1936.
Essential version: George Formby. Watch the video.

In the UK, the ukulele is almost synonymous with George Formby. It’s very rare that the ukulele gets a mention in the mainstream media without someone dropping the F-bomb. However, he wasn’t a traditional uke player, but a banjolele player.

Like many Formby songs, it has some light innuendo. Unbelievably by today’s standards, this song was banned by the BBC until Formby’s immense popularity during the Second World War forced a climbdown.

Formby acolytes are a particular subset of ukulele players, but those that like him love him. You’ll find many note for note recreations of his solos on YouTube. You’ll also find version of this song by Peter Sellers and Patrick Stewart on Family Guy.

Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue (Has Anybody Seen My Girl?)
Written by: Joe Young, Sam Lewis, Ray Henderson

Five Foot Two might be the perfect ukulele song. It rips along at a rocking tempo, the chords flow perfectly (you can find them on Dr Uke) and the words are ripe for parody. There are at least two Eight Foot Twos: Allan Sherman’s ode to an alien (as covered by Craig Robertson) and Mary Anne McTrowe’s Bigfoot love song.

Ain’t She Sweet
Written by: Milton Ager and Jack Yellen in 1927

There are plenty of great ukulele versions of this on YouTube including GUGUG, Tommy Mattiniero and Winin’ Boys. A uke version of the song even got a perfect score on the Gong Show. But watching The Beatles play it on the lawn can’t be beaten.

Ain’t She Sweet is another song that fits perfectly on the uke. Not surprising since it’s very similar to Five Foot Two. In fact, the two songs are often mashed up. Mark Occhionero does this for his tab of the song and so does Dan ‘Cool Hand Uke’ Scanlan in his instructional video. (Suggested by Nina Coquina).

Aloha ‘Oe
Written by: Queen Lili’uokalani in 1877.

Certainly the best known Hawaiian song and a ukulele staple which has reached a new generation after its use by Lilo and Stitch.

You can read notes on the song and the song sheet on Nalu Music.

Of course, as well as songs, the ukulele is associated with plenty of solo, instrumental pieces. You can read about those here: ukulele music.

Let me know if you think I’ve missed out one of the essential ukulele songs.

Friday Links

Buy Ukulele now has a blog reviewing various ukulele products.

The Ukulizer is a ukulele chord site with some nifty gubbins allowing to switch from D to C tuning or transpose at the click of a button.

The end of Eilidh’s Daily Ukulele Ceilidh got plenty of press coverage. Most of it pedestrian and some of it moronic. By far this best was the interview in the Daily Record.

Julia Nunes wins Bushman World Video Contest. Really?

Vote for Jen Kwok in Famecast. And here. Vote early, vote often.
Aldrine Guerrero’s Christmas Eve Eve show.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall smashes Jamie Oliver’s ukulele.

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain gig on German TV.

Jake Shimabukuro does his best orgasm-face at the tee-off of the 2008 PGA tour.

I got an email from mrfifty6 saying, “gus and fin are NOT the most punk ukulele players on youtube, i am.” Check out his YouTube page if you think you can handle the punk. Watch your backs GUGUG.

Shattered Satellite has an mp3 of Florence and the Machine covering Beirut’s Postcards from Italy.

Uke Thingy pointed me towards the definition of uke attitude. One guy who definitely has the uke attitude is the writer of Ukulele Lesson. The site is full of ukulele poetry. My favourite is, “The ukulele sound won’t interrupt the talking of business or the whisper of lovers.”

There’s a ukulele on The Beach Boys’ Help Me, Rhonda says Lost and Sound. My first reaction was, “Like chuff there is.” But, I was listening to the single version. Take a listen to the backing track for the album version and there’s definite uke action.

In: Sharon Jones, Mrs Kucinich and the ukulele. Heartily agreed on all counts. (via Ukulelia)

Ukuleles or bananas?

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