UkeTube: Seeso, Woolgatherers, Paula Fuga
October 25, 2008
It’s an old joke, but I’ve never seen it done as well as this (thanks to krabbers for the tip-off). Other videos this week include Seeso taking an early lead in the Bushman Contest, Carl Ray Villaverde ripping up Keep Your Eyes on the Hands and plenty more. [Read more]
Irving Berlin – Blue Skies
October 7, 2008
Blue Skies (Chords)
– Blues Skies Intro (Tab)
After a few weeks of heavy duty rock riffs, I’m having a change this week and going with some old school stuff.
Blues Skies has been recorded by hundreds of people including Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Willie Nelson. But this tab is based heavily, very heavily, on Brian Hefferan’s version because whenever I hear one of his arrangements, I can never think of a better way to play it.
The chords are fairly simple. Even when they get a bit jazzy in the ‘Blue skies…‘ section, all you’re doing is moving one string down a fret each time (although I’ve probably chosen completely the wrong chord names). There’s a nice variation on the B7 chord (2320) which replaces the B with a second seventh note – it makes for a very easy change from the G chord.
A slight change in naming policy might throw you though. I used to refer to major 7 chords as maj7, but from now on it’ll be 7M with a capital ‘M’ to distinguish it from a minor chord.
The intro is, obviously, a little trickier. I’ve tabbed it out quite sparsely with just the chords and melody notes so you’ll need to fill in with some supporting strums to keep things moving along.
UPDATE: LStrachey has posted his version of the tune. There are a few differences in his arrangement and it’s well worth checking out.
Requested by Rob
Tripping Lily, Sarah Palin: UkeTube
September 6, 2008
All the uke gals are obsessed with Sarah Palin this week: The UkuLady, Jen Kwok, Poopy Lungstuffing. And there’s plenty of non-political uke action from the likes of Tripping Lily, Peter Madcat Ruth and Howlin Hobbit. [Read more]
Fin Raucous, Brian Hefferan, Craig Robertson
March 8, 2008
This week’s best ukulele videos include a rocker from GUGUG’s Fin Raucous, a NSFW tune from the UkuLady, Ukulele Ike and many more. [Read more]
Brian Hefferan, UkuleleAya, Tripping Lily
March 1, 2008
Rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit. Watch my favourite ukulele videos from the Hef, Ukulele Aya, Tripping Lily after the more [Read more]
Friday Links
February 15, 2008
Ukulele Review will be launching a competition today. There’ll be three concert Fleas up for grabs along with a whole load of other goodies (including my ebooks – which are, of course, the real draw). Make sure you stay tuned for it.
Uke Thingy has been knocking out ukulele tabs for classic guitar riffs including Day Tripper, Eye of the Tiger and Crazy Train.
Mike has a few new chord sheets up on his ukulele page including more Mountain Goats and No Surprises.
Uke Hunt friend Andy (AKA zym) has start his own blog ilovefizzypop (every time I read that name I start singing Helen Love’s I Love Indie Pop – no bad thing). As well as ukes, ilovefizzypop covers monkeys, games and robots. What more could you want?
A big thanks to Gary for drawing my attention to a two part audio documentary on the uke at The Human Chorus. It charts the ups and downs of the ukulele’s popularity from its introduction in Hawaii up to the 1990s and includes chats with Jim Beloff and Herb Ohta.
NukeDoc has a video showing you how to change the strings on your ukulele. Including using a power-drill to take the wrist work out of all that peg turning.
Buy yourself a handmad ukulele bag from Sugar Kane. (KDUS got there first)
Jake Shimabukuro has a new look website including a page packed with ukulele videos.
Daily Growl is a long term fixture in my feed reader. It usually covers the latest, hippest folkies (which reminds me: listen to Thao Nguyan if you’re into that sort of thing), so it was a very pleasant surprise to see The Fabulous Heftones as the Valentines Day choice.
How did Robert Plant deal with the stresses of the Led Zeppelin reunion? “I just lay in a dark room playing my little ukulele.”
The uke appears briefly amongst the lingerie models in The Raveonettes video for Candy. (Well done to uncle budd for spotting that one).
Art Ukes at Celtic Connections festival. (More pics here).
“Here’s a tip: if you are thinking of buying this ensemble, accessorising the look with a ukulele will make all the difference and help to bring out a certain music-hall je ne sais quoi.” Sound fashion advice from Laura Barton in The Guardian.
A novel solution to loose tuning pegs.
East Boston Make Out Club Band and More
January 26, 2008
Watch my favourite recent ukulele videos including The East Boston Make-Out Club Band, sweetafton23 and The Fabulous Heftones my clicking ‘More’. [Read more]
John King, Sweetafton23, Ukulelezaza
December 8, 2007
Officially, the Saturday UkeTube is on hiatus at the moment. However, these five videos are just too good. I had to share them.
John King – Bach Prelude
[youtube 935ExOpT5bI]
You have to check out his other three videos as well.
Sweetafton23 – Mr Fancy Pants
[youtube _m4DDkMfol0]
Brian Hefferan – Elite Syncopations
[youtube J0sa2OHdUr0]
theDesignmachine – Fat Bottom Girls
[youtube N9ag-saoEZY]
Ukulelezaza – Paper Moon
[youtube U_xUUSo5nWI]
The Saturday UkeTube
October 20, 2007
Stephin Merrit’s second song for Volvo (I’m In A Lonely Way) is up on YouTube. No ukulele on this one. But plenty of ukulele videos right here. [Read more]
The Saturday UkeTube
August 18, 2007
The best of the week’s ukulele videos over the fold
