I’m just starting to learn ukulele and I really want to learn “Ukulele Me” by Stephin Merritt on his Showtunes album. Does anyone know what chords are used? I have a terrible ear for these things and can’t figure it out. Thanks!
G C x2
G C
Where the hell did I leave those
G C
Weapons of destruction
G C G C
Could have sworn that I left them around here somewhere
G C
Did I leave them in the car
G C
Did they fall down the back of the sofa
G C G
Could have sworn that I left them around here somewhere
C Cmaj7 Am
D Am
I’d lose my head
D
If it weren’t screwed up
G C x2
G C G
I sure can’t wait for this to blow over
Flight of the Conchords – Bus Driver
Thanks to Joe Bromfield for the chord chart.
I’ve just posted on my website a Tablature of “Tiger Rag” inspired by the Recording of the Roy Smeck Version in the album “Roy Smeck And His Magic Uke”.
Enjoy !
David.
PS: Buy Roy Smeck Plays Hawaiian Guitar, Banjo, Ukulele and Guitar.
EDIT: I’ve uploaded a brief .mp3 with a bit of singing (very low in the mix and with reverb ladled over the top!) as a guide…cymbal rush
Thom Yorke – Cymbal Rush
From the album “The Eraser”
Here’s a bash at the main riff from this tune (think it’s played on a rhodes organ or something in the album version, but it’s a nice pitch for ukulele).
I haven’t figured out the instrumental break or anything – feel free to suggest how this might go or how I might change what’s already here…
g#||---7---7-7-7---7-7-7---7-5-5---5-4-4---4-4-4---4-2-2---2-0--0-----|
d#||---5---5-5-4---4-5-5---5-5-5---5-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0---0----|
b||---6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-4-4---4-1-1---1-1-1---1-1-1---1-1----1---|
f||-0---0-0-----0---0---0---0---0---2---2---0---0---2---2-----2---2--|
Quite a variety of different attempts to translate the lyrics to this song (especially that first line) but I reckon this version is close:
try to save but it doesnt come off the rug
try to build a wall that is high enough
s’all boiling over
s’all boiling over
try to save your house
try to save your songs
try to run but it follows you up the hill
s’all boiling over
s’all boiling over
your loved ones
your loved ones
a normal conversation
a normal conversation
you should a took me out while you had the chance
all the rooms renumbered and the losers turned away
dont turn away dont turn away
you should a took me out while you had the chance
there were ten in the bed and the little one said roll over
you should a took him out while you had the chance
Corinne Bailey Rae’s cover of Munich by The Editors
The intro riff an octave up:
But playing it like this makes for a smoother move into the chords:
Verse: Eb – Gm
Chorus: Ab – Gm
Requested by Mcnilly
In the original key:
Girls – Lust for Life (Chords)
Moved up a fret to make them more uke-friendly:
Girls – Lust for Life (Chords)
Requested by Stefanie.
EDIT: here’s a recording of some bits from this song that I did on my trusty 4 track (please excuse the tape hiss and warbly singing). So you can sort of get an idea of what I’m trying… excerpt from islands.mp3
Great album, for some reason I thought this one might be good to tackle on the uke – I haven’t figured out the instrumental outro bit yet, any help with this (or fixing any other bits) would be welcome!
Okay, so here’s what I’ve got for the verse:
g#||-----7-----5------3-----3-----------0-------------2-----|
d#||--------------1-1-----1------1----1-------1-----3---3---|
b||---------------------0-----0----2-------2-----4-------4-|
f#||-2-2---2-0----------------------2-----2-----0-----------|
and here’s the chorus (the “I am yours now” bit) not sure about the Em…
E B E C# D#m
g#||-0-3-0-0-2-|
d#||-1-0-1-1-3-|
b||-0-0-0-2-4-|
f#||-2-0-2-2-0-|
and then the bit where the guy starts singing:
g#||----------------------------------------------|
d#||-5-5/8-8/10--5-5\3-3\1--5-5/8-8/10--5 5\3-3\1-|
b||----------------------------------------------|
f#||----------------------------------------------|
Here are the lyrics:
VERSE
I don’t have to leave anymore
What I have is right here
Spend my nights and days before
Searching the world for what’s right here
VERSE
Underneath and unexplored
Islands and cities I have looked
Here I saw
Something I couldn’t over look
CHORUS
_____E_________
I am yours now
_______________B________________
So now I don't ever have to leave
__________E________
I've been found out
___________C#________D#m
So now I'll never explore
BIT WHERE THE GUY SINGS
See what I’ve done
That bridge is on fire
Going back to where I’ve been
I’m froze by desire
No need to leave
Where would I be
IF this were to go under
It’s a risk I’d take
I’m froze by desire
As if a choice I’d make
CHORUS AGAIN
I am yours now
So now I don’t ever have to leave
I’ve been found out
So now I’ll never explore
INSTRUMENTAL OUTRO
Author/Artist: John Butler Trio
Title: Funky Tonight
Album: Grand National
Transcribed by: ukto (reeves@johnreeves.com.au)
this is a basic tab of Funky Tonight for Ukelele, tuned GCEA
It an ‘adaption’ of what JB plays for uke so it may not be ‘excatly’
as you hear it on the CD but it’s as close as I could get it for ukulele at the moment
tabbed in the key of A
main riff ^=hammer on
,
this is played off the A chord in fingerpikcing banjo style,
with thumb and forefinger rolls
A-|0—-|
E-|0—-|
C-|1—-|
G-|2—-|
This section is repeated and sung over
A-|—0—–0——-0——-0—0-|
E-|————-0————-3—|
C-|—–01———–01———|
G-|–2——–2—2——-2——-|
intermittent riff bewteen sections (JB elaborate on this a lot more;-)
A-|-02-0—–0———-0——–|
E-|——-04————–0——|
C-|————-02—-1———-|
G-|——————2————|
chords,midlle chorus bit 4 beats per bar played in a rock syle
beats played 1,2,3 ,4
play 4 times`from lyric “whats yr name ?
A C G D A-|0—-|3—-|2—-|0—-|
E-|0—-|0—-|3—-|2—-|
C-|1—-|0—-|2—-|2—-|
G-|2—-|0—-|0—-|2—-|
last time around I think it might go to E7 with big stop and then back into main riff
E7 A-|2—-|
E-|0—-|
C-|2—-|
G-|1—-|
alternative fingering for some chords if needed
A C G
A-|0—-|3—-|2—-|
E-|5—-|3—-|3—-|
C-|4—-|4—-|2—-|
G-|2—-|5—-|4—-|
the lyrics are
I dont want to argue, I dont want to fight
If somethings wrong you know I’m gonna try and make it right
I love you you ,love me we’ll be one family tonight
so come over here lets get down and funky tonight
You are my queen and there aint know doubt about it
and if you want ill tell the world yes you know i’ll shout it
the way you walk talk move girl get me high as kite
so come over here lets get down and funky tonight
Chorus
Whats yr name?
lets go back to where we first me back in 1999
appreciate
before you knew i was yours and I knew you mine
Gonna turn the lights down low put the stereo on
our favourite record by Ella Fitz and Louie Armstrong
take you to our living room dance floor and I hold you tight
I gauruntee you and me gonna get down funky tonight
I gaurentee you and me gonna get down funky tonight
I gaurentee you and me gonna get down funky tonight
repeat chorus twice
Author/Artist: John Butler Trio
Title: zebra for ukelele
Album: Sunrise Over Sea
Transcribed by: ukto (reeves@johnreeves.com.au)
Alright guys, this is a basic tab of Zebra for Ukelele, tuned
Uke TUNING: GCEA, tabbed in the key of B
chords, 4 beats per bar played in a reggae/rock skank syle
beats played 1,2,3 and 4
B F# A E
A-|2—-|1—-|0—-|2—-|
E-|2—-|2—-|0—-|0—-|
C-|3—-|1—-|1—-|4—-|
G-|4—-|3—-|2—-|1—-|
alternative fingering for some chords if needed
A E
A-|0—-|0—-|
E-|5—-|4—-|
C-|4—-|4—-|
G-|2—-|4—-|
main riff ^=hammer on
A-|-02-2-2-02—————————–|
E-|————-02-02———————|
C-|———————35-5-5-35———|
G-|———————————24-24-|
there is some additional alternative riff bits and rythmn changes
in thesong plus the solo breakdown mid song, i will try and add these in due course
it may help to have a good listen to this song before trying the tab.
Lyrics
I could be loud man, I could be silent
I could be young man or I could be old
I could be a gentleman, or I could be violent
I could turn hot man or I could be cold
I could be just like the calm before the storm boy
Waitin’ for all hell yeah to break loose
I could be innocent or I could be guilty
Doesn’t mean that I don’t believe in the noose
So I’m singing …
(La bom bom bom bom, bom bom bom bom, bom bom bom bom bom ect)
I could be rich like a wandering gypsy
I could be poor like a fat wallet lost
I could be the first man or I could come last
It’s not who breaks the ribbon boy it’s how you get across
I could be red, blue, black or white sunset
As dark as a day boy or bright as a night
I could be the sun boy or I could be the moon
I made it from the stars so I’m shining so bright
So I’m singing…
I could be asleep boy, or I could be awake
I could be alive man or be the walking dead
I could be ignorant or I could be informed
I could lead my life man or I could be lead
I could be anything I put my mind to boy
All I gotta do is give myself a half-a chance
I could bring love back into my life
And share it with the world if I got some balance