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TO BE A COOL
KID ALL YOU HAVE
TO DO IS COME ALONG
COOL KID’S LUNCH
Colours Donovan
Hear this song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EPfyID0nZ4 (original key E)
From: Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpexuke.com
[G] [C] G]
[G] Yellow is the colour of my true love’s hair
In the [C] morning when we [G] rise
In the [C] morning when we [G] rise
That's the [D] time that’s the [C] time I love the [G] best
[G] Blue's the colour of the sky
In the [C] morning when we [G] rise
In the [C] morning when we [G] rise
That's the [D] time that’s the [C] time I love the [G] best
[G] Green's the colour of the sparkling corn
In the [C] morning when we [G] rise
In the [C] morning when we [G] rise
That's the [D] time that’s the [C] time I love the [G] best
[G] Mellow is the feelin' that I get
When I [C] see her mm [G] hmm
When I [C] see her uh [G] huh
That's the [D] time that’s the [C] time I love the [G] best
[G] [C] [G] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G]
[G] Freedom is a word I rarely use
Without [C] thinkin' mm [G] hmm
Without [C] thinkin' mm [G] hmm
Of the [D] time of the [C] time
When I've been [G] loved [C] [G]
Little Red Riding Hood Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
Hear this song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZUfsmwaNoA
From: Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpex.net/uke.htm
Howl.....[F] [Am] [Dm] Spoken: Who's that I see walking in these woods
[F] [Am] [Dm] Spoken: Why it's Little Red Riding Hood
[Dm] Hey there Little Red [F] Riding Hood
[G] You sure are lookin' good
[Bb] You're everything a [A7] big bad wolf could [Dm] want [A7]
[Dm] Little Red [F] Riding Hood [G] I don't think little big girls should
[Bb] Go walking' in these [A7] spooky old woods a[Dm]lone [A7] (howl)
[F] What big eyes you have [Dm] the kind of eye that drive wolves mad
[G] So just to see that you don't get chased
I think I [C7] ought to walk with you for a ways
[F] What full lips you have [Dm] they're sure to lure someone bad
[G] So until you get to Grandma's place
I think you [C7] ought to walk with me and be safe
[Dm] I'm gonna keep my [F] sheep suit on
[G] 'Til I'm sure that you've been shown
That [Bb] I can be trusted [A7] walkin' with you a[Dm]lone..[A7] (howl)
[Dm] Little Red [F] Riding Hood [G] I'd like to hold you if I could
But [Bb] you might think I'm a [A7] big bad wolf so I [Dm] won't [A7] (howl)
[F] What a big heart I have [Dm] The better to love you with
[G] Little Red Riding Hood [C7] Even bad wolves can be good
[F] I'll try to keep satisfied [Dm] just to walk close by your side
[G] Maybe you'll see things my way [C7] before we get to Grandma's place
[Dm] Little Red [F] Riding Hood [G] you sure are lookin' good
[Bb] You're everything a [A7] big bad wolf could [Dm] want [A7] (howl)
I mean...... [Dm] Baa [F] Baa? [G] Baa! [Bb] [A7] [Dm]
RED ROSES FOR A BLUE LADY 4/4 1234 1
I want some red roses for a blue lady,
Mr. Florist, take my order, please.
We had a silly quarrel the other day,
I hope these pretty flowers chase her blues a-way.
Wrap up some red roses for a blue lady,
Send them to the sweetest gal in town.
And, if they do the trick, I’ll hurry back to pick
Your best white orchids for her wedding gown.
The Orange and the Green Chorus:
Oh, it (C) is the biggest (Am) mixup that (G) you have ever seen My (F) father he was (C) orange and my (G) mother she was (C) green. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh, my (C) father was an (Am) Ulsterman, proud (G) Protestant was he My (F) mother was a (C) Catholic girl from (G) County Cork was (C) she. They were married in two (Am) churches and lived (G) happily enough Un (F) til the day that (C) I was born and (G) things got rather (C) tough.
(Chorus)
Bap (C) tized by father (Am) Reilly I was (G) rushed away by car To be (F) made a little (C) Orangemen, my (G) father’s shining (C) star. I was christened David (Am) Antony but (G) still in spite of that To my (F) father I was (C) Billy while my (G) mother called me (C) Pat.
(Chorus)
With (C) mother every (Am) Sunday to (G) mass I’d proudly stroll And (F) after that the (C) orange lord would (G) try to save my (C) soul. And both sides tried to (Am) claim me, but (G) I was smart because I’d (F) play the flute, I’d (C) play the harp de (G) pending were I (C) was
(Chorus)
One (C) day my Ma's re (Am) lations came (G) round to visit me. Just (F) as my father's (C) kinfolk were (G) sitting down to (C) tea. We tried to smooth things (Am) over, but they (G ) all began to fight. And (F) me, being strictly (C) neutral, I bashed (G) everyone in (C) sight.
(Chorus)
My (C) parents never (Am) could agree a (G) bout my type of school. My (F) learning was all (C) done at home, that's (G) why I'm such a (C) fool. They've both passed on, God (Am) rest 'em, but (G) I was left between That (F) awful color (C) problem of the (G) Orange and the (C) Green.
(Chorus x 2)
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Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney)
G D C G Em Am C D
In the town where I was born, lived a man who sailed to sea,
G D C G Em Am C D
And he told us of his life, in the land of submarines,
G D C G Em Am C D
So we sailed on to the sun, ‘til we found the sea green,
G D C G Em Am C D
And we lived beneath the waves, in our yellow submarine,
Chorus:
G D
We all live in yellow submarine,
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine,
G D
We all live in yellow submarine,
D G
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine.
G D C G Em Am C D
And our friends are all on board, many more of them live next door,
G D C G (2,3,4) + 2 measures of G
And the band begins to play…
(Kazoos, shakers, etc. play)
Chorus
G D C G
As we live a life of ease (life of ease)
Em Am C D
Every one of us (every one of us) has all we need, (has all we need)
G D C G
Sky of blue, (sky of blue) and sea green, (sea of green)
Em Am C D
In our yellow (In our yellow) submarine (submarine)
Chorus 2X & tremolo at the end!
It’s Not Easy Being Green- Joe Raposo
It's not that easy being green
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or
gold , or something much more colorful like that
It's not easy being green It seems you blend in with so many
other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're Not standing out like flashy
sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky
But green's the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an mountain,
or important like a river , or tall like a tree
When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why,
but why wonder, why wonder?
I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful
And I think it's what I want to be
THE GREEN DOOR 4/4 1…2…1234
Midnight one more night without sleepin’, watching till the morning comes peepin’
Green door, what’s the secret you’re keepin’
There’s an old piano and they play it hot behind the green door
Don’t know what they’re doin’ but they laugh a lot behind the green door.
Wish they’d let me in so I could find out what’s behind the green door.
Knocked once, tried to tell ‘em I’d been there, door slammed, hospitality’s thin there
Wonder just what’s goin’ on in there.
Saw an eyeball peepin’ thru a smoky cloud behind the green door
When I said Joe sent me someone laughed out loud behind the green door.
All I want to do is join the happy crew behind the green door. X2 GREEN DOOR!
THE GREEN DOOR 4/4 1…2…1234 A D A D A Midnight one more night without sleepin’, watching till the morning comes peepin’ E7 D A Green door, what’s the secret you’re keepin’ A D A A7 There’s an old piano and they play it hot behind the green door D A Don’t know what they’re doin’ but they laugh a lot behind the green door. E7 D A Wish they’d let me in so I could find out what’s behind the green door. A D A D A Knocked once, tried to tell ‘em I’d been there, door slammed, hospitality’s thin there E7 D A Wonder just what’s goin’ on in there. A D A A7 Saw an eyeball peepin’ thru a smoky cloud behind the green door D A When I said Joe sent me someone laughed out loud behind the green door. E7 D A All I want to do is join the happy crew behind the green door. X2 GREEN DOOR!
Blue, Red and Grey Page 1 of 2
Blue, Red and Grey (The Who)
Intro: C Csus4 C Csus4 C Csus4 C
Verse 1
F G
Some people seem so obsessed with the morning
F G
Get up early just to watch the sun rise
F G
Other people like it more when there's fire in the sky
F G
Worship the sun when it's high
Dm A7
Some people go for those sultry evenings
Dm A7 Dm
Cocktails in the blue, red and grey
F G C Csus4 C Csus4 C Csus4 C
But I like every minute of the day
Bridge
F G F G
I dig every second, as long as you’re on my mind
F G
Each precious moment has its special charm
Am G
It's all right when you're around, rain or shine
Verse 2
F G
Some people seem to only live after midnight
F G
Their faces always seem so pale
F G
And then there’s friends of mine who must have the sunlight
F G
They say a suntan never fails
Blue, Red and Grey Page 2 of 2
Dm A7
I know a man who works the night shift
Dm A7 Dm
He’s lucky to get a job and some pay
F G C Csus4 C Csus4 C Csus4 C
And I like every minute of the day
Bridge
F G F G
I dig every second, I can laugh in the snow and rain
F G
I get a buzz from being cold and wet
Am G
The pleasure seems to balance out the pain
Verse 3
F G
And so you see that I’m completely crazy
F G
I even shun the south of France
F G
The people on my hill, they say I'm lazy
F G
But when they sleep, I sing and dance
Dm A7
Some people go for those sultry evenings
Dm A7 Dm
Cocktails in the blue, red and grey
F G C Csus4 C Csus4 C Csus4 C
But I like every minute of the day
F G C Csus4 C Csus4 C Csus4 C
I like every minute of the day
Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison Hear this song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saTRoTn6pXU (play along in this key)
From: Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpex.net/uke.htm
Intro x2: A|‐2‐3‐5‐3‐2‐7‐9‐10‐9‐7‐2‐3‐5‐3‐2‐3‐‐‐‐‐0 E|‐3‐5‐7‐5‐3‐8‐8‐ 8‐‐8‐8‐3‐5‐7‐5‐3‐2‐2‐3‐ C|‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐2‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ G|‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐2‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
[G] Hey where did [C] we go [G] days when the [D7] rains came [G] Down in the [C] hollow [G] we were playin' a [D7] new game [G] Laughing and a [C] running hey hey [G] skipping and a [D7] jumping [G] In the misty [C] morning fog with [G] Our [D7] hearts a thumping and [C] you [D7] My brown‐eyed [G] girl [Em] [C] You my [D7] brown‐eyed girl [G] [D7]
[G] Whatever [C] happened [G] to Tuesday and [D7] so slow [G] Going down the [C] old mine with a [G] transistor [D7] radio [G] Standing in the [C] sunlight laughing [G] Hiding behind a [D7] rainbow's wall [G] slipping and a [C] sliding [G] All along the [D7] waterfall with [C] you [D7] My brown‐eyed [G] girl [Em] [C] you my [D7] brown‐eyed girl [G]
[D7] Do you remember when we used to [G] Sing sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da [G] Sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da la te [G] da
[G] So hard to [C] find my way [G] now that I'm all [D7] on my own [G] I saw you just the [C] other day [G] my how [D7] you have grown [G] Cast my memory [C] back there lord [G] Sometimes I'm [D7] overcome thinking 'bout [G] Making love in the [C] green grass [G] Behind the [D7] stadium with [C] you [D7] My brown‐eyed [G] girl [Em] [C] you my [D7] brown‐eyed girl [G]
[D7] Do you remember when we used to [G] Sing sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da [G] Sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da [G] Sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da [G] Sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da la te [G] da
Blue Skies (Irving Berlin)
Am E+ C D7
Blue skies smiling at me
Fm C G C
Nothing but blue skies do I see
Am E+ C D7
Blue birds singing a song
Fm C G C
Nothing but blue birds from now on
C Fm C
Never saw the sun shining so bright
Fm C Fm C
Never saw things going so right
C Fm C
Noticing the days hurrying by
Fm C G7 C
When you’re in love my how they fly
Am E+ C D7
Blue days all of them gone
Fm C G C
Nothing but blue skies from now on
Instrumental (Chords to verse 2x)
C Fm C
Never saw the sun shining so bright
Fm C Fm C
Never saw things going so right
C Fm C
Noticing the days hurrying by
Fm C G7 C
When you’re in love my how they fly
Am E+ C D7
Blue days all of them gone
Fm C G C
Nothing but blue skies from now on
(Slower)
Am E+ C D7
Blue days all of them gone
Fm C G C (Tremolo)
Nothing but blue skies from now on
Blue Umbrella - John Prine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQncxrf1fWY
Intro:
[C]
F[C]eelings are strange espe[F]cially when they c[C]ome true
And I had a feeling that y[G]ou'd be leaving s[C]oon
So I tried to rear[F]range all my emo[C]tions
But it seems the same no ma[G]tter what I d[C]o
Chorus:
B[C]lue umbrella r[F]est upon my sho[C]ulder
Hide the pain while the r[G]ain makes up my m[C]ind
Well, my feet are wet from th[F]inking this thing o[C]ver
And it's been so long since I f[F]elt the warm suns[G]hine
J[F]ust give [G]me one good re[C]ason
And I [F]promise I won't a[G]sk you anym[C]ore
J[F]ust give [G]me one extra se[C]ason
So I can figure o[G]ut the other f[C]our
Instrumental:
[F] [G] [C]
[F] [G] [C]
[F] [G] [C]
[G] [C]
D[C]ayime makes me wo[F]nder why you le[C]ft me
Nighttime makes me wo[G]nder what I s[C]aid
Next time are the w[F]ords I'd like to p[C]lan on
But, last time was the o[G]nly thing you s[C]aid
Repeat Chorus:
Ending:
[G] [C]
Blueberry Hill Fats Domino
I found my [F] thrill on blueberry [C] hill On blueberry [G7] hill when I found [C] you [F] [C] The moon stood [F] still on blueberry [C] hill And lingered un[G7]til my dreams came [C] true [Fm] [C]
The [Fm] wind in the [C] willow played [G7] Love's sweet melo[C]dy But [B7] all of those [Em] vows we [B7] made [Em] Were [B7] never to [E7] be [G7]
Though we're a[F]part you're part of me [C] still For you were my [G7] thrill on blueberry [C] hill [Fm] [C]
The [Fm] wind in the [C] willow played [G7] Love's sweet melo[C]dy But [B7] all of those [Em] vows we [B7] made [Em] Were [B7] never to [E7] be [G7]
Though we're a[F]part you're part of me [C] still For you were my [G7] thrill on blueberry [C] hill [Fm] [C]
Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpex.net/uke.htm
I Bought the Blues (and the Blues . . . ) by Blind Lemming Chiffon (mid-‐1970s)
A I went to the record sto’ I bought the blues (spoken, blues falsetto “I bought the blues.” D7 They cost $6.98. A I coulda bought a pair of shoes. (I coulda bought 2 pairs of shoes – there was a Goodwill store just down the street.) E7 But I bought ‘em anyhow D7 Because I like because I like because I like A That funky music. (Play that funky music, white boy!) (Note: same progression for each stanza – it’s just a simple 8 bar blues. Add turnarounds.) I set my blues down on my turntable pad. The blues was boring. The blues was . . . BAD! Those lowdown, rotten stinking blues Cost me the last $6.98 I ever had. I got the blues, but I don’t want ‘em. I’m gonna take ‘em on back To the sto’ where I bought ‘em. I found out, and now I’m telling all of youse: The blues ain’t nothing but the blues. The blues ain’t red, and the blues ain’t green. They ain’t even blue, man Gon’ tell you what I mean. The blues ain’t yellow And they ain’t chartreuse.
The blues ain’t nothing but the blues. The blues ain’t melodious. (They’re just not. No way.) And they sure ain’t cheerful, But pay $6.98 And you’re bound to get an earful. I found out the real news: The blues ain’t nothing but the blues. That’s all they is. (insert 27 trillion hour solo here.)
When whippoorwills [C] call and evening is nigh, I hurry to [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven. A turn to the right, a little white light, Will lead you to [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven.
You'll see a [F] smiling face, a [A7] fireplace, a [Dm] cozy room, A [G7] little nest that nestles where the [C] roses bloom [G7] Just Molly and [C] me, and baby makes three, We're happy in [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven.
Instrumental break [F] [A7] [Dm] [G7] [G7] [C] [G7]
When whippoorwills [C] call and evening is nigh, I hurry to [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven. A turn to the right, a little white light, Will lead you to [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven.
You'll see a [F] smiling face, a [A7] fireplace, a [Dm] cozy room, A [G7] little nest that nestles where the [C] roses bloom [G7] Just Molly and [C] me, and baby makes three, We're happy in [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven.
My Blue Heaven - Fats Domino
Billboard #19 1956
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown Page 1 of 2
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (Jim Croce)
G
Well the South side of Chicago
A7
Is the baddest part of town
B7 C
And if you go down there you better just beware
D7 G
Of a man named Leroy Brown
G
Now Leroy more than trouble
A7
You see he stand 'bout six foot four
B7 C
All the downtown ladies call him "Treetop Lover"
D7 G
All the men just call him "Sir"
Chorus:
G
And he's bad, bad Leroy Brown
A7
The baddest man in the whole damn town
B7 C
Badder than old King Kong
D7 G
And meaner than a junkyard dog
G
Now Leroy he a gambler
A7
And he like his fancy clothes
B7 C
And he like to wave his diamond rings
D7 G
In front of everybody’s nose
G
He got a custom Continental
A7
He got an Eldorado too
B7 C
He got a 32 gun in his pocket for fun
D7 G
He got a razor in his shoe
Chorus
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown Page 2 of 2
G
Well Friday ‘bout a week ago
A7
Leroy shootin' dice
B7 C
And at the edge of the bar sat a girl named Doris
D7 G
And ooh that girl looked nice
G
Well he cast his eyes upon her
A7
And the trouble soon began
B7 C
Leroy Brown learned a lesson 'bout messin'
D7 G
With the wife of a jealous man
Chorus
G
Well the two men took to fightin'
A7
And when they pulled them from the floor
B7 C
Leroy looked like a jigsaw puzzle
D7 G
With a couple of pieces gone
Chorus
G B7 C
Yes, you were badder than old King Kong
D7 G
And meaner than a junkyard dog
Nights in White Satin (Am) Moody Blues Hear this song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9muzyOd4Lh8
[Am] Nights in white [G] satin [Am] never reaching the [G] end [F] Letters I've [C] written [Bb] never meaning to [Am] send [Am] Beauty I'd [G] always missed [Am] With these eyes be[G]fore [F] Just what the [C] truth is, [Bb] I can't say any [Am] more
Cause I [D] love you yes I [F] love you Oh how I [Am] love you [G] I [Am] love you [G]
[Am] Gazing at [G] people [Am] some hand in [G] hand [F] Just what I'm [C] going through [Bb] they can't under[Am]stand [Am] Some try to [G] tell me [Am] thoughts they cannot de[G]fend [F] Just what you [C] want to be [Bb] you'll be in the [Am] end
Cause I [D] love you yes I [F] love you Oh how I [Am] love you [G] I [Am] love you [G]
Instrumental:
Am G F E7 Am G F E7
Am F Am F
Dm E7 Dm E7
Am G F Am G Am G
Repeat verse 1 and chorus x 2
Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpex.net/uke.htm
Rainbow Avenue Rag
by Vince and Kathy DeFrancis details of recording here: http://www.discogs.com/Various-‐Colorado-‐Folk-‐Two/release/3959449 lyrics typed from memory by BLC (possible inaccuracies – corrections welcome) (lead in single notes 1st string C Bb B or 3rd 2nd and 1st frets) A7 Black Bart said to his foreman, “Hey, D7 Why are you painting the whole street gray? G7 Don’t want gray when the family comes.
C Want all the colors underneath the sun. A7 Give me some red, blue and green. D7 Electric orange, know what I mean. G7 Fuschia, mauve and even puce – C Gotta have color or it ain’t no use.” A7 Black Bart’s Rainbow Avenue family D7 Is moving in today. G7 How they gonna feel right at home C If you paint everything gray? A7 When we’re living on the Avenue, D7 Everything’s got to shine, F+ Cdim C A7 (F+ = 2013 Cdim = 2323) And when you hear me playing that rainbow D7 G7 C Honey, you’re gonna feel fine.
Intro: [F] [Bb] [F] [C]
[F] Sweet little [C] Sheila, you'll [Bb] know her if you [C] see her [F] Blue [Bb] eyes and a [F] pony[C]tail Her [F] cheeks are [C] rosy, she [Bb] looks a little [C] nosey [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine [C7]
[F] Never knew a [C] girl [Bb] like-a little [C] Sheila [F] Her [Bb] name [F] drives me in[C]sane [F] Sweet little [C] girl, that's [Bb] my little [C] Sheila [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine
[C] Me and Sheila go for a ride Oh-[Bb]oh-oh-oh, I feel all [F] funny inside [C] Then little Sheila whispers in my ear Oh-[Bb]oh-oh-oh, I [C] love you Sheila [F] dear
[F] Sheila said she [C] loved me, she [Bb] said she'd never [C] leave me [F] True [Bb] love will [F] never [C] die [F] We're so doggone [C] happy just [Bb] bein' around to[C]gether [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine [C7]
[F] Never knew a [C] girl [Bb] like-a little [C] Sheila [F] Her [Bb] name [F] drives me in[C]sane [F] Sweet little [C] girl, that's [Bb] my little [C] Sheila [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine
[C] Me and Sheila go for a ride Oh-[Bb]oh-oh-oh, I feel all [F] funny inside [C] Then little Sheila whispers in my ear Oh-[Bb]oh-oh-oh, I [C] love you Sheila [F] dear
[F] Sheila said she [C] loved me, she [Bb] said she'd never [C] leave me [F] True [Bb] love will [F] never [C] die [F] We're so doggone [C] happy just [Bb] bein' around to[C]gether [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine
[F] Oh, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine [C][F] Yeah, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine [C][F] Oh, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine
Sheila - Tommy Roe
Billboard #1 1962
How to Improvise, Playing the Blues on the Ukulele
Based on the article by Fred Sokolow, in Acoustic Guitar -‐ Ukulele Magazine at www.ukuleleunlimited.com
Presented by:
John Mumford
20 UkuleleUnlimited.com Ukulele Spring 2013
the basics
CONTEMPORARY UKULELE virtuosos like Jake Shimabukuro,
James Hill, and Herb Ohta have
made it clear that just about any
type of music can be played on a
uke: rock, classical, jazz, you-
name-it. So why not blues? Blues
is the common denominator in
American music; you can’t do
justice to jazz, rock, country, or
bluegrass unless you can play the
blues. Besides, playing and singing
the blues is one good way to lose
the blues!
The blues is an improvisa-
tional, play-it-as-you-feel-it music,
so in this lesson we’ll look at ways
to ad-lib on the uke in a blues
vein. We’ll learn some blues
chords, licks, fills, and a few solos,
so you feel comfortable the next
time somebody says, “Let’s play
the blues.”
Learn the Language of the BluesThe blues is like a language: you
learn to speak it by listening and
imitating what you hear. Chords
and scales are your alphabet, and
musical phrases built on those
chords and scales are the words
you use to express yourself. You
can play the blues with a stranger
you’ve just met, from anywhere on
the planet, and if you both speak
the language of the blues, you’ll
sound like old friends who have
rehearsed and played together for
years.
Blues in the key of A is a good
place to start, because the key
of A on the uke resembles the
key of E on the guitar. Uke chord
shapes in A look just like E shapes
on the guitar, if you ignore the
guitar’s sixth and fifth strings
(Example 1).
This is good news for uke play-
ers who like the blues, because
many famous blues guitarists
(Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins,
and Jimmy Reed, for example)
Ukulele BluesLearn to improvise the blues with chords, licks, and solos.
By Fred Sokolow
played almost exclusively in
the key of E. It’s a great blues
guitar key, and the E licks these
blues legends immortalized be-
came the foundation of electric
blues, rockabilly, and rock. You
can steal their classic key-of-E
blues guitar licks and play them
on the uke in the key of A.
Chord-Based Licks Thousands of blues songs in the
key of A can be played with three
chords: A, D, and E, or the sev-
enths of those three: A7, D7, and
E7. But there’s more than one way
to play a chord. Example 2 shows
several A7 chords.
In the version of the old 12-bar
blues classic “C.C. Rider” shown
in Example 3, two up-the-neck A7
shapes are used as fills, musical
licks that fill the spaces between
vocal phrases. Notice how in sev-
eral of the fills in this arrange-
ment, you can create a bluesy lick
by lowering a chord one fret and
then raising it back up to its usual
place on the fingerboard. The de-
scending lick in measures 11–12
is a typical turnaround, a one- or
two-measure instrumental lick that
ends a verse and sets up the next
verse. The arrangements that follow
have other, different turnarounds.
These chords will get you
started playing the blues, but there
are some more up-the-neck chords
you can use to create more
chord-based licks and solos.
Example 4 (page 22) is a chord-
based solo for “C.C. Rider” using
some new shapes, including the
D7s in measures 5–6 and the E7,
E�7, and D7 in measures 9–10.
This example is an improvisation
based on the song’s 12-bar chord
structure. Like many blues solos, it
doesn’t express the song’s melody,
but it rocks!
Single-Note Licks and FillsMany classic blues licks are linear:
single-note, melodic phrases that
are based on chords. Example 5
shows some one-measure single-
note blues licks based on an A or
A7 chord. Most of them are played
while actually fretting the A or A7
chord.
The licks in measures 4 and 5
include string-bending, an essential
blues technique in which you play a
fretted string and bend it up or
down with the fretting finger. Bend
the string up toward the ceiling on
the first and second strings and
down toward the floor on the third
string. As shown in the licks in
Example 3, sometimes you stretch
a string and stop it at the high
point (as in measure 5), while
other times you bend the note and
then release it (measure 4).
It’s easy to play single-note
licks based on chords if you build
a vocabulary of licks for every
chord shape you play. The organic
way to do this is to play a chord
shape and hunt for useful notes
that surround it. Example 6 shows
some one-measure E7 and D7
licks: the D7 licks are based on
the two-finger D7 shape shown
above the notation.
“C.C. Rider” I’ve used “C.C. Rider” to illustrate
the blues in this lesson because
it’s a typical 12-bar blues that has
been recorded by countless blues,
R&B, and rock artists, starting with
Ma Rainey in 1924. It has been on
the R&B or pop charts in every
decade since then, notably by
Chuck Willis, Elvis Presley, Mitch
Ryder, and Old Crow Medicine
Show. The tune has also been
sung as “See See Rider” or
020-029.244_Basics.indd 20 2/4/13 9:57 AM
“Easy Rider.” Let’s look at the
second verse of “C.C. Rider”
(on page 24), complete with
vocal fills, and the three solos that
follow.
The second verse of “C.C. Rider”
features lots of A7-based fills
(similar to the ones in Example 3)
played between the vocal phrases,
while the first solo (measures
13–24) makes use of some A, D7,
and E7 chord-based licks. The
second instrumental solo for “C.C.
Rider” (measures 25–36) is
based on up-the-neck chords and
licks stolen from the “key-of-E”
blues guitar repertoire. The grids
above the staff indicate the vari-
ous chord shapes on which the
licks are based. Notice the mov-
able formation in measures 29–30
and 37–38. This chord shape is
often a springboard for up-the-neck
licks. The final instrumental ver-
sion of “C.C. Rider” is from my
Blues Ukulele book (Hal Leonard)
and clearly expresses the melody.
It’s in the “chord-melody” style, in
which you play chords and melody
at the same time.
Make It Your OwnFeel free to recycle, alter, reshuffle,
and steal the licks and solos in
this lesson when playing your own
12-bar blues songs. There are
countless blues hits with a 12-bar
format, such as “Stormy Monday,”
“Everyday I Have the Blues,” “Re-
consider Baby,” and “Crossroads.”
Many early rock hits have the
same chord progression, including
“Hound Dog,” “Whole Lotta Shak in’
Goin’ On,” “Johnny B. Goode,” and
“Blue Suede Shoes.” And numer-
ous pop, R&B, boogie-woogie, and
jazz hits share this musical form
as well (“Kansas City,” “Route 66,”
“Fine and Mellow,” “Billie’s
Bounce”). If you play any of these
tunes on the uke in the key of A,
the licks in this lesson will serve
you well when it comes time to
make up fills or solos. l
FRED SOKOLOW is best known for the 150 instructional books and videos he’s written for guitar, dobro, banjo, mando-lin, and ukulele. Check out all his instructional material at SokolowMusic.com.
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UkuleleUnlimited.com 21Spring 2013 Ukulele
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22 UkuleleUnlimited.com Ukulele Spring 2013
the basics
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020-029.244_Basics.indd 22 2/4/13 9:58 AM
24 UkuleleUnlimited.com Ukulele Spring 2013
the basics
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C.C. RiderTraditional, arranged by Fred Sokolow
© 2
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020-029.244_Basics.indd 24 2/4/13 9:58 AM
26 UkuleleUnlimited.com Ukulele Spring 2013
the basics
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