The Guitarist Blog

Here is a beautiful song by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole called White Sandy Beach. This is a shortened version arranged for two ukulele's - melody and rhythm. If you want to play the melody and rhythm at the same time, look no further than the intro.  The melody to the verses is woven through the chords in the intro. Aloha!

Recently I asked students of our guitar ensemble to record and submit their part to the classic song, "Georgia On My Mind."  I have found that making a recording of yourself is a great way to improve your playing, mainly because you want to get it right!  If you miss a note, then you're starting over.  A two minute recording often turns into a one hour practice session. I thought our ensemble members did a great job!  Check it out.

Here is a version of Can't Help Falling in Love for Ukulele.  Top frame shows the chords, and bottom frame is playing the melody. For the chords, I am doing a 6/8 finger style pattern.  Pretty simple.

Here is my arrangement of Can't Help Falling In Love.  I am performing it using chords from the key of C, but it's really the key of D when the capo is placed at the second fret.  This is the same key as song by Elvis. The song is played in 6/8 time.  Be sure to emphasize the melody as well place accents on beats one and four (ONE - two - three -FOUR- five-six). The second section of the songs goes momentarily into E minor (really F#m because of the capo).  There is a two measure phrase that first has four even beats across the six beats followed by a regular measure of 6/8.  You could count it like this ONE and TWO and, ONE - two - three -FOUR- five-six. Hope you will try and play along with me!

Here's a great, classic guitar riff - Rebel, Rebel by David Bowie.  I play it the same way on my acoustic as I would on my electric. Start by holding a D2 chord (D chord minus the second finger) and play an arpeggio that starts with the open D string, then the open first string followed by the second string (third fret). Now, keep your first finger on the third string and place your second finger under it on the second string and give those two strings a little strum. Move your first finger to the third string first fret (G#) and strum strings 1, 2 and 3.  While doing this, build an E major chord and then strum another four strings.  Both strums should be staccato (short). Finish everything up with a pull-off from the second string second fret to the open second string.  I like to use my pinky, but you could use your third finger (be sure to put the third finger back into your E chord after the pull-off).  After the pull-off, run your pick through the 3r...

This is a great song on the guitar, turns out it's fun on the Uke, too! I am playing m, i, p on the right hand just about the entire time.  I hope you can pick up on the fingering I am using on the left hand.  Enjoy!

Here's a simple version of Georgia On My Mind that you can play on the Ukulele.  Strum along or play the melody with me!