All the very best to my readers for 2011

Well, 2010 is rapidly drawing to an end and what a year it has been.

It has been tough for many people out there, and I can only hope that 2011 improves for everyone.  It would be crass to suggest the ukulele can solve anyone's problems, but remember, the uke does put a smile on your face and on those around you!!

A big big thank you to support shown to this blog during the last year.  The blog started as a little bit of fun to help out new ukulele players.  At the time I started I was struggling to find simple resources for the beginner so set the blog up.  Its now approaching 300 posts, and getting loads of visits each day.  The kind comments over the year are really appreciated and I hope that the guidance on the blog has helped you, whether you are a new or old uke player.  As always, suggestions for new features always welcomed, or if you are a player, manufacturer or tutor and want an interview, get in touch.

If you received a ukulele for Christmas, then welcome to a very enjoyable club.  If you are looking for tips and help, you may find my selection of beginner articles HERE a help to you.  At the top of the blog you will also find, amongst other things, my instrument reviews, links to tutors and clubs and the very popular chord page with chord charts you can print for free.

Finally - I hope you enjoy your New Years Eve celebrations tonight - grab your ukulele this afternoon and learn Auld Lang Syne together ( Chords and words HERE )

Best wishes everyone - see you in 2011!

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A belated well done to my mate Rae

One thing you will find if you have just got yourself a ukulele for Christmas, is that the worldwide ukulele community is a brilliant thing.  I have played music for many years, and dearly love playing guitar, but find that those communities can get a bit aggressive.  Not once have I found that with the ukulele, so whether you plan on sharing your ukulele passion on Facebook, Twitter, or via excellent forums like Ukulele Underground you will only find the nicest people - nice people play ukes - its a happy instrument!

Anyway, in my space on Twitter I hooked up with Rae Carter, a fellow uker, and also a member of Ukulele Underground - he has been playing ukulele for a fairly short space of time, and also plays a Mainland like me.  What staggers me about him is how much effort and dedication he has put in during that period, leading to him getting proper ukulele gigs.  He fairly recently did his first proper live slot.  He's since had interest from a promoter and I wish him all the best for 2011.



Well done dude!

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A Ukulele is for life, not just for Christmas

Well folks, I have, perhaps understandably, seen a big increase in my visitor numbers now that Christmas is here - I can only put that down to the increasing popularity of the Ukulele, which has got to be a good thing (point 1 - you have made a good choice if you are new to the uke!)

Then it struck me though - many folks may struggle to get the help they need with the uke.  No instrument is 100% easy to learn, and patience is required...  I then started to worry about those potential abandoned instruments at Christmas time, those ukes that get thrown to the floor in frustration, or left in a cupboard to gather dust.  Now that just aint on - the ukulele is an instrument that just keeps on giving and new players need help.

There is a wealth of support, tuition and guidance on the internet - if you have a scroll down the right hand side of this blog, you will find some of my favourite links, and you should check them out.  There is of course this blog (but of course) but then if you are reading this, you knew that!  This blog started as a guide to beginners and bit of a marketing push for the ukulele but has developed.  At the top of the blog you will find pages linking to tuition, clubs and societies, but also you should check out my beginners guide page HERE.  That page contains quick links to all the guidance notes I've prepared on the ukulele and I am sure you will find many of your questions answered.

Have a read, get on the internet and download yourself some basic songs (songs that YOU like, not songs that the books tell you to learn) - but keep it simple - don't figure you will be able to fingerpick "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on day one - try a 2 or 3 chord song that you know well and enjoy.  Build up from there, and look forward to a lifetime of ukulele.

Any help I can give - get in touch via the blog

Good luck, Merry Christmas and Happy New Uke Year

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Psycho Killer on Ukulele - UOGB

Wow - Talking Heads on the uke courtesy of the Ukulele Orchestra

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God Only Knows on Ukulele

Just realised, that somewhat amazingly, I have never linked to a Julia Nunes ukulele song - I think she's great!

Great song choice too

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Christmas songs - Rocking Around The Christmas Tree

ROCKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE for UKULELE


[C]Rocking around the Christmas tree
At the Christmas party hop [Dm7]
Mistletoe [G7]hung where [Dm7]you can [G7]see
Every couple tries to [C]stop


[C]Rocking around the Christmas tree
Let the [G7]Christmas spirit ring [Dm7]
Later we'll [G7]have some [Dm7]pumpkin [G7]pie
And we'll do some caro[C]ling [C7]


[F]You will get a sentimental [Em]feeling when you hear [Am]
Voices singing, [Am7] "Let's be jolly [D7]
Deck the halls with [G7]boughs of holly!"


[C]Rocking around the Christmas tree
Have a [G7]happy holiday [Dm7]
Everyone [G7]dancing [Dm7]merri[G7]ly
In the [F]new old-[G7]fashioned [C]way!

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Christmas songs - Here Comes Santa Claus

HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS for UKULELE


Verse 1:
[C]Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, [G7]Right down Santa Claus Lane.
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Are [C]pulling on the rein. [C7]
[F]Bells are ringing, [Em]children singing [Dm]All is [G7]merry and [C]bright. [F]Hang your stockings and [C]say your [A7]pray'rs,
'Cause [Dm]Santa Claus [G7]comes to[C]night.


Verse 2:
[C]Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, [G7]Right down Santa Claus Lane.
He's got a bag that is filled with toys
For [C]the boys and girls again. [C7]
[F]Hear those sleigh bells [Em]jingle jangle, [Dm]What a [G7]beautiful [C]sight. [F]Jump in bed, cover [C]up your [A7]head,
'Cause [Dm]Santa Claus [G7]comes to[C]night!

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Ukulele Chords - Auld Lang Syne

One for new year ukulele players!

Incidentally, the song is a poem written by Robert Burns and 'Auld Land Syne' means 'Times long past'..

AULD LANG SYNE for UKULELE


Verse 1:
Should [F] old acquaintance [C7] be forgot
And [F] never brought to [Bb] mind
Should [F] old acquaintance [C7] be forgot [A] And [Dm] days of [G7] auld [C7] lang [F] syne
For [F] auld lang [C7] syne, my dear,
For [F] auld lang [Bb] syne,
We'll [F] take a cup o' [C7] kindness yet [A] And [Dm] days of [G7] auld [C7] lang [F] syne




Verse 2:
We [F]t wa hae run a[C7] boot the braes
And [F] pu'd the gowans [Bb] fine.
We've [F] wandered mony a [C7] weary foot, [A] Sin' [Dm] auld [G7] la-[C7] ang [F] syne
Sin' [F] auld lang [C7] syne, my dear,
Sin' [F] auld lang [Bb] syne,
We've [F] wandered mony a [C7] weary foot, [A] Sin' [Dm] auld [G7] la-[C7] ang [F] syne




Verse 3:
We [F] twa hae sported [C7] i' the burn,
From [F] morning sun till [Bb] dine,
But [F] seas between us [C7] braid hae roared [A] Sin' [Dm] auld [G7] la-[C7] ang [F] syne
Sin' [F] auld lang [C7] syne, my dear,
Sin' [F] auld lang [Bb] syne.
But [F] seas between us [C7] braid hae roared [A] Sin' [Dm] auld [G7] la-[C7] ang [F] syne




Verse 4:
And [F] ther's a hand, my [C7] trusty friend,
And [F] gie's a hand o' [Bb] thine;
We'll [F] take a cup o' [C7] kindness yet [A] For [Dm] auld [G7] la-[C7] ang [F] syne
For [F] auld lang [C7] syne, my dear,
For [F] auld lang [Bb] syne,
We'll [F] take a cup o' [C7] kindness yet [A] For [Dm] auld [G7] la-[C7] ang [F] syne

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Christmas songs - Frosty The Snowman

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN for UKULELE


Verse 1:
[C]Frosty the Snow Man was a [F]jolly happy [C]soul
With a [F]corn-cob [Fdim]pipe
And a [C]button [Am]nose
And two [F]eyes made [G7]out of [C]coal.


Verse 2:
[C]Frosty the Snow Man is a [F]fairy tale they [C]say
He was [F]made of [Fdim]snow
But the [C]children [Am]know
How he [F]came to [G7]life one [C]day.


Bridge:
There [F]must have been some [Em]magic in that [Dm]old silk [G7]hat they[C]found,
For [G]when they put it on his [E]head he be[Am]gan to [D]dance a[G7]round.


Verse 3:
[C]Frosty the Snow Man was a[F]live as he could [C]be,
And the [F]children [Fdim]say
He could [C]laugh and [Am]play
Just the [F]same as [G7]you and [C]me.


Verse 4:
[C]Frosty the Snow Man knew the [F]sun was hot that [C]day,
So he [F]said, "Let's [Fdim]run
And we'll [C]have some [Am]fun
Now be[F]fore I [G7]melt a[C]way."


Verse 5:
[C]Down to the village with a [F]broomstick in his [C]hand,
Running [F]here and [Fdim]there
All a[C]round the [Am]square,
Saying [F]"Catch me [G7]if you [C]can!"


Bridge 2:
He [F]led them down the [Em]streets of town right [Dm]to the [G7]traffic[C]cop,
And [G]he only paused a [E]moment when he [Am]heard him [D]holler,[G7]"Stop!"


Verse 6:
[C]Frosty the Snow Man had to [F]hurry on his [C]way,
But he [F]waved good-[Fdim]bye,
Saying, [C]"Don't you [Am]cry,
I'll be [F]back a[G7]gain some [C]day."

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Christmas songs - We Wish You A Merry Christmas

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS for UKULELE


Verse 1:
We [G]wish you a Merry [C]Christmas,
We [A7]wish you a Merry [D7]Christmas,
We [B7]wish you a Merry [Em]Christmas,
And a [C]Happy [D7]New [G]Year.


Chorus:
[G]Good tidings we [D]bring to [A7]you and your [D7]kin,
We [G]wish you a Merry [Am]Christmas and a [D7]Happy New [G]Year.


Verse 2:
Now [G]bring us some figgy [C]pudding,
Now [A7]bring us some figgy [D7]pudding,
Now [B7]bring us some figgy [Em]pudding,
And a [C]cup of [D7]good [G]cheer.


Chorus

Verse 3:
We [G]won't go until we [C]get some
We [A7]won't go until we [D7]get some
We [B7]won't go until we [Em]get some
So-oh [C]bring it [D7]out [G]here!


Chorus

Verse 1


Chorus

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Christmas songs - Jingle Bells

JINGLE BELLS for UKULELE


[F]Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open [Bb]sleigh,
O'er the fields we [C7]go, laughing all the [F]way,
Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits [Bb]bright,
What fun it is to [C7]ride and sing a sleighing song [F]tonight.


Chorus:
[C]Oh! [F]Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, [Bb]Oh what fun it is [F]to ride in a [G7]one-horse open [C7]sleigh. [C]Hey! [F]Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, [Bb]Oh what fun it is [F]to ride in a [C7]one-horse open [F]sleigh.


Verse 2:
[F]Just the other night, while riding in my [Bb]sleigh,
I passed a pretty [C7]miss walking 'long the [F]way.
I asked her if she'd like to join me for a [Bb]ride
She answered "Yes" and [C7]soon she was sitting by my [F]side.


Chorus


Verse 3:
[F]We didn't have a care, romance was in the [Bb]air,
It was a perfect [C7]time to kiss my lady [F]fair.
She didn't seem to mind, her heart was light and [Bb]gay
And now we're on our [C7]honeymoon in a one-horse open [F]sleigh.


Chorus

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Christmas songs - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

hi folks - with Christmas just around the corner, I certainly hope you will be playing your ukulele over the festive period.  I thought it would be fun to post a few chords for you to play over the holiday.

First up:

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER


[C]Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
Had a very shiny [G7]nose,

And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it [C]glows.


[C]All of the other reindeer,
Used to laugh and call him [G7]names,

They never let poor Rudolph,
Join in any reindeer [C]games. [C7]


[F]Then one foggy [C]Christmas Eve, [Dm]Santa [G7]came to [C]say, [G]"Rudolph with your nose so bright, [D7]Won't you guide my [G7]sleigh tonight?"


[C]Then how the reindeer loved him,

As they shouted out with [G7]glee,

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,

You'll go down in histor[C]y."

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Merry Ukulele Christmas

To all my ukulele readers, this has been a great year for the blog - your support is very much appreciated.

Wishing you all a very very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Keep on Uke-in!

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