Best Ukulele Chord Book Ever.

This has to be the best ukulele chord book ever.  I find that even after over 15 years playing my ukulele, I keep it close at hand - you never know when you have to find a better way to grab that chord that's giving you a bit of trouble.

I found it at my local acoustic music shop, Dusty Strings, for $15.

The down side is that they only made this book for GCEA tuning, so you baritone users have to transpose a little to make it work for you.  I use a bit of white tape to cover up the printed chord callouts in the book... and write in my bari chords above the proper fingering.

Have fun.

Uke Day on Vashon - August 12, 2017

A graph from the Beatles for Hey Jude.

I found this on my Facebook page... posted by someone I do not know.  So how true it might be is anyone's guess.  The post said that the Beatles would graph out their songs... seems logical, it doesn't matter, cause it's fun to look at.

Tacoma Ukulele Festival.... I just found out about this.  The Monday Ukulele Ohana is having their first ukulele Festival, on October 9th and 10th.  This is a great group from Tacoma that encourages there members to be as good as you can.  I'll be there... you should too.  Let's help support these brother and sister ukers.

Confused when you see a real music sheet, and the rhythm is real important like in a Bossa Nova... well here's a little food for thought to help with remembering how that wild rhythm goes... Bon Appétit.

It's been a long time since I posted anything in the blog.  So to make up for that lazy attitude I have, here's a little something more from the Big Island and Brad Bordessa.  

Brad has created a beautifully laid out e-book and is offering it as a pdf, for the price of a Starbucks latte at only $10.  The latte will last a half-hour or maybe one, this e-book a lifetime and more.   

Brad's explanations in this wonderful book are clear and concise and the graphics are large and easy to understand.  This is so very much Brad... if you ever take lessons from him, online or in person, like I did, you'll appreciate the clarity he embodies in all things he does.  

I highly recommend Brad's e-book and for those of you that are interested, I will have my copy at the next DelWiki for anyone to check out.

Here's a link to his offer.  Get it now.   Ukulele Chord Shapes by Brad Bordessa.

New Year's changes while I am on hiatus.

Some of you may know that I will be on an extended absence for the next two months.  Not to worry, I'll be back in time for the Beginner's WikiWiki in Ballard in March.

The Bad with Good News: No Beginner's WikiWiki in Ballard until March 16th.  While I am gone you'll have no excuse to not practice…. as I'll post each month a  new little learning lesson in this blog - ripped right out of YouTube and brought to you.

So.. let me introduce Brad Bordessa, as he shows you how to add a bit of vibrato to your playing.

Even Better Good News:  While I am gone.  Michael Fox has agreed to facilitate the West Seattle DelWiki Kanikapila… this will be at the usual time - 1pm.   The DelWiki has turned out to be a fun gathering… we play songs, and sometimes one of those songs brings to mind something to share.. it can get wild.  Really!

So come help out Michael at the Uptown Expresso on Delridge in West Seattle (just as you come off of the high-rise bridge) -- that's always the first Sunday of each month.  Even in January and February and that fist part of March that I will be gone.  Thanks Michael.

If you need more information just click here to go to our web site:

Sept 15th Wiki... Strums for 4/4 and 3/4

Let me introduce you to Ukulele Mike Lynch.  If you don't know him.. get to know him, or at least his YouTube videos.  No matter at what level you think you are with playing the ukulele... Mike can teach you a few things.  He's local... so drop by and see him.  Click on Mike's picture to go to his YouTube profile page and say hello.

I picked two of Mike's videos, both on strumming and both illustrated in my pdf titled "Basic Strum Patterns".  You'll find it under the "Tools" sidebar over on your right of this blog.

4 Very Useful Strums in 4/4 Time - Click Here

4 Very Useful Strums in 3/4 Time - Click Here

See you on Sunday the 15th... in Ballard... doors open at 1pm....  here's directions and more info, if no have.

August18 WikiWiki... coming up

The third Sunday means it's Wiki Wiki time...  and another "Ukulele Helper", our video for this month.

This is our second video and I thought it would be good to honor the man that to me was one of those responsible of bringing  the ukulele back into most of our lives.  Brother IZ.

No we're not going to play "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" but todays video will give you one man's version of IZ's strum.   I think Mitchell Chang does a very good job.  

This strum is used in all sorts of songs.... if you slow down that 2nd down stroke... it even makes for a great Calypso strum.

Just click on the picture of IZ to go to this months video.

Mitchell's strum pattern is   D  D u    u D u  (remember the D = down strokes, are on the count of 1 2 3 4...).  With the 3 being one of those ghost strokes he talks about.

He's chord progression is:   C, Em, Am and F

Mitchell's last lesson is a tough one.   He's muting all the strings on that down stroke on the 3 count.  That's a hard one, even for me.   Good luck.

See you all on Sunday... August 18th.

July WikiWiki - Ukulele Yoga

It seems that since I am not adding anymore new songs to our book... I should add something.  Don't you think?

Each month I will post a helpful video or bit of information to help us on way to becoming better players.  If you have found something that has helped you.... a video or lesson plan you've discovered on the web.... let me know and I'll post it.  First come first serve. *smile

For our first post.... I have a video from YouTube by Ukulele Underground's Aldrine Guerrero.  Here he's showing up how to stretch those fingers.  Dang!  On the first exercise he stretches to the 5th fret... I could only do to the 3 errrrr maybe 4 frets... how about you?  Don't over do it, I don't want any lawsuits because of sprained pinky fingers.

Click on the pic to view the video.....

See you all at the Beginners WikiWiki this Sunday on the 21st.

Hey! take me back to the Beginners WikiWiki site, so I can get all the info like time and place.

ALERT! ALERT! Ukulele ALERT!

It takes me awhile but it just came to me in a Flash - a slow Flash but a Flash..... that this coming Thursday is the 4th of July.    You can tell I'm not the party animal.  Well happy 4th to all of you that love the party, but remember - protect those strummin' and pickin' and frettin' fingers.  Be Safe!.

For those that make it through with all the celebrations.... our usual Wiki Ukulele Jam on Aliki will start at 1 pm... it looks like it will be a hot day, so that means get there early to find a parking spot close in.  And bring water.

Here's all the info:  http://ukulele-wikiwiki.com/uw/uww_WSeaAlki.html

2013 Song Book Ready for Download

For 2013 I have compiled all three years of books into one.  Introducing our new book... "All Together Now" Ukulele Collection.  If you are a beginner uke player as most of us are.... I've earmarked the beginning songs... and listed which ones are easiest to play by key.  For you intermediate players... we still have all those great songs from our past years.  Nothing changed much except for tossing them all together into one book... in alphabetical order and numbered.  So if you still have the older books... they should still work.

There is a not so secret "Method" to our instruction, and it is the one we will follow as we learn new songs.... so, I would also recommend to download  "First Steps to easy chords"...

If you don't have time to print out your own book... not to worry.  I'll have several books and ukuleles to lend for the day.

You'll find the downloads right here on our Ballard Beginners page.

It's December and Christmas Is All Around....

This month we're pushing the limits of good taste by promoting our selected song as a real Christmas song... but I love it (it even has a ukulele in the video).  And it's fun and easy to play.

Actually you will be learning two songs in one.  Our selection, "Christmas All Around" is a re-do of the Troggs song "Love All Around".   Be warned this is a very bad take off of Robert Palmer.... which makes it more fun for me -- I loved the Robert Palmer girls... ahhhh....excuse me 'women'.

I also finally posted last months handout... "Progressions and Ornamentals".  You can find it on the download page (November) and in the side panel of this Blog  (under 'Handouts')

See you all December 16th... if not.... have a Happy Holiday and fun filled New Year.....

You can find this song and many others on our download page right here.

November.... We Got a Deak Skunk... whewwwww

Yup! We got one stinkin' to high heaven.

For November we have a fun folk song from Loudon Wainwright III called... "Dead Skunk".  It's in the key of G, and is an easy I, V, IV progression... all the way through.  Sounds a bit boring... but the words pick it up to make a surprising fun song.  To some it could be considered to have a PG rating... which is even more fun to sing.

When this first came out in 1972... it took until 1973 to become number 13 on the Billboard charts.  I think it had something to do with the rumor that it was about Richard Nixon.... a dead skunk in the middle of the road... if there ever was one.

You'll find a copy of it on our download page... check it out!

Be sure and listen to the video.

October has been way too much fun... so Show Me The Way To Go Home

The Andrew Sisters give a good rendition of this great song... that almost every one knows how to sing.  I add a new chorus (at least for me)... but leave off the intro - see if you can work out where to lay those chords.

Show Me The Way To Go Home.... can be sung slow and easy - like after a few drinks.  Or in an up tempo swing beat, like the Andrew Sisters do on the Youtube connection.

Again we'll be following a solid beat... so tap those feet... all reet?

Here's where you'll find it....  http://ukulele-wikiwiki.com/uw/uww_dwnlds.html

Sept... Ohhh Donna where can you be......

Richie Valens.... the boy that changed Latino or Chicano rock back in  the late 50's.  "Donna" was one of the lost tapes recorded  in 1958.  Richie died in Febuary 3rd, 1959 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson.   That day is better known as "The Day the Music Died".

Donna is a slow tempo 3 chord easy song to play if you pay attention to the tempo.

This will be a lesson in following the beat... we gotta get those feet tapping and hands strummin' together and in time.

See you all on September 16th..... keep Strummn'

New pdf.... Ukulele Magazine

Acoustic Guitar.... has come out with a very cool ukulele on-line magazine.  The up-side, it has loads of information for the beginner.

Like 'Shopping for a Ukulele',  lots of good info and some choices here.

The also include a few songs,  they may be a bit advanced but they include the ever popular IZ song 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'... the chords are mainly one's we know,  and best of all, they show you his strum (this is a bit advanced for me, but it can be done)....  Remember the chorus strum is DDu  uDu  (1 2 n  n4n).

Somewhere.... is worth working out for one of the songs you play and sing for friends or family.... it's always a winner and everyone knows it.  Skip the intro until you have it down.  I'll try to figure it out.

The down-side of this magazine is.... way too many full page ads.

Check it out at Ukulele Magazine

Live Aloha... September 9th

If you love the ukulele, if you love all things Hawaiian... food, hula, sounds, happy people with shaved ice.  Then get yourself down to the Seattle Center on September 9th.  All things Hawaiian,  all day.  If see a smilin' face it could be me.... say 'Mahalo".

August song... it's our broken heart summer drinkn' song.

Not that I'm a drinking man... but with this summers heat, and if you take in to account those of us that have experienced in the past, a broken heart or two (yes, Mr Spock I mean you)... I just might abide.

"There Stands the Glass" is one of those great drinking and blues songs by Van Morrison.  Yup! 'Van the Man' as his friends and those that peek at his bio on Wikipedia call him.. really knows how to sing the hurt out... then ask for a drink to sooth his pains.

You can't help but put a bit of a sorrowful crack in your voice when you sing this... no you can't.

Our handout (up early), "Uke info and self-tuning" is all about getting to know the parts of you ukulele... and how to tune it, when you lose that chromatic tuner.   And you will.

Our next WikiWiki is the coming Sunday August 19th.  Remember doors open at 1pm... we start strummn' at 1:30.

Added note:  If our summer holds out a bit longer... come join us on Alki for a Jam on September 2nd.

Here's the links you need to see it all:
          WikiWiki front page

          Ballard Wiki info page
          Here's where you go to get the download for this month

July holiday... means we're all going to "Dance Tonight".

We always have fun with tunes from Sir Paul McCartney, this one is no exception.   "Dance Tonight" is simple to sing, with only 3 chords - basic one's at that.  And you can strum it slow or fast, it still sounds great.

Last month we had a small group at the WikiWiki, it's tough to compete with Fathers Day.  So that just means our special handout (a transposing wheel), will be handed out again.  You can't get away from learning something at the WikiWiki.

NOTE;  No need to print out the transposing wheel I will have printed copies to give you.

You can download this months song here.

ALKI JAM IN AUGUST.  Just a heads up.  Sadly, I will be on the road that first week in August.  I hope summer lasts a few more months.  If so, then the next Alki Jam in West Seattle will be the first Sunday in September.  That's September 2nd.  Hope to see you all then.