WikiWiki Jam on Alki Beach taking a hiatus

With the cold weather closing in on us the WikiWiki on Alki is going to hibernate... taking a hiatus... getting out of the cold... Zip... Kapow.... I'm outta here!

But just for the winter months. See you next summer for sure. For now I've left you with the perfect song, from another time, that says it all.

We'll Meet Again....

See you all at the Ballard WikiWiki song circle... our next one is on November 16. I'll have those wonderful holiday songs.

October.. Sing 'On Moonlight Bay' when you look out onto Elliott Bay....

It's an oldie, and short and sweet and simple to play.

Remember Gordon McRay and Doris Day... they sung it and made a movie of the same name. For those of you that don't know those names of movie history... even the Beatles sang it. For those of you that don't know the Beatles... well, just come talk to me.

'On Moonlight Bay' is our song for October. I even included a simple song sheet if you want to try picking the melody. Now you can sing the verse, pick the medley, and sing the verse again.... just like Doris and Gordon.

Of the 4 chords in this song the F, Bb, and C are all very simple... but then comes that F dim..... 'dim' for diminished, like in diminished hopes of every grabbing it properly. But the good part is that once you can grab one diminished chord... it's good for most of all the other diminished chords.

WikiWiki Jam on Alki

Last Sunday was our last 'on the beach' in the 'outdoors' WikiWiki... luckily it was a beautiful day at the beach. I am still trying to find a nice place on Alki that's 'indoors' maybe with a bathroom and some warm drinks.

West Seattle Beach Party was a success.

One never knows what's going to happen when you name a date and say 'let's get together and play some ukulele'. But I learned one can claim success when you have a bunch of supportive friends and a few crazy ones to add to the pile. Between 7 or 8, maybe 9 ukers showed up, I don't know the real numbers... as one left, two others would show up.

With out a doubt two of the more crazy were Tyler (inset) and Rob who pulled up to Anchor Park (Alki Beach) in their Zodiac, all the way from Shilshole Marina to join us. Sad for them they showed up right as we were ending up at 3pm.... but lucky for me they still wanted to play... I had to stay. They were late because one of them, I won't say who, left the launching wheels down... what a drag. lol

Thank you all for showing up... thanks Gregg for a great Bass uke to follow and for your unexpected singing.... which reminds me that I need singing lessons and soon.

Mahalo to you all.

NOTE: The next West Seattle Beach Jam is scheduled the same day as the SUPA picnic at Woodland Park, August 7th . I hate to take this away from Alki, as we just started and we have only so few summer months/weekends). But....

....we will join our ukulele family and enjoy the bigger event. I encourage all my WikiWiki players to come to Woodland Park and join in the good food and ukelele sounds August 7th.

Here's a flyer to the picnic

July is full of 'Moonglow'

Now that the fireworks are over... there's plenty of time to look up into our dark nights, with someone you love while you grab your trusty ukulele and sing about the 'Moonglow'.

This is an ol' Billie Holliday number and if you want to jazz it up listen to her on YouTube. But I slowed it down and let Mr. Rod Stewart sing it for you. I think it's best slow and moody.

The cord names may be a bit daunting with all the D13ths, G6's or flated 9's. But they really are forms of shapes most of you have played before. Get that awesome riff down and you won't want to stop.

As always, you will find it on our websites download page.

See you all on the 17th.

West Seattle Beach Party July 3rd.

I finally have all the info for the West Seattle Beach Jam. Well 'almost' on the beach jam. We'll gather at Anchor Park at the most northern point of Alki Beach. So come join us the first Sundays of each of our summer months... as long as the sun stays out. All the info can be found on theWest Seattle page of our web site... maps and all.

June songs = Elvis and Vegas

What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas.... and that's good for us. I am very vocal about not being an Elvis fan, but I have to admit I do like a few of his songs and 'Viva Las Vegas' is at the top of my El-vi list. Why?... 'cause it's so much fun to sing.

OK... some of you are wondering... 'Why Pat is the June song so early?' I am going on vacation yeah!!!!. I'll be back on the 15th for any questions you may have.... otherwise I'll see you all on the 19th at the WikiWiki.

Update: I plan to have a ukulele gathering on the beach... on Alki. This will be our West Seattle 1st sunday Jam. Our fist beach jam will be July 3rd. I'll have more details, as to where and when, by the next WikiWiki.

May song.... get ready to 'twang'

Hank Williams is one of those greats. Great sound, great songs, and what's great for us most of Hank's songs are easy to play.

So get that voice in the back of your throat, let it vibrate to a western 'twang' and let's all sing and play... 'Hey, Hey Good Lookin'.

Be sure to check out 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' in our 2010 book.