January 2012... We go walkn' With some back to basics.

Yup! Back to basics for the New Year.

We now have in our musical collection of the past two years, oddles of songs that are more intermediate to advanced intermediate level, and fewer songs of the basic 2 or 3 chord variety. Which I am finding that if I am to teach beginners and to have them leave not confused or frustrated, then we need to get more focused on and back to these basic learning steps.

That's not to say... we won't have a few brain teasers. But more along the way of mini-workshops (mainly handouts) of chord studies or progressions, Relative tuning, Transposing, etc.

So let's get started. Our first song of this new year is "These Boots are Made for Walking". It's 3 basics chords in A-- A, C and D.

I'll have a combined book of all the songs we did in 2011 posted to our Wiki website in the next few days. So check on back.

See you all this Sunday the 15th.

December Songs - just in time for the Holidays

It's that time again. When the cold brings us inside... then the shopping pushes us outside back into the cold cold cold... then for some odd reason, afterwards, when we're back home or with friends, we all feel like singing and playing our ukuleles.

To help you along with song... we have the return of some of our more traditional, in our Holiday Song book, a multi-page (8 pages) download.

We're also bringing back last years favorite - 'The Chanukah Song' by Adam Sandler.

What's the Holidays without something new...our new song is - 'The Burglar Song - Jesus is Watching You' .

Have fun and see you Sunday the 18th.

Songs to munch Turkey by.....

It's November and Happy Turkey Day.

For this month I finally was able to dig up two Thanksgiving songs.... it was hard... really! If anyone knows of any others please let me know for next year.

We have an old traditional Thanksgiving song -- Over the River (yes, it's a Thanksgiving song not a christmas song)

And a new song - The Gobble Song. You have to watch the YouTube link to watch all the fun it can be.

So come and enjoy and I hope to see you all at the next Ballard WikiWiki on November 20th.

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.