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.

2 folk songs for June.... yippee!

We're getting back to some of our more folksy songs for June.  One from Australian, not so old, but still fun... "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport".   Next is an early American folk song "Skip, Skip, Skip To My Lou".  Fun to sing and only two chords to boot.   For our workshop we'll transpose both to another key.  Ohhhhhhh so much fun and ukuleles too!

Just go on over to the download page to find your music:
http://ukulele-wikiwiki.com/uw/uww_dwnlds.html