Over the Rainbow – Solo Ukulele Vocal Cover
This is my take on Over the Rainbow … a sort of mix of Garland & IZ styles. Over the Rainbow sheet music can be obtained at http://bit.ly/overtherainbowmusic
Pass on Your Ukulele Skills for Fun and Profit
The same ukulele bootcamp materials I have used to guide hundreds of new ukulele students through their first steps on the ukulele are now available to you to pass on your ukulele skills with the Ukulele Bootcamp 3.0 – Teacher Edition.
- These materials are recommended for teaching students 12 and up (10+ if highly motivated).
- The workshop takes between 2 – 2.5 hours to teach.
- I’ve taught as few as 4 in a session, but as many as 70 at one time.
- The cost is typically $45 per student, and has been hosted in arts centers, libraries and events centers.
- It can be taught in one day, or stretched out as a series of lessons.
The bootcamp covers:
- Setting SMART ukulele goals
- Getting to know the ukulele
- How to break down a song to learn it
- Stretches and Vocal Warmups
- Tuning & Holding the ukulele
- How to conquer the 3 streams by dividing them before integrating them
- Chord Diagrams, Strumming & TAB
- 7 Chords & 12 Songs
For additional support on how to teach this bootcamp, sign up for the online version at https://uke.thinkific.com ($15).
Links to purchase legal copies of the copyright music selections are included to pass on to interested students.
You get a fully editable Power Point presentation, so you can use the materials as they stand, or add/adapt to your hearts desire. So get your copy today and start passing on your ukulele skills and passion while earning a great income.
Sounds so Much Better When We’re Together
It IS more fun to make music together with other folk, and this cute ukulele centric song, Something About Our Sound, with a cute stop animation video from Amphibious Zoo, captures that sentiment in a snapshot.
Top Ukulele Picks & Recommendations for 2022
Best Beginner Ukulele
I have taught hundreds, yes hundreds (no exaggeration), of beginning ukulele students and get asked all the time about what instrument they should buy. There are a lot of great ukuleles out there, many at reasonable prices, but my top pick for beginners is the Enya Nova U concert-sized ukulele for the following reasons:
- It plays great, with a good action and a very nice tone (better tone than the soprano and tenor versions IMHO).
- It is nearly indestructible. I left one of these in my car all year in 2021 with temperatures in the car exceeding a hundred in Summer and below freezing in Winter. It has been stepped on multiple times by my son and wife. After all this it still cleans up, tunes up and plays great, with no signs of body or neck warping.
- Concert size is great for most body sizes and it comes with strap buttons installed (beginners have enough to worry about without learning to juggle the ukulele while playing it).
- You can always invest in a really nice wooden model of ukulele after you learn the ropes and know what to look for.
- The cost is really reasonable. They go for about ninety at the time of this writing, but I’ve seen them go on sale at times for eighty. No, this is not the cheapest, but I feel the value is stellar.
Most Accurate Ukulele Tuner
A tuner for fifteen bucks that has an accuracy of +/- 1 cent? I’ve bought two of these and use them regularly. I’ve been through many tuners over the last decade and none of them beat the simplicity and accuracy of the Fishman FT-2 … and when you’re trying to tune a whole class of ukuleles, fast, simple and accurate is important.
Best Ukulele Pick Ever
I hope to do a full video review on this later, as I had an injury that made me look at ukulele picks again more closely to relieve stress on my right index finger. I have tried lots of picks over the years (plastic, felt, leather, rubber), but I’ve never found one that was practical and sounded natural on the ukulele … that all changes with Honu Picks, which have a unique leather design that sounds more like a finger than anything else I have tried. Not everyone needs a pick, but if you do, these are simply amazing.
Best Overall Ukulele
Ha! There is no one-size-fits all ukulele that is best for all people in all situations. There is no substitute for going to a good ukulele store or festival and personally trying out every ukulele you can get your hands on. What should you look for? A good ukulele has …
- A good build, with no warping in the body or neck.
- Accurate fret placement, so the ukulele is in tune with itself. Frets should also be finished off properly with no sharp edges.
- Has a good tone (highly subjective – you love it when you play it).
- Aesthetically pleasing.
- Well-adjusted nut and saddle for good action (these can be adjusted by a luthier if it has all the above going for it).
There is such variability between hand-made instruments that it is impossible to recommend a particular make or manufacturer. I’ve played inexpensive ukuleles that looked the same where one sang and the other sounded like a brick with strings tied to it. The same is true of expensive ukuleles; I’ve played some with lofty price tags that had no projection, no tone, bad fretwork …
For those that don’t have access to a good local store, the best you can do is read the reviews and hope for the best, but don’t be afraid to return an instrument that doesn’t speak to you and try again.
Best Ukulele Strings
Double ha! Nothing is more debatable than which strings are the best. I personally like fluorocarbon strings (many brands, one material) and Daniel Ho’s PHD strings come in a variety of configurations if you’re looking for a standard or unusual set up, and are reasonably priced. Beyond that, it is all experimentation and personal preference. I find no area of ukulele lore more frustrating than string selection. Sometimes I think it isn’t that important, and other times it feels like a new set of strings has given new life to what I thought was a clunky instrument.
Favorite Ukulele Accessory
By far, my favorite ukulele accessory is the String Swing … I have over twenty of these mounted around the house with various ukuleles on display. They keep the ukuleles handy and quickly accessible (without being in danger of being sat or stepped on) … the more readily available a ukulele is, the more it will get played.
Wishing you the best in 2022!
I hope you take joy in your ukuleles and the folk around you!
O Holy Night – Friday Ukulele Covers #12 (Finale)
The finale* to 12 weeks of Friday covers … It’s hard to believe that this favorite Christmas song was ever controversial, but the English translation was written by abolitionist John Dwight with the third verse stating that “chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother” … and you can guess how plantation owners felt about that as the civil war approached.
Even harder to fathom though is that slavery is still here, mostly in the form of child trafficking. If you have an abolitionist’s heart, please visit ourrescue.org to find out how this is still being combated today and how you can help.
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* I’d originally planned to do fifty-two covers, but after doing it for three months I’ve decided to shift my focus a bit. Stay tuned for new things in January.
The Wexford Carol – Friday Ukulele Covers #11
I first heard this Irish carol on a great King’s Singers Christmas album as a young man … it quickly became one of my favorite seasonal songs and I’ve performed it a number of times with piano in church and at concerts, but this is the first time I’m performing it solo with ukulele.
10 Handmade & Hand-painted Ukuleles for the Ukulele Enthusiast in Your Life
Handmade & Hand-painted Ukuleles
- Custom electric ukuleles by HonniMusic are an incredible price and come in a variety of sizes.
2. I love this hand-painted Tree of Life ukulele by lupineheartcreation (check out their store for tons more designs).
3. This hand-carved ukulele from WoodCarverCollection features a sleek design I love (many more designs on their shop).
4. This hand-painted dolphin ukulele is classy, IMHO. Kumbyart has many more beautiful and whimsical designs.
5. The Wolfelele is a Canadian-designed ukulele you assemble yourself. I particularly am interested in the Tenor Resonator Ukulele.
6. The galaxy ukulele is from feistyarts (gotta love the shop name!).
7. 8-string baritone ukuleles are hard to find ever since Kala discontinued their model (I love mine so much I have 2 of them), but this one from Bruceweiguitar looks pretty amazing (their shop has other ukulele sizes as well.
8. The Desert Dreamtime ukulele speaks for itself. One of many designs from lupineheartcreation.
9. You can’t get much more unique than a Tenor Gourd Uke. BrewsterBrand also offers a traditional Tenor Ukulele in Spanish cedar.
10. Closing out this list we have the cheerful Rainbow Points hand-painted ukulele available in soprano, concert, tenor and baritone from HappyUkulelesByKarl (lots of additional designs).
Whether you’re shopping friends, family or yourself this holiday season, there’s likely a handmade or hand-painted ukulele to lift your Christmas spirits.
Etsy also has a wide range of Holiday Gift Guides if you’re looking for inspiration on gifts for ‘unique’ folk in your life, including budget guides for gifts under $25, under $30, and under $50. I personally appreciate the suggestions for teacher gifts. 🙂
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! – Friday Ukulele Covers #10
Dedicated to my lovely, sweetheart wife, Dixie. ❤️❤️❤️
Spread the Joy this Giving Tuesday by Giving Ukuleles to Kids in Need
The British press has been abuzz the last few days that the ukulele was replacing the recorder as the instrument of choice for children in schools. Recorderphiles need not panic though … the new survey ranked with the recorder in a dead tie, with 15% of students learning each of these great instruments. The last time the instruments were surveyed, the recorder was at 15% and the ukulele was 1%. This means there’s been a 14% increase in students learning a musical instrument and that the recorder has lost no love (I have 2 sopraninos, sopranos, altos and 1 tenor myself).
The Times goes further to raise the alarm by stating that classical guitar teachers fear the instrument will threaten the future of the classical guitar! Poppycock. I do a pretty good job of keeping an eye on the ukulele world and there is a large segment of the ukulele community interested in classical playing and the ukulele is a wonderful bridge instrument for children that may get interested in classical guitar later on in life.
I’m not suggesting that the ukulele is not a great end in itself, but all this press-amplified stirring of the pot to make a controversy where none exists is simply for selling ads.
Now if you, like I, think kids could benefit from some ukulele love, consider this article from Ukulele Magazine about Ukulele Kids Club and if your feeling the love this giving Tuesday, spread some ukulele joy by making a donation that will provide ukes to kids in hospitals.
P.S. This is not an affiliate or sponsored post, just a cause I think is great.
Santa Clause is Coming to Town – Friday Ukulele Covers #9
We watched Santa comin’ to town on at the close of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade yesterday, so I thought this was an appropriate selection to kick off some holiday and Christmas tunes. Sorry for the less than perfect sound of my camera … I lost the audio on the separate recorder I had going and didn’t have time to go back. Hope you enjoy anyway! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!
Ukulele Bootcamp 3.0 Online: Free for 72 Hours
Black Friday! The online version of Ukulele Bootcamp 3.0 is now free with 45 days of unlimited access. This is a limited time offer (this weekend only), after which it will be offered for $15 (70% off the original asking price, starting Monday, November 29th at 9am Central). Register here.
Learn how to set S.M.A.R.T ukulele goals, all about ukuleles, how to learn a song, stretches and warmups, tuning, holding the ukulele, how to read chords, strumming, tablature, seven chords and a dozen songs plus bonuses.
What does the course cover?
1
Introduction
Intro & Ukulele Inspirations
Into the Great Wide Open : An Ukulele Wonderland vs. An Ukulele Wanderland and Getting Outfitted
What Does it Take to Learn a Song? and a Course Overview
2
Warmups
Vocal Warmups
Hand Stretches and Holding the Ukulele
3
Ukulele Anatomy & More
Ukulele Anatomy, String | Fret | Finger Numbers, Tuning, C Major Scale, Open Strings Song, The 3 Streams & The Song Journey
4
First Chords and Strums
Three Ways to Show Chords (C & C6)
Strum Shorthand (Thumb, Down/Up & Slap Strums) w/ First Strums
Row, Row, Row Your Boat (C & C6)
5
Next Chords & Songs
A 4th Way to Show Chords (Fadd9 & C7 Introduced) | Chord Pair Practice
Fadd9 & C7 Songs: Swing Low | Simple Gifts | Singing in the Rain
C & G7 Chord Pair
C & G7 Songs: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands | Banana Boat Song (Day-O)
6
More on Tablature
The C Major Scale in Tablature
Ode to Joy Tablature
7
Three Chord Songs
Three Chords: C, Fadd9 & G7
Rock Around the Clock (C, Fadd9 & G7)
You are My Sunshine (C, Fadd9 & G7)
Twist & Shout (C, Fadd9 & G7)
Plain Vanilla F
Surfin’ U.S.A. (C, F & G7)
C, G & Am7 : Feelin’ Groovy
8
Conclusion & Bonus Content
Count Your Blessings (Old Gospel Hymn) – Friday Ukulele Covers #8
It is nearly Thanksgiving! As someone who has a long history of anxiety & depression, I sometimes find it hard to follow the advice of this song. How about you? However, when I really do reflect on the good things I’ve been blessed with, particularly my angel wife, my adorable son and the music in my life … I do find myself feeling more joyful. Also, I’m really looking forward to getting together with both our extended families in the coming week. Happy Thanksgiving!
#givethanks #Thanksgiving #gratitude #Ukulele #Ukes #FridayCovers
What a Wonderful World – Friday Ukulele Covers # 7
What a Wonderful World … I am so grateful for this song, which I first heard in high school when it made a comeback in the U.S.A., and am amazed at its ‘wonderful’ and somewhat frustrating history.
George Weiss was inspired by Louis Armstrong’s ‘ability to bring people of different races together’ and wrote the song with Bob Thiele specifically for the jazz legend. “Because he was gigging at the Tropicana Hotel, Armstrong recorded the song in Las Vegas … The session was scheduled to follow Armstrong’s midnight show, and by 2 am the musicians were settled and tape was rolling. Arranger Artie Butler was there with songwriters Weiss and Thiele, and Armstrong was in the studio singing with the orchestra. Armstrong had recently signed to ABC Records, and ABC president Larry Newton showed up to photograph Armstrong. Newton wanted a swingy pop song like “Hello, Dolly!”, a big hit for Armstrong when he was with Kapp Records, so when Newton heard the slow pace of “What a Wonderful World”, he tried to stop the session. Newton was locked out of the studio for his disruption, but a second problem arose: nearby freight train whistles interrupted the session twice, forcing the recording to start over. Armstrong shook his head and laughed off the distractions, keeping his composure. The session ended around 6 am, going longer than expected. To make sure the orchestra members were paid extra for their overtime, Armstrong accepted only $250 musicians union scale for his work.”
WOW! What a man! And can you imagine locking out the president of your new record label??? What guts for the entire team. Unfortunately, Newman had a temporary revenge by refusing to promote the record and it didn’t become a hit in the U.S.A. until it was included in a soundtrack in the 80s (though it was a #1 hit in the U.K. at its release).
This song has meant so much to me over the years and I have taught it to a number of my students (sheet music). It’s hard to remember sometimes, but it truly is a WONDERFUL WORLD! Thank you for reading!
Find this video on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/uke.n.me/videos/833324954002064 .
Free ‘Simple Gifts’ Ukulele Song Sheet
This song sheet is similar to my cover version of Simple Gifts, except that it just shows diagrams for the root position chords. In the cover I take the chorus up to the 5th fret inversions of the same chords. I also put a few F7 chords in the song sheet verses, but I only do this on the last verse in the recording (Dm7 on the first two) … sort of as a surprise harmony to spice up the last verse. Please consider supporting further creative work at https://www.patreon.com/uke
Here is the song in chordpro format:
{title: Simple Gifts}
{artist: American Hymn arr. by M. Ryan Taylor of UkulelePlay.com}
Tis the [F]gift to be simple, tis the [Dm7]gift to be free
Tis the [Gm7]gift to [C]come down [Gm7]where we ought to [C]be,
And [F]when we find ourselves in the [F7]place just right,
Twill [Gm7]be in the [C]valley of [Gm7]love and de[F]light.
{Start_of_Chorus}
[F]When true sim[Fmaj7]plicity is gained,
To [F7]bow and to bend we [Bb]shan’t be a[C]shamed,
To [F]turn, [Fmaj7]turn will [F7]be our delight,
Till by [Bb]turning, [C]turning we [F]come [Bb]round [F]right.
{End_of_Chorus}
Tis a [F]gift to be simple, tis a [Dm7]gift to be fair,
Tis a [Gm7]gift to [C]wake and [Gm7]breathe the morning [C]air,
And [F]every day to walk in the [F7]path we choose,
Tis a [Gm7]gift that we [C]pray we [Gm7]ne’er come to [C]lose.
{comment: Chorus}
Tis the [F]gift to be loving, tis the [Dm7]gift best of all,
Like a [Gm7]quiet [C]rain it [Gm7]blesses where it [C]falls,
And [F]when we have the gift we will [F7]truly believe
That tis [Gm7]better to [C]give than it [Gm7]is to re[F]ceive
{comment: Chorus}
Simple Gifts (American Hymn) – Friday Ukulele Covers #6
We celebrate Halloween & Christmas for a whole month (plus some), so why not Thanksgiving? Happiness is truly rooted in thanks for the simple things that we’re blessed with and this treasure of an American hymn from the Shaker tradition is something I’m thankful for; it’s certainly brought happiness to moments of my life.
Support further creative work at http://patreon.com/uke … Find more ukulele songs, materials, tutorials, reviews and tabs at http://ukuleleplay.com
Love Potion #9 : Friday Covers #4
My Uke & Me cover of the the classic 50s rock tune, LOVE POTION #9, in one take with a little slapback reverb added for character. Free cue card (memorization aid) for patrons at https://www.patreon.com/posts/57740301
I’m playing a Kala 8-string baritone ukulele with a custom set of extruded nylon strings tuned gGCCEEAA (standard ukulele tuning). Last I checked, Sweetwater had some of these in stock. One of my favorite ukuleles to play.
This sheet music for this song is available in The Daily Ukulele songbook: https://amzn.to/3jsLoZG
Many more videos on my YouTube channel … https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfHQZSi67P2MrqW4i5NOSAQ
Happy Halloween!
THE PIRATE KING TUNE – FRIDAY COVERS #3
A favorite tune from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance! I posted a free PDF download of the song for my supporters at PATREON.COM/UKE.
So far, all the songs I’ve done this month are included in my songbook THE HAUNTED UKULELE, which you can pick up as part of a digital multi-pack, 8 full songbooks for the price of 2: UKULELE PLAY 8 SONGBOOK COLLECTION (Halloween, Christmas, Celtic, Camp Songs and more).
Until next week …
HAPPY HAUNTING!
M. RYAN TAYLOR
Uke & Me | UkulelePlay.com
Everybody Gets a Kitten – Live
Jeremy Messersmith performs Everybody Gets a Kitten from his album Obscenely Optimistic Songs For Ukulele: A Micro-Folk Record For the 21st Century And Beyond at a residency in the Detroit Lakes area. Jeremy offers the above album as a free PDF (which I’ve used with my Ukulele Youth classes, because it is awesome and kids love many of the songs) and includes places to listen as well at jeremymessersmith.com/songbook.
Blood on the Saddle – Friday Covers #2
I kicked off a new personal challenge to record 52 memorized covers beginning last week that I’m calling “FRIDAY COVERS” … the morbid song Blood on the Saddle (made famous by Tex Ritter) was released on my YouTube channel yesterday as week #2.
I posted a free PDF download of the song for my supporters at PATREON.COM/UKE.
This and last week’s song are both included in my songbook THE HAUNTED UKULELE, which you can pick up as part of a digital multi-pack, 8 full songbooks for the price of 2: UKULELE PLAY 8 SONGBOOK COLLECTION (Halloween, Christmas, Celtic, Camp Songs and more).
Upcoming songs I plan to record over the coming weeks include The Pirate King Tune from Pirates of Penzance, Grim Grinning Ghosts & Love Potion No. 9. Until then …
HAPPY HAUNTING!
M. RYAN TAYLOR
Uke & Me | UkulelePlay.com
How Old Should Kids be to Play the Ukulele?
I often talk to parents who’d like to start their 6 or 7 year old on ukulele. While I would never tell them not to do it; I’ve found that age of student needs patient, private instruction, rather than the group instruction I usually offer students.
Having taught lots and lots of kids … 7 is really just so very young. I know media is full of prodigy stories and tales of kids starting violin at 4, but my personal experience with kids in my ukulele youth choirs is that 8 or 9 is just more doable for most kids (95% or more). There is a certain level of coordination the ukulele requires (in many ways, violin is easier to start on). Kids need to understand and remember string numbers, fret numbers and finger numbers, have enough finger strength with those tiny hands to fret, as well as the coordination to strum with the other hand at the same time (even a simple thumb strum can be difficult for young kids). On top of that: vocals (because most parents are thinking of singing AND playing the ukulele when they envision their child playing ukulele).
If you’re going to start young, my suggestion is to do 1-chord songs. There aren’t a lot, but Row, Row, Row Your Boat is a good one for the C chord (also Rain, Rain, Go Away). By all means, let the child make up their own songs to go with a chord; a great move for this stage. Move on to two chord songs when he/she feels really comfortable and is ready to move on. There are lots of two chord songs (I’ve published three books of them).
An alternate route is to treat the ukulele purely instrumentally and teach how to pluck simple melodies (Rain Rain Go Away and Ring Around the Rosies can actually be played on the open strings). Some might think this would be more difficult, but it is actually easier; the student is only ever playing one note at a time and you don’t have to juggle what two hands are doing with vocals, unless you want to sing along with the melody you’re playing (in this case it is easier to do because the voice supports the melody you’re playing).
I’m currently teaching an 8-year old boy with a little diagnosed ADHD … so it is very, very slow going. I keep having to remind myself to be patient, and I’ve been teaching kids ukulele for a decade.
I personally think 9 is the sweet spot, but if you’re intent on starting younger, I think the above tips will help (paired with a lot of patience and love).
Thrice Tosse These Oaken Ashes (Thomas Campion – Renaissance Ukulele Cover) – 52 Covers Challenge #1
I’m singing this beautiful English renaissance song by Thomas Campion about trying to win over an indifferent potential lover with various spells and charms to kick off two things: 1) It’s October! and every Friday this month I’ll be releasing a new recording of a song worthy of the season. 2) I’m also kicking off a 52 covers challenge, where I’m going to be memorizing a song (not written by me) and recording it each week. I’ll also be releasing sheet music or a cue card (a memorization aid) for each of these songs at http://patreon.com/uke for my supporters. For those wondering, a renaissance ukulele is actually a 4-course renaissance guitar. Did you know GCEA tuning has been around since the 16th century?
A Year of Ukulele Covers : Memorization Challenge
A decade ago, I watched ukulele vocalist Victoria Vox do an entire year of ukulele covers, releasing one each week for a straight 52 weeks. She gave herself a few rules …
- Learn the song the week of (no pre-preparing)
- Must be performed live
- Must be memorized
… and said, “this is my own personal challenge.”
She followed through and it made a big impression on me. I’ve wanted to do something similar ever since. What’s stopped me? Fear and busyness. Sometimes I think busyness can be something we use so we don’t have to face our fears … at least I think it is true for me.
I have worked up such a fear of memorization (no problem with melody and lyrics, but sometimes forget where chords fall when I’m getting lost in a song … this has happened in front of an audience and it is so mortifying). I really want to get over it. I talk about using S.M.A.R.T. goals in my Ukulele Bootcamp (part of the free preview), so, I’m going to ‘walk the walk’ and issue myself a S.M.A.R.T. challenge.
- Specific: Record a memorized song each week.
- Measurable: Songs are either memorized or they aren’t.
- Achievable: I’ve accumulated good tools, I believe I can do it.
- Relevant: I want to build a set list of songs I can perform without visual aids and I want to get over the fear that’s holding me back.
- Time-based: One song each Friday for a year.
I’m not going to give myself any kind of ‘no prep’ rule like Victoria did, that feels like too much pressure for me at present. Here is my personal challenge:
- Work on the song with a cue card to aid in memorizing.
- Video the memorized song without aids during the week.
- Release the video each Friday on my Uke & Me YouTube, Facebook & Patreon channels.
I’ve made a list of songs that I want to memorize through the end of the 2021, kicking off with a 5-song Halloween set, with the first release on Friday, October 1st.
- Thrice Tosse These Oaken Ashes by Thomas Campion (English renaissance songwriter)
- Blood on the Saddle by Tex Ritter
- Oh, Better Far to Live & Die (The Pirate King Tune) by Gilbert & Sullivan
- Grim Grinning Ghosts (The Haunted Mansion) by Buddy Baker and X. Atencio.
- Love Potion No. 9 by The Searchers
If you’re interested in joining me in a similar personal challenge, feel free to comment and update with your progress on the posts each week.