easy ukulele songs - themes &...

1

ContentsSong Music Lyrics Chords Introduction, tips and tuning 2

1. Little Tommy Tinker 8 30 C2. Johnny One Hammer 8 30 C3. Funga Alafia 8 30 C4. Row, Row, Row Your Boat 9 31 C G75. Adieu My Comrades 9 31 F6. This Old Hammer 10 31 F7. Ten in the Bed 10 32 F8. Land of the Silver Birch 11 32 Dm9. Canoe Song 12 32 Dm10. In the Land of Oz 12 33 Dm11. Skin and Bones 13 33 Em12. The Ghost of Tom 13 33 Em 13. Cotton Eyed Joe 14 34 A14. Whistle Daughter 14 34 D15. Little Liza Jane 15 35 D16. The Wandering Cowboy 15 35 G17. Clementine 16 36 F C718. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 17 36 F C719. Hush Little Baby 18 37 F C720. This Old Man 19 38 C G721. He’s Got the Whole World 20 39 C G722. Rock-a My Soul 21 40 C G723. Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor 22 41 C G24. Hey Lidee 23 42 D A25. Old Texas 23 42 D A26. Found a Peanut 24 43 D A27. Boll Weevil 25 44 F C28. Nobody Likes Me 26 45 G D29. Wade in the Water 26 45 Dm A730. What Shall We Do With the Silly Sailor? 27 46 Dm A731. Nothing But Peace 28 47 G C D32. He is Born 29 47 G C D Chord chart 48

Themes & VariationsBox 25109 Deer Park PO, Red Deer Alberta T4R 2M2

Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.musicplay.caToll Free Phone or Fax: 1-888-562-4647

Printed in Canada © 2015Cover Design and musical arrangements by Craig Cassils

ISBN Number: 978-1-927062-60-9

Easy Ukulele Songsby Denise Gagné

2

IntroductionThis collection of easy songs for ukulele is designed to get you singing and playing the ukulele in the very first lesson! The chords used in this collection are introduced through a series of 15 one chord songs. Mastering the chords before having to learn to change chords eliminates much of the frustration that young beginners face. After introducing the chords used, 15 easy two chord songs are given. If your students find it difficult to switch chords, divide the class into two groups and have one group play one chord and the other group play the other. Practice changing the chords slowly without looking at the fretboard. When students are able to “feel” where the fingers go, changing the chords will be easy. The last two songs in the collection use three chords. A CD with recordings of all the songs is included.

Students will learn the chords and how to change chords using the folk songs that are given in the collection. In addition to the songs in the collection we’ve given links (in the projectable PDF included on the CD) to easy pop songs on YouTube that use the same chords. Students really enjoy playing along with pop songs. Where possible, links to the original artists’ performance and to a video with the chords and lyrics are given. An inexpensive student book/CD is available so your students can play along with all the folk songs and easily access the same YouTube links at home. This collection does not address reading notes and playing melodies - the focus is on learning songs to sing and strum.

The ukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian interpretation of the machete, a small guitar-like instrument taken to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants. Since then, the ukulele has been commonly associated with music from Hawaii, where the name roughly translates as “jumping flea,” perhaps because of the movement of the player’s fingers. The ukulele gained great popularity elsewhere in the United States during the early 20th century, and from there spread internationally. It has been popular with performing musicians, and also in music education.

4

Sitting• Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor and your shoulders relaxed• If the ukulele is large enough, rest the ukulele on your right leg• If the ukulele is too small to rest on your leg, hold it against your ribcage with your right

forearm

Standing• Press the ukulele against your ribcage with your right forearm to keep the uke in place

Use a strap• Some players like to use a strap to keep the ukulele in place

Playing Position

The Right Hand

• You can use either your thumb or your index (pointer) finger to strum

• Some players like to use a pick. Hold the pick between your thumb and the middle knuckle of your pointer finger, in the same way you would hold a key. Felt picks are used most often on ukulele.

SAMPLE

5

Playing ChordsThe Left Hand• The fingers of your left hand are numbered 1-2-3-4• The left thumb goes on the back of the ukulele neck• Press the strings using the tips of your fingers between the two frets

Chord DiagramsThe chord diagram is like a picture or map of the neck of your ukulele. It shows where to place the fingers to play a chord. The lines down represent the strings and the horizontal lines represent the frets.• The numbered circles show you where to depress a string and which finger to use• In this example, press down the first string at the third fret• Use your third finger

123

4

C

3

Strings 4 3 2 1 G C E A

Frets

Finger

SAMPLE

6

Strumming• You can use either your thumb or your index (pointer) finger to strum• Some players like to use a felt pick• Strum all four strings in a smooth downward stroke• Keep a steady beat as you strum• The best place to strum is the “sweet spot” near the area where the neck meets the body

strum strum strum strum strum strum strum strum

/ / / / / / / /

Try some different strumming patterns on a C chord. The letter d is for a down strum and u is for an up strum. • d u d u d u d u • d d u d du• d u d d u d • d d d u d u When you are playing a song, choose a strumming pattern that suits the style of the music.

Strumming the C ChordThe C Chord• A chord is sounded when three or more notes are played at the same time• To play a C chord, press the first string down in the third fret with the third finger

SAMPLE

7

Tuning the ukulele is easy, especially since there are many apps available to help with this. An excellent tuner for mobile devices can be found by searching for “guitar toolkit.” It has instrument specific tuners for all stringed instruments, chord guides and a great metronome. A good free tuner is n-Track Tuner. There are many more free tuners available, but beware of “in app” purchases and plenty of adware.

In large classes of students, it may be more efficient to line up the students, ukulele in hand, and tune them yourself than to try and have students tune the instruments. At www.musicplayonline.com there is a ukulele tuner. Log in, and then select Ukulele from the menu on the left. Click on the tuning peg to start and stop the sound. This book uses C tuning (standard) so click on Ukulele Tuner C.

Better quality ukuleles will stay in tune much better, so try to purchase good quality ukuleles. Always loosen the string and then tighten it up until it is in tune (from under pitch to on pitch). Instruct your students to never touch the tuning pegs once you have tuned the instrument.

Open string tuning: For easy tuning. start at the G with a tuner and move up. The melody will sound a little bit like “My dog has fleas.” Play a C chord to make sure the instrument is in tune with itself. Make music!

The strings are tuned as follows: String 4: G String 3: C String 2: E String 1: A

Tuning the Ukulele

&cœ

œœ

œ

G C E A

4 3 2 1

Pop Songs to Play on UkulelePlaying pop music is a huge motivator for students. The Projectable PDF file includes links to 32 pop songs with one, two, three or more chords that are easy to play. As soon as students are familiar with a few chords, try playing the pop songs that are included in the links. Links are included to the You-Tube channel, “Easy Ukulele Chords and Lyrics” to learn the chords, and to the original performer’s videos.

SAMPLE

8

& cRepeat 4 times

Jœ œ jœ œ œFun ga a la fia.

C

jœ œ jœ œ ŒAh shay, ah shay.


jœ œ jœ œŒ

Ah shay, ah shay.- - - - - - - - - -

& ..Jœ œ jœ œ œFun ga a la fia.

jœ œ jœ œ ŒAh shay, ah shay.


jœ œ jœ œŒ

Ah shay, ah shay.- - - - - - - - - -

Funga Alafia

Liberia

& cœ œ œ œ œ œ œJohn - ny plays with one ham - mer,

C

œ œ œ œ œ œone ham - mer, one ham - mer.

& ..œ œ œ œ œ œ œJohn - ny plays with one ham - mer,

œ œ œ œ œŒ

then he plays with two.

2. Johnny plays with two hammers...3. Johnny plays with three hammers...4. Johnny plays with four hammers...5. Johnny plays with five hammers... Then he takes a rest.

1. Little Tommy Tinker

2. Johnny One Hammer

C

C

3. Funga Alafia C

Intro 2 bars

Intro 2 bars

Intro 2 bars

2. Johnny plays with two hammers...3. Johnny plays with three hammers...4. Johnny plays with four hammers...5. Johnny plays with five hammers... Then he takes a rest.

repeat 2 times

& cSoprano 1 œ œ œ œ œ œLit tle Tom my Tin ker

C

œ œ œ œ œ œsat up on a clink er.

œ œ œ œ

He be gan to

wcry.- - - - - -

& ..˙ ˙Ma!

1st time unison, 2nd and 3rd time as a round

˙ ˙Ma!

œ œ œ œ œ œPoor lit tle in no cent

wguy.- - -

Little Tommy Tinker

SAMPLE

12

& b c jœ œ jœ œ œ œMy pad - dle's keen and bright,

D mFjœ œ

jœ œ œ

flash - ing with sil - ver.

& b jœ œ jœ œ œ œFol - low the wild goose flight,

jœ œ jœ ˙dip, dip and swing.

& b jœ œ jœ œ œ œDip, dip and swing her back,

jœ œjœ œ œ

flash - ing with sil - ver.

& b ..jœ œ jœ œ œ œFol - low the wild goose flight,

jœ œ jœ ˙dip, dip and swing.

Canoe Song

& b c ..Soprano 1 œ œIn the

œ œ œ œ œland

diarosnakespuff

oftheyareses

monds

takedead,die,

break,

Oz whereis

theythey

it

theeputputis

D m

--

-

& b ..œ œ œ œ œ œ œlanough

diaro

diestoses

monds

smokekillonin

cia

theirtheir

snake.heads.eyes.

gars,WhenWhenWhen

evethethethe

ry

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

œ œ œ œ œ Œ

nine teen nine ty eight!

-

--

- -

- - -

In the Land of Oz

9. Canoe Song

10. In the Land of Oz

Dm

Dm

Clapping Game: The 8-beat clapping pattern starts on the downbeat. Each person starts with their left hand up and right hand down. Their partner’s left hand is under their right, and their partner’s right is over their left. One hand will clap up and the other down. Do this twice, then repeat reversing hands with your partner. Your left hand will now be down. Next clap your own hands twice, and then clap your partner’s hands twice. This pattern repeats until the end of the song.

Intro 2 bars

Intro 4 beats

SAMPLE

17

& b c ..1 œSwing

.˙ œlow, sweet

F

.œ jœ jœ .œchar i ot,

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

com in' for to car ry me

.˙ œ œ

home. Swing

C7

- - - -

& b .˙ œ

low, sweet

F

.œ jœ jœ .œchar i ot,

œ œ œ œ œ œ œcom in' for to car ry me

C7 Fine

.˙ œhome. I

F

- - - -

& b Jœ œ jœjœ œ jœ

looked o ver Jor dan and

œ œ œ jœ .œwhat did I see,

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

com in' for to car ry me

.˙ œ

home. A

C7

- - - -

& b ..œ œ œ œ œband of an gels

F

œ œ œ œ jœ .œcom in' af ter me,

œ œ œ œ œ œ œcom in' for to car ry me

C7

.˙ œhome. Swing

F

- - - - -

26. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 18. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot F C7

Intro 2 bars

SAMPLE

23

&## c Œ œ œ œ

Hey li - dee

D

œ œ œ jœ .œli - dee li - dee!

Œ œ œ œHey li - dee

œ œ œ ˙li - dee low.

A

&## Œ œ œ œ

Hey li - dee

œ œ œ jœ .œli - dee li - dee!



D

&## œ œ œ œ œ

II

knowknow

aagirl.boy.

HerHis

œ œ œ œnamename

isis

Shel -Bob -

ly.by.



A

&## ..œ œ œ œ

SheHe

laughshangs

likeout

ain -

œ œ œ œbowlside

ofthe

jel -lob -

ly.by.


œ œ œ œli - dee low.

D2nd time D.C.

fine

&# # c

œ œ œI'mI'll

goingtake

tomy

wleavehorse,

D

œ œ œ œ œOldI'll

Textake

asmy

wnow.rope.

-

&# # œ œ œ œ

They'veAnd

gothit

nothe

wusetrail

A

œ œ œ œ œforup

the longon

horna

wcow.lope.

D

--

&# #

œ œ œ œThey'veSay

ploweda

anddi

wfencedos

œ œ œ œ œmyto the

catA

tlela

wrange,mo,

-- - - -

&# # ..œ œ œ œ œ

Andand

the valhit

leysthe

wtheretrail

A

œ œ œ œ œareto

all farmedMex

andi

wchanged.co.

D

œ-

- -

Old Texas

24. Hey Lidee

25. Old Texas

D

D A

Intro 2 bars

Intro 4 bars

A

SAMPLE

25

& b cœ œ

Oh, the

œ œ œ œ œboll wee vil was a

F

œ œ œ œ œ œlit tle black bug, came from

œ œ œ œMex i co they

.˙ œsay. Came- - - -

& b5

œ œ œ œall the way to

œ ˙ œ œTex as, just a

œ œ œ œ œ œlook in' for a place to

C

Verse 4 and 5 start here

œ Œ Œœ œ

stay. Now, the

F

- -

& b9

œ œ œ œ œfirst time I saw that

œ œ œ œ œ œlit tle black bug, he was

œ œ œ œset ting on the

.˙ œsquare. The- -

& b13

œ œ œ œ œnext time I saw that

œ œ œ œ œ œlit tle black bug, he had

œ œ œ œall his fam 'ly

C

- -

& b16

œ œ œ œ œ œ œthere, Just a look in' for a

F

whome,

C

Œœ œ œ œ œ œ

Just a look in' for a

whome.

F

Ó Œ- -

Boll Weevil

2. The farmer took boll weevil, he put him in hot sand. The weevil said, "This is mighty hot, but I'll take it like a man." Then the farmer took boll weevil, and put him in some ice. The weevil said to the farmer, "This is mighty cool and nice. This'll be my home. This'll be my home."

3. Boll weevil said to the farmer, "You can drive that Ford machine. But when I'm through with your cotton, you can't buy no gasoline." Well I got mad and told the little bug, "Now you bet-ter run and hide." Boll weevil said, "Can't do it 'cause my fam'ly has multiplied. And we gotta have a home. And we gotta have a home.

4. When the merchant came around to buy I didn't have a bale to sell. I could not pay the mortgage and into debt I fell. Now I haven't got a home. Now I haven't got a home.

5. Oh, the boll weevil was a little black bug, came from Mexico they say. Came all the way to Texas, just a lookin' for a place to stay. Boll weevil go home. Boll weevil go home.

Verse 4 and 5 start here

27. Boll Weevil Intro 4 barsC F

F 2. The farmer took boll weevil, he put him in hot sand. C F The weevil said, “This is mighty hot, but I’ll take it like a man.” The farmer took boll weevil, and put him in some ice. C F The weevil said to the farmer, “This is mighty cool and nice. C F This’ll be my home. This’ll be my home.”

SAMPLE

32

5. Adieu My Comrades FAdieu to my comrades for awhile we must part. And likewise the lassie who’s stolen my heart. I am bound out for Greenland and ready to sail In hopes to find riches in hunting the whale.

Our ship is well rigged and she’s ready to sail. Our crew they are anxious to follow the whale. Where the icebergs do float and the stormy winds blow, Where land and the ocean is covered with snow.

The teacher is permitted to reproduce this page for students in one school or institution.

F

4. Row, Row, Row Your Boat CRow, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. (G7) CMerrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. (G7) CHa ha! Fooled you! I’m a submarine.

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. (G7) CThrow your teacher overboard and listen to her scream.

C G7

6. This Old Hammer FThis old hammer shines like a silver, Shines like a gold boys, Yes, shines like a gold. Ain’t no hammer in this old mountain, Shines like a mine boys, Yes, shines like a mine.

F

Intro 2 bars

Intro 4 bars

Intro 2 bars

optional

SAMPLE

42

23. Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor C GNow ‘twas twenty five or thirty years since Jack first saw the light. CHe came into this world of woe one dark and stormy night. GHe was born on board his father’s ship as she was lying to, C ‘Bout twenty five or thirty miles southeast of Baccallieu.

C G COh, Jack was every inch a sailor, Five and twenty years a whaler, G CJack was every inch a sailor, He was born upon the bright blue sea.

C GWhen Jack grew up to be a man he went to Labrador. CHe fished in Indian Harbour where his father fished before. GOn his returning in the fog he met a heavy gale, CAnd Jack was swept in to the sea and swallowed by a whale.


C GThe whale went straight to Baffin’s Bay ‘bout ninety knots an hour, CAnd every time he’d blow a spray he’d send it in a shower. GOh now says Jack unto himself I must see what he’s about. CHe caught the whale by the tail and turned him inside out!


C G


Intro 2 bars

SAMPLE

49

G

1 23

C

3

F1

2

C71

G71

2 3

Am

1

Dm1

2 2

A1

2

D

1 2 3

Note: Some chords have been altered to fit smaller hands.


Em

1

2

3

Cm

3 33

D7

12

E71

2 3SAMPLE

easy ukulele songs - themes &...

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