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TO BE A COOL

KID ALL YOU HAVE

TO DO IS COME ALONG

COOL KID’S LUNCH

Colours Donovan

Hear this song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EPfyID0nZ4 (original key E)

From: Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpexuke.com

[G] [C] G]

[G] Yellow is the colour of my true love’s hair

In the [C] morning when we [G] rise


That's the [D] time that’s the [C] time I love the [G] best

[G] Blue's the colour of the sky




[G] Green's the colour of the sparkling corn




[G] Mellow is the feelin' that I get

When I [C] see her mm [G] hmm

When I [C] see her uh [G] huh


[G] [C] [G] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G]

[G] Freedom is a word I rarely use

Without [C] thinkin' mm [G] hmm

Without [C] thinkin' mm [G] hmm

Of the [D] time of the [C] time

When I've been [G] loved [C] [G]

Little Red Riding Hood Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

Hear this song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZUfsmwaNoA

From: Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpex.net/uke.htm

Howl.....[F] [Am] [Dm] Spoken: Who's that I see walking in these woods

[F] [Am] [Dm] Spoken: Why it's Little Red Riding Hood

[Dm] Hey there Little Red [F] Riding Hood

[G] You sure are lookin' good

[Bb] You're everything a [A7] big bad wolf could [Dm] want [A7]

[Dm] Little Red [F] Riding Hood [G] I don't think little big girls should

[Bb] Go walking' in these [A7] spooky old woods a[Dm]lone [A7] (howl)

[F] What big eyes you have [Dm] the kind of eye that drive wolves mad

[G] So just to see that you don't get chased

I think I [C7] ought to walk with you for a ways

[F] What full lips you have [Dm] they're sure to lure someone bad

[G] So until you get to Grandma's place

I think you [C7] ought to walk with me and be safe

[Dm] I'm gonna keep my [F] sheep suit on

[G] 'Til I'm sure that you've been shown

That [Bb] I can be trusted [A7] walkin' with you a[Dm]lone..[A7] (howl)

[Dm] Little Red [F] Riding Hood [G] I'd like to hold you if I could

But [Bb] you might think I'm a [A7] big bad wolf so I [Dm] won't [A7] (howl)

[F] What a big heart I have [Dm] The better to love you with

[G] Little Red Riding Hood [C7] Even bad wolves can be good

[F] I'll try to keep satisfied [Dm] just to walk close by your side

[G] Maybe you'll see things my way [C7] before we get to Grandma's place

[Dm] Little Red [F] Riding Hood [G] you sure are lookin' good

[Bb] You're everything a [A7] big bad wolf could [Dm] want [A7] (howl)

I mean...... [Dm] Baa [F] Baa? [G] Baa! [Bb] [A7] [Dm]

RED ROSES FOR A BLUE LADY 4/4 1234 1

I want some red roses for a blue lady,

Mr. Florist, take my order, please.

We had a silly quarrel the other day,

I hope these pretty flowers chase her blues a-way.

Wrap up some red roses for a blue lady,

Send them to the sweetest gal in town.

And, if they do the trick, I’ll hurry back to pick

Your best white orchids for her wedding gown.

The Orange and the Green Chorus:

Oh, it (C) is the biggest (Am) mixup that (G) you have ever seen My (F) father he was (C) orange and my (G) mother she was (C) green. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh, my (C) father was an (Am) Ulsterman, proud (G) Protestant was he My (F) mother was a (C) Catholic girl from (G) County Cork was (C) she. They were married in two (Am) churches and lived (G) happily enough Un (F) til the day that (C) I was born and (G) things got rather (C) tough.

(Chorus)

Bap (C) tized by father (Am) Reilly I was (G) rushed away by car To be (F) made a little (C) Orangemen, my (G) father’s shining (C) star. I was christened David (Am) Antony but (G) still in spite of that To my (F) father I was (C) Billy while my (G) mother called me (C) Pat.

(Chorus)

With (C) mother every (Am) Sunday to (G) mass I’d proudly stroll And (F) after that the (C) orange lord would (G) try to save my (C) soul. And both sides tried to (Am) claim me, but (G) I was smart because I’d (F) play the flute, I’d (C) play the harp de (G) pending were I (C) was

(Chorus)

One (C) day my Ma's re (Am) lations came (G) round to visit me. Just (F) as my father's (C) kinfolk were (G) sitting down to (C) tea. We tried to smooth things (Am) over, but they (G ) all began to fight. And (F) me, being strictly (C) neutral, I bashed (G) everyone in (C) sight.

(Chorus)

My (C) parents never (Am) could agree a (G) bout my type of school. My (F) learning was all (C) done at home, that's (G) why I'm such a (C) fool. They've both passed on, God (Am) rest 'em, but (G) I was left between That (F) awful color (C) problem of the (G) Orange and the (C) Green.

(Chorus x 2)

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Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney)

G D C G Em Am C D

In the town where I was born, lived a man who sailed to sea,

G D C G Em Am C D

And he told us of his life, in the land of submarines,

G D C G Em Am C D

So we sailed on to the sun, ‘til we found the sea green,

G D C G Em Am C D

And we lived beneath the waves, in our yellow submarine,

Chorus:

G D

We all live in yellow submarine,

D G

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine,

G D

We all live in yellow submarine,

D G

Yellow submarine, yellow submarine.

G D C G Em Am C D

And our friends are all on board, many more of them live next door,

G D C G (2,3,4) + 2 measures of G

And the band begins to play…

(Kazoos, shakers, etc. play)

Chorus

G D C G

As we live a life of ease (life of ease)

Em Am C D

Every one of us (every one of us) has all we need, (has all we need)

G D C G

Sky of blue, (sky of blue) and sea green, (sea of green)

Em Am C D

In our yellow (In our yellow) submarine (submarine)

Chorus 2X & tremolo at the end!

It’s Not Easy Being Green- Joe Raposo

It's not that easy being green

Having to spend each day the color of the leaves

When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or

gold , or something much more colorful like that

It's not easy being green It seems you blend in with so many

other ordinary things

And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're Not standing out like flashy

sparkles in the water

Or stars in the sky

But green's the color of Spring

And green can be cool and friendly-like

And green can be big like an mountain,

or important like a river , or tall like a tree

When green is all there is to be

It could make you wonder why,

but why wonder, why wonder?

I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful

And I think it's what I want to be

THE GREEN DOOR 4/4 1…2…1234

Midnight one more night without sleepin’, watching till the morning comes peepin’

Green door, what’s the secret you’re keepin’

There’s an old piano and they play it hot behind the green door

Don’t know what they’re doin’ but they laugh a lot behind the green door.

Wish they’d let me in so I could find out what’s behind the green door.

Knocked once, tried to tell ‘em I’d been there, door slammed, hospitality’s thin there

Wonder just what’s goin’ on in there.

Saw an eyeball peepin’ thru a smoky cloud behind the green door

When I said Joe sent me someone laughed out loud behind the green door.

All I want to do is join the happy crew behind the green door. X2 GREEN DOOR!

THE GREEN DOOR 4/4 1…2…1234 A D A D A Midnight one more night without sleepin’, watching till the morning comes peepin’ E7 D A Green door, what’s the secret you’re keepin’ A D A A7 There’s an old piano and they play it hot behind the green door D A Don’t know what they’re doin’ but they laugh a lot behind the green door. E7 D A Wish they’d let me in so I could find out what’s behind the green door. A D A D A Knocked once, tried to tell ‘em I’d been there, door slammed, hospitality’s thin there E7 D A Wonder just what’s goin’ on in there. A D A A7 Saw an eyeball peepin’ thru a smoky cloud behind the green door D A When I said Joe sent me someone laughed out loud behind the green door. E7 D A All I want to do is join the happy crew behind the green door. X2 GREEN DOOR!

Blue, Red and Grey Page 1 of 2

Blue, Red and Grey (The Who)

Intro: C Csus4 C Csus4 C Csus4 C

Verse 1

F G

Some people seem so obsessed with the morning

F G

Get up early just to watch the sun rise

F G

Other people like it more when there's fire in the sky

F G

Worship the sun when it's high

Dm A7

Some people go for those sultry evenings

Dm A7 Dm

Cocktails in the blue, red and grey

F G C Csus4 C Csus4 C Csus4 C

But I like every minute of the day

Bridge

F G F G

I dig every second, as long as you’re on my mind

F G

Each precious moment has its special charm

Am G

It's all right when you're around, rain or shine

Verse 2

F G

Some people seem to only live after midnight

F G

Their faces always seem so pale

F G

And then there’s friends of mine who must have the sunlight

F G

They say a suntan never fails

Blue, Red and Grey Page 2 of 2

Dm A7

I know a man who works the night shift

Dm A7 Dm

He’s lucky to get a job and some pay


And I like every minute of the day

Bridge

F G F G

I dig every second, I can laugh in the snow and rain

F G

I get a buzz from being cold and wet

Am G

The pleasure seems to balance out the pain

Verse 3

F G

And so you see that I’m completely crazy

F G

I even shun the south of France

F G

The people on my hill, they say I'm lazy

F G

But when they sleep, I sing and dance

Dm A7

Some people go for those sultry evenings

Dm A7 Dm

Cocktails in the blue, red and grey


But I like every minute of the day


I like every minute of the day

Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison Hear this song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saTRoTn6pXU (play along in this key)

From: Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpex.net/uke.htm

Intro x2: A|‐2‐3‐5‐3‐2‐7‐9‐10‐9‐7‐2‐3‐5‐3‐2‐3‐‐‐‐‐0 E|‐3‐5‐7‐5‐3‐8‐8‐ 8‐‐8‐8‐3‐5‐7‐5‐3‐2‐2‐3‐ C|‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐2‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ G|‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐2‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

[G] Hey where did [C] we go [G] days when the [D7] rains came [G] Down in the [C] hollow [G] we were playin' a [D7] new game [G] Laughing and a [C] running hey hey [G] skipping and a [D7] jumping [G] In the misty [C] morning fog with [G] Our [D7] hearts a thumping and [C] you [D7] My brown‐eyed [G] girl [Em] [C] You my [D7] brown‐eyed girl [G] [D7]

[G] Whatever [C] happened [G] to Tuesday and [D7] so slow [G] Going down the [C] old mine with a [G] transistor [D7] radio [G] Standing in the [C] sunlight laughing [G] Hiding behind a [D7] rainbow's wall [G] slipping and a [C] sliding [G] All along the [D7] waterfall with [C] you [D7] My brown‐eyed [G] girl [Em] [C] you my [D7] brown‐eyed girl [G]

[D7] Do you remember when we used to [G] Sing sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da [G] Sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da la te [G] da

[G] So hard to [C] find my way [G] now that I'm all [D7] on my own [G] I saw you just the [C] other day [G] my how [D7] you have grown [G] Cast my memory [C] back there lord [G] Sometimes I'm [D7] overcome thinking 'bout [G] Making love in the [C] green grass [G] Behind the [D7] stadium with [C] you [D7] My brown‐eyed [G] girl [Em] [C] you my [D7] brown‐eyed girl [G]

[D7] Do you remember when we used to [G] Sing sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da [G] Sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da [G] Sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da [G] Sha la la [C] la la la la [G] la la la la te [D7] da la te [G] da

Blue Skies (Irving Berlin)

Am E+ C D7

Blue skies smiling at me

Fm C G C

Nothing but blue skies do I see

Am E+ C D7

Blue birds singing a song

Fm C G C

Nothing but blue birds from now on

C Fm C

Never saw the sun shining so bright

Fm C Fm C

Never saw things going so right

C Fm C

Noticing the days hurrying by

Fm C G7 C

When you’re in love my how they fly

Am E+ C D7

Blue days all of them gone

Fm C G C

Nothing but blue skies from now on

Instrumental (Chords to verse 2x)

C Fm C

Never saw the sun shining so bright

Fm C Fm C

Never saw things going so right

C Fm C

Noticing the days hurrying by

Fm C G7 C

When you’re in love my how they fly

Am E+ C D7


Fm C G C


(Slower)

Am E+ C D7


Fm C G C (Tremolo)


Blue Umbrella - John Prine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQncxrf1fWY

Intro:

[C]

F[C]eelings are strange espe[F]cially when they c[C]ome true

And I had a feeling that y[G]ou'd be leaving s[C]oon

So I tried to rear[F]range all my emo[C]tions

But it seems the same no ma[G]tter what I d[C]o

Chorus:

B[C]lue umbrella r[F]est upon my sho[C]ulder

Hide the pain while the r[G]ain makes up my m[C]ind

Well, my feet are wet from th[F]inking this thing o[C]ver

And it's been so long since I f[F]elt the warm suns[G]hine

J[F]ust give [G]me one good re[C]ason

And I [F]promise I won't a[G]sk you anym[C]ore

J[F]ust give [G]me one extra se[C]ason

So I can figure o[G]ut the other f[C]our

Instrumental:

[F] [G] [C]

[F] [G] [C]

[F] [G] [C]

[G] [C]

D[C]ayime makes me wo[F]nder why you le[C]ft me

Nighttime makes me wo[G]nder what I s[C]aid

Next time are the w[F]ords I'd like to p[C]lan on

But, last time was the o[G]nly thing you s[C]aid

Repeat Chorus:

Ending:

[G] [C]

Blueberry Hill Fats Domino

I found my [F] thrill on blueberry [C] hill On blueberry [G7] hill when I found [C] you [F] [C] The moon stood [F] still on blueberry [C] hill And lingered un[G7]til my dreams came [C] true [Fm] [C]

The [Fm] wind in the [C] willow played [G7] Love's sweet melo[C]dy But [B7] all of those [Em] vows we [B7] made [Em] Were [B7] never to [E7] be [G7]

Though we're a[F]part you're part of me [C] still For you were my [G7] thrill on blueberry [C] hill [Fm] [C]

The [Fm] wind in the [C] willow played [G7] Love's sweet melo[C]dy But [B7] all of those [Em] vows we [B7] made [Em] Were [B7] never to [E7] be [G7]

Though we're a[F]part you're part of me [C] still For you were my [G7] thrill on blueberry [C] hill [Fm] [C]

Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpex.net/uke.htm

I Bought the Blues (and the Blues . . . ) by Blind Lemming Chiffon (mid-‐1970s)

A I went to the record sto’ I bought the blues (spoken, blues falsetto “I bought the blues.” D7 They cost $6.98. A I coulda bought a pair of shoes. (I coulda bought 2 pairs of shoes – there was a Goodwill store just down the street.) E7 But I bought ‘em anyhow D7 Because I like because I like because I like A That funky music. (Play that funky music, white boy!) (Note: same progression for each stanza – it’s just a simple 8 bar blues. Add turnarounds.) I set my blues down on my turntable pad. The blues was boring. The blues was . . . BAD! Those lowdown, rotten stinking blues Cost me the last $6.98 I ever had. I got the blues, but I don’t want ‘em. I’m gonna take ‘em on back To the sto’ where I bought ‘em. I found out, and now I’m telling all of youse: The blues ain’t nothing but the blues. The blues ain’t red, and the blues ain’t green. They ain’t even blue, man Gon’ tell you what I mean. The blues ain’t yellow And they ain’t chartreuse.

The blues ain’t nothing but the blues. The blues ain’t melodious. (They’re just not. No way.) And they sure ain’t cheerful, But pay $6.98 And you’re bound to get an earful. I found out the real news: The blues ain’t nothing but the blues. That’s all they is. (insert 27 trillion hour solo here.)

When whippoorwills [C] call and evening is nigh, I hurry to [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven. A turn to the right, a little white light, Will lead you to [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven.

You'll see a [F] smiling face, a [A7] fireplace, a [Dm] cozy room, A [G7] little nest that nestles where the [C] roses bloom [G7] Just Molly and [C] me, and baby makes three, We're happy in [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven.

Instrumental break [F] [A7] [Dm] [G7] [G7] [C] [G7]

When whippoorwills [C] call and evening is nigh, I hurry to [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven. A turn to the right, a little white light, Will lead you to [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven.

You'll see a [F] smiling face, a [A7] fireplace, a [Dm] cozy room, A [G7] little nest that nestles where the [C] roses bloom [G7] Just Molly and [C] me, and baby makes three, We're happy in [D7] my [G7] Blue [C] Heaven.

My Blue Heaven - Fats Domino

Billboard #19 1956

Bad, Bad Leroy Brown Page 1 of 2

Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (Jim Croce)

G

Well the South side of Chicago

A7

Is the baddest part of town

B7 C

And if you go down there you better just beware

D7 G

Of a man named Leroy Brown

G

Now Leroy more than trouble

A7

You see he stand 'bout six foot four

B7 C

All the downtown ladies call him "Treetop Lover"

D7 G

All the men just call him "Sir"

Chorus:

G

And he's bad, bad Leroy Brown

A7

The baddest man in the whole damn town

B7 C

Badder than old King Kong

D7 G

And meaner than a junkyard dog

G

Now Leroy he a gambler

A7

And he like his fancy clothes

B7 C

And he like to wave his diamond rings

D7 G

In front of everybody’s nose

G

He got a custom Continental

A7

He got an Eldorado too

B7 C

He got a 32 gun in his pocket for fun

D7 G

He got a razor in his shoe

Chorus

Bad, Bad Leroy Brown Page 2 of 2

G

Well Friday ‘bout a week ago

A7

Leroy shootin' dice

B7 C

And at the edge of the bar sat a girl named Doris

D7 G

And ooh that girl looked nice

G

Well he cast his eyes upon her

A7

And the trouble soon began

B7 C

Leroy Brown learned a lesson 'bout messin'

D7 G

With the wife of a jealous man

Chorus

G

Well the two men took to fightin'

A7

And when they pulled them from the floor

B7 C

Leroy looked like a jigsaw puzzle

D7 G

With a couple of pieces gone

Chorus

G B7 C

Yes, you were badder than old King Kong

D7 G

And meaner than a junkyard dog

Nights in White Satin (Am) Moody Blues Hear this song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9muzyOd4Lh8

[Am] Nights in white [G] satin [Am] never reaching the [G] end [F] Letters I've [C] written [Bb] never meaning to [Am] send [Am] Beauty I'd [G] always missed [Am] With these eyes be[G]fore [F] Just what the [C] truth is, [Bb] I can't say any [Am] more

Cause I [D] love you yes I [F] love you Oh how I [Am] love you [G] I [Am] love you [G]

[Am] Gazing at [G] people [Am] some hand in [G] hand [F] Just what I'm [C] going through [Bb] they can't under[Am]stand [Am] Some try to [G] tell me [Am] thoughts they cannot de[G]fend [F] Just what you [C] want to be [Bb] you'll be in the [Am] end

Cause I [D] love you yes I [F] love you Oh how I [Am] love you [G] I [Am] love you [G]

Instrumental:

Am G F E7 Am G F E7

Am F Am F

Dm E7 Dm E7

Am G F Am G Am G

Repeat verse 1 and chorus x 2

Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook www.scorpex.net/uke.htm

Rainbow Avenue Rag

by Vince and Kathy DeFrancis details of recording here: http://www.discogs.com/Various-‐Colorado-‐Folk-‐Two/release/3959449 lyrics typed from memory by BLC (possible inaccuracies – corrections welcome) (lead in single notes 1st string C Bb B or 3rd 2nd and 1st frets) A7 Black Bart said to his foreman, “Hey, D7 Why are you painting the whole street gray? G7 Don’t want gray when the family comes.

C Want all the colors underneath the sun. A7 Give me some red, blue and green. D7 Electric orange, know what I mean. G7 Fuschia, mauve and even puce – C Gotta have color or it ain’t no use.” A7 Black Bart’s Rainbow Avenue family D7 Is moving in today. G7 How they gonna feel right at home C If you paint everything gray? A7 When we’re living on the Avenue, D7 Everything’s got to shine, F+ Cdim C A7 (F+ = 2013 Cdim = 2323) And when you hear me playing that rainbow D7 G7 C Honey, you’re gonna feel fine.

Intro: [F] [Bb] [F] [C]

[F] Sweet little [C] Sheila, you'll [Bb] know her if you [C] see her [F] Blue [Bb] eyes and a [F] pony[C]tail Her [F] cheeks are [C] rosy, she [Bb] looks a little [C] nosey [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine [C7]

[F] Never knew a [C] girl [Bb] like-a little [C] Sheila [F] Her [Bb] name [F] drives me in[C]sane [F] Sweet little [C] girl, that's [Bb] my little [C] Sheila [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine

[C] Me and Sheila go for a ride Oh-[Bb]oh-oh-oh, I feel all [F] funny inside [C] Then little Sheila whispers in my ear Oh-[Bb]oh-oh-oh, I [C] love you Sheila [F] dear

[F] Sheila said she [C] loved me, she [Bb] said she'd never [C] leave me [F] True [Bb] love will [F] never [C] die [F] We're so doggone [C] happy just [Bb] bein' around to[C]gether [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine [C7]

[F] Never knew a [C] girl [Bb] like-a little [C] Sheila [F] Her [Bb] name [F] drives me in[C]sane [F] Sweet little [C] girl, that's [Bb] my little [C] Sheila [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine

[C] Me and Sheila go for a ride Oh-[Bb]oh-oh-oh, I feel all [F] funny inside [C] Then little Sheila whispers in my ear Oh-[Bb]oh-oh-oh, I [C] love you Sheila [F] dear

[F] Sheila said she [C] loved me, she [Bb] said she'd never [C] leave me [F] True [Bb] love will [F] never [C] die [F] We're so doggone [C] happy just [Bb] bein' around to[C]gether [F] Man, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine

[F] Oh, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine [C][F] Yeah, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine [C][F] Oh, this little [Bb] girl is [F] fine

Sheila - Tommy Roe

Billboard #1 1962

How to Improvise, Playing the Blues on the Ukulele

Based on the article by Fred Sokolow, in Acoustic Guitar -‐ Ukulele Magazine at www.ukuleleunlimited.com

Presented by:

John Mumford

20 UkuleleUnlimited.com Ukulele Spring 2013

the basics

CONTEMPORARY UKULELE virtuosos like Jake Shimabukuro,

James Hill, and Herb Ohta have

made it clear that just about any

type of music can be played on a

uke: rock, classical, jazz, you-

name-it. So why not blues? Blues

is the common denominator in

American music; you can’t do

justice to jazz, rock, country, or

bluegrass unless you can play the

blues. Besides, playing and singing

the blues is one good way to lose

the blues!

The blues is an improvisa-

tional, play-it-as-you-feel-it music,

so in this lesson we’ll look at ways

to ad-lib on the uke in a blues

vein. We’ll learn some blues

chords, licks, fills, and a few solos,

so you feel comfortable the next

time somebody says, “Let’s play

the blues.”

Learn the Language of the BluesThe blues is like a language: you

learn to speak it by listening and

imitating what you hear. Chords

and scales are your alphabet, and

musical phrases built on those

chords and scales are the words

you use to express yourself. You

can play the blues with a stranger

you’ve just met, from anywhere on

the planet, and if you both speak

the language of the blues, you’ll

sound like old friends who have

rehearsed and played together for

years.

Blues in the key of A is a good

place to start, because the key

of A on the uke resembles the

key of E on the guitar. Uke chord

shapes in A look just like E shapes

on the guitar, if you ignore the

guitar’s sixth and fifth strings

(Example 1).

This is good news for uke play-

ers who like the blues, because

many famous blues guitarists

(Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins,

and Jimmy Reed, for example)

Ukulele BluesLearn to improvise the blues with chords, licks, and solos.

By Fred Sokolow

played almost exclusively in

the key of E. It’s a great blues

guitar key, and the E licks these

blues legends immortalized be-

came the foundation of electric

blues, rockabilly, and rock. You

can steal their classic key-of-E

blues guitar licks and play them

on the uke in the key of A.

Chord-Based Licks Thousands of blues songs in the

key of A can be played with three

chords: A, D, and E, or the sev-

enths of those three: A7, D7, and

E7. But there’s more than one way

to play a chord. Example 2 shows

several A7 chords.

In the version of the old 12-bar

blues classic “C.C. Rider” shown

in Example 3, two up-the-neck A7

shapes are used as fills, musical

licks that fill the spaces between

vocal phrases. Notice how in sev-

eral of the fills in this arrange-

ment, you can create a bluesy lick

by lowering a chord one fret and

then raising it back up to its usual

place on the fingerboard. The de-

scending lick in measures 11–12

is a typical turnaround, a one- or

two-measure instrumental lick that

ends a verse and sets up the next

verse. The arrangements that follow

have other, different turnarounds.

These chords will get you

started playing the blues, but there

are some more up-the-neck chords

you can use to create more

chord-based licks and solos.

Example 4 (page 22) is a chord-

based solo for “C.C. Rider” using

some new shapes, including the

D7s in measures 5–6 and the E7,

E�7, and D7 in measures 9–10.

This example is an improvisation

based on the song’s 12-bar chord

structure. Like many blues solos, it

doesn’t express the song’s melody,

but it rocks!

Single-Note Licks and FillsMany classic blues licks are linear:

single-note, melodic phrases that

are based on chords. Example 5

shows some one-measure single-

note blues licks based on an A or

A7 chord. Most of them are played

while actually fretting the A or A7

chord.

The licks in measures 4 and 5

include string-bending, an essential

blues technique in which you play a

fretted string and bend it up or

down with the fretting finger. Bend

the string up toward the ceiling on

the first and second strings and

down toward the floor on the third

string. As shown in the licks in

Example 3, sometimes you stretch

a string and stop it at the high

point (as in measure 5), while

other times you bend the note and

then release it (measure 4).

It’s easy to play single-note

licks based on chords if you build

a vocabulary of licks for every

chord shape you play. The organic

way to do this is to play a chord

shape and hunt for useful notes

that surround it. Example 6 shows

some one-measure E7 and D7

licks: the D7 licks are based on

the two-finger D7 shape shown

above the notation.

“C.C. Rider” I’ve used “C.C. Rider” to illustrate

the blues in this lesson because

it’s a typical 12-bar blues that has

been recorded by countless blues,

R&B, and rock artists, starting with

Ma Rainey in 1924. It has been on

the R&B or pop charts in every

decade since then, notably by

Chuck Willis, Elvis Presley, Mitch

Ryder, and Old Crow Medicine

Show. The tune has also been

sung as “See See Rider” or

020-029.244_Basics.indd 20 2/4/13 9:57 AM

http://ukuleleunlimited.com/

“Easy Rider.” Let’s look at the

second verse of “C.C. Rider”

(on page 24), complete with

vocal fills, and the three solos that

follow.

The second verse of “C.C. Rider”

features lots of A7-based fills

(similar to the ones in Example 3)

played between the vocal phrases,

while the first solo (measures

13–24) makes use of some A, D7,

and E7 chord-based licks. The

second instrumental solo for “C.C.

Rider” (measures 25–36) is

based on up-the-neck chords and

licks stolen from the “key-of-E”

blues guitar repertoire. The grids

above the staff indicate the vari-

ous chord shapes on which the

licks are based. Notice the mov-

able formation in measures 29–30

and 37–38. This chord shape is

often a springboard for up-the-neck

licks. The final instrumental ver-

sion of “C.C. Rider” is from my

Blues Ukulele book (Hal Leonard)

and clearly expresses the melody.

It’s in the “chord-melody” style, in

which you play chords and melody

at the same time.

Make It Your OwnFeel free to recycle, alter, reshuffle,

and steal the licks and solos in

this lesson when playing your own

12-bar blues songs. There are

countless blues hits with a 12-bar

format, such as “Stormy Monday,”

“Everyday I Have the Blues,” “Re-

consider Baby,” and “Crossroads.”

Many early rock hits have the

same chord progression, including

“Hound Dog,” “Whole Lotta Shak in’

Goin’ On,” “Johnny B. Goode,” and

“Blue Suede Shoes.” And numer-

ous pop, R&B, boogie-woogie, and

jazz hits share this musical form

as well (“Kansas City,” “Route 66,”

“Fine and Mellow,” “Billie’s

Bounce”). If you play any of these

tunes on the uke in the key of A,

the licks in this lesson will serve

you well when it comes time to

make up fills or solos. l

FRED SOKOLOW is best known for the 150 instructional books and videos he’s written for guitar, dobro, banjo, mando-lin, and ukulele. Check out all his instructional material at SokolowMusic.com.

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020-029.244_Basics.indd 22 2/4/13 9:58 AM


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the basics

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