Learn to Play the - Mr. Notemanmrnoteman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Ukulele-e-book.pdf · Why...

Learn to Play the

UkuleleUkulele

24 great songs!

Includes 1 chord songs, 2

chord songs, and 3 chord

songs!

Copyright © 2013 mrnoteman.com

Why learn to play the ukulele?Learning to play the ukulele can be a fun and inexpensive introduction to playing a realstringed instrument. The skills you will acquire can be useful for learning other stringedinstruments as well, such as guitar, mandolin, banjo, or violin.

About the UkuleleCommonly associated with the music ofHawaii (where, by the way, ukulele means“jumping flea!”), the ukulele is small enoughto fit the hands of even the smallest ofplayers. Ukuleles commonly come in foursizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone.

How to pronounce itHawaiians pronounce the word “OO-KOO-leh-leh.” The rest of us say “yuke-ah-LAY-lee,” orsometimes, just “uke” (“yuke”).

How to hold the instrumentBe sure to always sit or stand tall when holding your instrument. Your left hand will beholding the neck of the ukulele for support and for changing the pitch of the strings as youplay different notes and chords. Your right hand will be holding the pick, which is used topluck the string, or strings. Look at the picture on the cover of this book if you need morehelp.

How to hold the pickThe pick is held between your thumb and index finger of your righthand. Your index finger will make a “t” with your thumb, and will beunderneath the pick, pointing in the same direction as the pick.

How to tune the soprano ukuleleWe will be using standard “C” tuning for these lessons: gCEA. We write the “g” in lowercase to remind you that the 4th string “g” sounds higher than the 3rd string “C.” The “g”string is the one closest to you when you are holding the ukulele. It is also the first stringyou strum when using a down stroke. We recommend using an electronic tuner to get itright. Web sites such as http://www.get-tuned.com/online_ukulele_tuner.php can alsohelp.

4th String 3rd String 2nd String 1st String

g C E A

392 Hz 261.6 Hz 329.6 Hz 440 Hz

http://www.get-tuned.com/online_ukulele_tuner.php

How to play notes and chordsFor this introductory course, we will be using colored notes that match the colored dots onyour ukulele. The dots should look like the diagram below. If your ukulele is not alreadyprepared with colored dots, simply use a hole puncher to cut the dots out of coloredconstruction paper and use a strip of transparent tape to stick them on the fingerboard. Besure to study the finger numbers for determining which fingers to use while playing thechords you will be learning.

How to read the musicEach of the songs in this book have two music lines. The top staff shows what notes to playto make the melody, or tune of the song. The bottom staff shows what chord to strum, andindicates where the main beats should be played. C chords are indicated by a red strumnote, F chords are indicated by a green strum note, and the G7 chords are shown as a bluestrum note.

If you would like to play the melody of one of your songs, just find the correspondingcolored dot on your ukulele. Note that some of the low notes are not available on theukulele. However, if you wish to substitute the pitches that sound an octave higher (byusing the same color dots), you can still come up with satisfactory results.

Dot Placement Left Hand Fingers

3

2

1 1

2 3

C Chord F Chord G7 Chord

20 Steps to Playing the Ukulele

1. Learn the parts of the ukulele.

2. Learn your left hand finger numbers.

3. Learn the letter names of the four strings.

4. Learn the colors of the notes.

Cred

Dorange

Eyellow

Fgreen

Gblue

Apurple

Bpink

5. Learn to play the C chord by pressing your 3rd finger down on the red dot.

6. Strum a steady 1 - 2 – 3 – 4 beat with a downward stroke on each beat.

7. Strum your C chord while singing the one chord songs marked with a

8. Learn the G7 chord.

9. Practice switching between the C chord and the G7 chord smoothly and quickly.

10. Strum the chords while singing the two chord songs marked with a

11. Learn the F chord.

12. Practice switching between the three chords: C to F, F to C, F to G7.

13. Strum the chords while singing the three chord songs marked with a

14. Learn a new strumming pattern: down – down up – down – down.

15. Strum your favorite songs using the new pattern.

16. Learn a third strumming pattern: down – down up – (silent down) up – down.

17. Strum your favorite songs using this third pattern.

18. Practice playing the melody of one of your favorite songs.

19. Master several songs and put on a concert for your family and friends.

20. Teach someone else how to play.

C

C

Part 4

Part 2

Part 3

2. Are You Sleeping? (Round)

Part 4Part 3

Part 21. Row, Row, Row Your Boat (Round)

John?

ding, dong."

ther John, bro ther

"Ding ding dong, ding,

life is but a dream.

you sleep ing bro

morn ing bells are ring ing:

ri ly, mer ri ly,

Are you sleep ing, are

ing bells are ring ing,

ri ly, mer ri ly, mer

Morn

Mer

ly down the stream.your boat gentRow, row, row

and 4

up, down

4 1 2 and (3)1 2 and 31 2 3 4

down down, down up,down, down up, down,down, down, down, down

��

��

�

��

��

��

44

44

68

68

44

�

�

�

�

� � �

�

�

� �

�

�

�

��

� � � � �

��

Copyright © 2013 mrnoteman.com

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Rhythm

Exercises

Ukulele Songbook

C

C

C

5. The Farmer in the Dell

4. Praise the Lord

3. Ring Around the Rosies

in the dell,

the dell.

for He is good!

the farm er

the farm er in

er in the dell,

the dai ry o,

Lord, Oh, praise the Lord,Lord, Oh, praise the

The farm

Hi, ho,

Praise the

fall down.ash es, we allAsh es,po sies.

pock et full ofsies, aa round the roRing

�

�

� �

� �

� �

� �

�

�

��

�

44

68

68

44

68

68

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

� � �

� � �

� � ��

� � � � � �

� ��

�

Copyright © 2013 mrnoteman.com2

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

C

C

C

G7

G7

G7

C

C

CG7

CG7C

8. Mary Had a Little Lamb

7. London Bridge Is Falling Down

6. Go Tell Aunt Rhody

down,

fair la dy.

lamb, lit tle lamb,

ing down, my

tle lamb, lit tle

ing down, fall inging down, fall

don Bridge is fall

ry had a lit

Lon

Ma

don Bridge is fallLon

goose is dead.dy the old graytell Aunt Rhogo

dy,tell Aunt Rhody, gotell Aunt RhoGo

�

44

44

44

44

24

24

�

�

�

�

3Copyright © 2013 mrnoteman.com

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

C

C

C

G7

G7

C G7

C

C

G7

CG7

10. The Wheels on the Bus

9. Clementine

round and round. The

the town.

lin' Clem en tine.

round, round and round,

all through

the bus go round and

bus go round and round,

ev er, Oh, my darlost and gone for

dar lin' Clem endar lin', Oh, mylin', Oh, my

The wheels on

wheels on the

tine, you are

Oh, my dar

as snow.fleece was whitea lit tle lamb, itsMa ry had

�

�

�

�

44

44

34

34

��

�

�

�

�

�

� � �

� � �

� �

�

�


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

C

C

G7

G7

G7

C

C

G7

C

11. Skip to My Lou

skip to my Lou,

Lou my dar ling.

Lou, Lou, Lou,

Lou, skip to my

my Lou, my dar ling.fly, shoo!" Skip to

Lou, skip to my

Lou, skip to my

Lou,

Lou,

the but ter milk, "Shoo,Fly in

fly, shoo!"ter milk, "Shoo,in the butFly

fly, shoo!"ter milk, "Shoo,in the butFly

44

44


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

C

G7

G7

C

C

G7

C

13. How Much Is That Doggy in the Window

12. Do Your Ears Hang Low

3

The one with the

sold ier? Do your

low?

win dow?

hang

that dog gy in the

a con ti nen talyour should er like

ears

How much is

throw them o ver

bow? Can youtie them in aa knot, can youtie them in

and fro? Can youthey wob ble tohang low, doDo your ears

�

�

�

34

34

44

44

�

��

�

�

�

�

�

� � � � � �

� � � � � �

� � � � �


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

C

C

G7 C

C

G7

G7 CC

G7

G7

C

C

C

Part 3

Part 4

Part 2

14. Itsy, Bitsy Spider (Round)

Out came the

bit sy spi der went

the spi der out.

rain, and the it sy,

wat er spout.der went up the

he is for sale.

gy in the win dow?much is that dog

the rain and washed

dried up all the

Down came

sun and

sy, bit sy spiThe it

do hope thatI

tail? Howwag gl y

�

��

� �

�

� ��

�

�

� �

��

�68

68

� � �

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

� �

�

�

��

�

�

�

�

�

��

��

� �

� �

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

��


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

G7 C

C

C G7

C

G7

G7

C

C

G7

C

CG7

16. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

15. It's Raining, It's Pouring

of love;

a bove.

the morn ing.

God of glo ry, Lord

Op'n ing to the sun

we a dore Thee,

flow'rs be fore Thee,

could n't get up inbumped his head and

Joy ful, joy ful

Hearts un fold like

fell out of bed and

ing. Heold man is snorit's pour ing, theIt's rain ing,

gain.spout aup the

�

�

��

��

��

�

44

44

68

68

�

�

�

�

� �

�

� �

�

� �

� ��

� � � �

��

�


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

C

C

C

C G7

G7

G7

F

C

C

G7C

G7CG7C

18. God Is So Good!

17. My Country, 'Tis of Thee

good!

me!

God is so

so good to

ring!side, let free dom

so good!

so good, He's

God is

God is

v'ry moun tainfrom e

pil grim's pride,ers died, land of thewhere my fathsing. Land

er ty, of thee Iland of lib'tis of thee, sweetMy count ry,

�

��

��

44

44

34

34

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

��

��

� �


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

C

G7 C

G7

G7

CC

C

C F

C

F

C G7F

CFC

20. If You're Happy and You Know It

19. Jesus Loves Me

If you're

is strong.

ble tells me so!

your hands. (clap) (clap)

me; the Bi

and you know it, clap

Je sus loves me!me! Yes,

Yes, Je sus loves

If you're hap py

Yes, Je sus loves

are weak, but Hebe long, theyLit tle ones to Him

me so.the Bi ble tellsthis I know, forJe sus loves me

��

�

128

128

44

44

�

�

��

�

�

�

�

��

�

��

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

� � ��

�

�

�


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

G7 C

C G7

F C

C F

C

F C

C G7

C

C F

G7

CF

C

21. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

what you are,

in the sky.

how I won der

like a dia mond

(clap)your hands. (clap)

kle, lit tle star,

world so high,

Twin kle, twin

Up a bove the

you know it claphap py and

it. If you'reface will sure ly showknow it then yourhap py and you

If you'rehands. (clap) (clap)you know it clap yourhap py and

��

� ��

��

44

44

� �

�

�

�

� ��

� �

�

�

� �

� ��

� ��

��


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

C

C

C

F

G7

C

C

F

C

CC G7C FFC

23. Amazing Grace

22. This Little Light of Mine

a

let it

sound, that saved

let it shine.

how sweet the

na let it shine,I'm gon

let it shine,

maz ing grace,

shine,

A

lit tle light of mine,This

gon na let it shine.I'mlit tle light of mine,This

are.won der what youtle star, how Ikle, twin kle, litTwin

�

34

34

44

44

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

��

� �


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

F

C

C

C

G7

F

G7

C

C

CG7CF

CG7

24. Deep and Wide

wide, there's adeep and

wide.

flow ing deep andthere's a foun tain

Deep and wide,

flow ing deep and

wide.

foun tain

deep and wide,Deep and wide,

I see.but nowwas blind,now am found,

lost butonce wasIwretch like me.

��

��

�

�

44

44

�

�

�

�

�

� � �

� � � � �

� � � � ��


Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Strum

Melody

Learn to Play the - Mr. Notemanmrnoteman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Ukulele-e-book.pdf · Why...

Documents

Transcript of Learn to Play the - Mr. Notemanmrnoteman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Ukulele-e-book.pdf · Why...