Uke Tabs In PDF Format

I can read music but playing tab is about the easiest thing to do and it makes everybody feel good about their skill level. While it's nice to be able to read and play music, it's also about feeling good about playing. Here's a list of a nice variety of music in tab.

http://www.muffin.net.nz/muffin/Pdf_Tablature.html


Thanks go to the folks at The Big Muffin Serious Band and The Serious Ukulele Ensemble and Goulash Archipelago who put this together.

Two Chord Songs by Luthier Aaron Keim

I found this guy on a Ukulele Underground forum. I was looking for tuning pegs for a 1950's Harmony Ukulele that I'm restoring. From the UU post, I followed the trail to his Facebook which led me to his Etsy page where he sells this book:

Songbook by Aaron Keim

He's also a luthier. He builds stringed instruments. And hand makes books. And plays music. And, well, the list goes on. Check him out.

On Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Aaron-Keim/514564616

His website:
http://boulderacousticsociety.net/

Free Celtic & Bluegrass Sheet Music Downloads

Ken Middleton's site is ranked a "Top 50 Ukulele Sites."

 While wandering the internet looking for renaissance music I found Ken Middleton's site. He's offering a number of free Celtic and Bluegrass sheet music downloads. They're in tab making them easy to play. Click on the link below to explore his site.

Ken Middleton Free Music Downloads ~ Celtic, Bluegrass & More

And when you simply must have more, visit Ken's store (at the link below) and pick up his sheet music e-books.

Ken Middleton's Celtic, Bluegrass & Hymn e-books  

Jamming At The Intracoastal Waterway

Nancy has got a music background and has been teaching me about the structure of music - those foundational pieces necessary to play easily with other people. I'm teaching Nancy about playing notes and melody. Each time we get together we each learn something new. And, of course, we have fun. This week Joey joined us and fell in love with the ukulele.

Nancy & Joey are playing "America" on the ukulele. 

 

 

 

Joey picked up the ukulele just 30 minutes prior to our ICW Jam and started playing tab immediately. FYI: Nancy is playing a Mainland soprano and Joey is playing a Makala Dolphin soprano.

Jimmy Buffett Ukulele Songbook Released

BuffettInfo.com tells us that Alred Music Company has just released a Jimmy Buffett ukulele songbook, Uke 'An Play Jimmy Buffett.

Jimmy plays ukulele and you can too.

 Before moving to South Florida from New Hampshire, I used to listen to Jimmy Buffett music all the time as a way to escape the long, cold New England winters. I'd turn up the heat, take off my shoes and socks, and put Jimmy on the stereo.

Most people don't know that Jimmy's smile on "Off To See The Lizard" prompted me into becoming a writer.  As a gift to myself for my 40th birthday, I wrote what I called a "little story". When contemplating what to write about, I popped this cd into my Bose and thought, "Gee, I'll write a little story about that smile and what I imagine was behind it."

The smile that prompted my writing career.

The goal was simply to amuse myself. Eight months and 10,000 words later, I realized I was onto something.The little story became a novel which eventually led to the Pug At The Beach books.

And to this day, I still wonder about what made him smile like that.

Now that I play ukulele, well, this just opens up doors to all sorts of interesting adventures!

Here's the link to the original post on BuffettInfo.com:
http://www.buffettinfo.com/front-page-news/2641-buffett-ukulele-songbook-released.html#axzz1BKRocSkO

And here's the link to Alred Music Publishers:
http://www.alfred.com/Products/Uke-An-Play-Jimmy-Buffett--00-36799.aspx

Now, get out there and make some music!

Let's Have A Song Swap!

In the January 2010 issue of their newsletter, the BFC (below) gave thanks for their Song Swap which took place on New Year's Day. It sounded like such a good idea I thought we should do that!

Let's have a Song Swap!

This really image doesn't really need to be here but isn't it cute?

We'll set a date for sometime in July, 2011. Pick a song you love or one you'll think someone else will love and we'll swap 'em and then play 'em. I'll be in Maine in July so we can play in person. Maybe we can also hookup with these folks:

Playing music in Milton Mills, NH.

 Remember, play a little bit everyday but only play for fun!

Songs For Valentine's Day ~ Let's Do A Skype Jam

Sandpiper Art

 Hey kids, Valentine's Day is coming up. These are the songs I'm learning next:

• Blue Skies
• By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
• Brahms' Lullaby
• Do-Re-Mi
• Can't Help Falling In Love
• Chapel Of Love
• The Glory Of Love
• A Groovy Kind Of Love
• Happy Together
• The Dreidel Song (modified to be a love song to Buddy)
• It's A Small World
• Let It Be Me
• Let Me Call You Sweetheart
• When I Fall In Love
• Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

Each of these songs are fairly easy to play either in melody or chords. Choose a few of your favorites and let's do a Skype jam on Valentine's Day!