Doing a little “soft shoe” with the Ukulele – Old Time Ukulele with “By The Light Of The Silvery Moon”

The popular song “By The Light Of The Silvery Moon” was written by Gus Edwards and the Lyrics by Edward Madden.  The song was originally published in 1909 and it was first performed on stage by Lillian Lorraine.  It was just one of a series of moon-related songs of the Tin Pan Alley era.  The song has been used in a great many television shows and motion pictures.  A film by the same title was released in 1953, starring Doris Day.  It served as a sequel to yet another Doris Day film “On Moonlight Bay”  In performing this arrangement we call to mind the days of Vaudevile and most primarily the popular dance style “Soft Shoe”. . . . In this audio example you will notice the light whimsical triplet patterns that I intersperse throughout the strum.  This mirrors the very rhythm of the “soft shoe”  The primary strum is simply Down Up Down Up Down Up Down Up but I frequently slip in the triplet rhythm  Down Down Up Down Up Up Down Up

It’s important to practice these two strumming patterns independently at first many many times. . . then practice combining them. . . taking the first pattern for say 4 measures then go the second for 4 then whittle it down to 2 measures each. . . eventually achieving the skill of going directly from the first pattern to the triplet pattern and back.  When this is smooth and comfortable then try adding the chords of the song.  As always, repetitive practice is the key.

So here is the You Tube video of this song. . . Give it a listen and come join me as we travel back to 1909. . . a nostalgic time of yesteryear. . .

Make note that this is just one of 49 tunes found in the “SONGS OF YESTERYEAR” song collection. . . I can be purchased $22.95 by simply paying thru the paypal donate button on the Ukulele Mike website: www.ukulelemikelynch.com

HAPPY STRUMMING and HAPPY NEW YEAR – Mike Lynch