Ian & Sylvia perform “Four Strong Winds” in 1986
“Four Strong Winds” performed by John Denver
“Four Strong Winds” is a song written by Ian Tyson in the early 1960s and recorded by Canadian folk duo Ian and Sylvia. A significant part of the early 1960s folk revival,[1] the song is a melancholy reflection on a failing romantic relationship. The singer expresses a desire for a possible reunion in a new place in the future (“You could meet me if I sent you down the fare”) but acknowledges the likelihood that the relationship is over (“But our good times are all gone/And I’m bound for moving on …”).
The song has a clear Canadian context and subtext, including an explicit mention of the province Alberta as well as references to long, cold winters. In 2005, CBC Radio One listeners chose this song as the greatest Canadian song of all time on the series 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.
This is probably one of the most accessible solo Ukulele instrumentals in all of my collections. Take a look at the short clip from the opening measures of the song below . . . .
Just look at all the “zeros” in these opening measures. . .. That means you play those strings but no fingering is needed . . . the Melody basically rides right along, for the most part, on the FIRST string. Furthermore, in all Chord/Melody arrangements no fingerpicking is needed. Just simply brush the strings with the thumb. ..
“Four Strong Winds” is contained in the Ukulele Chord/Melody eBook TWO. It can be purchased by making a payment of $23.95 through the paypal button on the Ukulele Mike website: http://www.ukulelemikelynch.com Once purchased, it will be personally emailed to you within the day. . .
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Each of the Chord/Melody eBooks can be purchased separately or all together at a combined discount. The combo is currently reduced to $50
All 4 of the Chord melody ebooks can be purchased at a combo discount price of $70
Questions regarding any Ukulele resources, please email: TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com
Performance by Elvis Presley in the movie “G.I. Blues”
“Wooden Heart” (“Muss i denn” lit. Must I then) is a song best known for its use in the 1960 Elvis Presley film G.I. Blues. The song was a hit single for Presley in the UK Singles Chart, making No. 1 for six weeks there in March and April 1961,[1][2] but was not released on a single in the United States until November 1964, where it was the B-side to “Blue Christmas“. Presley performed the song live during his Dinner Show concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas in 1975, a recording available on the Elvis Presley live album Dinner At Eight.
Below is a short clip from the beginning of the song . . .
“Wooden Heart” is contained in the Chord Melody eBook THREE. It can be purchased by making a payment of $20.00 through the paypal button on the Ukulele Mike website: http://www.ukulelemikelynch.com Once purchased, it will be personally emailed to you within the day. . .
Table of contents:
Each of the Chord/Melody eBooks can be purchased individually for $20.00 or all together at the NEW “TRILOGY” combined discount of just $50.00
Announcing the release of the NEW Chord melody ebook FOUR $25.95
All 4 of the Chord melody ebooks can be purchased at a combo discount price of $70
Questions regarding any Ukulele resource, please email: TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com
Performance of “The Last Thing On My Mind” by Neil Diamond
An early 1966 performance by Tom Paxton
Performance by Peter, Paul and Mary
“The Last Thing on My Mind” is a song written by American musician and singer-songwriter Tom Paxton in the early 1960s and recorded first by Paxton in 1964. The song was released on Paxton’s 1964 album Ramblin’ Boy, which was his first album released on Elektra Records. This song works perfectly as a Chord/Melody arrangement. . . . Below is a short excerpt from the opening of the song.
Below is an excerpt from the BRIDGE section
The “Last Thing On My Mind” is contained in the Chord/Melody eBook THREE and can be purchased by making a payment of $20.00 through the paypal button on the Ukulele Mike website: http://www.ukulelemikelynch.com Once purchased, it will be emailed to you personally within the day.
Table of Contents
Each Chord/Melody eBook can be purchased individually or all together at a new “TRILOGY” combined discount of just $50.00
CCHORD MELODY EBOOK FOUR now available
![chord-melody-3-cover[2]](https://allthingsukulele.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/chord-melody-3-cover222.gif?w=600)
Announcing the release of the NEW Chord melody ebook FOUR $25.95
All 4 of the Chord melody ebooks can be purchased at a combo discount price of $70.
Questions regarding any Ukulele resource, please email: TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com
A classic song just right for the UKULELE
Below is a short excerpt from the opening of “Unchained Melody”
Make note that the melody begins on the first string then jumps over to the 2nd string on measure 3. . . Stays on the 2nd string then jumps back up to the 1st string on beat 2 of the 4th measure. . . . Therefore, be careful not to play the first string whenever the melody jumps to another string. . . This is one of the primary differences between chordal strumming to accompany singing and that of solo ukulele instrumental playing. . . This takes some time and patience to get used to this . . .
Notice, as well, that this entire piece is played with merely the thumb throughout
Below is another short excerpt from later on in the song:
Notice at measure 15 we have a G chord. . . However, this G chord…
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Red River Valley is one of the more accessible pieces in my Chord/Melody series. . . Take a peek at the short excerpt from the beginning of the piece . . .
As in all Chord/Melody pieces, all you need to do is place the fingers on the right strings and frets and then just simply brush the strings with the thumb . . . A much easier way to play solo ukulele instrumentals . .
“Red River Valley” is contained in the Ukulele Mike Chord/Melody eBook TWO . . . It can be purchased by making a payment of $20.00 through the paypal button on the Ukulele Mike website: http://www.ukulelemikelynch.com Once purchased, it will be personally emailed to you within the day . . .
All 4 of the Chord melody ebooks can be purchased at a combo discount price of $70
Questions regarding any ukulele resources, please email: TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com
Amazing performance by Nat King Cole as vocalist and also pianist. Most people forget he was first of all a jazz pianist.
This is such a delightful piece to play on the Ukulele . . . It’s got an exquisitely clever chord progression that keeps your fingers moving right along. . . Below you will see the opening few bars . . . Top line is standard Treble clef notation, while the bottom stave is formatted in Ukulele tablature. . . The top line represents the FIRST string . . . which is the one closest to your knee. . . then you have the remaining three strings. . .
The first beat is just a “placer” note to establish the opening of the song. . . The actually melody begins on the the dotted 8th note following the F Chord. . . This song is chock full of wonderful…
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This old Italian Classic and iconic hit from the great Elvis Presley works supremely well as a chord/melody arrangement . . . See below a short excerpt from the opening measures . . .
The opening 3 notes are what we call “pick up” notes. . . It’s common in chord/melody playing to frequently have melody notes play without chordal harmony and then land on a full chord as found in that F chord at the beginning of first full measure.
“It’s Now Or Never” is found in the Chord/Melody eBook THREE and can be purchased by making a payment of $24.95 through the paypal button on the Ukulele Mike website: http://www.ukulelemikelynch.com Once purchased, it will be personally emailed to you within the day.
Table of contents
Each of the THREE collections can be purchased separately or all together at a combined discount . . .
Questions regarding any ukulele…
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Performance by Leonard Cohen
I’ve previously done a Solo Ukulele fingerpicking arrangement of “Hallelujah” . . . Now I’ve done a Chord/Melody arrangement and I think it works very well . . . As you know, Chord/Melody is the ultimate easiest way to play solo ukulele . . . It’s been done for decades by Ukulele performers as well as guitarists . . . It’s a very standard format for solo string playing. . . It involves only the thumb to strum the chords. . . The melody automatically plays itself. As in all solo ukulele playing it does involve upper fret chord inversions and some barring so those skills will have to be practiced and developed but even entry level players can accomplish that with patience and practice. . . Below is a short excerpt from the Intro verses of “Hallelujah”
This intro was based on the Justin Timberlake…
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VIMEO video of “Turn Around” by Ukulele Mike
Performance by The Brothers Four
This elegant and simple ballad by Malvina Reynolds lends itself quite well as a Chord/Melody arrangement. Below is a short excerpt from the opening measures.
There are only 2 instances of Barring in this arrangement . . . . Barre chords are frequently needed in Chord/Melody arrangements to achieve the upper fretboard melodies. To attach the chord to those melodies means that we have to use upper fretboard higher inversions of the chords.
INSTANCE #1
A fairly simple yet beautiful Bbm6 chord. . . . Simply barre the first 3 strings at the first fret. . . leaving the 4th string open, yet strummed . . . .
INSTANCE #2
To achieve this higher inversion Fmaj7 . . . Barre the 5th fret across all 4 strings then place the little finger on the 7th fret…
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Take advantage of this offer now . . .
Just a reminder that the July 4th Independence Day sale has been extended to run to the end of July 2016 . . . . All 3 eBooks in the Ukulele Mike Chord/Melody series are now reduced from $70.00 to $55.95 . . . Individual eBooks are 10% off
Here is a link that fully details the contents of these THREE collections. Also included a tutorial on reading the playing from tablature notation
All questions regarding any Ukulele resource, please email: TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com
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