Here is the VIMEO video tutorial for PART TWO of MY FAVORITE THINGS
Tom Ferrone is interviewed by Aldrine Guerrero of Ukulele Underground.
Tom speaks about the new UKULELE MIKE signature tenor ukulele. . .
A great counting song for children . Watch and sing a long with the video
below. Simple chords. . . just C, F & G7. . . Explained in the video. . . Simple thumb downstroke…
Fingerpicking UKULELE SOLO INSTRUMENTALS Vol. 1 in Tablature format 2013 enlarged edition from UKULELE MIKE LYNCH
All the pieces in this collection have been arranged by Mike Lynch Aka: Ukulele Mike and are formatted in tablature. The eBook is available for purchase for $28.95 and can be purchased by paying thru the PayPal donate button on the UKULELE MIKE website: http://www.ukulelemikelynch.com Once purchased it will be emailed to you within the day. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to ask Mike email: TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com
P.S. I’ve made an extraordinary effort to make these arrangements accessible to many ukulele players of all levels. Many can be learned fairly easily for even newer players. Other pieces, of course, will be something one can grow into as more skills are developed. So often, I’ve found solo instrumental arrangements that are available in published form to be, for the most part, WAY beyond the abilities of average players. In arranging these pieces, I’ve constantly kept that in mind.
It is my sincere hope that this collection will help players become adept at performing instrumental solos and feel a true sense of accomplishment. . . .”HAPPY STRUMMING” – Mike Lynch
A New “Hapa Haole” song from Ukulele Mike Lynch – “Underneath The Leaves Of The Banyan Tree”
Underneath The Leaves Of The Banyan Tree – Words & Music by Ukulele Mike Lynch (Dedicated to “THE SUN CITY STRUMMERS”)
Hapa Haole” songs are songs written referring to Hawaiian culture but with English lyrics. They initially became popular in the 1910s. One of the major figures in the Hapa Haole song movement was A.R. “Sonny” Cunha. He wrote and published such songs as “My Waikiki Mermaid”, “My Honolulu Hula Girl” and “My Honolulu Tomboy” The Henry Kailimai’s hit “On The Beach at Waikiki” was featured at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco in 1915. Soon after that exposition and the introduction of the ukulele to state side visitors, the New York publishing industry jumped on the bandwagon. . . and in a short time the list of “Hapa Haole” songs exploded to include such iconic tunes as: “Lovely Hula Hands”, “Sophisticated Hula”, ‘Harry Owens “Sweet Leilani” made famous by Bing Crosby and Jack pitman’s “Beyond The Reef” and of course, “Ukulele Lady”.
Typically, most of these songs have a fairly predictable template. They generally describe a visitor to the Islands hoping for a romantic encounter with a ukulele playing hula girl. Sheet music covers typically show a hula girl and a white male tourist in western clothing, often on a beach or under the moonlight.
It was in this tradition that I decided to try my hand at writing a Hapa Haole song.
Last spring while teaching on a Hawaiian ukulele cruise, the ship stopped in Lahaina for a day and I spent a wonderful afternoon roaming around the streets of the old whaling town and I soon discovered that the “center of gravity” of this old town was the over 130 year old Banyan Tree that resides in the middle of the town. It’s branches and leaves spread out over more than half an acre and provide a tropical umbrella from the afternoon sun. Tourists roam all about the courtyard and many just quietly sit on the park benches soaking in the sights, sounds and sweet fragrance of the Maui ambience. That historic Banyan Tree became the centerpiece of my attempt at composing a Hapa Haole tune. Hope you like it. I had fun writing it.
Below is the You Tube video of the song.
I’m simply playing this with a swing shuffle strum and below is a Lyric/Chord sheet for your enjoyment.
4th ANNUAL WORLD UKULELE DAY – Feb.2, 2014
4th Annual World Ukulele Day – Feb.2, 2014
The 4th Annual World Ukulele Day is on it’s way SOON. . . Feb.2, 2014.
I invite everyone to begin planning a ukulele event for that day. I know that
a Uke Club in Poland is already planning a WHOLE day of festivities. Another person is composing an original ukulele song for the day. So let’s all start spreading the word. Copy the “poster” above and distribute through Facebook, Email, Twitter etc . . . Lets make this the biggest yet global celebration of the UKULELE . . .
If you have some event you’d like everyone to know about . . Please do
share it on my Facebook timeline
https://www.facebook.com/UKULELEMIKE
HAPPY STRUMMING, Ukulele Mike Lynch
I recently published 2 videos on You Tube and VIMEO offering 2 simple exercises to increase strength, power, independence and flexibility of the fingers of the left hand. Our fingers seem to have minds of their own and these exercises are intended to help us achieve more control. There is another peripheral skill developed from these exercises and that is to develop left hand and right hand coordination. As we move from string to string the right hand needs to receive a communication from our brains to make a change in position to match the string that the left hand is playing. This seems like a no brainer but think about it. . . When you are only playing static chords with strumming patterns our hand rarely if ever have to have this degree of coordination. Playing solo instrumental pieces can be daunting without some degree of communication between both hands.
Below is a video of DEXTERITY EXERCISE #1 with music staff notation
below that.
Below is a video of DEXTERITY EXERCISE #2 with music staff notation
below that.
Like I say, the purpose of these exercises is to develop dexterity, strength, flexibility and coordination with our left hand fingers. The best way to use these is to run through a few of these each time we sit down with our ukulele. I would also suggest doing a few of them quickly at the end of our playing time. Doing this on a DAILY basis I will assure you that you’ll gain so much confidence and you’ll be surprised. I’ve always shunned scales and exercises but these are so simple to memorize and do that it takes only a couple of minutes a day to achieve a higher level of playing.
I will be posting additional Finger Dexterity Exercises on both You Tube and VIMEO so stay tuned. . . HAPPY STRUMMING, Ukulele Mike
Are you aware of the Ukulele Mike Chord/Melody series for instrumental ukulele? Here is a link detailing those collections. . .
Each of the Chord/Melody eBooks can be purchased separately for just $20.00 or all together at a new combined “TRILOGY” discount of just $50.00
For information regarding any ukulele resources email: TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com
CONGRATULATIONS on receiving your first ukulele . . . Now here is a DVD JUST FOR YOU
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE UKULELE – Beginners DVD from Ukulele Mike Lynch. . A great Christmas gift idea
Well first and foremost congratulate yourself on acquiring one of music world’s most awesome instruments. This small little instrument is packed with a whole lot of music. . . And you are about to embark on a life long journey of love with this instrument to guide you there. You may or may not know that this instrument has incredible potential and that potential will reveal itself everytime you pick it up to play. . . . I designed a DVD called UKULELE BASICS that contains a full range of video tutorials bound to give you the proper tools and techniques to get the most out of your ukulele. . . provided, of course, that you are willing to dedicate daily time to practicing and following the tutorials. Below is a You Tube video I did prior to Christmas detailing the contents of my ukulele DVD
While waiting for your DVD to arrive in the mail, below are a set of chords
that are essential for starting out. Start building your chord “vocabulary” right now…
Take note that the black dots show where you press the fingers of your left hand. The zeros at the top of the chord grid indicate strings that are open but still strummed or picked. Take time now to try each of these chords . . Test out the sounds, making sure that the fingerings are secure and confident. Quiz yourself or have another quiz you as you play the chords. . . Always an aim to get the notes clear and strong. . . You may notice a slight bit of pain or irritation to your fingertip but that will soon fade way with daily consistent practice. These are the very first steps to start you on your journey. . . Developing a strong chord vocabulary is a neccessity. . . . I would highly recommend you consider purchasing the full UKULELE BASICS DVD which includes video tutorials on tuning as well as lessons on chording, fingering, strumming, fingerpicking, Playing in 4/4 time, playing in 3/4 time and all with a large collection of songs to develop and strengthen your new found skills.
Below is a link to a blog detailing the contents of the companion eBook “UKULELE MIKE’S FAVORITES FOR BEGINNING UKULELE”
PERFECT for Beginning Ukulele Players : UKULELE MIKE’S FAVORITES for Beginning Ukulele Songbook
For information regarding any ukulele product please email:
TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR’S EVE?” – by Frank Loesser – Ukulele tutorial by Ukulele Mike Lynch
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR’S EVE? – Ukulele tutorial video on VIMEO from UKULELE MIKE LYNCH
According to WIKIPEDIA: “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” is a popular song written in 1947 by Frank Loesser as an independent song—not written for a particular movie or musical. It first charted for The Orioles, peaking at No. 9 on Billboard’s Best-Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues chart in December 1949. Other charted versions include Danté & The Evergreens (No. 107 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles in December 1960) and Nancy Wilson (No. 17 on Billboard’s Christmas Singles chart in December 1965 and No. 24 on the same chart in December 1967).
It has been recorded by many other artists, including Margaret Whiting in 1947, Dick Haymes & the Les Paul Trio in 1947, Ella Fitzgerald in 1960 for her Verve release Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas, Ramsey Lewis in 1961, King Curtis in 1968, Johnny Mathis in 1969, The Carpenters in 1984, Patti LaBelle in 1990, The Stylistics in 1992, Harry Connick, Jr. in 1993, Donny Osmond in 1999, Barbra Streisand in 2001, Barry Manilow in 2002, Diana Krall in 2005, Bette Midler in 2006, and Chicago in 2011. In 2012, Rod Stewart recorded the song as a “virtual duet” with Ella Fitzgerald for his first holiday album, Merry Christmas, Baby. The Head and the Heart recorded the song for Starbucks’ Holidays Rule compilation album in 2012.
A video posted by Hello Giggles featuring a duet with co-founder Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt has garnered over 14 million views since being uploaded on December 28, 2011.
COMPLETE LYRIC/CHORD SHEET
Watch this marvelous performance by Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt on You Tube
Play-a-long video with Ukulele Mike Lynch
“KEEP CALM AND HAPPY STRUMMING” – A New Year wish from Ukulele Mike with an additional little surprise . . .
Playing the Ukulele is, without doubt, the most stress free thing anyone can do. I definitely recommend that every human being on planet Earth be granted a ukulele at birth. If everyone played the ukulele we’d have no more wars and people would be happier and without stress.
If you don’t play the ukulele already then make it a New Year’s resolution to do so. . . It’s fun, easy and ever so gratifying.
So let’s all chant our slogan together slowly: “KEEP CALM AND HAPPY STRUMMING”
P.S. For $5.00 plus shipping you can receive an official Ukulele Mike Bookmark/Ukulele Essentials reference card (made of sturdy card stock) to slip in your uke case or gig bag. On the front is the “KEEP CALM AND HAPPY STRUMMING” logo as pictured above. On the back is a basic chord chart plus tuning and fingering references. For an additional $2.00 I will personally sign it just for you. Shipping is $2.50 in the US $4.25 outside the US
UKULELE MIKE LYNCH - All things UKULELE 