THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT – Tutorial by “UKULELE MIKE”
Please note, my UKULELE BASICS DVD now available for purchase. For more information email mike@ukulelemikelynch.com
From Wikipedia: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight“, also known as “Wimoweh” and originally as “Mbube” is a song recorded by Solomon Linda and his group The Evening Birds for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. It was covered internationally by many 1950s pop and folk revival artists, including The Weavers, Jimmy Dorsey, Yma Sumac, Miriam Makeba, and The Kingston Trio. In 1961, it became a number one hit in the U.S. as adapted by the doo-wop group The Tokens. It went on to earn at least 15 million US dollars in royalties from covers and film licensing. Then, in the mid-nineties, it became a pop “supernova” (in the words of South African writer Rian Malan) when licensed to Walt Disney for use in the film The Lion King, its spin-off TV series and live musical, prompting a lawsuit on behalf of the impoverished descendants of Solomon Linda. Mbube” wasn’t the most remarkable tune, but there was something terribly compelling about the underlying chant, a dense meshing of low male voices above which Solomon yodelled and howled for two exhilarating minutes, occasionally making it up as he went along. The third take was the great one, but it achieved immortality only in its dying seconds, when Solly took a deep breath, opened his mouth and improvised the melody that the world now associates with these words . . .
In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.[1]
My first recollection of this song was when I was a sophomore in High School and the Tokens released their version. I remember being struck by that incredible falsetto vocal as well as the pure singing sound of that soprano sax solo break. The TOKENS have done some reunion concerts and below is a YouTube video of a more recent performance. They haven’t lost any of their brilliance from their early days, in my mind.
The chord progression is so simple. . . G then to C then to G then to D7. . . That’s it. It makes a perfect song for beginning ukulele players and I’ve used this with my youngest children in my ukulele program at my school. As you may know there are primarily 2 ways to typically play the D7 . . . One is 2 0 2 0 . . . the other is to barre the second fret, all 4 strings and place the middle finger on the third fret of the first string. Whichever works for you is perfect. In my performance I play the former one 2 0 2 0. I’m using the swing shuffle DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN UP. . . Enjoy. . . and ‘HAPPY STRUMMING”
Please note: my UKULELE BASICS DVD is now available for purchase. For mor information email: mike@ukulelemikelynch.com
I vividly remember that cool November day in 1968 returning to my college dorm room with my newly acquired treasure tucked under my arm. It was the newly released Beatle’s “WHITE” double album. I quickly put it on the turntable. . . does anybody remember turntables? ha ha ha. . . And my ears were immediately delighted by Paul’s travis picking on the acoustic Martin D28 as he played his now classic song “BLACKBIRD” Now, that year I had just taken up the classical guitar and one of my earliest endeavors was to learn J.S. Bach’s composition BOUREE. Something about this BLACKBIRD piece hauntingly reminded me of BOUREE. It wasn’t until just a few years ago that I heard Paul claim that he too was working on the BOUREE that same year and out of that piece evolved BLACKBIRD. How crazy is that?
I quickly grabbed my Martin D28 and began to feverisly learn this new song directly from the LP. That friday at a college dance I played it at an open mic during a short break in the dance. The song had already hit the airwaves and was fast rising to the top so everyone knew this song. I remember how amazed they were by the fact that I had learned this song in just a matter of 2 or 3 days. I’ll admit I was proud of myself and a memory I’ll never forget.
I’ve had so much fun translating this 6 string tune into a 4 string Ukulele tune. I hope I’ve done it justice. . . The tablature for my arrangement is included in my large SOLO UKULELE INSTRUMENTALS Volume 1 2013 enlarged edition eBook. It is available for purchase $28.95 and can be purchased by paying through the paypal donate button on my website: http://www.ukulelemikelynch.com It will be emailed to you within the day of purchase.
Note: Now available my UKULELE BASICS DVD. For more info email me at mike@ukulelemikelynch.com
How often have you found yourself playing a song in the key of F and that Bb chord pops up and all of a sudden your playing comes to a crashing halt as you contort your hand to achieve a good, clean, clear sound that’s even remotely reconizable as a real chord??? I can’t begin to tell you how often I’ve dealt with this issue with my students. It just seems to be one of those annoying chords but still a very very important chord to know. The Key of F maj is a particular good key for Ukulele. It is one of the most often keys used for playing instrumentals and solos. So, at some time we really do need to conquer that irritating Bb chord ha ha ha. . . So, here are some tips that might help
Below you will see two images of a Bb chord . . . the one on the Left shows improper finger and wrist position. . . The one on the Right shows a proper position of the fingers and wrist.
Bb Chord: IMPROPER hand and finger position
In the PROPER position the thumb should be on the back of the neck for support and added strength for the partial “BARRE” chord. By partial I mean the index finger is pressing down only 2 strings at the first fret. That finger should lie flat as possible. By dropping the wrist, it will alow the other two fingers to properly ARCH over the indext finger notes so as not to touch adjacent strings which is one of the main sticking points on getting a good, clean sound. If the Bb chord still continues to be a pesky chord then another option is to play the Gm7 chord. As you see in the chord diagram below that they are the same with only one difference. You simply release the third finger from the 4th string to convert the Bb into a Gm7. If you play only the first 3 strings then you essentially play a Bb chord. Until you get a stronger barring finger and most independence in your fingers, use this Gm7 chord in place of the Bb. Sure hope this helps some. It’s an important chord so that’s why I’ve spent a whole blog on this issue.
Bb Chord: PROPER hand and finger position
Inquiries about any ukulele resources please email: TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com
Now, the celebrated Chord/Melody series from Ukulele Mike available singly for just $20.00 each or all together at a new combined “TRILOGY” discount of just $50.00
UKULELES FOR PEACE – eBook now available to support the cause
I’d like to introduce everyone to the organization called “UKULELES FOR PEACE” created and led by Paul Moore. The goal of Ukuleles for Peace is to bring Jewish and Arab children together to play in an orchestra with ukuleles, kazoos and other fun instruments. Paul works with the students once a week in their own schools, and then brings them together for performances. The children sing in Hebrew, Arabic and English. The hope is that playing together will create further opportunities for communal activities, and that parents and members of the communities will get
involved in the program. Paul has shown great prophetic courage in creating
this incredible program. Paul’s dream is to create orchestras in several communities and towns, enlarging the circle of real co-existence; enabling kids and parents to befriend one another; and with modest abilities, helping to create a happier, better, peaceful society. There is a lot to be done in this area between the Arab and Jewish population in Israel. If the situation with the Palestinian Authority is safer, Paul would like to form a group there too. That will depend on a relaxing of travel restrictions and on parents feeling that things are safe enough for their children. I
applaud Paul’s efforts and would like to offer everyone an opportunity to
donate to this inspiring program. I along with other talented arrangers have offered some of our creations to a new eBook UKULELES FOR PEACE 2011. This book was the brain child of Ken Middleton and I thank him for doing this and for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful effort. The books contain 20 arrangements with a Foreward by James Hill and an introduction by Paul Moore. Copies of the book can be purchased by going to Ken’s website and ordering it there. http://kenmiddleton.co.uk All proceeds go to towards sustaining, increasing and enlarging the UKULELES FOR PEACE program. Thank you . . . UKULELE MIKE.
By the way if you want more info on the organization here is their website:
Enjoy this inspiring and beautiful performance by members of the UKULELES FOR PEACE ORCHESTRA . . . “LOVE IS WONDERFUL”
UKULELE MIKE “UKULELE BASICS” DVD – Now Available
Very shortly after I began introducing my video tutorials on You Tube some 3 years ago I immediately began getting requests for a DVD. Since then I’ve had countless people asking for this DVD for a number of reasons. Some find it difficult to work off the internet. Others wanted the DVD to use in teaching in their music classes. Others asked for a DVD that they could give as gifts to friends who were ukulele newbies.
I finally set about producing lessons and assembling them into a DVD. I knew it needed to have at least one or 2 videos on how to tune the uke. It needed video tutorials on chord fingerings, strumming patterns, fingerpicking etc. . . . Soon after I began assembling the pieces I got a call from the Oscar Schmidt company. They announced they wanted to release an Ukulele OU2 Pak which would contain my DVD. The Pak is still available in retail outlets and online. . . After that release I’ve had requests for the DVD outside of the Pak itself. . . So this past spring I finally released the UKULELE BASICS DVD as a stand alone product. I’ve had hundreds of purchases from individuals throughout the world from Australia, Japan, Poland, Finland, France, UK, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Germany, Iceland, Estonia, Ukraine, Argentina, United States, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Greece, Brazil and many more countries. It’s so gratifying to me that this is helping people become active members of the global ukulele community. Now. . . I’m assembling a brand new DVD: EXPLORING THE UKULELE VOL 1. It will contain more advanced strumming patterns, fingerpicking, tablature, jazz chords and jazz strums along with rock elements and much much more. . .
The UKULELE BASICS DVD is playable throughout all regions of the world.
The cost of the DVD is $18 plus $3.00 shipping and handling
(within the US). Outside the US – $6.50 for shipping and handling. Simply go to
my website: www.ukulelemikelynch.com
Pay through the Pay Pal Donate button, but be sure to indicate
it’s not a donation but rather to purchase the DVD. In addition please note YOUR shipping
address.
Allow up to 5 days for processing and up to 2 weeks for delivery .
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Happy Strumming
Mike
Lynch
UKULELE INSTRUMENTAL TABLATURES from “UKULELE MIKE”
PLEASE NOTE: My UKULELE BASICS DVD is available for purchase: for more information email: mike@ukulelemikelynch.com
I so enjoy arranging instrumentals for the ukulele. . . It’s a challenge given that you have only 4 strings and in most cases a High G re-entrant tuning. It’s always been my goal to make these instrumentals not only respective of the original compositions but also to make them attainable by mid level ukulele players. I also try to select keys that not only make these pieces fit well under the fingers but also could provide accompaniment for singing as well. If you haven’t taken the opportunity to venture into instrumental ukulele. . . then the time is now. . . Give it a try. I would recommend possibly Finlandia as being one of the most attainable of all my tabs. . . Recently I arranged Edelweiss as a chord melody arrangement. . . It’s available down below and it’s FREE!!!. . . . The You Tube video above lists most of the tabs I currently have available. . . I might add Keyport Rag, Rose Garden Serenade and Crazy G as 3 newly posted tabs. . . . Take a listen to the You Tube performances before you decide which ones you want. . . They are all on my MusicTeacher2010 You Tube channel. . . Enjoy and “HAPPY STRUMMING” – Mike Lynch
Below is the Tablature for Edelweiss . . . By the way, all of these tabs and songsheets I post on my blogs are generally image files. You can right click and save the image. ENJOY . . . Mike Lynch
BLUE SKIES by Irving Berlin – Taught by “UKULELE MIKE”
PLEASE NOTE: My UKULELE BASICS DVD is available for purchase. For more info email me at: mike@ukulelemikelynch.com
I think maybe I was kinda channeling Rod Stewart when I performed his song. . . ha ha ha. . . Actually I was getting over a really bad cold. . .For most of my life I’ve been a HUGE fan of Irving Berlin. Typically most songwriters or composer have a peak period of creativity then drift off into other activities in their musical careers. . . Not so with Irving Berlin. . . His music spans over 5 decades . . . Starting way back in 1913 with Alexander’s Rag Time Band and going strong even into the 60’s. One little bit of trivia about Irving Berlin is that he had limited piano playing ability so he had a special piano created that with a switch of a bar he could transpose to any key he wanted. He would have an assistant sit next to him and transcribe what he was composing onto notation paper. In his early days one of his assistants was a young budding composer named George Gershwin. I don’t think Berlin ever played the uke but I swear this song BLUE SKIES is a sure fit for the uke. . . The wonderful transition of chords going through that delicious A+ or also called A augmented chord is a sheer delight. The chords just seem to fit naturally under the fingers while playing this song on the ukulele. Irving Berlin was a shrewd businessman. In the tin pan alley days most composers were on contract to various publishing companies to churn out new pop songs for the market. In Berlin’s case he would not only be the composer but eventually he even started his very own IRVING BERLIN MUSIC COMPANY. . . So he didn’t have to split royalties with the publisher. . . as HE was his own publisher. In this tutorial at one point I mention a Bm6 chord when in fact it should be a Bbm6 . . . Easily played by barring the first 3 strings of the first fret. Below is the complete score with melody, lyrics and ukulele chord fingerings. . . Enjoy. . . and “HAPPY STRUMMING” – Mike Lynch
LONGER by Dan Fogelberg – Ukulele Tutorial by “UKULELE MIKE”
Please Note: My UKULELE BASICS DVD is available for purchase. For more info email me at mike@ukulelemikelynch.
Daniel Grayling “Dan” Fogelberg (August 13, 1951 – December 16, 2007) was an American singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, whose music was inspired by sources as diverse as folk, pop, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass music. He is perhaps best known for his 1980 hit “Longer” and his 1981 hit “Leader of the Band“.
Recently I posted a full video tutorial of the song “LONGER” by the late Dan Fogelberg
For some reason, Word Press will not allow me to post it on here for “security reasons”???
Anyways if you go to my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/UKULELEMIKE You can access this song . . . By the way, while you’re there you might consider becoming a UKULELE MIKE friend. . .
Below I’ve attached the complete lyrics & chords for “LONGER”
CRAZY G – FASTER, FASTER, FASTER with “UKULELE MIKE”
PLEASE NOTE: My UKULELE BASICS DVD is now available for purchase . . . For more info email me at mike@ukulelemikelynch.com
CRAZY G SECTION ONE
CRAZY G SECTION TWO
I first heard this tune when Jake Shimabukuro appeared here in Seattle 4 years ago at a decades old Jazz club called Jazz Alley. . . . He had 2 concerts back to back at the club and admitted that he was suffering from a bout of flu, but I tell you it DID NOT slow him down one bit. His concert program was fantastic!!!. . . I was so struck by not only his facility and technique but his very wide array of musical genres and styles. Everything from rock to jazz to classical. Crazy G has served to be his big finale piece at most of his concerts and I heard him do it again last spring when he appeared in an auditorium very near my home in Edmonds, Washington. After the concert I had a delightful short conversation with him and we spoke a bit about the current renaissance of the ukulele. . . A nice sharing to be sure.
I took this song down to Dallas for the Lone Star Uke Fest last April and presented to a wonderful group in my Tablature Workshop. . . We had a ball . . . In putting together the tutorial lesson for this piece I have broken it down into it’s basic chords . . . I continually emphasize to my students to break things down into small pieces and practice those repeatedly until they are perfected . . . I council my students to not try to put everything together at one time.
The best way to approach Crazy G is to practice each chord pattern one at a time. In the 2 videos above you have both the Intro or Section One part as well as Secition Two which is the section that Jake repeats over and over and over as the audience yells Faster and FASTER AND FAAAAASTER!!!!. . . . The strumming patterns of the right hand should be improvisational to a point. . . The chord changes do not change on the beat as you might expect so trying to do a consistent repetitive strum pattern just won’t work with Crazy G.
If it would help and you have some expertise in reading Tablature notation I do have the complete chordal structures available in that form. They can be purchased by going to my website: www.ukulelemikelynch.com and paying $5.00 thru the PayPal donate button. Be sure to indicate it’s not a donation but rather to purchase the Tablature for Crazy G.
Thanks to all who have subscribed to my blog site . . . If you haven’t I would encourage you to as you will then get instant email alerts to all of my blogs.
“HAPPY STRUMMING” – UKULELE MIKE
PLEASE NOTE: My UKULELE BASICS DVD is now available for purchase. For more information email me at mike@ukulelemikelynch.com
THE COLORS OF THE WIND – You Tube Video Tutorial by “UKULELE MIKE”
For me, the most compelling aspect of this song is its amazingly lyrical melody. In 1892, the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak came to America to tour and while here he was totally captivated by the folk music of America and in particular the music of the Native American people. Upon returning to Europe he set about to compose his 9th Symphony in E minor and when he came to the second and slow movement he composed one of the most classic of all themes. . . Today it is called “GOING HOME” In fact I did a ukulele arrangement of that song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG48AG7MMEY&feature=player_embedded When Alan Menken composed this song he too went to those very same roots and if you listen to the two side by side I’m sure you’ll certainly hear similarities. It has been a decades long tradition of composers to look back to derive ideas and feelings to impart into their own compositions. Alan Menken did the score for a TV Documentary “LINCOLN” and he went to another more recent composer. . . The American composer Aaron Copland. In the 90’s I was on a composing team that wrote music for 2 PBS Documentaries . . “WASHINGTON D.C. OUR NATION’S CAPITAL http://www.amazon.com/Washington-D-C-Our-Nations-Capital/dp/B0000AZW12 and “OVER AMERICA” http://www.amazon.com/Over-America-Deluxe-Box-Set/dp/B000IJ7ACE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312592986&sr=8-1 In both cases I too drew from the inspiration of both Alan Menken and Aaron Copland.
In designing this tutorial on COLORS OF THE WIND I chose to use “CHURCH LICK” as the basic strumming pattern for the ukulele. I’m not really sure how it got that name, perhaps you might know. . . But I do know it goes back to the early days of the Carter Famly and the folk music renaissance of the 60’s. Below I’ve inserted a graphic of the CHURCH LICK strum pattern to help you more clearly understand how it is played.
Now, here is the full songsheet with lyrics & chords:
UKULELE MIKE LYNCH - All things UKULELE 