Latest
Monday Exposure: Entertainment for the Braindead
October 6, 2008 · 1 Comment
Entertainment for the Braindead - Sleep (MP3) Entertainment for the Braindead - Resolutions (MP3) When Earlyguard turned me on to Entertainment for the Braindead’s Hypersomnia, I was knocked out by it. It’s full of beautifully fragile, drowsy tracks. I immediately started badgering her for an interview. Unfortunately, that fell down the back of the internet. So when she released her latest EP Hydrophobia - which you can download for free on Aaahh Records - I took the opportunity to have another stab at it. How... [Read the full story]
Tab
Muppets - Mahna Mahna
October 5, 2008 · 9 Comments
The Muppets Mahna Mahna (Tab)(PDF) MP3 As great as Mahna Mahna is, I’ve never been able to forgive it for resulting in the worst record of all time: Vanilla No Way, No Way (but watching that on YouTube led me to remembering that Shapoo were bloody fantastic - so good truly can come from evil). Still it’s a whole sack full of fun and great for lacing together lots of random songs. In my version, I played a bit of a solo that died a la the Muppet version and from there threw in any bit of music that took my... [Read the full story]
Chords
Electrelane - Cut and Run
October 2, 2008 · 3 Comments
Electrelane - Cut and Run (Chords) You can listen to a clip of Cut and Run on Amazon Former indie rockers, Electrelane are another one of those bands you wouldn’t have expected to come out with a ukulele track. But Cut and Run cropped up on their final album No Shouts, No Calls. It’s a straight forward song with the same chord progression throughout. The only slight issue is that the F chord is played at the fifth fret (with the open C chord shape). If you’re not comfortable playing that far up the neck... [Read the full story]
Acts
Monday Exposure: Entertainment for the Braindead
October 6, 2008 · 1 Comment
Entertainment for the Braindead - Sleep (MP3) Entertainment for the Braindead - Resolutions (MP3) When Earlyguard turned me on to Entertainment for the Braindead’s Hypersomnia, I was knocked out by it. It’s full of beautifully fragile, drowsy tracks. I immediately started badgering her for an interview. Unfortunately, that fell down the back of the internet. So when she released her latest EP Hydrophobia - which you can download for free on Aaahh Records - I took the opportunity to have another stab at it. How... [Read the full story]
eBay
Swagerty Sum Fun and Akulele on eBay
October 3, 2008 · 2 Comments
Plenty of interesting and unusal ukuleles this week. And whenever the phrase ‘interesting and unusal ukuleles’ crops up, the word ‘Swagerty‘ isn’t going to be far behind. According to the description this Swagerty Sum Fun is a one of a kind made by and bought from Swagerty himself. That has to make it a serious collector’s item. This Akulele was apparently made by Bolivian charango luthiers and it certainly looks like it. The uke back, sides and neck are all made out of one piece of wood... [Read the full story]
Ukulele 101
Ukulele Harmonics
September 10, 2008 · 6 Comments
Harmonics are a big part of Hawaiian lap steel playing where they’re referred to as ‘chimes’ because of their bright ping sound (hence tunes such as Maui Chimes). Unfortunately, because of the short scale length, they’re much harder to produce on the ukulele. Natural Harmonics You produce a harmonic by touching the string only very lightly. So that if you moved your finger a tiny amount, you wouldn’t be touching the string at all. Like this: The easiest place to play a harmonic is at the 12th... [Read the full story]
Videos
Ledward Kaapana, Toy Horses, Tinyfolk: UkeTube
October 4, 2008 · 7 Comments
This week’s selection of uke videos includes Tinyfolk, Led Kaapana and Toy Horses. In other news, I got a mention in the Guardian. I don’t know what discussion forum he’s talking about and he seems to have missed the link to the chord chart in BIG RED LETTERS. It’s not like them to get something wrong - “HMS Hampshire did not sink after hitting a land mine. They are rarely found at sea.” [Read the full story] Read More →
Links
Bushman Ukulele Video Contest 2008 and other Ukulelinks
October 3, 2008 · 3 Comments
The Bushman World Ukulele Video Contest 2008 is now open for entries. First prize is $1,000 on account to spend on Bushman ukuleles. I was idly browsing the Duke of Uke’s long list of celeb clients. Amongst the ukenoscenti was the unexpected name of John Barnes. I hope he ukes better than he raps. Sex! Drugs! and Ukuleles! have a competition to win a Pono ukulele. J-Hob has been doing sterling work on Uker Tabs this week with Joy Division’s She’s Lost Control and The White Stripes’ Offend In Every... [Read the full story]
Misc.
Rag Bag Additions
August 27, 2008 · 16 Comments
The Rag Bag page is where I keep all the stuff that’s half finished, bit parts and stuff I don’t plan on ever putting on the blog itself. The most recent additions to it are: Laura Marling - New Romantic Intro (pdf) Dropkick Murphys - I’m Shipping Up to Boston (pdf) Concerning Hobbits/The Shire (pdf) from Lord of the Rings MIDI Radiohead - Big Boots (GIF) in D tuning. MIDI Slayer - Raining Blood (PDF) Flobots - Handlebars (Tab) (intended for low-G ukulele and two frets higher than the original). On a related... [Read the full story]
Noticeboard
National Anthems ebook: My latest ebook to celebrate the Olympics. Eight national anthems arranged for easy fingerpicking ukulele. It even got a mention in the New York Times. Price: $7.
You can find out more and buy it here How to Play National Anthems.
Tab
Muppets - Mahna Mahna
The Muppets Mahna Mahna (Tab)(PDF) MP3 As great as Mahna Mahna is, I’ve never been able to forgive it for resulting in the worst record of all time: Vanilla No Way, No... [Read more]
Recent Tab
Chords
Electrelane - Cut and Run
Electrelane - Cut and Run (Chords) You can listen to a clip of Cut and Run on Amazon Former indie rockers, Electrelane are another one of those bands you wouldn’t have... [Read more]
Recent Chords
Featured Video
Recent Posts
Entertainment for the Braindead - Sleep (MP3) Entertainment for the Braindead - Resolutions (MP3) When Earlyguard turned me on to Entertainment for the... [Read more]
The Muppets Mahna Mahna (Tab)(PDF) MP3 As great as Mahna Mahna is, I’ve never been able to forgive it for resulting in the worst record of all... [Read more]
This week’s selection of uke videos includes Tinyfolk, Led Kaapana and Toy Horses. In other news, I got a mention in the Guardian. I don’t... [Read more]
Plenty of interesting and unusal ukuleles this week. And whenever the phrase ‘interesting and unusal ukuleles’ crops up, the word ‘Swagerty‘... [Read more]