Ukulele Tabs: Monster Mash (just in time, right?)

alli_marshall, on Twitter, asked, "what's a good and easy ( 3 chords, preferably no B!) Halloween song to learn on #ukulele?"  Ask and you shall receive!   Well.. I guess it's 4 chords, but you can do it!

Monster Mash - Boris and the Crypt Kickers
Ukulele Tab

I was [G]working in the lab late one night
When my [Em]eyes beheld an eerie sight
For my [C]monster from the slab began to rise
And [D]suddenly, to my surprise

Chorus:
(He did the [G]mash)  He did the Monster Mash
(The Monster [Em]Mash) It was a graveyard smash
(He did the [C]mash) It caught on in a flash
(He did the [D]mash) He did the Monster Mash

From my [G]laboratory in the Castle East
To the [Em]Master Bedroom where the vampires feast
The [C]ghouls all came from their humble abode
To [D]get a jolt from my electrode

Chorus

The [G]scene was rocking all were digging the sound
[Em]Igor on chains backed by His Baying Hounds
The [C]Coffin Bangers were about to arrive
With their [D]vocal group, the Crypt Kicker Five

The [C]Zombies were having fun (In-a-shoop-wha-ooo)
The [D]party had just begun (In-a-shoop-wha-ooo)
The [C]guests included WolfMan (In-a-shoop-wha-oooSTOP)
[D]Dracula and his son (Drum fill)

[G]Out from his coffin Drac's voice did ring
It [Em]seems he was worried 'bout just one thing
[C]Opened the lid and shook his fist, and said
[D]"Whatever hoppened to my Transylvania Tvist?"

Chorus

Now [G]everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band
And my [Em]Monster Mash, it's the hit of the land
For [C]you, the living, this Mash was meant, too
When you [D]get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Chorus

G - 0232
Em - 0432
C - 0003
D - 2220

Banjolele, the hunt begins!

So, after watching that awesome Mr. B video earlier this week, I really got a taste for a banjolele!  I currently have a metal body resonator ukulele (although kind of a cheap one, I'll take pictures later) and I really like the sound of it.  Every  time I play it, I feel like I should be wearing a straw hat , chewing on a piece of grass and drinking a mint julep.... all the while singing through a old conical megaphone apparatus.   Well.. the banjolele sounds seems like it takes that concept to the next level even.  And I HAVE to get to the next level, right? 😉  In case you need a refresher.  Here's Mr. B, The Rhyming Gentleman, performing on his banjolele live.  I love that he references the Pharcyde in this one!

Yay.  I just watched it again and I'm invigorated!  Ok.  Time to get serious.  The first place I looked was Musician's Friend.  And I found this pretty little Goldtone Banjolele.

Hay!  That's not too bad, right?  I'm just psyched that someone is still making banjoleles so I don't necessarily have to buy a vintage instrument that I'll never be able to maintain (I'm not handy).  Here's some notes:

Unique banjo-like tone from the Gold Tone Banjolele brings uke parts to the foreground. Curly maple headstock is a perfect complement to the bound ebony fretboard with snowflake inlays. Brass tone ring on the 8" head and maple rim.

Goldtone Banjolele Features:

  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Curly maple headstock
  • Archtop design for formby-style strumming
  • Brass tone ring
  • Adjustable truss rod
  • Bone nut
  • No-knot tailpiece

Ooh!  I kept searching and found the fancier big brother, who goes by the name of
Goldtone Banjolele Deluxe
. (Yup, just like the sandwich)

Goldtone Banjolele Deluxe - $449.25
Goldtone Banjolele Deluxe - $449.25

Here's some notes about the Deluxe version:

Bound ebony fretboard with snowflake inlays, curly maple headstock, and bound full-walled maple resonator provide luxurious visuals. Resonator design, one-piece flange, 8" head, and bone nut pump out big stage tone with generous volume.

Goldtone Banjolele Deluxe Features:

  • Unique design
  • Maple neck
  • Bound ebony fretboard
  • Maple resonator
  • Brass tone ring
  • One-piece flange
  • No-knot tailpiece
  • 13-3/4" scale
  • 8" Remo head
  • Archtop design for formby-style strumming
  • Bone nut

But... what if you are a handy man (or lady) and you don't mind a bit of a project?  Well, I found a few ebay auctions that you should check out.  These aren't for me, personally, because fixing things makes me have to put money in the swear jar at my house and my kids don't need rocket bikes (see... the swear jar is pretty full).

The first ebay auction I checked out was for freaking 5 banjoleles!?! Banjo Ukulele Banjolele Rolando, Winner, etc. LOT OF 5!

Banjo Ukulele Banjolele Rolando, Winner, etc. LOT OF 5!
Banjo Ukulele Banjolele Rolando, Winner, etc. LOT OF 5!

Defintely check this auction out, there are lots and lots of really detailed pictures so there won't be any surprises when those sweet banjoleles arrive at yer casa.

The next auction that I checked out was for a 1930s-era banjolele that looks pretty similar to the bottom banjolele in the picture above.

Circa 1930s Banjo-Ukulele Banjolele Segmented Wood NICE

Circa 1930s Banjo-Ukulele Banjolele Segmented Wood NICE
Circa 1930s Banjo-Ukulele Banjolele Segmented Wood NICE

The last banjolele project I found was a VINTAGE B & J MELE BANJO UKULELE banjolele project.

VINTAGE B & J MELE BANJO UKULELE banjolele project
VINTAGE B & J MELE BANJO UKULELE banjolele project

There ya go, fixer-upper-types, get a bidding!  Just to be complete, I also searched Amazon to see what they have in the way of banjoleles.  First I saw one for $199 but the review made it sound like garbage.  Then I found the Goldtone instruments again because it looks like Musician's Friend sells them through Amazon also.  But, I'll include one of them because maybe you are already heading to Amazon to buy something else completely random.

Goldtone Banjolele
Goldtone Banjolele - from Amazon.com

So, there ya go.  Say, if one of you guys buys one of the banjolele projects on ebay, please contact me.  If you write a review about it for my site I'll buy you a Uke Thong!

Ukulele Blitzkrieg Bop by Gus and Fin

I'm pretty sick today and I didn't think I was going to post anything, but then I was watching some Gus and Fin videos on Youtube and they cheered me up.  So, here ya go.

These guys are the best!  The pick the best songs to cover (Hooray for The Ramones!) and they look like real characters to boot.  It looks like the fine folks (Woodshed probably?) wrote out the chords for this one, you can find them over at ukulelehunt.com.  Anyway, I'm headed back to the couch now to wallow in a wicked chest cold, but I hope this video brings a smile to yer face!  See ya tomorrow!

Oh yeah, this reminds me.  I have a Ramones cover band with my 5-year-old song (we are called "Second verse same as the first"), I'll upload a video of us real soon.  I'm just waiting on my Gorillapod!

Kinohi ASD Tenor Ukulele w/Case

So, a friend of mine is really into Travis Bean guitars.    You might even say he's obsessed.  But, it makes sense, they are beautifully made custom guitars.  So, I get to thinking, what's the ukulele equivalent of a Travis Bean?  You know what I mean?  Let's say I hit the lottery and I want to buy a fantastic NEW ukulele.  Who is making those?  Who are the ukulele master craftsmen?

Well, I'm not sure I have the definitive answer, but I definitely think ASD Hawaii is in the running for the title.  Here's a snippet from their webpage:

one look and you will see a difference in ASD ukueles.   ASD ukuleles are different.  but they are not different for the sake of being different.  instead, as form should follow function, so does the design of ASD ukuleles.  each component of the ukulele has been purposely designed to maximize sound quality and playing comfort.  ASD ukuleles are created differently in both sight and sound and may change your preconceptions about ukuleles.

Well.. I certainly like the sound of that.  I did some searching on eBay and found this beautiful Tenor Ukulele that they make.  It's like a work of art!

Kinohi asd tenor ukulele w/case
Kinohi asd tenor ukulele w/case

I can honestly say that I've never seen a ukulele body shaped like this tenor ukulele.  Wait, I know what you are wondering.  Where is the sound hole?  Well, go to the eBay auction page and look at the other thumbnails (I haven't figured out how to link them here, yet).  Go ahead... I'll wait.  😉  Pretty cool, right?

Time to make some videos! (UPDATE)

So, the other day when I was trying out my new $13 digital tuner I really wanted to make a video to show you guys.  But, I found that I didn't have enough hands.  I couldn't hold the uke, the video camera and the tuner all at the same time.  Let me start by saying that I absolutely love the video camera that I have.  It's a Flip MinoHD Camcorder and it freaking rules! Here's a picture and some specs:

Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)
Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)

*  Holds 60 minutes of HD-quality video (1280 x 720 resolution at 30 frames per second; 16:9 widescreen) on 4 GB of built-in memory
* Weighs only 3.3 ounces; Super-slim, super-sleek design, fits into your pocket or purse
* Features one-touch recording and digital zoom
* Flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch built-in FlipShare software
* FlipShare software lets you save and organize your videos, edit individual clips, make custom movies, email your videos, and upload them

Yup.  I love it dearly.  But, I needed to make it work for filming myself play the Ukulele and talk and generally make a buffoon of myself.  Then I notice that there's a little hole at the bottom of it.  (NOTE: Yeah, I'm the Ukulele Guy, not the camera guy, obviously).  So, I start searching for "Flip Video stand" and junk like that until, some time later, I remember.... Oh yeah!  They call those things tripods, right?  Heh.

So then I found this little number that I'm ordering as soon as I finish this post:

Flip Tripod for Flip Ultra and Mino Camcorders
Flip Tripod for Flip Ultra and Mino Camcorders

Huzzah!  Now I can make all sorts of videos for this site, cause there's tons of stuff I want to show you guys.  For example, I'm fairly decent at the following songs:

  • Facts of Life Themesong
  • Diff'rent Strokes Themesong
  • Sweet Child o' Mine Medly with Baby Elephant Walk
  • Rubber Ducky

See.. that was worth sitting through a tripod post, right?  As soon as I get that thing you'll have all sorts of ukulele hilarity to keep you buys!

HOLD THE PHONE!

ilovefizzypop, on Twitter, told me to get a gorillapod instead.  Thankfully I had to rush out the door before I ordered the other tripod because I was late pickup up my son from school.  Heh.  I just now checked it out and it looks awesome!  Plus, you can get custom colors (hello blue!).  Also, the price is so low that it's one of those deals where you have to add it to your shopping cart to see the actual price ($16.29 shhh... don't tell).

So, I'm buying it now.  I'm going to go with the GP1-EBEN, but it looks like there are fancier ones as well (with bubble levels, no less!).  Here's the pretty blue picture of the one I'll soon be holding.

Joby GP1-EBEN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod (Blue)
Joby GP1-EBEN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod (Blue)

Thanks ilovefizzypop!