Category: Ukulele Songs

Some more FREE Uke Tabs

So, everyone was so psyched by that Ukulele Beatles site that I figured I'd try to find some more free ukulele tabs.  It didn't take too long before I found The Big Muffin Serious Band.  These guys are a busking band from New Zealand and they have two ukuleles in the band.  They've been around since 1983?!

Well, anyway, they have a section on their site with over 100 pdf files of ukulele songs.  Here are some of the highlights:

Alright, now you know what to do, right?  Get to work! 😉

Beatles Ukulele Songs (Fun and Easy)

So, I think I tweeted this link before but I wanted it on the site as well so folks could find it.  The site is called Ukulele Beatles Fun! and it's basically a bunch of (64!) flash pages for different Beatles songs.  What's great is that it plays a version of the song and then shows you chord shapes while the song is playing.  You can stop it, rewind, etc.  Heck, you can even tune your ukulele and check out all the lyrics.  Basically, it rules.

I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for The Beatles and also this site because it was the first page I found after I got my first ukulele (a Lanikai CK-TEQ).  In fact, I used this site to learn my first song on Ukulele, "She came in through the bathroom window".  But, in case you too are just starting out, I wouldn't recommend that song, it has some pretty tricky chord shapes and moves.  But, I guess it's a testament to learning songs in this way that I was eventually able to stumble through it.

Anyway, best of luck to ya!  Now, get out there and learn some Beatles!

Ukulele Beatles Fun! - http://beatlesite.info/

Six Free Ukulele Songbooks! (Thanks Taunton Ukulele Strummers Club!)

Well, once again Steve Berryman (steveberryman on twitter) hooks a brother up with some free Ukulele Songbooks.  As you might remember, last time Steve pointed us in the direction of London Uke Festival's Songbook.  This time it's SIX (count em, six!) ukulele songbooks from the Taunton Ukulele Strummers Club.  This fun-loving bunch hails from Somerset (in the UK) and if you want to hear some recordings of them performing some of these choice numbers, then check out the music section of their site.

EDIT: Unfortunately their site is no longer working.  Doh!

I've give you the links and brief summary of each of the books.

  1. Book One is 14 pages and it has a wide variety of songs.  There are old standards like "Sweet Georgia Brown" and classic favorites like "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry.  There are also some modern tunes by Coldplay and George Michael, so it's a pretty diverse mix.
  2. Book Two is 28 pages of goodness as well.  There are some songs from "Oh Brother Where Art Thou?", some Duran Duran, some Donovan, "King of the Road" and even "I wanna be like you" from the Jungle Book.
  3. Book Three is 13 pages and the emphasis is the 60s.  So, you've got The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Dusty Springfield and more.
  4. Book Four is a whopping 36 pages of variety.  There's some Jack Johnson in here, some Elvis, "Dizzy" by Tommy Roe, Abba, Bananarama and even the Spin Doctors.  (Although I could have done without that last one.. heh).
  5. Book Five is 44 freaking pages!  That's enough pages to have at least three Bon Jovi songs!  There's also some INXS, Madonna and even "500 Miles" by The Proclaimers.
  6. Book Six is just in time for the season.  Ukulele Christmas Songs!  Classics like "Frosty the Snowman" and "Let it snow" sit right alongside of "Blue Christmas" and "Do they know it's Christmas".

I know what you're thinking.  How much will I have to pay for these six songbook collection?  $29.99?  $39.99?  What if I told you that you could have it all for 3 easy payments of nothing?  Yup.  It's all free.  Enjoy!

NOTE:  Since their website isn't active anymore, I've decided to post the songbooks on my site until they are up and running again.  If you are affiliated with the Taunton Ukulele Strummers Club, please contact me if you don't approve.

TUSC - Ukulele Songbook 1

TUSC - Ukulele Songbook 2

TUSC - Ukulele Songbook 3 (60s Songs)

TUSC - Ukulele Songbook 4

TUSC - Ukulele Songbook 5

TUSC - Christmas Ukulele Songbook

Video: Original Song – Santa Claus Needed a Drink by Ukulele Guy

Alright, so in the last 12 mondays, I've given you 11 original songs. Today is number eleven! I have to admit that when I woke up this morning and remembered that it was #MusicMonday on Twitter, I got a little frightened.  I didn't really have an idea of what song I was going to do for you and then suddenly one popped right in my brain.  I think this might be my first #MusicMonday original song that was actually written on the day I posted it.  So... that's fun, right?

There just aren't enough Xmas drinking songs, either, so maybe I can be the guy that fills that little niche.  Also, unlike my other original song posts, I'm actually giving you the chords for this one.   Usually I just promise to do it and then promptly forget.  So, check out the chords below the video if you are interested.  I'm not 100% married to this arrangement yet and it prolly needs another verse, but who has time to polish, right?  I'm too busy make the rough outlines of songs.

Santa Claus Needed a Drink
by Ukulele Guy
C&P Ukulele Guy 2009

Am 
well I stayed up real late 
   G
on Christmas Eve this year
Am
I was waiting for Santa 
               C7                  G7
cause I didn't believe that he was real
Am
So it came as a bit of a shock
        G
when he walked through my front door
        A      C                 G
moaning nobody believes in me no more

G7 
yup Santa Claus needed a drink
Am
well who was I to stop him
      C7
so we grabbed a bottle of bourbon 
                            G
and we drank til we hit the bottom

G7 
so don't be surprised on Christmas day 
          A9 0102
if your presents don't appear
    A                          C             G
see Santa Claus is pretty damn hungover this year

Am
Well I slept in a little late
   G
on the morning of the day of Xmas
Am
there were daggers behind my eyes
            C7                  G7
and I could barely keep down my breakfast
Am
I clutched my head and stumbled around
     G
just trying to remain upright
                    A                 C                        G
when I tripped over Santa Claus, I  guess he the spent the night

G7 
yup Santa Claus needed a drink
Am
well who was I to stop him
      C7
so we grabbed a bottle of bourbon 
                            G
and we drank til we hit the bottom

G7 
so don't be surprised on Christmas day 
          A9
if your presents don't appear
    A                               C              G
see Santa Claus got pretty freaking hammered this year

Chords:
A 2100
Am 2000
G 0232
G7 0212
C 0003
C7 0001
A0 0102

New Song from Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer

Hail the Chap! Yup, that banjolele b-boy wizard has once again dipped his pen into ink and wrote some mad rhymes for us.  I listened to it about a half dozen times and I still feel like I'm only getting about half of the references.  It makes me wish I knew more about the Edwardian Golden Age ;).  It also makes my desire for a Banjolele that much stronger.  That thing sounds great!

Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer
Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer