I was introduced to The Four Stages of Learning through a podcast (can’t remember which one, though!) a handful of years ago, and it’s a concept that’s really stuck with me. I find myself reflecting on it when I’m teaching and also when I’m thinking about my own development as a musician. If you’ve ever felt impatient by the pace of your progress, I think you’ll find this framework to be really valuable as you continue on your musical path. First I’ll explain the framework and then I’ll share a few tips on how to handle the frustration that inevitably arises when we’re learning something new. Ready?
Read More"This Train is Bound for Glory," a Video Tutorial with Free Download for Beginning Ukulele
There is a grand tradition of folk singers and musicians repurposing a melody to create a new song, and This Train is Bound for Glory is just one example. This Train shares a melody with The Crawdad Song, though the songs feel very different. The Crawdad Song has an easy-breezy quality to it, but This Train has much more of a raucous, rock-and-roll energy. Even though we’re using the same combination of chords and the same melody, we have two very different songs!
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Five Easy Two-Chord Songs for the Ukulele
I love sharing folk and children’s songs because they’re usually pretty simple, have lyrics that are easy to memorize, and have catchy tunes that make them fun to sing. Today’s post features five easy songs that use only two chords, and I’m sharing two videos for each song— one instructional video where I teach you how to play the song as well as a play-along video (less instruction, more playing). If you’re very new to the ukulele, I recommend watching the “How to Play” videos before watching the play-alongs. All five of these friendly songs are included in Let’s Play! The Ukulele Handbook for Beginners. Buy your copy today!
The Itsy, Bitsy Spider
How to Play The Itsy, Bitsy Spider
Play-Along Video for The Itsy, Bitsy Spider
2. Hot Corn, Cold Corn
How to Play Hot Corn, Cold Corn
Play-Along Video for Hot Corn, Cold Corn
Hush, Little Baby
How to Play Hush, Little Baby
Play-Along Video for Hush, Little Baby
The More We Get Together
How to Play The More We Get Together
Play-Along Video for The More We Get Together
There Ain’t No Bugs on Me
How to Play There Ain’t No Bugs on Me
Play-Along Video for There Ain’t No Bugs On Me
Check out my main Videos page to find more two-chord songs, music theory instruction, and more!
"Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies," a Beautiful Three-Chord Song for the Ukulele
"Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies" is a beautiful ballad that's great for helping us build up our strumming endurance. For this tutorial, I share six of my favorite verses and a strum that pairs very nicely with ballads like this one. If the key of G isn’t a great fit for your vocal range, use my chord chart to easily change the key to one that is. And just for fun, here's a bonus verse that I will often sing in place of verses four and five.
Bonus Verse
I wish I (G) was on some tall mountain
Where the ivy rocks are black as (D) ink
I'd write a (Am) letter to my lost true (G) lover
Whose cheeks are (Am) like the morning (D) pink
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE WHEN YOU SIGN-UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!
Want to hear what the more Irish version sounds like? Check out this beautiful rendition by Lumiere.
One more thing: folk songs are not precious or sacred. If there’s something you don’t like about this song (or any other folk song), change it! To modify and re-mix elements of folk songs is to participate in a grand tradition of music-makers that dates back centuries. Listen to different artists singing this song and see if there are any other verses you'd like to include! Or, of course, you could contribute your own verses or use this song as inspiration for your own melody. Dolly Parton’s “Little Sparrow” is a great example of how to use a traditional folk song to create something new.
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Read More"I've Got the Joy" and "In My Family's House" — Two Easy Songs You Can Play with Your Kids
Today I have a very easy song to share with you! It uses only two chords, it’s really short, and it has very simple lyrics. I’ll show you how to play it in two different keys, and then I’ll show you how to turn this into a holiday song so you can sing about your own family traditions.
Read MoreSing and Strum "Joy to the World" in Two Different Keys, A Christmas Ukulele Tutorial
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Ready to start making merry?
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Read More"Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky," An Easy Three-Chord Ballad for Beginning Ukulele
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