One- and Two-Chord Songs

Have you purchased Americana? Bookmark this page for easy access to the resources referenced in the book, including videos to help you get started, play-along tutorials, and links to reference materials. If you are brand new to the ukulele, you may want to get started by first checking out my free Ukulele Basics guide or my beginner’s book, Let’s Play! The Ukulele Handbook for Beginners. Happy strumming!

Getting Started

How is Your Ukulele Tuned? (Copy)

The Nashville Number System (Copy)

Understanding the Chord Chart (Copy)

Use the Number System to Play in Different Keys (Copy)

Learn to Play in Different Keys (Copy)

Play-Along Videos

(listed in alphabetical order)

Frére Jacques

Wendemy Yacob, the Amharic version of Frére Jacques from Mama Lisa’s World
Wendime Yacob from Road to Ethiopia
Fray Felipe from DLTK’s Sites for Kids
Brother John in many languages from Boy Scout Trail

Just from the Kitchen

“Step It Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage” from Google Books

Ranky Tanky Builds on the Music and Culture of Slave Descendants from NPR
What is Call and Response in Music? from MasterClass

Dig Deeper: Resources Related to the Songbook

GENERAL RESOURCES

Best Loved American Folk Songs by Alan and John Lomax
ACE, The Association for Cultural Equity
Smithsonian Folkways

Clawhammer Strumming

What is clawhammer banjo? by Lawrence Witt
Clawhammer banjo by Wayne Erbsen
The Banjo’s Roots Reconsidered from NPR
The Banjo’s Roots May Be Even Further East Than Africa from WGLT

GOSPEL SONGS AND SPIRITUALS

Gospel Music Vs. Spirituals from Ben Vaughn
The History and Origin of Gospel Music from Study.com