Professional Documents
Culture Documents
uk
SONGS
Title
Page
................ 41
........................ 60
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
........
16
17
65
THE UKULELE
ITS MODEL AND PARTS
STANDARD UKULELE
UKE 2
PREFERRED POSITION
UKE 3
STANDING POSITION
GENERAL INFORMATION
The dictionary shows the American pronunciation of Ukulele to be "yuke-uh-lay-lee " The
Hawaiian pronunciation is the same with the exception of the first syllable which changes the word to
"oo-koo-lay-lee."
THE STRINGS
Use nothing but the best quality strings for replacement on the Uke or Bary. Observe the manner in
which the factory has mounted the strings on your instrument, enabling you to put on a new string in case
of breakage. It is always best to purchase your strings and accessories from a reliable music shop that
specializes in "small goods."
THE STRINGS
(continued)
STRING PRESSURE
Many persons who purchase inexpensive Ukes are so discouraged with the "sound" and
"finger action" or pressure needed to make the strings touch the frets, that they soon give up the
attempt to play in disgust.
If you have an inexpensive Uke and are troubled about it sounding "out of tune" even
after it has been correctly tuned, check the "nut" for height. You will probably find the strings are
too high above the frets. This is the most common fault of the cheaper
t\ms:^r;::;r_r:^ \. ::\:.;.',-,..:.-.'
THE STRINGS SHOULD NOT BE OVER l/32nd OF AN INCH FROM THE TOP OF
THE FIRST FRET.
If you are mechanically inclined, you may deepen the string notches on the nut, or better
still, have the store where you purchased the instrument make the correct adjustments, i.e., if they
are equipped for this kind of work.
(Illustrations on Page 5)
........ A knowledge of the correct position df the right forearm in its relation to the hand
is necessary when stroking, or picking the strings. Carefully examine all of the illustrations on
page 5 and adopt the correct position for the forearm and hand at the very beginning of your
attempt (successful we hope) to master the Ukulele.
STROKING THE STRINGS WITH THE FOREFINGER
Picture No. 1 illustrates the correct position of the forefinger and thumb to produce a good
tone on the Uke. This method of stroking the strings with the bare fingers is to this day the most
favored way of playing the Uke. However, a new method of tone production has come into
professional favor due to the increasing popularity of the Uke on phonograph records and TV.
Professionals have found that the use of a "pick" produces a louder and clearer tone. Playing the
Uke with a pick enables the tone to "cut through" with more definition.
Picture No. 2 illustrates the most favored pick which is made of pliable quarter-inch felt.
For a stronger tone a "stiff" felt pick can be secured at most music supply stores and when real
"punch" is needed for maximum volume a celluloid or tortoise shell guitar pick may be used. The
use of the hard guitar pick completely alters the natural tone of the Uke and for that reason should
be used sparingly for special effects.
Once again, study the illustrations and text on page 5 concerning the right hand, felt pick
and the style of strumming with the fingers.
SLANTED LINES (l I I I) or Chord Names (C7) are used throughout this folio t indicate where
the strokes of the pick are to be played. While each slanted line or choi name represents a down
stroke, or one beat, it does not mean that the player cannot mat use of different rhythms. In
order to encourage you to employ different rhythmic effects I present next the more simple
strokes which may be used instead of the single strokt
FELT PICK
WRONG POSITION OF
PICK, FINGERS AND WRIST
CORRECT RIGHT
HAND POSITION
CORRECT STROKING
POSITION, FINGERS ONLY
CORRECT POSITION OF
LEFT HAND
Picture No. 1. This "wrong way" picture illustrates the need for keeping the fingers arched when
playing single tones. When two or more notes are to be pressed down on adjacent strings by
the same finger and on the same fret, it calls for a flattening of that finger as shown and
explained below under The Bar (Barre).
Picture No. 2. This illustrates the position of the neck resting in the left hand.
Picture No. 3. When "barred" chords are to be played, more pressure is needed. This illustration
shows the position of the thumb and fingers for such a chord.
A "bar" is made by the fingering of three or
four notes across the same fret. There are many
chords that call for the use of the bar even though
all of the notes so formed do not sound. Here are a
few examnles:
The four vertical lines represent the strings; the horizontal lines represent the frets. The
black "dots" indicate where the fingers are to be placed, and the numerals show which
fingers are to be used. A zero indicates an "open" string and is not to be fingered. The
name of chord is placed above the diagram.
The slanting lines / / to the right of the chord diagrams mean that you play the previous
chord once for every slanted line.
TIPS ON FINGERING
Diagram No. 1 illustrates three notes barred with a single
note to be played on the first string. All chords of this and like
formation are actually fingered like diagram No. 2. In other
words, it is very awkward to bar the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings
without including the 1st string, so, always bar all four strings.
Only the note on the 5th fret of the 1st string will be heard, not
the barred note behind it. The curved lines that appear in the
above diagrams are for the purpose of
explanation and have not been included in the songs that follow
as the fingering
below each diagram serves the same purpose.
ALL CHORDS FOR THE SONGS IN THIS FOLIO ARE LOCATED ON
THE FIRST FIVE FRETS.
BUFFALO GALS
American Song
SKIP TO MY LOU
Traditional
BILLY BOY
Traditional
Words by
GUS KAHN
PRETTY BABY
Music by
BEDELIA
Words by
WILLIAM JEROME
Music by
JEAN SCHWARTZ
24
Words by
JACK YELLEN
ALABAMA JUBILEE
Music by
GEORGE L. COBB
AURA LEE
27
GEORGE R. POULTON
I'M
30
Words by
GUS KAHN
MEMORIES
Music by
EGBERT VAN ALSTYNE
DON T FENCE ME IN
Words and Music by
COLE PORTER
36
38
Words by
AL DUBIN
Music by
JOE BURKE
41
Music by
GUS EDWARDS
44
Words by
JACK YELLEN
Music by
MILTON AGER
46
Words by
AL DUBIN
Music by
HARRY WARREN
50
Words by
AL DUBIN
52
Words by
LORENZ HART
Music by
RICHARD RODGERS
54
Words by
JOHNNY MERCER
Music by
HARRY WARREN
THE BOWERY
CHARLES H. HOYT
PERCY GAUNT
56
BILLY ROSE and
BALLARD Macdonald
CLAP HANDS
Music by
JOSEPH MEYER
60
Wordsby
AL DUBIN
Music by
HARRY WARREN
64
Lyric by
OTTO HARBACH
Music by
KARL HOSCHNA
Outstanding
UKULELE
Folios
Harry Reser's UKULELE
METHOD AND SONG FOLIO
Basic
Instruction
Learn by Playing
and
Singing 31 Songs Photographic Illustrations
All Chords Most Used