The theme to the Netflix series “Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories” on the guitar can be played on the ukulele. Originally in the key of B minor, the transposed tune in A minor presents many possibilities for the ukulele. However, it’s even easier to play in the key of D minor. The melody to Omoide (pronounced oh-moh-ee-deh) is repetitive. What do we really need to know to play this catchy tune?
Choice of key: original or transposed
When it comes to mimicking a piece or playing along with the original, it’s important to play it in the original key. Otherwise, you can’t play along.
However, the original key may be challenging on other instruments. For example, what’s easy to play on the guitar may not be so easy (or even possible) on the ukulele and vice versa.
Further, the original key may not offer the possibility for your vocal range. That is, you might not be able to sing it in the original key.
If the original key is not ideal, we visit other keys. Hence, the art of transposition. Change the key.
Is the piece in a minor key or a major key? A minor an C major are relative because they use the same notes. Similarly D minor and F major are relative.
The tune seems to go on and on. Does it end on a major chord or a minor chord? The ending doesn’t always determine the key because it could be a Picardy Third (major chord ends a piece in a minor key).
Omoide in A minor
Originally in the key of B minor, the tune of Omoide is more playable in the keys of A minor, G minor, E minor, and D minor on the ukulele.
In this blog post, I show the tune in A minor and D minor.
In my earlier blog post, I showed the transcription in A minor for low G ukulele. Is a low G really necessary to execute this piece?
Let’s take a look at the piece itself. It’s very repetitive, so we just need to play the essential bits.
The piece is in three sections. In rehearsal mark A, we play the instrumental introduction and repeat twice for the verse. This continues to the second section B which is different. The final section is instrumental and uses the same chord progression as the first.
Omoide in A minor for high G ukulele
Re-transcribed for high G ukulele, we see many possibilities. Make use of open strings and sliding up and down the neck to play the first and higher positions.
Add a few more notes and we get a chord melody arrangement, also known as instrumental solo.
Don’t let the fret numbers above 3 in the tablature intimate you. It’s a slow and pensive piece, with time for rubato (freedom of tempo) and opportunity to add your own expressive finesse.
Ukulele chords for Omoide in A minor
If all else fails, you can always fingerpick the chords shown below.
Omoide in D minor
While searching for the above video, I chanced upon Cali Rose’s version in D minor. She played it beautifully by ear.
I daresay it’s so much easier and intuitive to play on the lower frets. Form the chords used in the song. Bingo! My fingers start moving as if they have a mind of their own!
Ukulele chords in D minor
The Bb major chord is one of the most challenging chords because it requires the left index finger to barre two strings on the first fret and curve the other two fingers to play the other two notes. For major and minor chords, it’s only necessary to play three of the four strings. Find the three strings with the three notes you need and you can avoid playing the Bb as shown.
The easy way to play Bb chord is to finger it like a Bbmaj7 and avoid playing the A string.
Omoide in D minor for low G ukulele
Omoide in D minor for high G ukulele
On high G ukulele, we’re not able to play the low melodic notes we hear on the low G ukulele. But it still works.
Next steps
Add the Japanese lyrics to the score.
Practice suggestions
As always, learn the chords first. This will give the possibilities for playing chord melody.
Study the structure of the piece. This is the big picture.
Analyze patterns. Often there are repeating patterns.
Play the melody only.
Choose low G or high G and which key to study.
Do you agree that D minor is easier than A minor for this piece on the ukulele?
More information
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