Waltz for Chief Noda for high G ukulele

It’s possible to get to know someone after he has or she has gone. Whether the person has left your life or this earth, you can get to know that person through his music and friends. That’s the case with Chief Noda. Today is his birthday. I wrote a short waltz for the short time I got to know him. I posted the one-page score on Facebook immediately.

Chief Noda

I first met Chief Noda in the town where he lived because I was driving there to give a concert. I didn’t know what he looked like. Only after the concert did I notice a mildly mannered man looking at me. He had been there for the entire concert.

We burst into conversation.

I didn’t know it then, but he was about to have his birthday, as I am about to have mine. I am the age he was then.

He told me that Jake Shimabukuro was performing at the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford. I said that I had never seen him perform. We agreed I’d travel by bus to Brockton, where I’d get a ride from him. In the car, we listened to Beatles radio. That’s when I learned he knew a lot about the Beatles.

Chief Noda’s website is full of treasures. I hope I can play his arrangements and compositions before the webhosting expires. Unless somebody takes charge, his website will no longer be hosted in a few years.

Today I came across a sad song without lyrics that he wrote and recorded. It sounds like the theme from Midnight Diner.

The Waltz

While fiddling with my chromatic piece early this morning, I suddenly heard a descending chromatic pick-up that led to a simple three chord waltz. I wrote it down and decided to call it “Waltz for Chief Noda” because it’s his birthday and he probably would say something about this piece.

When I finally tried playing it on the ukulele this evening, I made some changes to make it easier. I wonder if an ascending three note riff (pick-up) is easier than a descending one (below).

There’s potential to change the waltz accompaniment on subsequent repeats as well as reharmonizing the melody.

How many easy waltzes can I write?

This waltz needs a diversion, so I added two chords in the middle. No longer a three chord piece, it begs for someone to give it a go. I would love to hear someone else’s interpretation of my waltz for Chief Noda’s birthday.

Pick! Pluck! Play!

I’m wondering if I should include this waltz in the second level of the book “Pick! Pluck! Play!”

The last page “Ukulele Chords” of the new book contains a table of ukulele chord diagrams ordered alphabetically for the chords used in the book.

I’m thrilled about releasing these two books as a precursors (prerequisite) to the 12 Chinese Zodiac Suite, which contains three skill levels.

I am recording all my new compositions in the 100 Days of Ukulele 2025 project. To me, this challenge means uploading a new video recording of a new piece each consecutive day from 1st March to 8th June 2025.

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For other recent compositions and arrangements by Anne Ku, please visit the Daily Music Writing Project or scroll through the consecutive blog posts.