Tag Archives: accompaniment

Can’t Help Falling in Love with ukulele

Which song comes to mind when you hear the name Elvis? Today is Elvis Presley’s birthday. And I can’t help falling in love with playing the ukulele. Awhile ago I had tabbed out the lead sheet of the song in … Continue reading

Posted in sheet music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Puff the Magic Dragon Travis Picking Variations

RIP Peter Yarrow (1938 – 2025) who wrote Puff the Magic Dragon. Practice the seven variations of travis picking on the chord progression from the song on ukulele. Continue reading

Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Travis Picking exercises for ukulele

Travis Picking refers to a fingerpicking pattern that makes use of an alternating bass. On the four-string ukulele, the right hand can fingerpick outside strings alternating with the inside strings using two, three, or four fingers. We explore five different … Continue reading

Posted in ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Exercise for waltz accompaniment

Triple time, triple meter, or three beats to a measure is a characteristic of the waltz as well as other dance forms. Accent or emphasize the first beat. What else can you do to accompany a waltz?

Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strum & Fingerpick Exercise in 3/4 Time

Is it easy to switch from strumming to fingerpicking? Here’s an exercise that will get you to do both. When we strum, we are referring to block chords. However, it’s also possible to fingerpick a block chord. Similarly, it’s possible … Continue reading

Posted in ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Accompaniment exercises in 3/4 time for low G ukulele

This blog post is about a fingerstyle ukulele exercise for low G ukulele in the key of A minor. The time signature is 3/4 which means a count of three. The exercise supports the song “Feed the Birds” in a … Continue reading

Posted in ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Feed the Birds with ukulele

Where do I get my ideas for arranging music? Sometimes it’s a song that reminds me of something. Sometimes it’s a national day. For “Feed the Birds” from the movie Mary Poppins, it’s both and more.

Posted in travel, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On Top of Spaghetti in C for high G ukulele

On Top of Spaghetti is a parody on the traditional tune of “On Top of Old Smokey” accompanied as a waltz or ballad with three chords, arranged for easy and fun fingerstyle ukulele chord melody instrumental solo by Anne Ku, with video and tabs. Continue reading

Posted in sheet music, ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Andalusian Cadence

The chord progression that accompanies the first section of Greensleeves (What Child Is This) is a common chord progression known as the Andalusian Cadence. You might have heard or played it in the song “Hit the Road Jack.” Can you … Continue reading

Posted in ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ukulele Accompaniment Course in Zoom

What’s the strum pattern? If you’re asking this question, you’d be interested in the new Ukulele Accompaniment Course in Zoom. Get introduced to rhythmic patterns for different kinds of songs and occasions.

Posted in ukulele | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ukulele Accompaniment Course in Zoom