Playing the ukulele can be an engaging way for kids to explore music. They can quickly pick up basic chords while having fun jamming out favorite tunes with friends. By encouraging regular practice sessions, their abilities will quickly advance.
The Ukulele is most often associated with Hawaii, though Europeans were responsible for giving it its name. With four strings that resemble small acoustic guitars, this instrument has become part of Hawaii culture.
Bruno Mars – “Just the Way You Are”
No matter your musical taste or preferences, no doubt the ukulele is enjoying an unprecedented popularity surge. Not only is it fun and simple to learn; its versatility also makes it popular with both children and adults.
Though ukuleles may resemble guitars in appearance, there are a few key distinctions that set it apart from its cousin. First of all, ukuleles typically only contain four strings instead of the six typically found on guitars. Furthermore, their chord structure makes learning to play easier for children who enjoy familiar songs quickly.
Not everyone realizes it, but while ukuleles may be commonly associated with Hawaii, their roots actually lie in Portugal. Ukuleles originate from cavaquinhos and braguinhas developed in Europe that were brought over to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants – becoming so embraced there that King Kalakaua even used one for performances!
Though some may view using a ukulele in commercials or for other purposes as disrespectful to Hawaii, ultimately the decision lies with you and what use is made of this instrument. Promoting products using it doesn’t make you any less of a musician!
The Beatles – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
Though this mellow tune may seem better suited for guitarists, ukulele players can easily tackle it using a straightforward strumming pattern. Just learn G, D, A and C chords as well as an easy DDU UDU strumming pattern in verses and chorus. Initially try keeping tempo slow to gain confidence switching chords more readily as time progresses.
The song may have been intended to address discord among The Beatles following their return from India and time spent studying transcendental meditation. Harrison used some unconventional Eastern concepts as lyrics, and invited Eric Clapton – then an outside musician – to play lead guitar – making this track an extremely rare appearance on any Beatle album at that point.
To play this song, tune your ukulele to GCEA tuning. If you don’t have a tuner, practice listening to each string’s notes and hearing their distance apart; each interval can be identified on piano by noting whether there are black notes between them.
The Rolling Stones – “Stay With Me”
This song is an easy song for beginners to learn, with only three chords involved and no special techniques needed to get going. Play it faster for a pop sound or slower for a melodic ballad feel – either will work!
Ed Sheeran is one of the most iconic modern singer-songwriters, and his songs can be great fun to learn and play on ukulele. This track from him features intricate lyrics with an acoustic guitar groove; starting off slowly before building into an epic chorus.
If you’re searching for an upbeat ukulele song, look no further than Bon Jovi’s classic, “Margaritaville.” This easy tune requires only minimal chord changes – most beginner ukulele players should find no trouble playing it! Although some new chords may require additional practice to learn, most can handle these quickly enough.
The Beatles – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
The Beatles’ meteoric rise to American stardom was propelled by “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” which entered Billboard Hot 100 at number 45 on 18 January 1964 and quickly rose to become number one, overthrowing “She Loves You”. It stayed there for seven weeks – setting the scene for Beatlemania.
Penn State Altoona Professor and Poet Kenneth Womack shares his reflections on an iconic tune that changed history.
Recording this song was a first for the band on four-track recording equipment and took 17 takes before being finished successfully. Although initially unpublicized, its debut proved quickly successful as audiences became acquainted with its new sound; many were particularly taken by John’s use of an “h” instead of an “o” when saying the word “hand.” Arthur Fiedler and Boston Pops Orchestra included this track on their 1965 album Big Beat while Lakeside released their version, reaching Number Ten on Hot Soul Singles chart in 1982.
The Rolling Stones – “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”
This classic rock song by The Rolling Stones has become one of the most iconic songs ever. Known for its distinctive guitar riff and anti-establishment lyrics, its popularity is undeniable and has been covered by many artists such as Britney Spears and Devo. Additionally, The Rolling Stones themselves had an extraordinary career within music; this hit became their inaugural number one single.
Keith Richards wrote the song during a late night hotel room stay in Florida and woke up to come up with its melody and lyrics. Almost immediately thereafter, they recorded and released it as their debut gold record in America which spent four weeks at number one on charts.
The lyrics were highly provocative for their use of sexually suggestive language. Furthermore, they criticised modern consumer culture; Jagger sounded disgruntled at all of the advertisements he heard while watching television or radio ads. Due to these reasons and others, producers at music festival Shindig! censored the band’s performance of “Satisfaction,” cutting out one line which stated, “Trying to make some girl happy.”
The Beatles – “A Hard Day’s Night”
The Beatles were four Liverpool men who transformed the world of music. Widely considered one of the most commercially and critically successful bands ever formed, their innovative music helped define the 1960s while leaving an impactful legacy that continues today.
A Hard Day’s Night is the third album by The Beatles, released on 10 July 1964 to coincide with the film of the same name. This was the first album to include songs solely written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; there were additional contributions from George Harrison and Ringo Starr as well.
A Hard Day’s Night became the first Beatles album to simultaneously reach number one in both UK and US charts simultaneously, remaining there for 14 weeks in Britain while only topping its American counterpart for two weeks before rising back up the chart for nine more weeks before moving off its peak position altogether.
The Rolling Stones – “Brown Sugar”
Rolling Stones songs often spark controversy; in this instance, however, the conflict centers around 1971 track “Brown Sugar.”
Keith Richards confirmed to Los Angeles Times reporter Jayne Atkin that The Rolling Stones have stopped performing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” due to its controversial lyrics about slavery and rape, in fear that 21st-century fans wouldn’t understand that it is about discussing chattel slavery instead of celebrating it.
The lyrics depict an image of a white man romanticizing and using Black women as sexual playthings; which are obviously offensive and insensitive statements. Though musicians should feel free to write about any subject they choose, musicians must possess enough maturity to understand how their words will be received by listeners – something Jagger is clearly lacking.