FINGERSTYLE AUDIO ACCESS

INCLUDED

A METHOD &
SONGBOOKFOR
FINGERPICKING
BACKUP &. SOLOS
by Fred Sokelow

ZHALLENAR
 A PATTERN FOR SLOWER WALTZ TIME
er waltz pattern that makes use of the thumb and three ngers. It worKs nicely on slower3/4
me songs. Play it a few times. then try it on the old gospel tune, "Amazing Grace."

• Pick the fourth string with your thumb.

• Pick the third string with your index nger.
Second and rst strings simultaneously, with the middle and ring (a) ngers.

• Pick the third string with your index nger.

• Pick the second and rst strings simultaneously with your middle and ring ngers.
• Pick the third string with your index nger.

D
TRACK 6

(0:00)

(
p

AMAZING GRACE-
ACCOMPANIMENT
TRACK 6
(0:07)

D G D

how sweet the sound thai

A maz ing grace,

2
A7

saved wretch like me

2
2-
0

12 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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 D D D

once was Jost bu now I'm found, was

2 2
2
A D

blind but now

I see.

THUMB ANDTWO-FINGERUP-PICK: ASHUFFLEBEAT

"Amazing Grace" (Track 6) has a shu e beat or "dotted-note" rhythmic feel. The eighth notes are performed
in a "skipping" rhythm, in which the rst of every two eighth notes is emphasized and held longer than the
second (ONE and TWO and THREE and). You can shorten the waltz pattern to play a 4/4 time shuf e beat
like the one found on the old blues/jazz tune, "After You've Gone."

• Pick the fourth string with your thumb.

•Pick the third string with your index nger.
• Pick the second and rst strings simultaneously, with the middle and ring ngers.
• Pick the third string with your index nger.

TRACK 7

(0:00)

0 0

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 13
fi
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fl
fl
 AMAZING GRACE IN F –CHORDS
TRACK 15
(0:00)

F
Bb

the sound that

A how Sweet
maz ing grace,

saved a wretch like me.

Bb F

HH

once was lost, now m found, was

C6

blind but how see.

Now fnd the melody notes. This is easy to do if you are very familiar with the major scale of your key (F, in
this case). All or most of the melody notes will be in that scale. Play the F major scale over and over until you
know where all of the notes are. Next, try to nd the melody to "Amazing Grace."

F Major Scale

TRACK 15
(0:31)

1-3 -0131-0 3

28 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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 AMAZING GRACE IN F-MELODY
TRACK 15

(0:4)

BE F

A maz ing grace, how Sweet the sound that

0-
3 2

saved a wretch like me

Bb

once was lost but now I'm found, was

C6

blind but. now I see.

3-

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 29
 Now, put the melody and chords together.

• In addition to being F major scale notes, most of the melody notes are in the chord being played
at that moment.
• Fill-in strums are sometimes added to cover the occasional long pauses between melody notes.

AMAZING GRACE IN F-CHORD MELODYSOLO

TRACK 15
(1:14)

F Bb F

H+ HH

6-
3 2 te
Csus2
90 X

F B F
xo

-0 0
0

C6
9004

HH

0
3

30 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 Here's the same tune in the key of G, starting with the chords.

AMAZINGGRACEIN G-CHORDS
TRACK 16
(0:00)

G C G

"Twas tha taught heart to fear and

grace my

grace my fears re lieved. How

G C G

did that pear, the

won d'rous grace ap

be - lieved.
hour I rst

Play the G major scale over and over until you know where all of the notes are. Next, try to nd the melody
to "Amazing Grace" on your own.

G Major Scale

TRACK 16

(0:32)

023532-0-32 0-2

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 31
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 AMAZING GRACE IN G-MELODY
TRACK 16
(0:44)

,
G C

When we've been here ten thou sand years, bright

0-
-3 3

shin ing as the. Sun we've-

2 5
3
G C

no less days to sing God's praise than

5 5 2 2
2-

D G

when We rs be gun.

2
3-
3

You'll need to use an up-the-neck chord--because of a high note on the rst string/Sth fret-when putting
together the melody and chords here.

32 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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 AMAZINGGRACE IN G -CHORD
MELODY
SOLO
TRACK 16

(1:13)

G C G

$ 3

2
D

G G

5
2
De

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 33
 UP-THE-NECK CHORDS

First-position chords are the easy chords in the rst few frets which include some open strings. Moveablechords
can be played all over the fretboard because they don't include open strings. For example, the B» chord is
moveable. It can be played higher up the neck so that it becomes a B chord, a C chord, a Cs chord, and so on.

Bb B C c#
A
HR2ir
H
The previous version of "Amazing Grace" (Track 16) includes a moveable chord (G at the Sth fret) because
a high nelody note has to be supported with a G chord. This raises the question: how do you nd these
up-the-neck chords? Melodies will often take you beyond the Sth fret and you'll need to locate chords up
there! Do you have to memorize every possible chord on the ukulele?

You can become familiar with up-the-neck chords by using them repeatedly, just like everything else on a
musical instrument. However, there are some shortcuts to nding your way around the fretboard. Here's one:
memorize all the C and F chords. Start by playing all C chords.

C Major Chords
C C C
00 R10fr 12fr
A shape G shape D shape

The names of the moveable chord shapes above-A, G, and D-come from their rst position uses.

A Bb G D Bb

A shape G shape D shape

You can use the A, G, and D shapes to play all the F chords.

F Major Chords

F F F F F

FR3fr Sfr 12fr

D shape D shape A shape G shape

34 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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The following exercise will help you memorize all of the C and F major chords.

C AND F CHORD WALTZ

TRACK 17
C F
FHI0r HE3fr
HH

Once you know all of the C chords, you also know the B chords (one fret lower) and the D chords (two frets
higher). Likewise, once you know all of the F chords, you know where the E chords are (one fret lower) or
the G chords (two frets higher). You can extend this type of thinking to include all of the major chords: B»
is one fret below B, A is two frets above G, and so on.

TURNINGMAJORSINTOMINORS
You can extend your moveable chord knowledge even further if you learn how to turn the three moveable
major chord shapes into minor shapes.

Bb Bbm G Gm Eb Ebm

A shape G shape D shape

Use this information to chart out all of the Cm and Fm chords.

Cm Cm Cm Fm Fm Fm
HR3r FR6fr
H 8fr ilfr
TURNING MAJORS INTO 7THS
If you know how to turn the moveable major chord shapes into 7th chords, you'll know how to play the three
types of chords--major, minor, and 7th--all over the fretboard.

Bb Bb7 Ab Ab7 Ab7 Eb Eb7 Eb7

A shape G shape
or (like 1st pos.
F7)
D shape
H or

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 35
 Here are all of the C7 and F7 chords.

C7 C7 C7 C7 F7 F7 F7 F7 F7

1Sfr T10fr 12fr 3r 5fr fsfrH10fr13f

Learning this fretboard information is a process. It takes a lot of repetition and some thought, but it pays off,
big time. Most of the chord melody solos in this book, and the chord melody solos youll invent on your own,
will require the use of some up-the-neck chords. Youve got to start somewhere, and learning all of the C and
F chords is as good a place as any.

SOME SIMPLECHORDSOLOS
Back in the key of G, here's a simple chord melody solo for the Hawaiian tune, "Aloha 'Oe." This is one every
ukulele player should know!

ALOHA'OEIN G -CHORDS
TRACK 18
(0:00)

Fare well to thee, fare well to thee, thou

D7 G

charm ing one who dwells a - mong the bow ers One

fond em - brace be - fore now de - part, un

D?

til we meet a - gain.

36 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 ALOHAOE IN G -MELODY
TRACK 18

(0:33)

C G

Fare well to thee. fare well to thee, thou

3-
2
D7

charm- ing one who dwells a mong the bow ers. One

2 3
2
4-

C G

fond em brace be fore I now de - part

3 2

D7 G

til We meet a gain.

2
2
2
2 0

Notice how useful the fourth string is for playing melodies. Its practical use is more apparent when you play
melody and chords together, as shown on the next page. In this arrangement, strums are added between
melody notes to l out the rhythm. This system works well for tunes that are in cut time.

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 37
fl
 ALOHA 'OE IN G-CHORD MELODYSOLO
TRACK18
(1:05)

G D7

2
-2

2.
D7 G

38 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
Now for more of a challenge, here's the same song in the key of B». First, here is the chord progression in B».

ALOHA 'OE IN B»-CHORDS

TRACK 19

(0:0)

Et Bb

Fare well to thee, fare wel to thee. thou

E
F7 Bb

charm- ing one who dwells- a mong

E
the bow - ers One

Eb Bb

.
fond em brace be fore I now de part, un

F B

til we meet a gain.

Familiarize yourself with the B> major scale notes and then play the melody.

B Major Scale

TRACK 19

(031)

2 o23

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 39
 ALOHA"OEIN B-MELODY
TRACK19
(0:46) Eb Bb

Fare well to thee, fare well to thee, thou

3
3
3 + Bb
6

F7

charm - ing one who dwells a mong the bow ers One

3 4 3 3 5 6

Eb Bb

fond em brace be - fore now de - part, -

+
+

F7 Bb

ti We meet. gain.

5 3 +

When you put the melody and chords together, you need the following up-the-neck chords to support those
high melody notes:

Eb Bb F7

3frst 5fr
40 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 ALOHA 'OE IN B-CHORD MELODYSOLO

TRACK 19

(1:15)

Eb

e 4 3

F7
Bb

Bb

2
F7 B

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 41
CLAWHAMMER SOLOS
ak to tne tamiliar key of G, here's the chord progression and melody of the old cowboy song, "Red River
Valley."

REDRIVERVALLEY IN G-CHORDS
TRACK 20
(0:00)

G De G

HH

Come and sit love Do not

by my side if you me

D7

HH

has ten to bid me a

- dieu. But re

G G7 C

mem ber the Red Riv

- er Val- ley, and the

cow boy who loved yoL So true.

42 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 REDRIVERVALLEY IN G -MELODY
TRACK 20

(0:25) G
G D6

HH

From this wal ley they say you are go ing We will

2 2
3
2

D7

miss your bright eyes and sweet smile, for they

2 3
3 5-

G G7

say you are tak ing the sun - shine that has

2 2 0 5

DZ G

bright ened Our lives for a while.

2 2 3

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 43
Now put them together for a simple chord melody solo.

RED RIVER VALLEY IN G -CHORO

MELODY
SOLO
TRACK 21

(0:00)

G D6

D7

3 2 3 5

G G7 Cadd9
909
H+

2 2 -

2
2 3
2

4 FINGERSTYLE
UKULELE
Here's a way to alter the same chord melody solo by adding the clawhammer strum that you learned in the
accompaniment chapter (Track 13).

RED RIVER VALLEY IN G-CLAWHAMMERSOLO

TRACK 21

(0:25)
G D

t
23 2

D7

3 2
2 2

2 0
0

D7

HH

18
2
-0
2 3
2
2 2
0

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 45
Another Hawaiian standard, "On the Beach at Waikiki." lends itself to the clawhammer style. Here's the
chord progression followed by a chord melody solo in G.

ON THE BEACH AT WAIKIKI IN G- CHORDS

TRACK 22
(0:00)

G G E7

"Ho ni wi ki," sweet brown

ka ua. Wi - k -

A7

maid en said to me as she

D A7 D7

H HH

gave me lan guage les Sons on the

D G

beach at Wa ki ki

46 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
O
TRACK 22
ON THE BEACH AT WAIKIKI IN G CHORD MELODY SOLO

(0:20)

G D G

A AS A

D D D A7 D
2r
HH HH

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 47
 Now mix in some clawhammer strumming.

ON THE BEACH AT WAIKIKI IN G-CLAWHAMMER SOLO

TRACK 22
(0:40)

DA

A7 A7

D7 D D7 A7 D7
2fr

0
2
2 2 0 2

D# G

48 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 most of the chord shapes in this arrangement are moveable, it doesn't take too much adjustment to
move this solo up a fret and play it in Ab.

ON THE BEACH AT WAIKIKI IN Ab -CLAWHAMMERSOLO

TRACK 22
(1:02)

Ab E Ab

4 + +

B5 Bb9 Bb

Eb E Eb7 Bb7 Eb7

H36

3 3 3

Ab Ab

4 2
5 4

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 49
 A CLAWHAMMER SOLO IN WALTZ TIME
The folk song, "I Never Will Marry," is well suited to the 3/4 time clawhammer strum (Track 14).

INEVERWILLMARRYIN D-CHORDS
TRACK 23
(0:00) D A7

nev - er will mar - ry II

D G

be no man's wife. I ex - pect to live

A D

Sin gle all the days of life.

my

The shells in the 0- cean will

D G D

be my death bed. the sh in deep wa - ters

A D

swim ver my head.

Practice the D major scale, then play "I Never Will Marry" as a simple chord melody solo.

D Major Scale

TRACK 23
(0:37) -0 2 3 2454
32-
50 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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 I NEVER WILL MARRY IN D- CHORDMELODYSOLO

TRACK 23
(0:52)
D A

2 0

2 3 - 2

A D

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 51
 Now add some clawhammer strums.

INEVER WILL MARRY IN D-CLAWHAMMER SOLO

TRACK 23
(1:13)

D A7

2
2

2
3 1 2
2

A7 D

2
2 2

52 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 A6/8TIMESOLO
"Rising
Sun Blues" has been recorded and performed by folk, blues, country, and rock artists. The 6/8 time
version that
bat follows has ma
many sustained melody notes, so a good deal of ll-in strumming is required. Here
are the basic chords and a chord melody solo.

akn The Dm scale has the same notes as the F major scale.

RISING SUN BLUES IN DM-CHORDS

TRACK 24

(0:00)
Dm G Bb

HH

There a house in New Or leans that they

Dm F A7

HH

call the Ris ing Sun. And it's

Dm F Bb

HH

been the ru in of man - y a poor- boy and

Dm A7 Dm

HH

God know I'm one.

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 53
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 RISING SUN BLUES IN DM- -CHORD MELODY SOLO
TRACK 24
(0:31)

Dm B

HH

5
2

Dm A7

HH

Dm F B

sfr
HH

2
Dm A7 Dm

54 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 Nowadd the ll-in strumming.

RISING SUN BLUES IN DM -CHORD MELODYSOLOWITH FILLS

TRACK 24
(:01)
Dm G B

D F A

Dm B

t
177Ti
Dm A7 Dn

HH
HH
str

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 55
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MORE CHORD SOLOS

The Tin Pan Alley standard, "Shine On, Harvest Moon," is fairly easy to arrange on the ukulele. Here's the
chord progression and chord melody solo in the key of G.

SHINE ON, HARVEST MOON IN G CHORDS

TRACK 25
(0:00)

-)
E7#5
A7

Shine on, shine on ha vest moon up in the

DI3 D

sky. ain' had no lov in since

G
G

Jan

E7#5
- U ar

E7
y Feb - u- ar y. June, or Ju
-
A7
ly

Show time. ain't no time to stay

out - doors and
DI3 D7

spoon, so shine on
shine on, har
vest
G
G
o00

moon, for me and

my gal.

56 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 SHINEON,HARVEST M0ON IN G -CHORD
MELODY
SOLO

TRACK25

:35)

E7ËS E E7#s
A.

DI3 D7 DI3 D7
sfr
HH

0
5
5

1
G

0-

2 2

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 57
 If you move everything up a couple of frets--to the key of A-a few more moveable chords are needed.

F#7*s F#7 E13 E7 A

A2fr 9fr

However, much of the arrangement remains the same.

SHINE ON, HARVEST MOON IN A– CHORD

MELODYSOLO
TRACK 25
(1:1)

F#7s FË7 F#78s B7

2
4

E13 E E13 E7

HH

D A

2
A D A

tt

58 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 MONOTONETHUMB ACCOMPANIMENT
e uSt.
W C. Handy's "St. Louis
Louis Blues,"
Blues," written
written in 1914, has become one of the most famous blues and jazz standards
t continues to be performed and recorded by artists of all genres.The rst part of the song is a
ofall ti
standard d12-bar blues with a few chord variations thrown in.

hord melody solo arrangement below uses a monotone thumb accompaniment. The melody is played on
Tne and second strings by the index nger-which picks up on the strings-while the thumb brushes
ien on the lower strings for accompaniment on every beat. This works well with many blues tunes.

get acquainted with the chords and the melody of the tune.

ST.LOUISBLUESIN A -CHORDS
TRACK 26

(0.0)

AT D7 A Amaj7

I hate to see that eve - ning sun go down.

47 D

Hate to see that eve - ning sun go down,.

D A E7

cause my ba - by

A F E9

has done left this town.

ractice the A major scale then play the melody. Notice that, like many blues songs, this tune includes several
e notesthat are not part of the major scale; especially attedseventhsand atted thirds.

A Major Scale

TRACK 26

(0:29)

4 21 2 242
fl
fl
fi
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 Blue Notes in the Key of A

be

b3 b b7 b

ST.LOUISBLUESIN A -MELODY
TRACK 26
(0:41)

(J-J) A A7 D7 A Amaj

hate to see that eve - ning sun go down.

-0- 0 3 2

A D D D7

Hate to See that eve - ning sun down,

22 3 2

A A

'cause my ba by

-0 2 3 2

E7Ë5 E/ A F E

HH

has done Jeft this town.

3 3 3 2-

60 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 ST. LOUIS BLUES IN A CHORD MELODYSOLO

t
CK 26

A A7 D7 D13 A Amaj7

4 -0 0 3 2 0

A7 D D D De

3 2

A D A7 E E7

HH HH HH

E7ËS E7 A F9 E9

3 3- 3 2 0

THE FOURTH STRING AS FILLER

Sometimes you can create a bouncy rhythm by playing the melody with your ngers on the high strings
while picking the fourth string with your thumb--between the melody notes. The 1917 vaudeville song,
"Darktown Strutter's Ball," has a rhythm that suits this technique. The song is an old jazz standard. On the
next page is a basic chord melody solo in the key of C. As usual, practice the C major scale and strum the
chordsto the song before playing the chord melody.

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 61
fi
 C Major Scale

TRACK 27
(0:00)

DARKTOWNSTRUTTERSBALLIN C -CHORDS
TRACK 27
(0:11)

(J7-1N)
A D7

I'II be down you bet - ter be read - y 'bout

to get you in a tax - i, hon- cy,

G7

half past eight. Now, hon - ey, don't be late. I wan - na

Dm GT

EE

be there when the band starts play - ing. Re - mem- ber when we

A7 D
EH
HH

get there, hon - ey, two - steps, I'm gon - na have 'em all Gon na

B7
E7 A7

HH

dance off both my shoes

when they play the "Jel - ly Roll Blues," to

D G7

mor.- row night at the Dark - town Strut - ter's

Ball.

62 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 DARKTOWNSTRUTTER'SBALL IN C -MELO0DY

TRACK27
(0:53)

C A7 D7
09
HHH

get yOu in a ta: i, hon-ey, you bet- ter be read-y "bout half past eight.
I'II be down to

0
0 3-

-0
-o 2 3
2
Dm GT
G7

Now, hon - ey, don't be late, I wan - na be there when the band starts play - ing. Re

2 3 2 2 3 3 2

A7 D

2
get there, hon - ey. two - steps, I'm gon- na have 'em all. Gon- na
mem - ber when we

2 3
t 0
2

F B7 E A7

HH

when they play those "Jel - ly Roll Blues, to

dance off both my shoes

5 5 3
0 2 T3 2 332
D7 G7

mor- row night at th Dark - town Strut - ter's Ball.

2 3 2

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 63
 Now, add those thumb/fourth string ller notes.

DARKTOWN STRUTTER'S BALL INC- CHORD

MELODY
SOLO
TRACK 27
(1:32)

A7

3 0
0

D7

HH

2 2
2
2 2 2

G7 C Co

l2.
Dm7 G9 F6 B7

2 2

-0

84 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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 E7 A7 D7 D9

3
+ 2
G9 G7

THREE-FINGER ROLLS AS FILLER

You learned some three- nger rolls in the "Fingerstyle Accompaniment" chapter. These same rolls can be
played as ller between melody notes in a chord melody solo. They are especially useful in songs with
cut-time rhythm.

The roll introduced in Track 10 is called a forward roll by banjo players. Any pattern that moves in this direc-
tion over and over--like the examples below--is a forward roll.

TRACK 28
(0:00)

mp i m pi i m pi m p p i m p i m m p i m p m
p
3 3-
2
0-
3
2
0
3
0 0
2 2

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 65
fi
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 The 19th century murder ballad, "Banks of the Ohio." can be played with forward rolls. Here's a basic chords.
and-melody version of the country/old-time/bluegrass standard in the key of G.

BANKS OF THE OHIO IN G- CHORDSANDMELODY

TRACK 28
(0:33)

G D7

I3 asked my love to take

2
walk,

just o walk lit - tle way.

2 5 5 3

G7
99

And as we walk, then we may talk

2 2 3 3 5
D7

all a- bout Or wed ding day.

-2

66 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
NOwadd the forward rolls.

BANKS OF THE OHIO IN G- SOLOWITHFORWARD

ROLLS
TRACK 28

(0:5)

G D

2
3
3 2 0
3
2
2
D7 D
t 2fr

3 5 5
2- 2 2
2 2

G7

2 3- 5 2 5 3

G D7 G

2 2 2
0
3
0- 2

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 67
 The 1920 pop song, "Whispering," has been recorded by over 700 artists, including rock and disco versions.
Here's a basic chord melody solo arrangement in the key of C followed by a version that is enhanced by for-
ward rolls, as well as some thumb/fourth string ller notes.

WHISPERING IN C-CHORD MELODYSOLO

TRACK 29
(0:00)
Cadd9 B

2 3 3 2 3

C6 A7#5 A7

+ HH
H

2 3 3 3

D9 G6 G7

2 2 4

Am7 Dm G9 G7

2 3
2
2.
Dm Fm6 C6

Harm.

-0 + 3

68 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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 MORE CHORDS! (JAZZ)
Many Tin Pan Alley songs from the early 1900s--like the later jazz tunes of the 1920s through the early
1950s--include altered chords such as: 6ths, 9ths, 13ths, diminished, and augmented chords. The next two
tunes--both nearly a hundred years old-feature many of these jazz chords. And both tunes suit the ukulele
chord melody style beautifully!

"Poor Butter y" was inspired by the Puccini opera Madame Butter y. It was very popular in 1917, a year after
it was written. The song experienced a revival in the 1950s when the vocal group the Hilltoppers' charted in
the Top 20 with their version. This arrangement in B» includes many moveable chords.

Here are the new, jazzy chords you will encounter in this arrangement. Many of them are slightly altered
versions of minor, major, or seventh chords you have already played. For example, Bb add9 is just Bb with one
note added by the little nger:

Cm F13 F6 Bbmaj9 D7#s G9 Bbadd9 Bb Gm7

F3fr A2fr HSfr

C9 Gb9bs Ebm§ Ebm6 Bb6 F13b9 Cm7 Bb6

A3fr
H
POOR BUTTERFLY IN B-CHORD MELODYSOLO
TRACK30

Bb Cm F13 F6 Bbmaj9 BE

3fr HH

D7#5
ToCoda
G9

tt

70 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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 F9 F7 Bbadd9
Co Gm
D Gm7

CS Am C7 Cm7 Gb9bs D.S. al Coda

F9

2 3

Coda
G9 Cm7 Ebm§ Ebm6 Ebm$ Ebm6 Bb6 Dm

F9 F7 FI3b9 Bb Cm7 Bb6

Gm A7 Cm7
RL0fr

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 71
 "For Me and My Gal" was also written in 1917 and was already an old standard when the Judy Garland/Gene
Kelly movie by the same name was released in 1942. The following chord melody solo arrangement in G
contains plenty of jazz chords, but most of them are the same shapes you've used before in “Poor Butter y."
Here are a few new chord shapes.

D9 Cadd9 Am7 G6 C6 G9 GO
O000 Q000
2fr

FOR ME AND MY GAL IN G-CHORD MELODYSOLO

TRACK 31

D9 Cadd9 D DT G Am7 G

2r
H

ToCoda
Am F D G G6 G

+ 2 3

B7 Em

-0

72 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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 D.S. al Coda
A7 D9 C6 D/

4 -023-

4Coda
B7 G9 G
HH HH

2 3

Dm G7 C6 GO

D9 D D F
BA26
HH

2 0
3

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 73
 Where to Go from Here
After learning the ngerpicking patterns, techniques, and chord melody solos in this book, try making up
your own ngerstyle solos. Just start with simple, three-chord tunes. Also, try accompanying some of your
favorite songs with ngerpicking patterns in addition to strumming.

To grow further asa ngerstyle uke player:

LISTEN TO GREAT FINGERSTYLE UKULELE PLAYERS

Eddie Kamae, Lyle Ritz, Herb Ohta, James Hill, John King, Bill Tapia, and Jake Shimabukuro are all ukulele
ngerstyle virtuosos of renown who have recorded and performed in recent years, so their work is readily
available.

Roy Smeck, Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike), and Ernest Ka'ai are great ngerstyle ukulele players of yesteryear and
pioneers in the eld. They are well represented on YouTube and many of their recordings are still available.

READ MORE UKULELE INSTRUCTION BOOKS

Fred Sokolow's book/CD, Fretboard Roadmaps for Ukulele, published by Hal Leonard, helps you locate
chords all over the fretboard, understand chord progressions and how to play them, and is lled with info
that enhances your understanding of how the ukulele works overall.

Here are some more relevant Sokolow/Hal Leonard books/CDs:

101 Tips for Ukulele includes musical shortcuts, practicing tips, historical info, and all kinds of fun and help-
ful facts to expand your ukulele consciousness.

Blues Ukulele features chord melody arrangements of 16 great blues standards, as well as strum-along lead
(single line) sheets.

Bluegrass Ukulele has three- nger picking arrangements, clawhammer arrangements, and strum-along lead
sheets for 21 bluegrass standards.

A FINAL WORD

Anything is possible on the ukulele. Today's virtuosos are playing every type of music you can imagine, from
classical to R&B, Latin music to bluegrass, pop, and jazz. Stretch out and try something new!

Good luck and happy picking and strumming!

Fudsske
74 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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 Chord Dictionary
Hereare all the chords used in this book:

Ab7 Ab7 A A
Ab A A7 A7 A7#5

A9 Am Am Am Am7 Am7 Amaj7 Bb Bb

O00 O000
Sfr

Bb7 Bb9 Bbm Bbm6 Bb6 Bb6 Bbadd9 Bbmaj9 B

L3fr H
10fr

B7 B7 Bm C C C C C7
A
L3r T7fr R1Ofr 12fr

C7 C7 C7 Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm7 C6

R10fr

D, Dbm Dķo
C6 Csus4 C9 Cadd9 Cadd9 Co c+ CHm c#o
A
12fr
HH T3fr
D D7 Dm Dm Dm7
D D7 D7 D7

2fr sfr esfr

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 75
 D6 D9 D9 D9 D7#s DI3 Eb Eb Eb7

A HH Sr

Eb7 Ebm Ebm6 Ebm E E7 E7 E7

H
E7#5 E13 E9 Em F F F F

1 +

F F7 F7 F7 F7 F7 F7 F7 Fm

3fr Sfr sfr 1ofrTH13

Gb
Fm Fm Fm6 F9 F6 F13 FI3b9 FO F#

2fr
Gb7 Gb75 Gh9b5 Gbm
F#7 F#7ts F#9bs Fm G G G G G
H 2fr sfr
HH

G7 G7 G9 G9 G9 Gm Gm Gm7 G6

H 4fr
L3fr
G6 Go

76 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 About the Author
red Sokolow is bestknowWnas the author of over 150 instructional and transcription books and DVDS for
pobro, mandolin, lap steel, and ukulele. Fred has long been a wel-known West Coast, multi-
anjo
quitar,Da and recording artist, particularly on the acoustic music scene. The diverse musical genres
stringperfbis books and DVDS, along with several bluegrass, jazz, and rock CDs he has released, demonstrate
cOvered in
hismasteryof many musical styles. Whether he's playing Delta bottleneck blues, bluegrass or old-time banjo,
uitar, Hawaiian
30sswing guitar, Hawaiian ukulele,
ukule or screaming rock solos, he does it with authenticity and passion.

Fred'sother ukulele books include:

. FretboardRoadmaps for Ukulele, book/CD (with Jim Beloff), Hal Leonard Corporation
• Blues Ukulele, book/CD, Flea Market Music, distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation
• BluegrassUkulele, book/CD, Flea Market Music, distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation
. 101 Ukulele Tips, book/CD, Hal Leonard Corporation

EoailFred with any questions about this or his other ukulele books at: Sokolowmusic.com.

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 77
 Contents
Page Audio Track

INTRODUCTION. .........5

FINGERSTYLE ACCOMPANIMENT
1-3
• Thumb and Two-Finger Up-Pick: Cut Time ****..... ..........6
"Wabash Cannonball" "Avalon"
• Thumb and Two-Finger Up-Pick: Waltz Time... ........ 4-5
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game
6
A Pattern for Slower Waltz Time ..... 12
"Amazing Grace'
Thumb and Two-Finger Up-Pick: A Shuf e Beat.
"After You've Gone"
... 13 7

Thumb and Two-Finger Up-Pick: Straight Eighths Time. ***.. 15 8

"Stagolee'
• Three-Finger Rolls: A Shuf e Beat.... 16 9
"Careless Love"
• Three-Finger Rolls: Straight Eighths Time.. . ....... 18 10
"Shenandoah"
• Three-Finger Rolls: A Calypso Feel.. esss.. 20 11

"Sloop John B."

• Three-Finger Rolls: Waltz Time.......... 12
"I Ride an Old Paint"
• TheClawhammer Strum....... ......... 24 3
"Will the Circle Be Unbroken"
• TheClawhammerStrum in 3/4 Time ... ...... 25 14
"IRide an Old Paint"

FINGERSTYLE LEAD (CHORD SOLOING)

• StrumsandPinches .... **********

• Building a Chord Melody Solo...

.*******. 27

"Amazing Grace" in F (Chords) .........s........** 28 15

"Amazing Grace" in F (Melody) ........ 29 15

"Amazing Grace" in F (Chord Melody Solo).. ****** 30 15

"Amazing Grace" in G (Chords)..... *****

31 16

"AmazingGrace" in G (Melody) *******s******.

.. ... ... 16

"Amazing Grace" in G (Chord Melody Solo)... ........ 33 16

Up-the-Neck Chords ****. ***... 34
"CandFChord Walt:". **** 35 17
• Turning Majors into Minors..**.***. ...... 35

• Turning Majors into 7ths ..******** 35

.......
• Some Simple Chord Solos. ***.**... 36
"Aloha 'Oe" in G (Chords).
....... ..... 36 18
"Aloha 'Oe" in G (Melody)....
********************* 37
..... 18
Aloha 'Oe" in G (ChordMelodySolo) ..... ........ 38 18
"Aloha Oe" inB»(Chords)..***************s*.
*****.. 39 19
"Aloha'Oe" inB>(Melody) ...
....#.......sss.ss. ...... 40 19
"Aloha 'Oe" in B (ChordMelody Solo)... ********* 41
..... 19
.
fl
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 Page Audio Track

• Clawhammer Solos...
****s***. ************ 42
"Red River Valley" in G (Chords) .. 42 20

"Red River Valley" in G (Melody).....

*******.***.*.. ********..... 43 20
"Red River Valley" in G (Chord Melody Solo),. ...........44 21

"Red River Valley" in G (Clawhammer Solo) .... ...****.*****.. 45 21

"On the Beach at Waikiki" in G (Chords)..... ********* 46 22

"On the Beach at Waikiki" in G (Chord Melody Solo). ************.

17 22

"On the Beach at Waikiki" in G (Clawhammer Solo)..*******s**************. 48 22

"On theBeachat Waikiki" inAb(ClawhammerSolo) .. ....s.......... 49 22

• A Clawhammer Solo in Waltz Time..... *.... 50

"1 Never Will Marry" in D (Chords).... 23

"I Never Will Marry" in D (Chord Melody Solo). *****

51 23

I NeverWill Marry" in D(Clawhammer Solo).. ........t.....

52 23

• A 6/8 Time Solo

**************************************** ... 53
*....**...*.*******.
"RisingSunBlues"in Dm(Chords) ... *********....3 24

"Rising Sun Blues" in Dm (Chord Melody Solo).******..** 54 24

"Rising Sun Blues" in Dm (Chord Melody Solo with Fills). ....*... 55 24

• More Chord Solos. ****************.*******.*..**.**........*.....**...*...*... *******...... b6
"Shine On, Harvest Moon" in G(Chords) ... .***. 56 25

"Shine On, Harvest Moon" in G (Chord Melody Solo).. . ****** 57 25

"Shine On, Harvest Moon" in A (Chord Melody Solo).. ......... 58 25

• Monotone Thumb Accompaniment...........e**** *******...... 59

"St. Louis Blues" in A (Chords) ...... ........... 59 26

"St. LouisBlues" in A (Melody) .... 60 26

"St. Louis Blues" in A (Chord Melody Solo). **** ... 61 26

• The Fourth String as a Filler... ...**. ... 61

"Darktown Strutter's Ball" in C (Chords).. ...*****s***.*.. 62 27

"Darktown Strutter's Ball" in C (Melody).... e******e****** 63 27

"Darktown Strutter's Ball" in C (Chord Melody Solo). ********* ...

..****...*. 64 27

• Three-Finger Rolls as Filler..... ****** ........... ..... ...sss......... 65

"Banks of the Ohio" in G (Chords and Melody).. ............ 66 28

"Banks of the Ohio" in G (Solo with Forward Rolls)..... .. 67

...***********.*******.... 28

"Whispering" in C (Chord Melody Solo).

lo)......**** ********..s...68 29
69
"Whispering" in C (Solo with Forward Rolls)***....s**************************. 29

• MoreChords! (Jazz),.... .......... ........ ....70

"Poor Butter y" in B» (Chord Melody Solo).
.........************* *********..,0 30

"For Me and My Gal" in G (Chord Melody Solo).. 31

......

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. ********* 74

CHORDDICTIONARY ****..**.***. 75

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. #*** ....................................... 77

fl
 Intreductin
If you one of the nine million YouTube viewers who watched JakeShimabukuro's amazing performance of
uWhile My Guitar Gently Weeps," if you've seenJames Hill turn his ukulele into an R&B band playing "Billy
Jean, 'or heard Ohta-San play "Claire de Lune," you know that the ukulele can be much more than a strum-
ming, sing-along instrument. As far back as the 1920s, popular American artists like Roy Smeck and Cliff
Edwards (Ukulele Ike), and Hawaiians like Ernest Ka'ai raised the bar and showed the worid that the ukulele
could be a solo instrument like a piano or a guitar. The ukulele can shine on instrumental versions of popular
songs, rock, jazz, classical music, and anything else you can imagine.

If you want to take your ukulele playing to the next level and learn how to play beautiful instrumentals, you
need to start using your ngers! The sample songs and patterns found in this book and recording will get you
started both playing solos and accompaniment- ngerstyle.

You will learn how to use your right-hand ngers and thumb to play chord melody solos on the ukulele;
mixing chords and single notes like a pianist or a guitarist. You will also learn ngerpicking accompaniment
patterns for a variety of textures and rhythmic grooves. Because ngerstyle playing works for all genres, folk,
jazz,blues, and country songs are included in this collection.

Happy strumming... and picking!

FudSske

ABOUT THE AUDIO

All ukulele parts are panned to one side of the stereo mix, so you can isolate them for close study, or pan them
out and play along with the band.

All instruments: Fred Sokolow

Recorded at Sossity Sound by Michael Monagan

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 5
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 WABASH
CANNONBALL
ACCOMPANIMENT
-

Fingerstyle Accempaniment TRACK 2

Ir you've only strummed the ukulele, the accompaniment patterns in this chapter will introduce you to
ngerpiCking. You'll learn a number of ways to accompany different types of songs with various rhythmic
grooves. Lis ter to the jin gle, to the rum - ble and the
might y rush of the cn - gines, in the lone some ho - bo's
The ngers of your picking hand will be labeled throughout the book using the standard Spanish letters.
p-i-m-a:

p (pulgar) = thumb
D
i (indicio) = index nger
m (medio) = middle nger
a (anular) = ring nger

roar, as she glides a - long the wood - lands through the

THUMB AND TWO-FINGER UP-PICK: CUT TIME call, trav - cl - in through the jun gles the

Here's a very simple picking pattern for cut time, a rhythmic feel that's especially useful in country, folk, or
bluegrass music. It may also work for blues, Tin Pan Alley, or rock tunes as wel.

• Pick the fourth string with your thumb (p). G

2.
G
• Pick the second and rst strings simultaneously with your index () and middle (m) ngers.
Pick the third string with your thumb.
• Pick the second and rst strings simultaneously with your index and middle ngers.

hill: and by the shore. Hea the ball

Wa - bash Can: non
G

TRACK 1 2-
2

The same picking pattern can be used in old, cut time jazz standards like "Avalon," which was a huge hit for
Al Jolson in 1921. The thumb is reversed in the following arrangement.

• Pick the third string with your thumb.

• Pick the second and rst strings simultaneously with your index and middle ngers.
• Pick the fourth string with your thumb.
Use the pattern to play the following old country/folk train song, "Wabash Cannonbal," which was popular- • Pick the second and rst strings simultaneously with your index and middle ingers.
ized by the Carter Family, and later by Roy Acuff.

TRACK 3
(0:0)

6 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 7
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 AVALON-ACCOMPANIMENT
TRACK 3
A7
(0:06) G7

found my love in Av a - lon, be dream of her anc Av a

- on from

-2 -2 0- -0 0
0

Di Fm6

side the bay.

dusk ti dawn. And

2-
0- 0 0
2

C 47
G7

So think tray el to
lef my love in Ay - a - lon. and

0 0 0

Dm G

A va lon
sailed way

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 9
8 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
 THUMB AND TWO-FINGER UP-PICK: WALTZ TIME Am

You can adapt this accompaniment pattern to waltz (3/4) time. HH

• Pick the fourth string with your thumb.

• Pick the second and rst strings simultaneously with your index and middle ngers.
• Pick the second and rst strings again. Buy me Some pea nuts and Crack er Jack.

•Pick the third string with your thumb.

• Pick the second and rst strings simultaneously with your index and middle ngers.
• Pick the second and rst strings again.
AT D7

TRACK 4

don't care if nev er get back. Le me rOot root.,

p P

D G7

The following version of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" makes use of this waltz pattern.

root for the home team, if they don't win it's a

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME-ACCOMPANIMENT

TRACK 5
2
G D7 C cto

Take me to the bal game, shame. For its one. two, three strikes, you're

0-
G D7
A7 D7

take me out with the crowd.

out a the old bal game.

2-
0-

FINGERSTYLE UKULELE 1
10 FINGERSTYLE UKULELE
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