Sixteen Tons - Ukulele Version

My cover of Sixteen Tons made famous by Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1955. I love the chord progression. The Stray Cats Strut has a similar progression, though I suspect there are many more examples.

I recorded this on my mom's Lanikai Baritone Ukulele that I just restrung with Aquila NylGut strings. I really like these strings, we'll see how they hold up on the Baritone. (The 3rd and 4th strings are wound BTW - tuned DGBE)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• lanikai
• baritone
• ukulele
• sixteen
• tons
• tennessee
• ernie
• ford
• 1955
• ukelele

[lgibel]

Wonderful sound - I wish the uke was in the screen, I'm trying to copy your strumming pattern.

[cdjames10]

@lgibel I'm not sure exactly how to describe the strum. I'm pretty much just strumming down with upstrum's thrown between the down strums and up at the end of each phrase. Is that confusing enough?

[AlanSturgess]

Really liked your version and the accompaniment. I've been looking to buy a ukelele and have read good reviews of the Lanikai LU-21B Baritone, so this upload has helped me firm up my decision. (Not sure what model yours is, but it looks similar to the 21B).

I've always loved this tune. My favourite recorded versions are a 12 string instrumental by Billy Strange or, the classic Ernie Ford recording and both Johnny Cash and Lorne Greene did it proud as well.

[cdjames10]

This IS indeed a Lanikai LU-21B. I had my mom get this one because I think the stripped down models sound louder/better than the glossed up shiny ones. So I can definitely recommend getting one. I've got the Koa (laminated) version and it's quieter than hers. So stay away from the shiny bling-bling ones.

Thanks for listening.

[unclejeff64]

nice one!

[cdjames10]

Thanks for your support Jeff. I hope one day to be able to write songs as well as you do.

[AlanSturgess]

Thanks for responding abd for the tips. At the moment, after several hours Googling, I haven't found a dealership in the UK which sells the Lanikai baritone --- all the others, but not the baritone. The search goes on.

[cdjames10]

Well Thanks! You think 5 stars good though? I wouldn't have given myself anything over 4.

Thanks for listening!

[cdjames10]

Thanks, I think my voice is my weak point, but that's just my opinion.  Thanks for listening.

[cdjames10]

I think you'll find mine is only slightly faster than Tennessee Ernie Fords wonderful version. He does draw out some parts of the song though which makes it sound slower that it really is..if that's possible.

Pachebel Rant is one of my "Favorited" videos. That and "Four Chords" by Axis of Awesome really got me listening to different songs to find the similarities.

..and of course, thanks for listening!