Uke Lesson: Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World

For more details about the strum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpB1LfXign8

I listened to a lot of people trying to recreate the magic of Bruddah Iz' "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and missing the essence. I can't sing like Iz or even do his strum, but perhaps I can give people some hints about how Iz did it. I think four things are missing from the Youtubers who take on the challenge:
1. Tenor-size uke (soprano just don't cut it--concert-size is close)
2. Low G string (very important--you MUST get a new, thicker G string made especially for low G tuning)
3. reggae strum (If can, can, if no can, cannot)
4. Damping the strings (See um in da video)
Hopefully this will educate new ukers about the instrument and the magic of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Or I could just sound like a stuck up know-it-all.
I've played this song in its entirety at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Eg_1Vd-EZ4 , but Youtube has removed it for copyright infringement. Sorry.
TUNING QUESTION:
To find Worth Strings, you will probably have to order them online unless you're in Hawaii. Try www.ukuleleworld.com
Tuning an ukulele is very tricky because short-scale instruments, like ukes and mandolins are very finicky. If the strings sound "off", then they are off. Sometimes they sound "off" because the player is hitting them too hard. And every instrument has its own quirks. Tourist quality ukes, usually less than $50, and even some more expensive ones, are almost untuneable because the frets or bridge are not in the right place.
Use a tuner or keyboard instrument to get the strings close to the proper pitch, then tune string-to-string at the 5th fret like guitar players do. See this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kAWy2YodzQ&feature=channel

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ukulele
• israel
• kamakawiwo'ole
• iz
• bruddah
• braddah
• tenor
• uke
• somewhere
• over
• rainbow

[Jettie828]

when u flop down a finger. are u pinky muting or making chord inversions?

[JesseTinsley]

@Jettie828 Pinky (or whatever finger is available) muting.

[SuperRemixXx1]

Could i use a concert or soprano ukulele and just put a low g on it becuase tenor ukulele's are expensive and i am a beginner. Plz answer :)

[JesseTinsley]

@SuperRemixXx1 You may use any ukulele to play this song. I only described what gave Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version the sound it had. Also, getting a soprano strung low G is very difficult because the scale is so short and it's hard to find a string that will tune down to low G. Many sopranos only sound good when tuned ADF#B.

[Vipeout]

2:52 what chord is that please?

[JesseTinsley]

@Vipeout It is E7, played 1202.

[mediacommand]

Oh what a wonderful cave

[JesseTinsley]

@reneosiris19 See my newer video linked in the description above.

[EnsembleOfShadowslll]

Man, u've got a dgreat voice!

[alika207]

@funkycowboy It's whatever note you have on the bottom string in the chord. For example, the bottom string is open on the C chord, open on the G chord, and has a finger on the second fret on the a-minor and F chords. Does that help?

[Davidoff73]

this is very good stuff THANKS

[ukuleleben1]

That was the best over the rainbow lesson iv seen so far.

[Pamelawilk]

thank you so much....you sound wonderful. I wish I could have heard the whole song. Thanks again.

[thesillyone42]

@mehannahn i guess, when he´s singing it sounds more amazing or somthing....

[thesillyone42]

12 string guitar in background!