Cathy's Chords - songs for guitar & uke

Thanks to Mike for letting me know about the broken link for Rivers of Babylon (Level 7 for guitar). I have re-done the link and checked it, so it should open OK now. The new link is http://bit.ly/12Vzk6L.

Thanks also to those who have ‘liked’/commented on the Facebook page. I checked in once, very quickly, when I was away (Internet access was very expensive), and I’m back now and online again. It’s very encouraging to see that people are enjoying the material on the website – and of course to get donations: thank you so much to those who have contributed to keep the site afloat and ad-free!

Now that I’m home I’m catching up on things (and sleep) but I hope to find some time soon to look at a couple of new songs for the site… stay tuned:)

I'm heading off for a holiday this weekend (South Pacific cruise with my Mum) so I'll be mostly out of touch for a couple of weeks (apparently Internet acccess costs an arm and a leg)... so I apologise in advance for not responding to any messages promptly.

I'm also posting a message here for Joanie, who contacted me by email a few days ago; unfortunately, my reply kept bouncing back, so in case you see this Joanie, here's the reply (it may also be helpful to others who are unsure of timing):

Hi Joanie,

Lovely to hear from you- thanks for making contact. I’m glad the site is helping you to have fun with your uke.

The timing can be a bit tricky at first, because you’re probably not used to the strumming action so it may feel awkward; and you need to play slowly at first, which makes it harder.

You may want to practice tapping along with songs you play on CDs etc to get used to making the rhythm with your hand. Every time you sway/clap/tap along to music, you’re getting the feel of the rhythm in your body, which helps you to get the strumming in time (you’ll nave the odd pause when you change chords at first, that’s normal).

I made a video for someone who had trouble with strumming to Tom Dooley- it may help you. It’s for guitar so ignore the chord formations, but it demonstrates the strum. It’s on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czIUFFuPmTc if you want to have a look (excuse the singing- I’m no singer!).

Keep practising and having fun, and let me know how you’re going,

Regards,

Cathy

 Dido sings this in Dm (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-fWDrZSiZs) but I had a request for an 'easy' version so I've written it out in Am.

You can put a capo on the 5th fret if you want to sing in the recorded key, or you can use the capo (or no capo) to make it a lower pitch of you like (you just can't sing with the recording as you'll be in a different key, e.g. capo 1 would make it Bbm, Capo 2 would be Bm, Capo 3 would be Cm etc.)

The song sheet for guitar is here: L.10 White Flag in Am_Am,Em,G,F,C,Dm

I haven't written it up for uke but if anyone is keen to get the ukulele version (in Dm with no capo - the chords are not too hard), let me know

Wishing everyone a wonderful, safe and musical New Year!

And to get into the mood, I've written out Auld Lang Syne (all verses & translation -- interesting - never realised that "ye'll be your pint-stowp" meant you'll buy your own drink!).

I've written out several versions (I find the D/Eb one very high to sing, so did one in C as well). A link to Dougie Maclean singing on YouTube is on the song sheet; he sings in Eb, so you can just play the D version with a capo in the first fret if you want to sing in that key.

Here are the links to the PDF song sheets:

For guitar:

L.11 Auld Lang Syne (Easy)_Key D_D, G, A

L.7 Auld Lang Syne_Version 2_Key C_C,F,G7

For ukulele (both versions easy):

Uke L.13. Auld Lang Syne_Key D_D,G,A

Uke L.4. Auld Lang Syne_Version 2_Key C_C,F,G7

This beautiful, haunting song was featured in Billy Connelly's World Tour of Australia. I've made up some chords for it and written it out for guitar:

Dreamtime - Key: C; Chords: C, F, G, G7, Am, Dm

The PDF songsheet has a link to the YouTube clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-NJ8WhF6SU). The recording is in C, so you can sing along, but I find it easier to sing with a capo on the 3rd fret.

If you'd like me to do a ukulele version, leave a message in the Guestbook or Facbook page.

I was actually looking for another song on YouTube and found this - it has simple, appealing tune and a gentle, light-hearted story. I actually have a CD of the Dubliners singing this song as "the Old Dungarvan Oak".

The Frank Hennessy recording of The Old Carmarthen Oak is in the key of G, and the chords are nice and easy, so I've written it out for guitar. I can do the uke version if anyone wants it.

The song sheet is here: L.4 The Old Carmarthen Oak in G; chords: G,C,D,D7

and the You Tube clip (with some interesting pictures) is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfdaSXYbfdc ;

This song is always a vibrant, catchy number in the Carols concert on TV each year.  I had it in my head this afternoon when I got home from the shops so looked for the chords online, with no luck. I thought I'd have a go at working out some chords, but found I needed to use some bar chords... so it's not really easy to play, but fun all the same.

I've put all the chord diagrams and a link to the YouTube clip in the Song Sheet. You can download the PDF here: http://bit.ly/TT8UtE ;

Note that this is my interpretation of the song, with no assurance that the chords are accurate; this version is for study purposes only. 

This lovely song was written and recorded by Gordon Lighfoot -   I love his version  but the Peter, Paul and Mary recording has haunting harmonies. I've already written the words/chords out for guitar before, but here's a ukulele version. It's a little lower than the recording, so it's a bit difficult to sing along (you'd need to add a capo on the 3rd fret, which is tricky if you have a small ukulele).

It's in G, so has a Bminor (Bm) chord, but that's not hard on the ukulele- you just need to put your finger across the 'top' 3 strings on the 2nd fret and use your 3rd finger on the 4th string, 4th fret. It may seem a little awkward at first but it's worth persisting. Chord diagrams are on the song sheet (also a link to a YouTube clip of PP&M singing the song).

Here's the link to the PDF song sheet: http://bit.ly/Vq3jRc