1. Hampshire Music Service
Uke ‘n’ Sing
Hampshire Music Service
World Record Breaking
Ukulele Resources

2. What you need for the Guinness world record attempt
You will need
a ukulele for each player taking part
this power point
a copy of the song words, sheet music and the song backing track – all available to download for free from Firesticks And Song website

3. What you need to do next Learn to pluck open strings
Learn the note names of the strings
Learn to strum
Learn to strum C F G or G7 and A minor chords
Learn to play along to the Uke ‘n’ Sing Song

4. Ukuleles come from Hawaii!

5. What does ukulele mean?
Jumping flea!

6. Get warmed up! Use Uke ‘n’ Sing song as backing track
Start by responding to the steady beat and identify the metre (4)
Tap along to the steady beat – experiment with other body actions
Move to the steady beat – try tiptoeing, swinging arms, marching feet
Try tiptoeing in each verse, marching in each chorus and standing still and swinging arms at all other times e.g. during the introduction, linking sections and the ending
Play “air” ukulele (strum on your tum!)
Play games to rehearse counting in 4 - All in, Switch, Roll the ball

7. The Ukulele Strings (nose) String 4 Good* String 3 Children
String 2 Eat
(knees) String 1 Apples
*The string and chord letters are different colours to make it easier to differentiate between them and see when they change – if it helps you can colour code the position of the fingers on the ukulele for each chord with matching coloured sticky spots (see slide 10 – Chords - description and tab)

8. Ostinato song developing your plucking skills
Pluck string G C E A (string )
to steady beat
Ostinato, sounds like tomato
Ostinato, on and on
Ostinato, squashed tomato
Ostinato, ’til it’s gone

9. Rhythm games Developing your strumming skills
Start by using open strings then progress to using C chord
Don’t strum this one back
Copy and match rhythms 4 beat rhythm patterns - except x x xx x (don’t strum this one back)
In the gap improvisations
All strum 2 x 4 beats,
Leave a 2 x 4 beat gap (count quietly / in heads)
All strum 2 x 4 beats
Once the gap is secure invite groups and soloists to fill the gap

10. Chords – description and tab
C chord – string 1 fret 3 = F chord – string 2 fret 1 and string 4 fret 2 = G chord – string 3 fret 2, string1 fret 2, string 2 fret 3 = or G7 – string 2 fret 1 string 3 fret 2 string1 fret 2 = A minor chord – string 4 fret 2 =

11. Sing and play to the tune of Frere Jacques using C chord
Ukulele (x 2)
Having fun (x2)
Playing altogether (x2)
Strum strum strum (x2)
Sing the song
Try as call (leader) and echo (everyone else)
Try performing in 2 equal groups
Add steady beat body percussion accompaniment
Strum the steady beat using C chord

12. Introducing the F chord
Don’t strum this one back using F chord
Copy and match any 4 beat rhythm patterns - except x x xx x (don’t strum this one back)
This is my chord
Count out loud (not too fast)
Once secure:
Play C chord on beat 1 (repeat this until secure)
Continue playing C chord on beat 1 and add F chord on beat 5
Play C chord on beat 1 and 2, F chord on beats 5 and 6
Play C chord on beats and F chord on beats 5 6 7
Finally play C chord on beats and F chord on beats
If changing chord is tricky divide into a C group and an F group
If keeping in time is tricky try using a keyboard rhythmic backing
If this is easy challenge children to invent their own patterns

13. *You are my Sunshine – C and F
Count You / are / my
(C) sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me (F)happy when skies are (C)grey.
You’ll never (F)know, dear, how much I (C)love you.
Please don’t take my (F)sunshine a (C)way.
(C)I’ll always love you and make you happy
If you will (F)only stay the (C)same
But if you (F)leave me to love a (C)nother
You’ll regret it (F)all some (C)day. *Copyright pending

14. A minor chord If you can play the F chord then the
A minor chord is quite easy
– just take your index finger off string 2 leaving your second finger on string 4

15. Introducing the G chord you can choose to play G or G7
Don’t strum this one back using a G chord
Copy and match any 4 beat rhythm patterns – except x x xx x (don’t strum this one back)
This is my chord
Play – This is my chord – using C and a G chord
For the very adventurous make up own rhythm patterns using C F and a G

16. Oh When the Saints Introduction C C / C C
C C C C / C C C C / C C C C / G G G G
saints…….
C C C C / F F F F / C C G G / C C C C
(oh when the)

17. Introducing Uke ‘N’ Sing Song
Listen to the verse and learn to sing along to one or all of the verses if you have time!
Listen to chorus 1 and then chorus 2 and learn to sing along if you have time
IDENTIFY THE STRUCTURE SO YOU KNOW WHEN TO PLAY THE VERSE AND
WHEN TO PLAY THE CHORUS (see next slide)
There are a variety of ways you can play along to this song
See suggestions below listed in order of difficulty
Play along using plucked open strings to the verses and then the chorus either playing on all the beats or on beat 1 (of four)
Play along in 3 or 4 groups following the chords each group plays one of the chords – one group could play F and A minor
Play along altogether following simple chord patterns
More advanced players could play the full chords or the melody using the music downloaded from the Firesticks and Song web site (

18. The structure of the song
4 bar introduction into Verse 1
2 bar link into Chorus
4 bar introduction into Verse 2
2 bar link into Chorus
4 bar introduction into Verse 3 (instrumental)
2 bar link into Chorus
4 bar introduction into Verse 4
Coda
(The introductions and links are all Gs)

19. Plucking to accompany the verse
Introduction to every verse
G G G G / G G G G / G G G G / G G G G
Verse
C C C C / C C C C / C C C C /C C C C
C C C C / C C C C / C C G G / C C C C
The string letters are different colours to make it easier to see the changes (they also match the colours used for the chords)

20. Plucking to accompany the chorus using open strings 1 3 and 4 (A, C and G)
Link into every chorus G G G G / G G G G Chorus G G G G / C C C C / G G G G / C C C C A A G G / C C C C / A A A A / G G G G Coda G G G G / G G G G / C (Colour coding has been used to make it easier to see the string changes)

21. Chords to accompany the verse
Introduction G G G G / G G G G / G G G G / G G G G Verse C C C C / C C C C / F F F F / C C C C C C C C / C C C C / F F G G / C C C C

22. Chords to accompany the chorus
Link into chorus
G G G G / G G G G
Chorus
C C C C / F F F F / G G G G / C C C C
F F G G / C C C C / Am Am Am Am / G G G G
Coda (after the last chorus)
G G G G / G G G G / C
F and A minor are both shades of green as a reminder that the position of the A minor chord is the same as F with the index finger lifted off string 2

23. You did it – well done!