October 13, 2007

Launching more songs on the ukulele

LAND PARK, SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - The addition of a new set of Bose earphones has opened up hearing songs sooooo much better than with the earphones that came with my Ipod, which are hooked into the computer while I work - or write blogs.

Bose earphones
A late birthday present

And what they have also done is let me hear songs a much more clearly to see if they are possibilities for the ukulele.

Since discovering the Circle of 5ths, I have been busy transposing songs so my fingers can wrap around the adjusted chords.

Get ready for some Sonny & Cher songs, lots of Garth Brooks, one Allan Jackson song, but no Barry Manilow, yet. (Thank God, you are thinking. I know.)

But in keeping with my most likely musical performances - heavy on comedy, a little short on real music - I ran across a neat ditty by rock legend Chuck Berry that I have added to my repertoire.

Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry

Nope, it's not Maybelline, though that's a possibility.

It My Ding-A-Ling, a three-chord song that has, well, pretty funny lyrics.

The chording part is easy, remembering the lyrics is a lot harder.

But the fun part about the song is that when sung in public, it seems like audiences love to sing the chorus.

Here's a short version, in case you want to practice:

My Ding-A-Ling-A-Ling

When I was a little biddy boy
My grandma bought me a cute little toy
Two Silver bells on a string
She told me it was my ding-a-ling-a-ling

My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling

When I was little boy In Grammar school
Always went by the very best rule
But Evertime the bell would ring
You'd catch me playing with my ding-a-ling

Once while climbing the garden wall,
Slipped and fell had a very bad fall
I fell so hard I heard birds sing,
But I held on to My ding-a-ling

Once while swimming cross turtle creek
Man them snappers right at my feet
Sure was hard swimming cross that thing
with both hands holding my dingaling

Now this here song it ain't so bad
Prettiest little song that you ever had
And those of you who will not sing
must be playing with your on Ding-a-ling

No comments: