The ukulele is one of the world’s most popular and unique guitars. It is a very versatile instrument, capable of bringing joy and comfort to its listeners. In fact, some people consider the ukulele to be the perfect present for Christmas. If you are looking for an inexpensive, easy, and fun gift idea for someone special, then consider gifting them a song on the ukulele. You will not only please them, but you may also find that this will bring you closer as a couple.
The ukulele has been around since the early 1900s. It was originally designed as a portable guitar for naval officers. However, these days it can be found anywhere, and in any sized group. It can be spotted in cafes, parks, and anywhere people are feeling happy and connected. It comes in many shapes and sizes, so finding the one that will suit your husband, wife, mother, or father may be a challenge. But, if you know what key they play in, it may be easier to find the right one.
The Essential Steps
If you want to write a song for the ukulele, then you need to take some time to learn the basics. Below are the essential steps that you need to take, in order to write a song in less than 10 minutes.
Choose A Key
The first step is to choose the right key. This is fairly easy, as there are only four notes per string on the ukulele. These notes can be found by sounding each of the strings while holding down the note key. Once you know which note you are looking for, it will be much easier to find the right key.
For instance, let’s say that you are writing a song in the key of G, with the note G on the first string (lowest note) and the note A on the next string (second string). To play this song on the ukulele, all you need to do is play along in the key of G. You will not need to change keys, as you can simply go up or down the scale at will, using the note G as a reference point.
Figure Out The Harmonics
The second step is to figure out the harmonics. This step is important, as it will help you determine how the melody and harmony work together. To get started, look at the key that you have chosen and find the open strings (strings that do not have any nut or saddle attached to them).
Once you have found these strings, count them and write down how many times they are stretched. For example, in our earlier example, the first string has one open string, therefore it has a single harmonic. The second string has two open strings, which means that it has two harmonics. This pattern will continue throughout the neck of the ukulele.
Choose Words That Make Sense
The next step is to choose words that make sense. It may seem obvious, but it is important to keep in mind that not all words translate well to music. Some words are simply unusable in this context, no matter how much you might want to use them. Below is a short list of some words that you should avoid, at least for the time being.
- cat
- dog
- boy
- girl
- house
- love
- meow
- moo
- cow
- burger
- hamburger
- thing
- stuff
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- ” “
- bloomers
- woolen
- denim
- leather
- jeans
- sweat
- jeji
- flannel
- gauze
- palm
- banana
- apple
- salami
- sausage
- mozzarella
- mojito
- marzipan
- maudite
- olive
- ” “
- pimento
- pepper
- garlic
- onion
- asparagus
- fennel
- corn
- green bean
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- zucchini
- cucumber
These words might seem strange at first, but they have all been used in one form or another in music. For the most part, the words listed above have one thing in common, they all end in -er. This is simply a prefix that indicates a word ending in -er, which in this case is a suffix that indicates something small or ending in -ness. This suffix can be used to form words that mean “small in size”, “a little something”, or “less than”.
Pick A Metronome
The last step is to pick a metronome. A metronome is a tool that will help you keep time. It can be found in most music stores or online retailers of music equipment.
As you are writing your song, it is important to keep time as you go. This will be much easier with a metronome. If you are using a click track (an electronic track played simultaneously with the recording), then you can speed or slow it down with the click of a mouse. But, using a real drummer or bass player to play along with you is usually the best option. A metronome can help you keep time while also giving you some inspiration and enhancing the natural sound of your voice.
Final Takeaway
The ukulele is a unique and wonderful gift for a special person. It is capable of bringing pleasure to its players and joy to its listeners. If you are looking for an inexpensive, easy, and fun gift idea for someone special, then consider gifting them a song on the ukulele. You will not only please them, but you may also find that this will bring you closer as a couple.
Once you have written and recorded your song, you can make it available for others to listen to and enjoy. You should consider creating a YouTube channel to share your music with the world. Or, if you prefer, you can request that your local radio station plays your song. This may bring you more success as an independent musician.