Category: Pop

Moon River – Fingerstyle #Ukulele with Chords and Lyrics

The music for “Moon River” was written by Henry Mancini and lyrics by Johnny Mercer for the 1961 movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and also won the 1962 Grammy Awards for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year. It became the theme song for Andy Williams and has been recorded by pretty much everybody.

I played this song using the 3/4 fingerstyle pattern below…

(1)–3rd string (thumb)
and–2nd string (index)
(2)–1st string (middle)
and–4th string (thumb)
(3)–1st string (middle)
and–2nd string (index)

moon-river

Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye – Fingerstyle #Ukulele with Chords and Lyrics

“Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” was written by John D. Loudermilk in 1960. It became a Top 10 hit in 1967 for The Casinos then was a #1 country hit for Eddy Arnold in 1968. Neal McCoy’s version reached #4 on the country chart in 1996.

 

I played it fingerstyle in 6/8 time in the same way I’ve played some other 6/8 songs.

 

There are 6 counts in each measure (6/8 time):

 

1 – Pinch 4th, 2nd, and 1st string with thumb, index, and middle fingers

2 – 3rd string played with thumb

3 – 2nd string played with thumb

4 – 1st string played with middle finger

5 – 2nd string played with index finger

6 – 3rd string played with thumb

 

That’s how I do it, but if you don’t want to use your thumb that much it’s up to you. You could even use your thumb and 3 fingers and designate a different finger for each string, for example, 4th string thumb, 3rd string index, 2nd string middle finger, and 1st string ring finger. Whatever works for you.

 

There’s also a separate “6/8 Time” category for other songs that use this same pattern. Here’s a link:

 

https://ezfolk.com/category/68-time/

then-you-can-tell-me-goodbye

Let It Be Me (Everly Brothers) – #Ukulele Strum-Along with Chords and Lyrics

“Let It Be Me” was a big hit from the Everly Brothers in 1959. It was originally a French song published as “Je t’appartiens” in 1955 and the American version was an interpretation of that. Since then it’s become a standard that has been recorded by countless artists.

When a Man Loves a Woman – Fingerstyle #Ukulele with Chords and Lyrics

This soul classic was written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright, members of the Esquires, an Alabama band whose lead singer was Percy Sledge. It was the first #1 hit produced at Muscle Shoals, reaching #1 on both the Hot 100 and the R&B charts in 1966. It was also a #1 hit for Michael Bolton in 1991.

 

Here’s how I played it…..

 

There are 6 counts in each measure (6/8 time):

1 – Pinch 4th, 2nd, and 1st string with thumb, index, and middle fingers

2 – 3rd string played with thumb

3 – 2nd string played with thumb

4 – 1st string played with middle finger

5 – 2nd string played with index finger

6 – 3rd string played with thumb

 

That’s how I do it, but if you don’t want to use your thumb that much it’s up to you. You could even use your thumb and 3 fingers and designate a different finger for each string, for example, 4th string thumb, 3rd string index, 2nd string middle finger, and 1st string ring finger. Whatever works for you.

There’s also a separate “6/8 Time” category for other songs that use this same pattern. Here’s a link:

 

https://ezfolk.com/category/68-time/

In the Misty Moonlight – #Ukulele Strum-Along with Chords and Lyrics

“In the Misty Moonlight” was written by Cindy Walker and became a hit for Jerry Wallace in 1964 (#19 on the Billboard Top 100). Dean Martin’s single in 1967 went to #1 on the Easy Listening chart and #46 on the Hot 100. It’s been recorded by many other artists as well, and one of my favorites was the Skeeter Davis and Bobby Bare duet.

 

Songwriter Cindy Walker (1918-2006) had Top 10 hits that spanned five decades, and she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997. More than 500 of her songs have been recorded by country and pop artists, and her songs have made the Top 40 charts more than 400 times.