Friendly Fred

Hi, I'm FriendlyFred and running this blog. I play 'em all from soprano to baritone, acoustic and electric. Yes, big hands can handle small instruments. Enjoy strumming around and have a good day !

Somewhere Over The Rainbow by IZ – Ukulele Tutorial

Hi, everyone here is a new Ukulele tutorial, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". Maybe you have already watched my Gotye tutorial or the Katy Perry tutorial. (If not, give it a try). So you've already seen the chords and the lyrics in the Video. With this tutorial i added some improvements.

So what`s new ?

Strumming pattern explained in the video

People often ask me about the strumming pattern, especially beginners. So i decided to choose a pattern that is not that difficult. It is show at the beginning of the video so you are able to practice it before you start playing the song.

Lyrics are now in karaoke style

To make it more easier to sing along to the song, i decided to show the lyrics in a karaoke style. I hope you like it. Here's the original:
My tutorial video:
Ukulele Chords & Lyrics  On 2 Sheets ( PDF ) ( thanks to lassie66 for creating the pdf ) Standard reentrant tuning ( G C E A ) Strumming First learn the strumming as it is shown in the beginning of the video. Start with half tempo to get into the groove. There are only eighth  notes ( 1/8 ) in the strumming. Mind the rests between the strums ( at 1+ and 3 ). This is shown in the graphic at the beginning of the video. Fell free to strum in a different way (more easier or maybe more difficult).   Chords Learn to play all 8 chords.Print the pdf-file, so you can see all the chords at once. These are fairly easy chords, just take your time to learn them. The F9 is a shortened chord without the keynote ( there's a G instead of F ). I hope these informations help you to learn this song. Feel free to leave a comment below or on my youtube channel .

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56 Comments

  1. Renee

    Hey there,
    Really enjoy your version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I was wondering if you had the tabs for the other Uke that’s playing? The bit that’s doing the (what do you call it) “singing”.

    Thanks very much,
    Renee

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Hi Renee,
      thanks for your comment. I played the melody with an electric guitar by the ear. Sorry, I didn’t tab it.
      Best wishes Fred.

      Reply
  2. Andy

    Fred, Your arrangement and playing have really “hit the spot” with me – thank you.
    Is there any chance you could post the lead playing as a stand alone track so I can (eventually) play along with it in my own way :-).

    Cheers, Andy

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Hi Andy,
      I’m sorry I can’t find the track of the melody right now. I just played it by the ear on an electric guitar.
      So you might record it by yourself or whistle to your strumming.

      Best wishes FF

      Reply
      • Friendly Fred

        Update: I just posted a video, where the strumming is muted when the singing begins:
        http://bit.ly/15iF6AI

        Reply
  3. Andy

    Fred, Excellent, just what I was after. Many thanks.

    Andy
    (New Uke convert – addictive, isn’t it 🙂 )

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      I’m glad that you like it.

      Strum on Andy.

      Reply
    • Juliano

      Hi Andy and Fred, any chance either of you put the lead down on paper or in tablature? Since I dont see the lead for Somewhere Over the Rainbow anywhere else online, and this version is awesome. I would love to have it if you can, or suggest a way to get the lead notes for ukelele for SOR. This version is so helpful in learning it.

      Reply
      • Friendly Fred

        Hi Juliano, I played the melodie on my electric guitar by the ear and didn’t tab it.

        FriendlyFred

        Reply
  4. rick

    Well it was great while it was working. Now I just get the welcome screen. Happy to to help if needed.

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Thank you for your feedback Rick.
      We don’t intend to create a tempo button.
      The app developer works on the bug fixing.

      Best wishes FF

      Reply
      • rick

        I’d be happy to pay $5.00 if you put that tempo button on it would make this app do much more help full.

        Reply
        • Friendly Fred

          It’s not so easy to vary the tempo of videos. The idea is that you learn the to play the song and may play it faster later with a metronome if you like.
          We tested the songs with ukulele newbies and they did quite well.

          Reply
  5. Terry

    Very well done….best tutorial I have found

    Mahalo
    Terry

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Thanx for watching Terry.

      Bye FriendlyFred.

      Reply
  6. Harry

    Approaching 76, just started learning the Uke.

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Harry, it’s never too late to begin with the uke.

      Strum on and have fun.

      Best wishes FriendlyFred.

      Reply
  7. Bruce

    I am very new to the Uke. A musician friend and I are planning on a pubic (party) performance of Rainbow in a few weeks and I am using your tutorial to quickly learn the song. So far so good. I do not understand your comment regarding dropping the 8th strum at the right time. Can you explain that for me? Your video is very intuitive and I am learning quickly thanks to it. Dry well done video for the beginner. Thanks!!! Bruce

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Hi Bruce, thanks for your comment.

      The strumming has only eighth notes and you should mind the rests as it is shown in the beginning of the video.
      I changed the description of the strumming so that this is better to understand.

      Best wishes FriendlyFred.

      Reply
  8. Pamela

    Hi, Friendly Fred thank soooo much for this, I am a beginner and had trouble picking this up before, but you have explained it so clearly with the video that it has made it much easier for me. Very best wishes to you.and thanks for being so friendly 🙂 Pamela

    Reply
  9. Pamela

    Hi Friendly Fred,
    Thanks soooo much for this! I am a beginner and found this difficult to pick up before but your easy to follow video has mad it much easier for me and I really appreciate it. Very best wishes to you and thanks for being so friendly and posting such a wonderful website 🙂

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Thanks for your kind words Pamela. I always try to keep it simple.
      Strum on.
      Best wishes FriendlyFred.

      Reply
  10. Heather Jensen

    I’m new to the Uke and found you on Youtube. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into making these amazing tutorials. I’ve really enjoyed the Jason Mraz one you did, and I’m loving this version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. The karaoke style lyrics are amazing, too. Just one thing, I can’t get the download link for the PDF to work. It says the file has been removed or something. I’d love the PDF with chords. Any chance you might email it to me? Thanks again!

    Reply
    • admin

      Thanks Heather,

      I just fixed the link.

      FriendlyFred.

      Reply
  11. BG

    the sheet has been removed……..
    Link to the “BOX APP” is broken

    Reply
    • admin

      Just fixed the link. Now it works again.

      FriendlyFred.

      Reply
  12. Chris

    Hi Fred–I still can’t get the link to work, it still says content has been removed…. Could you please have another go at it? Thank you, Fred!

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      It works now.

      Reply
  13. cyril

    What is the tempo ? please

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      84 bpm.

      Reply
  14. cyril

    @ Thank you Fred
    Another question where I can retrieve the file from the accompanying music?
    you’re not doing it band in box?
    thank you

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      We produce the backings and the melodie line with Ableton live. I play the melodies by the ear.

      Reply
  15. hilary

    This is such a great video, I’d love to download the pdf file of chords, but it doesn’t work. Could you just post the chords needed in response to this post so i can practice them? Thanks!
    Hilary

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Thanks Hilary.

      Just click on the link under the video to download the chordsheet.

      Best wishes FriendlyFred.

      Reply
  16. tauper

    Hey man, old fogey at 78 and getting into the uke I got for xmas. Sites like yours are so supportive and encouraging to newbies like moi. So, a big mahalo to you, your teaching/intuitiveness and sharing. Aloha, tauper.

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Thanks tauper for your nice comment.
      You’re never too old to play the uke.
      Strum on man.

      Cheers FriendlyFred

      Reply
  17. Dennis

    This is the best Uke site ever. I have never played an instrument before and have just got a Uke. I’m a 48 yr old Dad of two 5 and seven and would like to play along with my wife and kids.
    Not many Uke teachers in South Africa
    Thank you sooo much for the lovely site.
    PS could not load the pdf chords to work.

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Thanks Dennis. Hope you have fun playin’ the uke with your family.
      To get in contact with other ukulele players in your region, you might have a look at http://www.ukuleleunderground.com.

      Reply
  18. Alexboy

    Nice version in UKE…excellent strumming …thanks for this piece !!

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Thanks for watching Alex.

      Reply
  19. Yoan

    Hi,

    The link for the PDF is dead. Could you upload it again please?

    Thanks for the video

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      It works as far as I can see.

      Reply
    • Alma

      My Mom’s got a gold label Kamaka, I was jealous and found a fliyng vee, not up to kamaka standards, went on to a mahalo pineapple without a bridge or strngs. Once that was repaired sounds like a million (but I pine for the faux pineapple finish that the kala has!)I guess you’ve figured out I’m an artistic/visual person!!

      Reply
      • Friendly Fred

        The Mahalo pineapple looks great. If the intonation is good, you’ll have fun with it. Personnaly I prefer ukuleles in classic design. Just because mostly I play in sitting position.
        Keep on strumming.
        Best regards
        FriendlyFred

        Reply
  20. Geoff

    Hi, just so you know Box has taken the file down.

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Thanks Geoff. Back on the track.

      Reply
  21. Jim

    What is the “knock” (kind of like hitting a piece of wood) sound heard during the video? It does not seem to be when you change chords.

    Just wondered, if I am missing something>

    Thank You,

    Jim

    Reply
    • Friendly Fred

      Hi Jim,

      that’s just from the backing track ( like a minimal metronome ).

      Best regards
      FriendlyFred

      Reply
      • Cori

        Hi!. I’m triying to use a metronome but dont know the speed. Is it 60 bpm?
        Thanks for your wonderful tutorial!

        Reply
        • admin

          Hi Cori,

          to be honest, I can’t remember. I think we did it a little faster than the original.
          Use the tap function of a metronome app to get the tempo.

          Best wishes FriendlyFred

          Reply
  22. hillary

    Daughter (15) plays guitar and has been begging for a Ukulele but I don’t know what to buy her – she learned Somewhere over the rainbow on her guitar for a concert in May but really want to s play it on a Uke – can you recommend what I should get for her – the tiny bit of looking i have done i see there are different kids – soprano, concert, tenor, bass – I am lost — do you have any advise or tips? Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • admin

      Hi Hillary,
      your daughter should take some different ukes and sizes in her hand and decide which one fits her. For the start a simple soprano like a Makala Dolphin should be alright. You can buy more expensive ones, when she plays ukulele for a while.

      Best regards
      FriendlyFred

      Reply
  23. Bill Ferrigno

    New to the game. Love your site . Long term wind instrument player, asthma forces switch to strings. Working out on bass uke. Never too old (80).

    Reply
    • admin

      Hi Bill,
      you’re never to old for the uke.
      Keep the spirit and strum on.

      Cheers
      FriendlyFred

      Reply

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