ClassicalCode

Years ago I heard a beautiful arrangement of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” on Ukuele Mike’s Youtube channel. Unfortunately the video is no-longer online. However, his arrangement inspired me to create my own using his as a starting point. My goal was an arrangement which exposed the simplistic beauty of the song’s timeless melody. Unfortunately while trying to expose the melody I inadvertently exposed my amateur technique. That’s why it has taken several years (4-5?) of idle practice to get this piece to a place where it was fit to record. I hope you enjoy listening to this recording as much as I have enjoy playing it for the last several years:

Audio only:

Download as .mp3

Tablature of the melody and chord voicings, but not the finger picking:
Charlie_Chaplin_Smile_Ukulele.pdf

The lyrics to the song are not used in this recording but are none-the-less an important part of this song:

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through
for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you’ll just
Smile

Photo credit: Neil Patel

Yet another song from the vaults. This one from February 14th, 2006. One of only few serious original songs I have written.

Lyrics:

I walked out the door and followed my feet and wished for it all to leave.
My head was too full, no way to digest, the thoughts you had left me with.
So I paced round the pond, and muttered of love, and tore my hair out from within.
There were tears that time round, and the time after that, and walking away never helped.
So I pace every night to try to forget. But it always just brings me back home.

Download as .mp3

Recorded on my first ukulele into my first (MacBook) laptop.

Photo credit: Beau Lambert (March 2010)

Another one from the archives. Here is a tiny song I sent Chelsea on March 14th, 2010. In keeping with my previous creations, it’s diminutive and bemoans my in-ability to create. Thank you Chelsea for being my muse.

Download as .mp3

Chelsea and I perform Menotti’s The Telephone at her parent’s house (4/28/2012)
Photo credit: Lori Lunsford Brevig

Here’s one from the archives. Last year Chelsea had her phone stolen on Muni. As a security measure she wanted to switch to a text-tone that did not scream “I have en expensive phone in my purse!” whenever she received a text. To help her out I wrote and recorded this tiny (even by my standards!) ukulele track. I have in my records that I sent it to her on July 15th, 2011. Feel free to use it your iPhone.

Download as .mp3
Download as .m4r (iPhone text tone)

With Chelsea traveling all over the country on her graduate school auditions I had both the time and motivation to record her a little song. Although this one is not original, it is the same style as the two previous ring tones I made for her. The song has four electric ukulele tracks and one electric bass track.

Playing electric ukulele on the couch with Chelsea

The song is “I Love You Truly” a 1901 song by Carrie Jacobs Bond. The lyrics (which are not present in this recording) are as follows:

I love you truly, truly dear,
Life with its sorrow, life with its tears
Fades into dreams when I feel you are near
For I love you truly, truly dear.

Ah! Love, ’tis something to feel your kind hand
Ah! Yes, ’tis something by your side to stand;
Gone is the sorrow, gone doubt and fear,
For you love me truly, truly dear.

Download as .mp3

It’s been over half a year since my last post, and I’m back with something very similar. Chelsea was in San Diego, and while she was gone I finally was able to get something recorded for her. The number of ideas, over the past months, that never made it is staggering, but this one made it, thanks in no small part to it’s brevity and lack of lyrics. Despite it’s diminutive length, it still took me nearly an entire day to write, learn and record. Oy!

It consists of the following tracks:

• Rhythm electric ukulele
• Lead electric ukulele
• Harmony electric ukulele
• Electric ukulele harmonics
• “Slap yourself in the chest” bass drum
• Electric bass

Have a listen! (Or download the first bit of it as an iPhone ring tone)

Download .mp3
Download .m4r (iPhone ring tone)