Welcome to the 2022 Turra Uke Workshops with Jane and Mark!

We thought we’d go outside the poppie/folkie canon this year with a blues rock song, and a classic Eagles.

All players are welcome as this is an opportunity to repeat (and thus learn) a bunch of chords, or to extend your theory and/or technique with some riffs. But it is also a superb opportunity to practice some beautiful harmonies. Or some yellie backing vocals. But not in the same song.

TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT – THE EAGLES

We need:

Gentle controlled single thumb strummers
Gentle, controlled, relaxed riffers.
A bass player (this position is perhaps already filled)
A lead singer with a wide range (and preferably long lanky unwashed hair)
Many many beautiful harmonies and backing vocals in specified spots.
Three main chords plus three supplementaries (Keno!).

Here is the lyric/chord sheet for Take It to the Limit

and

Here be the riff sheet for Take It to the limit

Two videos are here too. One is of about 60 of us performing it at the Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival in February 2022.

And here is the definitive live version by The Eagles (1977).

Gold on the Ceiling – the Black Keys

We’ve adapted this bluesie rock song by the Black Keys (2012) to suit a ukestra. There are three different types of riff, which may appeal to beginnerie types and more advanced players. If there are any supercompetent improvisers, then we may adapt our performance to include a solo. (Pre-requisite for soloist: you must be able to answer this question – What mode is this song in?).

We require:

a whole bunch of chord players (with solid rhythmic potential). It’s a three chord wonder.
Riffers (for three different parts)
A gutsy lead vocalist
Many many gutsy backing vocalists (who, naturally, are going to be playing ukulele as well).
A bass player (position possibly already taken).