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Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World [by IZ]

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(@oktay)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 345
Topic starter  

IZ being Israel Kamakawiwo`ole . The original is played on the ukulele. It's really two songs in one which is an interesting exercise going back and forth between the chorus of one song and the verse of the other etc. One could just play one part and not the other as well.

You can watch this version of the song by the man himself (and even make out the ukulele fingerings) on this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2A2Jt4WOxN8

As always this is a compilation from various tabs with bits of humble tips added to make more useful.

Each chord letter corrosponds to one beat. Most of the song has you playing the same chord for two beats. In the following chord sheet one chord letter represents one beat, so ' F F ' would be two beats of 'F'. You will know when it's only one beat because there will be only one chord letter before it switches to a different letter. I am explaining something so obvious to make the following point. The song does not have any irregularities. The same strumming pattern works for the whole song. So keep your right hand moving and locked with the tempo. Concantrate on changing chords as a secondary objective.

The chord pattern I propose is D D DUDU for each beat. It sounds better if you just hit the BASS string on the first DOWN strum followed by the rest of the strings in that particular chord for the second DOWN strum. I also find that it's effective to emphasize this partial strum by hitting harder and letting it ring slightly longer. In tempo of course. The rest is DUDU quickly to end the beat.

(optional: When the chord lasts two beats, it might sound even better to hit the LOWEST BASS string on the FIRST DOWN strum of the FIRST BEAT, and the next BASS string on the FIRST DOWN strum of the SECOND BEAT. And why is it so hard to explain the simplest things in writing :P )

Alternative: D(bass) DU D(bass) D for a single beat sounds closer to the ukulele version. Where the FIRST DOWN strum and the THIRD DOWN strum would be the bass strings as marked. Come to think of it, the alternative might even sound better :)


Intro:

C - Cmaj7 - Am - F - C - G - Am - F - F - F

(humming)
C - C - Em - Em - F - F - C - C
F - F - Em - Em - Am - Am - F - F


Song:

C C Em Em F F C C
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
F F C C G G Am Am F F
And the dreams that you dream of once in a lul-la-by
C C Em Em F F C C
Somewhere over the rainbow blue birds fly
F F C C G G Am Am F F
And the dreams that you dream of, dreams really do come true

C C G
Someday I'll wish upon a star, wake up where the
G Am Am F F
clouds are far behind me
C C
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
G G Am Am F F
High above the chi-mn-ey tops that's where, you'll find me

C C Em Em F F C C
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
F F C C G G Am Am F F
And the dreams that you dare to, oh why, oh why can't I?

(switch to one beat chords) [WE ALSO SWITCH TO THE NEXT SONG HERE]

C Em F C
Well I see trees of green and red roses too,
F C Em Am
I'll watch then bloom for me and you
F F G G Am Am F F
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
C Em F C F C
Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white and the brightness of day
E7 Am F F G G C F C C
I like the dark and I think to myself, what a wonderful world

G G C C
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
G G C C
are also on the faces of people passing by
F C F C
I see friends shaking hands saying, "How do you do?"
F C Dm7 Dm7 G G
They're really saying, "I, I love you"

C Em F C
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow,
F C E7 Am
they'll learn much more than we'll know
F F G G Am Am F F
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

C C G
Someday I'll wish upon a star, wake up where the
G Am Am F F
clouds are far behind me
C C
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
G G Am Am F F
High above the chi-mn-ey tops that's where, you'll find me

C C Em Em F F C C
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
F F C C G G Am Am F F
And the dreams that you dare to, oh why, oh why can't I?

(humming)
C C Em Em F F C C (fade out)

Cheers.

oktay


   
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(@twistedlefty)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 4113
 

great tab , thanks Oktay :D
i found this version on the net some time ago, it's one of my kids favs

(mods remove this if need be)

Somewhere over the Rainbow/Wonderfull World

Capo 5

G G Bm Bm C C G G
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
C C G G D D Em Em C C
And the dreams that you dream of once in a lul-la-by
G G Bm Bm C C G G
Somewhere over the rainbow blue birds fly
C C G G D D Em Em C C
And the dreams that you dream of, dreams really do come true
G G D
Someday I'll wish upon a star, wake up where the
D Em Em C C
clouds are far behind me
G G
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
D D Em Em C C
High above the chi-mn-ey tops that's where, you'll find me
G G Bm Bm C C G G
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
C C G G D D Em Em C C
And the dreams that you dare to, oh why, oh why can't I?
G Bm C G
Well I see trees of green and red roses too,
C G D Em
I'll watch then bloom for me and you
C C D D Em Em C C
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
G Bm C G C G
Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white and the brightness of day
D7 Em C D G C G G
I like the dark and I think to myself, what a wonderful world
D D G G
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
D D G G
are also on the faces of people passing by
C G C G
I see friends shaking hands saying, "How do you do?"
C G Am7 Am7 D D
They're really saying, "I, I love you"
G Bm C G
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow,
C G D7 Em
they'll learn much more than we'll know
C D Em Em C C
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
G G D D Em Em C C
Someday I'll wish upon a star, wake up where the clouds are far behind me
G G
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
D D Em Em C C
High above the chimney tops is where you'll find me
G G Bm Bm C C G G
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
C C G G D D Em Em C C
And the dreams that you dare to, oh why, oh why can't I?

#4491....


   
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(@oktay)
Reputable Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 345
Topic starter  

Hey TwistedLefty,

Looking back at this little more than two years, I like your version a lot. Very ukuleleish and allows for softer singing. Thanks.

:)


   
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(@joehempel)
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Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 2415
 

The first time I heard this song it was a cover, and I've loved it ever since!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ltGsFU7Rs&feature=channel

Plays it with the Capo on the 5th fret, and you can really see how it's played, makes his guitar sound like a uke.

In Space, no one can hear me sing!


   
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(@mrmalice)
New Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 3
 

The first time I heard this song it was a cover, and I've loved it ever since!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ltGsFU7Rs&feature=channel

Plays it with the Capo on the 5th fret, and you can really see how it's played, makes his guitar sound like a uke.

any idea what chords this guy is using?


   
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(@twistedlefty)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 4113
 

just guessing, but i'm pretty sure they are the same as listed above in my post. (5th fret capo)
at least that's how i do it

#4491....


   
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(@mrmalice)
New Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 3
 

I'm still learning to recognize chord-shapes "in the mirror". can you identify by time when he hits the Bm? thanks!


   
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(@twistedlefty)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 4113
 

he is using a D instead. there are several diff tabs for this arraingement on the net.
use the one that sounds right to you. i prefer the Bm in place of the D he appears to be playing in the vid.

#4491....


   
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(@joehempel)
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Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 2415
 

Yep it's a D

In Space, no one can hear me sing!


   
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