I was noodling around on the ukulele just the other day and I came up with a little fingerpicked tune that sounded ok. Rather than let it go to waste and out of my mind (like I usually do) I figured I would tab the tune out and make it available for anyone that is interested. This makes it my first original that I’ve tabbed out for the site (so please be gentle with me).
Primavera
So here’s my original track Primavera. It’s a fairly steady fingerpicked song that shouldn’t take too long to get to grips withe even if you’re pretty new to fingerpicking in general. Have a listen and see what you think.
It’s heavily based around a C chord and is really just me playing around with the C scale throwing some notes in between to give it a little bit more depth and turn it into a song.
Why Primavera? Well there’s no real reason – with my love of the Spanish language and me willing the warmer weather to come along it seemed to fit.
The Tab
Here’s the tab, nothing too tricky here – or is there? Actually there is something that seems a little tricky. I’m playing around with the time signature a little bit mid-song. There are some isolated bars in 2/4 timing and even a bar of 3/4 timing but the rest of the song is largely played in straight 4/4 timing using eighth notes throughout.
If the changing time signature scares you a little bit, don’t let it. It sounds way more complex than it is. Get to grips with the picking pattern and let your ear do the rest. Also feel free to mix it up, you don’t have to play it exactly like I do (most of the time I switch the different sections around at will anyway, I don’t think I’ve ever played it the same way twice).
Playing Tips
The first tip is let your thumb take the G string throughout. For the melody notes that are played on the rest of the strings you can get away with just using your index finger to pick them if you like. Personally I play it a little differently and use my middle finger to play all the notes that occur on the A string and let my index finger pick up the rest. Whichever works for you.
Take it slowly to begin with and you’ll soon find that your picking fingers get into their own rhythm (half the time I’m not even aware what my picking fingers are doing).
If you prefer you can grab the tab as a PDF…
Hope you like it, have fun with it and if you record a version hit me with a link – I’d love to see what you turn it into!
View Comments (31)
I love this!! Nice job. I've had fun learning and playing this piece. Can't wait to see what you come up with next :)
Hi Ally, thanks for the comment - it's great to know that someone out there found it useful!
Thank you for this piece of lovely music.
Greetings from Denmark
Robert
No problem Robert, glad you liked it!
This sounds pretty cool if you play it backwards too.
I need to give that a try!
This might be a dumb question but could you describe your finger position on measures 10 and 11? The way my fingers naturally want to place on the frets is not making for a very smooth transition...
Thanks!
Hey Jenn, yeah I can indeed. I play that section with an F chord fretted for most of it and then I drop my pinkie on to the A string for the C note (3rd fret) when needed. Does that help?
Yes thank you! This is such a pretty song to use for a finger-picking-warm up.
Dave,
Is your track playing the song exactly as you have written out the tabs? I'm trying to follow along with you, but seem to get lost.
Thanks
Hey Ally, I think so yes - but I really wouldn't get too hung up on playing exactly as I've tabbed or as it sounds. Just play around with it, I still play this one a little bit different every time I play it.
Thank you very much for your music. It's beautiful.
Greetings from Spain.
Cristina
Thank you Cristina, I'm glad you like it!
Dave,
So great to having discovered your site, so helpful. This piece is lovely.
Chris
Thanks Chris, I'm really pleased that you like it.
Nice little piece. Easy to learn, sounds great. Nice addition to my bag of tricks.
We want more like this!
Yes! More please :)
Hi Dave, hate to make even more work for you, but could you include an audio to go with 'Primavera'? I can't read it yet but I'd love to hear it and it might help people that are more advanced than me.
Dave, HUGE apologies I've just found the audio, it's beautiful!
Hey no problem June, I'm glad you like it!