plus, pdf chart download!
Below you can find both a sample video lesson from the Ukulele Swing School Lesson Library, in addition to your free pdf songsheet for the cute 1935 swing tune “Black Coffee.”
strum notation
Here are the basic strum patterns I use in this tune:
"island strum" *swing the eighth notes! Am E7 |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | D D U S U D U D D U S U D U D = down U = up S = skip (don't strum!) "swing shuffle" *swing the eighth notes! Am G C Dm |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | D D U D D U D D U D D U additionally, I add other elements such as triplets, thumb arpeggios, and the Hawaiian roll, which I go over in other lessons at the Ukulele Swing School.
download your pdf here:
playthrough example of the tune
Watch the above video to see how I play the tune with the island strum, the swing shuffle strum, plus triplets, the Hawaiian roll, and other fun swing uke techniques.
Make sure to check out Marjorie Stedeford’s version of the tune, recorded in 1935, which features her lovely baritone singing. Incomparable! https://youtu.be/QuEvH6AObgo
And in case you want to hear a rendition of the song with a trio, click here 🙂
and just so you know—
Every month, twice a month, we meet online to work on ukulele swing techniques and old tunes like this one. It’s kind of like an international ukulele club!
Join us for ukulele workshops in the Academy at Ukulele Swing School.
can’t get enough?
If you’ve added this tune to your repertoire and want even more, check out a sample lesson from Ukulele Swing School’s Lesson Library, which is chock-full of swing ukulele tunes and techniques, and updated weekly. Or, even better, join us for the twice-monthly ukulele workshops in the Academy!
got questions?
Can you play the song? Is everything straightforward for you? Do you have an old swing tune you’re dying to learn? What’s your favorite Fats Waller recording? Let’s chat: sage@ukuleleswingschool.com