Thank You For Letting Me Play The Ukulele

This jaunty tune is specifically made for your beginning ukulele players, so be sure to let them know that. And don't be shy about shining the spotlight on them while you're at it! They only need to know three chords to play it (C, F, and G). They have their own line to follow, or part, which we have isolated and made available as a PDF on our web site for you. The exception to playing chords happens when the single notes G, C, E, and A are indicated (bars 19-20 and 42-43). These notes are the familiar tuning pitches for ukuleles and are often accompanied by the lyrics "my dog has fleas," hence the reference in the music. (In Hawaiian, "ukulele" means "jumping flea.")

While most of the chords are played as offbeats, there are a few variations, so players will need to pay attention. If this is too challenging, you can alter the chord pattern to simplify it. For example, just have them play chords on the downbeats of each bar.

Besides giving your ukulele players their own moment, this is a bit of a story song, too. It basically tells a tale of gratitude as alluded to by the title. But it also explains that other instruments were considered as well and yet, "somehow" the ukulele won. The other instruments include trombone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, drum, bagpipes, accordion, and lute. Each is represented in the accompaniment for a moment. If you have time, play the accompaniment track (track 25) and see if your kids can identify them.

You'll note we asked singers to use the American pronunciation for ukulele (yoo-ka-lay-lee) most of the time. Except in bar 42, while the ukes are playing the now familiar G, C, E, A melody, singers use the traditional Hawaiian pronunciation (oo-koo-lay-lay).