Jailhouse Blues

By popular demand, the video features a full view of my hands as I play. I first heard this song via a link from the Ukulele Hunt website to a cover by the Mourning Glories. The song has also been covered by Tuba Skinny, making it officially a standard. Links in the chart. C.W. Stoneking is an Aussie, specializing in blues. Excellent harmonica by Glen Baker for the instrumental at Gilroy and Ukulele Rebellion. My strumming consists of a downstroke with middle and ring fingers, then up with the thumb. I learned the technique from Brett McQueen’s strumming course years ago. Gives a full sound I like. I trim my fingernails for a softer sound. I throw in some cookies of my own. G7 to Gaug7 (passing chord) to C5. Play the open G7, then reach with the pinky to the 3rd string D# (0312). I like its sound in blues, ragtime, or tin pan alley songs. Works well when changing from G7 to C, or returning to a G7. I like the C5 substitution for C for its sour sound. I do a slide at the “G D G” turnaround to the 9th fret, hitting the open 4th (G) string (0 9 10 9), for a D add 4, again to get a sour abrasive sound. I play D7 on the D chord off-beats. I managed to get both the intro and instrumental licks in, each an octave apart.

I took “Jailhouse Blues” on Zoom tour to:

South Bay Acoustic Music:
Lost my notes, but I remember these: A-cappella tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsberg by Diane. Jay lent his operatic voice to the Beatles “Long and Winding Road.”

Gilroy Ukulele Jam:
They had a pirates theme this time, of course, including “A Pirates Life For Me” and “What Do We Do With A Drunken Sailor.” Standout performances of Summer Breeze, Sweet Baby James by Karen, and Choo Choo Ch Boogie by Linda.

Ukulele Rebellion:
The song leaders were pre-listed this time as an experiment. I hope this is retained; the session ran smother. Songs included: “The Sands of Waikiki” by Mark, “A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening” by Scott, “When I’m 64” by Jay, “I Left My Heart In SF” by Jeanne, “Blue Skies” by Jeremy, including a melodeon solo, “The Billboard Song” by “Disney” Mark, “Looking Out My Back Door” by Leela, “To Make You Feel My Love” by Kathy, and “Stand Together” by Mark. Mark used Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” for his own lyrics advocating unity during dark times.