Dec 6, 2017

Ukulele fingerstyle: Silent Night - Two More Challenging Arrangements


We took a look at a very basic fingerstyle arrangement of Silent night not to long ago. 

Here is in case you missed it:

Silent Night - Easy Fingerstyle Arrangement 

Ukulele fingerstyle: Silent Night - A More Challenging Arrangement
Here's two more challenging arrangements!

You will Learn More and Play More with Play Ukulele NOW.

Find out for yourself why teachers and students have depended on Play Ukulele NOW Methods and Songbooks since 2009


DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Find all my fingerstyle and chord melody solos here.

Here's another installment of some of the fingerstyle arrangements I'm working on. This time - two versions of the same arrangement.

There are many versions for each song, some easy, some intermediate and some advanced so stay tuned for more...

UPDATE (11/17/2023): These arrangements were created while putting together material for my "A Ukulele for Christmas: Fingerstyle Solos" book - the arrangements here are similar to the one that actually appears in the book.

Silent Night - Arrangement I


Click on the picture below to see it up close



Previous Fingerstyle arrangements


Here's what we've learned in some of the previous arrangements:

In Silent Night - Easy Fingerstyle we learned about bluegrass right hand position, and what fingers to use for what strings. That will be used here.

In O Come, All Ye Faithful we learned about dyads and we played some dyads on the 2nd and third string, using the thumb and the 1st finger.

The chords could be strummed or plucked in that lesson.

In Jingle Bells we had some 16th notes and a passage with a little bit of a timing challenge in measure 11 and 15.

All of those lessons will come in handy here.



Performance notes for Silent Night I


This arrangement presents some new challenges.

We'll be playing higher up on the neck, both strumming and plucking chords and there are quite a few dyads to play throughout.

General notes:


Pluck all chords, using your thumb, 1st and 2nd finger, with the exception of the chord in measure 17.

Play all dyads on the 1st and 2nd string with your 1st and 2nd finger (1st finger on the 2nd string, 2nd finger on the 1st string string)

Play all dyads on the 2nd and 3rd string with your thumb and 1st finger.

Let all notes ring whenever possible.

Specific notes:


First 4 measures

Let all notes ring together.

Measure 5

If you like, slide up to the chord o the 7th fret.

Play all chords like this - there are a few of them - with your 2nd finger on the 1st string ad your thumb on the 3rd string.

Measure 10

Let these notes ring together.

Measure 17

Slowly strum this chord.

Measure 18

Slide up to the note on the 10th fret if you like.

Measures 21 & 22

Let all notes ring together.


Silent Night - Arrangement II


Click on the picture to see it up close - this arrangement updated 4/24/2021



Click here to get a PDF of Silent Night II


Performance notes for Silent Night II


This is the same as the arrangement above but with slight variations.

Measure 3 

1st dyad, left hand: Use your 2nd finger to play the first dyad.

Keep you 2nd finger in place during the whole measure.

2nd dyad, left hand: Use your 1st and 3rd finger to play the second dyad.

3rd dyad, left hand: Remove 1st and 3rd finger.

Measure 4

Add your 1st finger on the third string to play the last Dyad.

2nd finger stayes in place until the end of measue 4

Measure 15 and 16 are the same as measures 3 & 4.

Measure 14 is different from the previous version as well, some descending thirds.

As you can see this is just the same as the other but I've added some thirds here and there where single notes before. 

Have fun...


Want more?


Check out my books... Click on the 'learn more' link for each of the books for free samples, complete descriptions, song listings etc...



A Ukulele for Christmas: Fingerstyle Solos


A Ukulele for Christmas: Fingerstyle Solos



Learn fingerstyle ukulele at the same time as you learn these beautiful solo pieces, each one a little more of a challenge than the last!

These arrangements are hauntingly beautiful, with many campanella passages, and majestic; steeped in rich harmonies.

They are carefully arranged and graduated; each song comes with a comprehensive lesson to help you perform it properly.

Get the paperback on Amazon: A Ukulele for Christmas - Fingerstyle Solos
Get the eBook (instant download): A Ukulele for Christmas: Fingerstyle solos eBook
Get just one song: O Little Town of Bethlehem from "A Ukulele for Christmas: Fingerstyle Solos" with extras! (this and other songs from the book are available FREE to patreon members).




Christmas Solos for the Ukulele


Christmas Solos for Ukulele

These arrangements are rich with lush chords and enchanting campanella passages taking full advantage of the ukuleles unique reentrant tuning...

As a special treat I introduce you to the wonderful world of JAZZ CHORD MELODY by spicing up some of the arrangements here with beautiful extended chords and amazing chord substitutions... I walk you through exactly how I do it so you can ‘jazz up’ other songs on your own!

Grab the eBook here (instant download): Christmas Solos for Ukulele - FREE to patreon members


Ukulele fingerstyle: Silent Night - A More Challenging Arrangement

Get your FREE eBook!

* indicates required


No comments:

Post a Comment

Popular Posts