Happy Memorial Day!
Today I’m playing a chord melody arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner on ukulele (scroll down to get the ukulele tab).
Chord melody is a style of playing ukulele where you strum the chords of a song while you simultaneously fingerpick the melody.
As far as chord melody goes, The Star Spangled Banner is an easy song to learn for those who are beyond the basics of picking. Played in the key of C you use a lot of open strings to create a full and resonate sound.
The Star Spangled Banner is the United States national anthem. The lyrics of the song were written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, however, the music was written much earlier in 1773 by John Stafford Smith. Key wrote the poem on September 14, 1814 at age 35-years-old after seeing the British Royal Navy bomb Baltimore Harbor in the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. After looking at the U.S. flag waving above Fort M’Henry in victory, he was inspired to write the poem. It wasn’t until March 3, 1931 that Congress made it the U.S. national anthem by resolution, which was then signed by President Herbert Hoover.
Musically, The Star Spangled Banner has one of the broadest vocal ranges spanning 19 semitones making it one of the hardest songs to sing. Fortunately for us, we can fingerpick the melody and strum the chords of the song without singing! Whew.
The Star Spangled Banner Chord Melody Ukulele Cover
Watch the video to hear me play my chord melody arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner on ukulele. I include a little surprise at the end as well as the sheet music and ukulele tab below the video so you can learn how to play this song.
I’ve arranged this song in the key of C major. Download the tab and try your hand at playing this song.
Click here to get the chord melody ukulele tab for The Star Spangled Banner.
Want to Learn More Chord Melody and Fingerpicking?
If this song is too difficult for you to play, or if you’re new to fingerpicking, then, I’m here to help.
In the Fingerpicking Tricks online video lesson course I teach you how to fingerpick the ukulele in multiple styles including chord melody.
With small, easy steps you have what you need to learn how to fingerpick the ukulele.
Right now, the course is closed, but join the waiting list where I’ll be sending out free fingerpicking lessons soon.
Why don’t you join me?
Learn to fingerpick. Take your fingerpicking skills to the next level on the ukulele, learning fingerpicking pieces in four distinct styles.