Turkeys Can Play The Ukulele

Can turkeys really play the ukulele? Well, probably not. But for the sake of this nifty song, yes they can! "Turkeys Can Play The Ukulele" is a fun way to bring singers and ukulele players together for an awesome holiday performance. However, since the song never mentions anything specific to Thanksgiving, beyond turkeys that is, you could really use this piece any time of year.

The first and only verse of the song has a simple and straightforward melody. It leads into the chorus, which is also fairly simple and has lyrics that call out each of the chords played by the ukuleles. Please note that in this song, every time "ukulele" is sung, it's pronounced "oo-koo-lay-lay." When the chorus is repeated, a second vocal part is added. That part is optional, of course, and is nicely covered by the saxophones. Speaking of which, you'll love the full orchestral accompaniment that features a flute/flugelhorn combo playing the melody.

The ukes start right at the top of the piece. That's why we have a full two-bar drum set-up to help them know when to come in. The chords used are C6, F, G, and Ami. Plus, there are a few plucked strings along the way, including a well-timed, "my dog has fleas" in the chorus.

To make it easier for your young singers and players, we have included a PDF of the isolated ukulele part on our web site. There you will also find a part 2 rehearsal track.