Ukulele and Studio Ghibli Soundtracks

[UkeinPDX]

Am I the only one who gets the most satisfaction from playing music from Miyazaki movies? I think the first song I ever really had a desire to play was "Sampo" from Tonari no Totoro. It seems like the HMS podcast has Corey and Kalei playing a Ghibli song randomly in there as well.

Joe Hisaishi is an absolutely amazing composer, and each of the movies he's worked on has a beautiful soundtrack, having songs very reminiscent of classical compositions, and I think they lend well to the crisp sound of the uke.

The four songs I really practice regularly are:

Sampo (Totoro)
Totoro main theme (Totoro)
Always with me (Spirited Away)
Waltz of Chihiro (Spirited Away)

 

[UkeinPDX]

It would be rude of me to not post a great example. Here are the boys playing one of the less "classically reminiscent" Hisaishi songs as the episode intro.

 

[rainbow21]

Most of the songs I like to listen to and the songs that I am able to play do not intersect.

I love Miyazaki movies and am glad you are able to play and enjoy songs from them.

 

[Ziret]

Where did you find the music for the Hasaishi songs? I think they sound great on the uke, too.

 

[UkeinPDX]

I learned the chord melody for Sampo (or Sanpo, technically it's a shortened "uhn" sound) on my own, basing it off of just strummed chords, which I think I learned from a website somewhere. A good resource as well is RainyDayStudio's YouTube channel (). They do a fairly decent job at translating some of the songs. I also own some song books as well that are very nice:

Studio Ghibli Songs for Solo Ukulele Vol.1/English Version

Studio Ghibli Songs for Solo Ukulele Vol.2/English Version

 

[Ziret]

I often forget YouTube. Thanks.

 

[runebird]

I also love playing Ghibli songs on ukulele! I've changed the Rainy Day Studios arrangements into Low G. They are challenging but so beautiful.

Have you listened to this studio Ghibli Medley on YouTube?

 

[Ziret]

Wow!!!

 

[UkeinPDX]

Thats a great medley! Thank you very much for posting! Very complicated ways of playing those ones on there.

 

[necessaryrooster]

I learned the chord melody for Sampo (or Sanpo, technically it's a shortened "uhn" sound) on my own, basing it off of just strummed chords, which I think I learned from a website somewhere. A good resource as well is RainyDayStudio's YouTube channel (). They do a fairly decent job at translating some of the songs. I also own some song books as well that are very nice:

Studio Ghibli Songs for Solo Ukulele Vol.1/English Version

Studio Ghibli Songs for Solo Ukulele Vol.2/English Version

Did the books come with access to sound files? Thanks.

 

[thegadgetfish]

I love Joe Hisaishi! I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert last year and it blew me away.

Is low G a requirement? I definitely want to try and learn some of the tunes, and i’ll check out all the above links as well.

 

[UkeinPDX]

Definitely not required! Sampo for example is a bit easier with a high-g, in the way that I play it.