"Today" a great song to learn the flow of chord transitions

ukemunga · Apr 23, 2014

This is a familiar song to the more chronologically advanced among us and I find it to be a kind of go-to chord pattern.

One of the things I like about it is the way you get the feel of making smooth chord transitions with the index finger anchored in place between the Dm and G7, and the G7, F, G7 changes.

It's also very easy to figure out simple finger picking patterns.

More than 3 chords but they are all pretty easy fingerings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teHe-JIj7EY

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/w...1944-06-06=always&url=&transpose=&tuning=GCEA

Doug W · Apr 23, 2014

ukemunga, That was a popular song at a YMCA camp where I worked as a camp counselor in the 70's.

ukemunga · Apr 23, 2014

Doug W said:
ukemunga, That was a popular song at a YMCA camp where I worked as a camp counselor in the 70's.

In 1964 the New Christy Minstrels did the song and made it a hit. Always been kind of a folksy campfire song. Great tune.

The same chord pattern is used in ""Catalina Island."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdMEx609X_8

Icelander53 · Apr 23, 2014

What a great song for confidence building.

Icelander53 · Apr 23, 2014

sorry double post

PhilUSAFRet · Apr 23, 2014

Thanks for sharing, I'll include that in my next uke class.

dickadcock · Apr 23, 2014

Oh yes!
It only adds 2 easy chords to the 4 rock n roll chords which surely everyone learns first.
A great next step would be to learn the rnr chords in G or D, e.g., then add the new chords to play "Today". And they might not even be new.
Of course, that's what a teacher is good for, to direct your learning so that you don't go straight from Today to Bohemian Rhapsody.

Icelander53 · Apr 23, 2014

Often people new to the uke want to be able to play something decently to show it off a little for friends but are reluctant due to how difficult it is to get some real flow to their songs in the beginning. With this they can pull it off to some extent and at least quiet the friends who keep asking for them to "well then show me something"

weaselrina · Apr 23, 2014

Wow, I remember that song from when I was a kid.. I'd forgotten all about it.
It definitely reminds me of camp. I wonder why it is that I have been so drawn to camp songs when learning to play... I think Take me Home Country Roads was like the 3-4th song I learned to satisfy camp nostalgia.

Maiden Uke · Apr 23, 2014

Thanks for highlighting this song. It's one of my absolute favorites to play!

Gillian · Apr 24, 2014

We recently did this song in our uke club. I devised a song sheet in the original key of F with the 3-key changes, and then one that stays in the key of F like the way John Denver sang it..

http://sanjoseukeclub.org/Song Book/Today.pdf

http://sanjoseukeclub.org/Song Book/Today (key of F).pdf

We played the simpler version at the meeting after I saw most folks' eyes glaze over at all the chords in the original version. Those 1/2 step key changes are a challenge.

"Today" a great song to learn the flow of chord transitions

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