Deborah Chan
Singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell from Vermont, USA, wrote and performed the popular 'Wedding Song'. The song is a dialogue between two characters, Eurydice and Orpheus, with Eurydice asking who will buy the wedding bands and who will lay the wedding table, and Orpheus responding that all the rivers sing along and they're gonna break their banks for me. The song's chords for the ukulele can be found online and it is played in B, with a capo on the 7th or 8th fret.
How to Play Wedding Song by Anaïs Mitchell on Ukulele
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chords Used | E: 022100, E7: 022130, G6: 320000, Asus2: x02200, Emaj7: 022140, A: 022100, A7: 022130, C6: 320000, Dsus2: x02200, Amaj7: 022140 |
| Capo | 7 or 8 |
| Transcription Source | YouTube video |
| Eurydice's Part | "Lover, tell me if you can, who's gonna buy the wedding bands? Times being what they are, hard and getting harder all the time." |
| Orpheus's Part | "Lover, when I sing my song, all the rivers/birds gonna sing along, and they're gonna break their banks/come flying around to me, to lay their gold/feathers at my feet." |
| Lyrics | "All the flashing in the pan, all the fashion for your hand, the river's gonna give us the wedding bands. Lover, tell me, if you're able, who's gonna lay the wedding table?" |
| "And bend their branches down to me, to lay their fruit around my feet, the almond and the apple, and the sugar from the maple." | |
| "And we'll lie down in eiderdown, a pillow 'neath our heads, the birds gonna make the wedding bed." | |
| "And the trees gonna lay the wedding table, and the river's gonna give us the wedding bands." |
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What You'll Learn
Chords and strumming patterns
To play "Wedding Song" by Anais Mitchell on the ukulele, you'll need to familiarize yourself with a few basic chords and a simple strumming pattern. This beautiful and heartfelt song uses a combination of standard and modified chords that are perfect for beginners and intermediate players. Here's a breakdown of the chords and strumming pattern to help you get started.
Chords Used:
- C Major (C): Place your ring finger on the third fret of the A string, and your middle and index fingers on the second frets of the E and G strings, respectively. Strum all four strings.
- G Major (G): Fret the G string at the second fret with your middle finger, the A string at the second fret with your index finger, and keep the high G and E strings open.
- Am (A minor): This chord is formed by placing your middle finger on the second fret of the A string and your ring finger on the third fret of the C string, while keeping the E and G strings open.
- F Major (F): A barre chord, requiring your index finger to barre the first fret across all strings, while your middle finger and ring finger fret the second frets of the C and E strings, respectively.
Modified Chords:
- G/B: This is a modified G chord, also known as G over B. It involves playing a G chord shape, but with a B note in the bass. Place your middle finger on the third fret of the A string and your ring finger on the fourth fret of the E string, while keeping the G and high E strings open.
- C/G: Another modified chord, this time a C chord with a G in the bass. Barre the third fret with your ring finger, and place your middle and index fingers on the second frets of the G and A strings, respectively.
Strumming Pattern:
The strumming pattern for "Wedding Song" is relatively straightforward and consistent throughout the song. It's a simple down-up pattern, with an emphasis on the downbeat. Strum down, then up, pausing slightly after the upstroke before repeating. You can count it as "down, up, pause; down, up, pause." This pattern repeats for most of the song, creating a gentle and soothing rhythm that complements the lyrics beautifully.
With these chords and the strumming pattern, you'll be well on your way to playing "Wedding Song" by Anais Mitchell on the ukulele. Remember to practice each chord shape individually before trying to switch between them, and then incorporate the strumming pattern for a complete performance.
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Eurydice's part
Intro:
Start by setting the mood with an intro that captures the emotion of the song. Use the E7 chord (022130) for the intro, strumming it gently to create a soft and wistful tone.
First Verse:
Eurydice's first verse begins with the line, "Lover, tell me if you can." For this section, you'll use a combination of chords: E7 (022130) for "Lover, tell me if you can," G6 (320000) for "who's gonna buy," and Asus2 (x02200) for "the wedding bands?" This creates a gentle and questioning tone that reflects the lyrics.
Second Verse:
In the second verse, Eurydice continues her query, asking, "Lover, tell me, if you're able." This time, you'll use the same chord progression as the first verse, but with a slight variation. Start with E (022100) for "Lover, tell me, if you're able," then G6 (320000) for "who's gonna lay," and back to E (022100) for "the wedding table."
Bridge:
As the song progresses, you can add a bridge section to build emotion. For this part, you'll use a combination of chords: G6 (320000) for "And bend their branches down to me," E (022100) for "to lay their fruit around my feet," and then back to G6 (320000) for "the almond and the apple." This creates a sense of rising emotion and anticipation.
Chorus:
Remember, you can adapt these chords to your own playing style and preferences. Feel free to experiment with different strumming patterns and variations to make the song your own.
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Orpheus's part
Verse
- Start with the G6 chord: 320000. This is a basic chord shape that you can use as a foundation for your playing.
- Transition to the Asus2 chord: x02200. This chord adds a bit of colour and movement to the progression.
- Finish with the E chord: 022100. This chord provides a sense of resolution and completion to the sequence.
Chorus
For the chorus, you can repeat the same chord progression as the verse, but with a slight variation in strumming or rhythm to emphasise the change in the song's structure.
Bridge
During the bridge, you can experiment with different chord voicings or inversions to create a sense of movement and development in the song. For example, you could try playing the G6 chord as 000232, which is known as the G6/B chord, or the Asus2 chord as x02400, which is the Asus2/E chord.
Outro
In the outro, simplify your playing by returning to the basic chord shapes and strumming patterns used at the beginning of the song. This provides a sense of closure and brings the song to a satisfying conclusion.
Remember to maintain a steady tempo and use a strumming pattern that feels comfortable for you. You can refer to ukulele tutorials or tabs for specific finger positions and strumming patterns to enhance your playing.
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Transposing the song
The original chords for the song, as played by Mitchell, are believed to be in the key of B, which can be challenging for beginners. By using a capo on the seventh fret, you are essentially raising the pitch of the strings, allowing you to play the song in a different key while using the same finger positions.
With the capo on the seventh fret, the chords you will be playing relative to the capo are:
- A7
- TC6 (or just C6)
- HC6 (or just C6)
- Dsus2
- A
These chords are relative to the capo and will sound in the original key of B when played with the capo on the seventh fret.
If you want to play the song in the same key as the studio recording, which is believed to be in the key of C, you can use a capo on the eighth fret instead. This will raise the pitch of the strings even higher, allowing you to play in the key of C while using the same chord shapes.
Remember, when transposing, feel free to experiment with different capo positions and chord shapes to find what sounds best to you. You can also try different strumming patterns to add your personal touch to the song.
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Travis picking pattern
To play the "Wedding Song" by Anais Mitchell on the ukulele, you can use a fairly basic Travis picking pattern. This pattern can be adapted to suit your preferences, so feel free to experiment with different techniques until you find something that sounds right to you.
The Travis picking pattern is a popular technique used in fingerstyle guitar playing, and it can also be applied to the ukulele. It involves using a combination of fingers and thumb to pluck or strum the strings in a specific pattern, creating a dynamic and rhythmic accompaniment to the melody.
For the "Wedding Song," the Travis picking pattern can be used to play the chords and create a flowing, harmonious accompaniment to the vocals. The pattern can be adjusted to fit the different chords and sections of the song, adding variety and interest to your performance.
Verse:
- Start by plucking the first string (index finger)
- Then, strum the bottom three strings (thumb)
- Next, pluck the second string (middle finger)
- Finally, strum the bottom four strings (thumb)
Chorus:
- Begin by plucking the first string (index finger)
- Follow this by plucking the third string (ring finger)
- Then, strum the bottom four strings (thumb)
- Repeat this pattern, or create a variation by incorporating different strings or finger combinations
Remember, the beauty of the Travis picking pattern is its versatility. You can modify the pattern to suit your playing style and the specific chords of the "Wedding Song." Experiment with different plucking and strumming combinations until you find a groove that feels and sounds right for the song.
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Frequently asked questions
You'll need to know the following chords: A, A7, Amaj7, Asus2, Asus4, C6, Dsus2, E, E7, Emaj7, G6.
The intro is played with the E7 chord.
The lyrics are a conversation between Eurydice and Orpheus, with Eurydice asking, "Who's gonna buy the wedding bands?" and Orpheus responding, "Lover, when I sing my song/ All the rivers sing along." The full lyrics are available on the website guitaretab.com.
The strumming pattern is a basic Travis picking pattern.
The chord progression is A, A7, C6, Dsus2, E, Amaj7, G6, Asus2.
