Performances

In this video, Jeff Peterson plays his baritone fingerstyle ukulele arrangement of the famous song “Moonglow.”  Moonglow Moonglow was written by Eddie Delange (lyrics) and Will Hudson and Irving Mills (music) and recorded by many artists like Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway. Here are the full lyrics to the song:  It must have … Read more

In this video, Jeff plays his arrangement of J.S. Bach’s “Sheep May Safely Graze” for ukulele. The Hunt Cantata The piece is originally a soprano aria from the cantata Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd (BWV208), which was composed for the birthday celebration of the Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels. The Duke’s birthday was on … Read more

In this video, Jeff Peterson plays his arrangement of the farewell song Aloha ‘Oe for fingerstyle ukulele, first written by Queen Lili’uokalani around 1878. Queen Lili’uokalani, Hawai’i’s last monarch, wrote at least 150 songs, but Aloha ‘Oe is by far her most popular. Below you can watch a lesson on how to play this beautiful … Read more

In this video Jeff Peterson plays his arrangement of Carinhoso for fingerstyle ukulele. Carinhoso “Carinhoso” is one of the most well-known and beloved songs in the “choro” genre from Brazil. It was written by Alfredo da Rocha Viana Filho (better known simply as Pixinguinha) and João de Barro (better known as Braguinha) in 1928. Pixinguinha … Read more

Georgia on My Mind Background In this video Jeff Peterson plays his arrangement of the popular jazz standard “Georgia on My Mind” for fingerstyle ukulele. “Georgia on My Mind” was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell in 1930. But the song really came into popularity in 1960 when Ray Charles first recorded it. According … Read more

Green Rose Hula for Ukulele In this video, Jeff Peterson plays his fingerstyle arrangement of the song Green Rose Hula for ukulele. Green Rose Hula is a song by John Almeida, also known as Johnny Kameaaloha Almeida. This arrangement is played in the key of F with a high G ukulele. It requires some strumming … Read more

In this video, Jeff Peterson plays Imi au ia oe for fingerstyle ukulele. Originally arranged by Keola Beamer for slack key guitar, Jeff adapts it here for fingerstyle ukulele using reentrant tuning. This famous waltz is usually attributed to Charles E.King, but King may have learned it originally from Queen Lili’uokalani. Queen Lili’uokalani wrote a song … Read more

“He Hawai’i Au” is an anthem from the renaissance of Hawaiian music in the 1970s. Peter Moon wrote the song as a celebration of Hawaiian culture. The title means “I am Hawaiian.” Below you can watch Jeff’s arrangement of He Hawai’i Au for fingerstyle ukulele. He Hawai’i Au for Fingerstyle Ukulele This arrangement uses a … Read more

Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai for Fingerstyle Ukulele In this video, Jeff plays his arrangement of Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai for fingerstyle ukulele, a Hawaiian song written by Edith Kanaka’ole. This piece is often celebrated by Hula dancers and its title translates as “The Bounties of the Sea.” Lyrics (Hawaiian) He ho’oheno kē ‘ike … Read more

In this video, Jeff Peterson plays his arrangement of Pua Tuberose, an old-time favorite of classic Hawaiian Songs. This song was written by Kimo Kamana, and it is a song about one of the most beautiful and fragrant flowers from Hawaii that is often used in a lei but also has kaona, or veiled meaning, … Read more