Indie rockers Foster The People burst into the mainstream with their single Pumped Up Kicks in 2010. It’s gone on to amass over a billion views/streams online. Needless to say, this band writes good music. Let’s learn to play some songs of Torches on the ukulele.
Today we are learning to play Helena Beat, Pumped Up Kicks and Houdini. The ukulele tabs are taken from my video arrangement of the album below.
This video is part of a project I am working on. I’m learning to play my favourite albums of all time on the ukulele. If you dug this one, you might be keen to hear my renditions of Kings Of Leon and Cage The Elephant.
Foster The People Ukulele Tabs
Not sure how to read these? Check out this guide and you will be learning these ukulele tabs in no time.
Helena Beat
A |-3---5--6----|-4--6--11--6--|-3---5--6----|-4--6--11-10-----| E |-4---3--3----|-4--6--8---6--|-4---3--3----|-4--6--8------8--| C |-0---2--3----|-5--7--8---7--|-0---2--3----|-5--7--8---------| G |-------------|-6--8--8---8--|-------------|-6--8--8---------|
A |-----------------------8-6-------|-----------------------6h8p6---| E |--6-8-8-6-8--8-8-8-6-6-------8-6-|-4-4-4-4-6-6-6-6-8-8-8---------| C |---------------------------------|-------------------------------| G |---------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A |-----------------------8-6-------|-----------------11----10--------| E |--6-8-8-6-8--8-8-8-6-6-------8-6-|-4-4---4-6-6---8----8--------8---| C |---------------------------------|--------------------------10-----| G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
Pumped Up Kicks
The second part, barring the 8th fret with your first finger will make playing it much easier for you.
A |-------------|-------------|-6---6---6---|-------------| E |-------------|---------6-8-|-----------8-|-6---6---8-6-| C |-5---5---5-7-|-8---8-------|-------------|-------------| G |-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
A |-------------|-------------|-6---6---6h8p6---|-----------------| E |-------------|---------6-8-|---------------8-|-6---6---6h8p6---| C |-5---5---5-7-|-8---8-------|-----------------|---------------8-| G |-------------|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A |--10---8-8------------------------------------------8-8-8-10-8----| E |--8--------11-11--8----11-11-11-----8----11-11-11---8----------11-| C |--8-----------------10-----------10---10------------8-------------| G |------------------------------------------------------------------|
Houdini
This is a mix of all the vocal melodies going on throughout the chorus.
A |----------------------------------------------------| E |------3-6--6-6-4-4-2-1----------3-6--6-6-4-4--------| C |-3--5-3-5--------------3---3--5-3-5----------5-5-7--| G |-3--5----------------------3--5---------------------|
A |-----------------6------------------------------------| E |------3-6--6-6-4---6-4------------3-6-----------------| C |-3--5-3-5--------------2/4---3--5-3-5--3-3-5-3-5--8-7-| G |-3--5------------------------3--5---------------------|