Ukulele Utopia

A Virtual Learning Experience

Phantom Planet – California

California

One of my unusual obsessions as a teen was The OC. When your a teen growing up in the grim north of England, the sun and beaches of California are somewhat appealing. It also had a killer theme tune. Let’s learn to play Phantom Planets one-hit-wonder California on the ukulele.

What Are We Learning To Play?

Below is a video of what you will be able to play by the end of this post. 

Ukulele Tabs

The key to making this work is to make use of hammer-ons (h) and pull-offs (p). Hammer-ons are produced by plucking the note on the ukulele and then “hammering on” a finger at a higher fret. Making the sound of the higher note without actually plucking it again.

A pull-off is the opposite of a hammer on. They are produced by playing one note and then listing your finger off the string so that a lower note sounds. It’s important to drag your finger off as this will amplify the sound.

A |---2h4p2-4-------2h4p2-4-----2h4p2-4-6-2-|
E |-4-----------4-------------4-------------|
C |-----------------------------------------|
G |-----------------------------------------|

A |--------------------------------------2----|
E |-4--2-2--0-0--2-4-----4-2-2--0-0--2-4---4--|
C |-------------------------------------------|
G |-------------------------------------------|

login

3 Killer Tips

Badge Unlocked

Welcome To The Jungle

Complete your first lesson

Badge Unlocked

Start Me Up

Complete The Basics

The Basics

In this section, we will cover everything you need to know about starting to play the ukulele.