Sittin' on the Dock (by the Bay) - Otis Redding - Baritone (Patreon)

First Wednesday of the month is Baritone Wednesday! 

Today we are going to learn how to play "Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding on the Baritone Ukulele. It is pretty funny how much mileage we are going to get out of just one chord shape, the E shape, as we move it all over the fretboard to play this song. It also has interesting changes on the off beat that add to the groove and a lot of non diatonic major chords that give the harmony a fun and unique sound.   

The 1968 single from Otis Redding was co-wrtten by Steve Cropper, who I believe to be the most underrated guitarist in the history of guitar, but he joins of long list of sessions musicians who fall into the same category. If you asked the average person "what is a session guitarist" I don' even think they could answer the question! If you listen to all the lovely chops and cuts from the guitar throughout the song they are all Steve, it is amazing what he could do with harmony. For some people "G chord" is one particular shape, for Steve it is a harmonic idea that he can meld with any rhythm and it really shows on this song. Our baritone Ukulele wont get into full detail as to everything that Steve does but I do have a ukulele tutorial coming up based on rhythm playing that will focus around the things that he does. One of the fun facts about this song is that Otis was on tour writing the song while staying in San Fransisco and while on tour with the Bar-Kays he had grown significantly in popularity and he noticed this after a show in Monterrey while he was staying in San Fransisco, that is why the song is based on the city of San Fransisco.

Will Improve

• Changning chords on the &
• Moving chord shapes
• Mastering the E shape 
• Playing non-diatonic chords
• Playing songs with multiple chord progressions
• Whistling
• Vocal trills

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