Island reggae · Free song lesson
How to play Ehu Girl on Ukulele or Guitar
Kolohe Kai, from This Is the Life, 2009
Kolohe Kai is the island reggae band singer-songwriter Roman De Peralta started on Oʻahu in 2009, and Ehu Girl comes off their debut album This Is the Life. The title tips its hat to the Hawaiian word ʻehu, the reddish glow that sun and salt water leave in island hair. It has been a beach, backyard and radio staple across Hawaiʻi ever since, and it is the song that gets the whole jam circle singing.
Key of C on ukulele, G on guitar · 4/4 time · Level 2 · Medium · 5 chords
The chords you need
Tap any chord to open its diagram in the chord library, where you can see the fingering and hear how it should sound.
On the ukulele · key of C
On the guitar · key of G
The progression
One box is one measure of 4/4. Strum through each box, change chords at the start of the next, and you are playing the song. Start way slower than feels cool.
Ukulele · key of C
Intro
Play this lap twice. On the record a saxophone sings over these chords; your strum holds down the same groove underneath.
Verse
Two laps of the same run: C, F, then two measures of G. Every verse works exactly this way.
Pre-chorus
The turn: Dm and G circle around Am, and the last G hangs in the air until the chorus lands back home on C.
Chorus
Same lap as the verse with the energy up. Ride it as many times as the chorus needs, and on the final chorus park on C and let it ring.
Bridge
C and Dm rock back and forth three times, then F and G walk you straight back up into the last chorus.
Guitar · key of G
Intro
The same lap moved to G, so every chord stays in first position and there is no F barre to fight. Play it twice.
Verse
Two laps of the same run: G, C, then two measures of D. Every verse works exactly this way.
Pre-chorus
The turn: Am and D circle around Em, and the last D hangs in the air until the chorus lands back home on G.
Chorus
Same lap as the verse with the energy up. On the final chorus park on G and let it ring.
Bridge
G and Am rock back and forth three times, then C and D walk you straight back up into the last chorus.
The strum
The island skank: beat 4 is the only number that gets a strum. Count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and, chop on the ands, and keep every stroke short and poppy, like a snare hit.
Full speed sits around 133 BPM
Start way under that. Speed comes on its own.
Practice setlist
- The whole song leans on one lap: C, F, then two measures of G. Get that lap smooth and you already own the intro, the verses and the chorus.
- The offbeat chop is the sound. Strum only on the ands, mute quickly with the heel of your hand, and let the silence on the beats do the work.
- Loop the pre-chorus by itself. Dm to G to Am is the only new territory, and that final G is a springboard; feel it push you back to C.
Ten focused minutes a day beats one heroic hour on Sunday.
Sounding sour? Get in tune first with the free browser tuner.
Sounds better on real strings
Play it on your own ukulele.
A song this good deserves an instrument that fits your hands. Come in and play a few. New and used ukuleles on the wall, and a crew that will help you find yours without any pressure. And when a chord change fights back, teachers run lessons at the shop 7 days a week.
Never played a note before? Start with Play Your First Song Today, our free step-by-step starter for total beginners. Then come back for this one.
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