SONG FOR CHERI (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTION)

(From the 2005 Album A FLYING LEAP)

Transcribed by Dominator Music by James Hill
Tune Ukulele ADF#B - Low A

B C
b 2 fr.
bb
F /C

A Intro/Outro
P = 140
T
Slowly with Feeling
Right Hand Fingering - t = thumb i = index m = middle r = ring
8va

gggg 4 V c c
1
I g4 V V V V V
V V
V V V V V V
V V V V V 43 W
u
Gtr I
let ring let ring let ring let ring

T 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 0 0
B 2 1 1 2 2 6 (6) 6 6 8 (8)
sl. sl. sl. sl.
r m i r m i r m i r m i i Continue Similar Right Hand Pattern
8va

gggg 4 V V Vc V V V V V VV VV V V V W
5
I g4 V u V V V V V V W
let ring let ring let ring let ring

T 0 4 4 0 0 5 5 7
A 0 0 0 0
B 2 1 1 2 2 2 6 6 6 8
sl. sl. sl.

V
8va 8va

gggg V c V V V V V V V
I g V V V V V 24 WW
8
V u V V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring let ring

T 7 12 12 12 (12) 7 7 (7)
A 0 0 0 0
B 8 9 9 8 8 6 (6) 6 6 8 (8)
sl. H

To Coda

c
8va

gg V c V V V V Vc V c
12
I g gg 44 V V V u V
VV V V W
W
V
V
let ring let ring

T 7 7 0 0 2 4 2 0 0
A 0
B 2 1 1 2 4 2 1
sl.

Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org

 SONG FOR CHERI (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTION) - Artist Page 2 of 8

accel.
8va

gg V V V V Vc
15
I g gg V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
V
V
u
let ring let ring let ring let ring let ring

T 0 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 0 4 0
B 11 11 13 11 11 9 8 6 6 2 1
sl. sl. sl.

P = 140
V
8va

gggg V V V VV V V V W
18
I g V V fV V gV f V VV V V u 43
u
let ring

T 2 2 5 5 5 7 12 0
A 0 0 12
B 1 3 3 3 6 6 8 13 13
sl. sl. sl. sl.

8va

gggg 4 c V V VV
I g4 V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V VV
u
21

u
let ring let ring let ring

T 0 0 0 5
A 0 0 7 9 9
B 11 11 13 11 11 13 8 6 6 (6) 6 8 8
sl. sl. sl.

gg Vc c
8va

gg V V c V V Vc WWW VVV 41 VVV

24
I g f V gVVV V V
V V V V V
GK 0
7 KK 2
0 4 2 2 (2)

5 K1
T
A 2 2 5 4 (4)
B 1 2 (2) 2 4 4 4 (4)

8va

gg c
28
I g gg 44 V V V V V V c
V V
V V V V V V V V V V V 24 W
u
let ring let ring let ring let ring

T 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 0 0
B 2 1 1 2 2 6 (6) 6 6 8 (8)
sl. sl. sl. sl.

Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org

 SONG FOR CHERI (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTION) - Artist Page 3 of 8

8va

gggg 4 V V Vc V V V V V VV VV V V V WW
32
I g4 V u V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring let ring

T 0 4 4 0 0 5 5 7
A 0 0 0 0
B 2 1 1 2 2 2 6 6 6 8
sl. sl. sl.

V
8va 8va

gggg V c V V V V V V V
I g V V V V V 24 WW
35
V u V V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring let ring

T 7 12 12 12 (12) 7 7 (7)
A 0 0 0 0
B 8 9 9 8 8 6 (6) 6 6 8 (8)
sl. H

c
8va

gggg 4 V c V V VV V V Vc V c V W V
39
I g4 V V V u V V W V
let ring let ring

T 7 7 0 0 2 4 2 0 0
A 0
B 2 1 1 2 4 2 1
sl.

c
8va

gggg V c V V VV V V Vc Pz V cV WW VV WW
42
I g V V V u V V W VV WW
let ring let ring
7 7 0 0 2 4 4 2 0 0 (0)
T
A 0 0 (0)
B 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 (1)
sl. P
2 (2)

D
P P CP PR )
B Main Melody

8va
Moderately Fast Swing = 112 ( P
gggg VVV V V V V V V
46
I g V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V VV V V VV VVV V V V V V V V V V V V V

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A 9 9 7 0 0 2 5 4 2 0 0 9 9 7 0
B 9 6 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 4 9 6 2 1 1
sl. sl. sl. sl.
t i t i t i t i t t i t i t i i t i t i t t t Continue Similar Right Hand Pattern
Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org
 SONG FOR CHERI (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTION) - Artist Page 4 of 8

8va

gg V
49
I g gg V VV VVV V V VV VVV V V VV VVV V VVV VVV VV VVV V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V VV VVV VVV VVV VV
VV
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 0 0 0 9 10 9 7 5 7 0 0 2 5 4 2 0 0 0
B 2 4 6 8 9 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 1
sl. sl. sl.
2
t i t i t i t i t i t i t t Continue Similar Right Hand Pattern

C Melody 2
8va 8va 8va

gggg V V V VVV V VV VV VV V VVV VV VVVV VV l Vf VV V VVV VVV V VVV l VVV V V V V V

I g VV V V V V V V VV VV VV VV
V VVV V fV
52

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
A 0 5 4 2 0 2 4 0 4 5 5 5 7 9 11 11 9 9 4 5 4 2
B 2 4 2 1 1 1 2 4 11 11 9 9 4 4 0
sl. sl.
2 6 sl. sl. H
P P
Fret 4th String 2nd Fret
with Thumb
8va 8va

gggg f V V gV fV
55
I g V f V V V V VgV f VgV V V V V V V VV VV V VV VVV V VV l VVV V V V V V f V V f V V V V VgV f VgV V V V Vf VV l

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 2 2
A 2 5 4 2 4 5 7 0 11 11 9 9 4 5 4 2 2 5 4 2 4 5 7 8
B 2 3 4 3 4 6 11 11 9 9 4 4 0 2 3 4 3 4 6 9
sl. sl. sl. H sl.
8

D Main Melody
8va

gggg VVVV V V V V V V V VVVVV V

58
I g V V VVVV V V V V V V V V V V VV V V VV VV V V VVVV
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A 9 9 7 0 0 2 5 4 2 0 0 9 9 7 0
B 9 6 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 4 9 6 2 1 1
9 sl. sl. sl. sl.

8va

gg V
61
I g gg V VV VVV V V VV VVV V V VV VVV V VVV VVV VV VVV V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V VV VVV VVV VVV VV
VV
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 0 0 0 9 10 9 7 5 7 0 0 2 5 4 2 0 0 0
B 2 4 6 8 9 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 1
sl. sl. sl.
2

Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org

 SONG FOR CHERI (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTION) - Artist Page 5 of 8

8va

gggg V V V V V fV V V V VV VV VV V V V V t t
64
I g f VV VV fV f V gV V f V f VV VV V VVV VV VVV VV gVVV VVV VV VV

N.H.

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 [12]
A 10 9 7 5 8 7 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 0 [12]
B 7 7 9 0 5 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 1
6 6 sl. H sl.
4 5 5 4 4 2
sl.

E Bridge
8va

gg
66
I g gg VV VV VVVV f f VVVV VVV VVV VVV VVVV VVVV VVVV VV VV VVVV f f VVVV V V V V
fV V V V V fV V V V
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B 4 4 7 4 4 4 7 9 4 4 7 4 2 0
2 2 5 0 2 2 2 2 5 7 2 2 5 0 2 2 P P
4 0
H H P

8va

gg
68
I g gg V V VVV f f VVVV VVV VVV VVV VVVV VVVV VVVV VVVV VVVV VVVV VVVV VVVV VVVV f f VVVVggVVVV V V
fV V fV
V V V fV V V V V
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B 4 4 7 4 4 4 7 9 (9) 9 9 9 9 9 10 11 4 2 0
2 2 5 0 2 2 2 2 5 7 (7) 7 7 7 7 7 8 9 P P
4 0
H P

8va

gggg V f V V V VV f V V V f V V V
70
I g f VV fV V V V V V V f VV V V V V V
V V } fV } fV
T 0 3 2 0 0 3 2 0
A 0 3 0 5 0 3 0 5
B 0 4 2 0 0 4 2 0
2 2 P P P
x P P
4 0 2 2 P P P
x P P
4 0
P P
The A string is fretted with thumb over the neck

8va 8va 8va

gggg l l
72
I g V fV V V V fV V
V } V }
V V V V V VV V V V V V V V V fV V
fV
T
A 3 2 0 3 2 0 4 5 7
B 2 2 0 2 2 0 4 4 4 6 4 2 0
2 x P P P
2 x P P P
4 sl. P P
4 0
P

Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org

 SONG FOR CHERI (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTION) - Artist Page 6 of 8

8va

gg
74
I g gg f VVV f V V V f V V V V V V V VV f V V V f V V V
f VV V V V V V
V V } fV } fV
T 0 3 2 0 0 3 2 0
A 0 3 0 5 0 3 0 5
B 0 4 2 0 0 4 2 0
2 2 P P P
x P P
4 0 2 2 P P P
x P P
4 0
P P

8va 8va

gggg l V V V f V gV k
76
I g V fV V V V fV V V V gV V VV V V V V V u
V } V }
T 4 5 6 7
A 3 2 0 2 3 4 5 4 5 7
B 2 2 0 2 4 4 4 6
2 x P P P
2 x 4 sl.

F Return to Main Melody

8va

gg
78
I g gg VVV V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V VV V V
V V V V
V VVV V V V V V V V
V VVVV
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A 9 9 7 0 0 2 5 4 2 0 0 9 9 7 0
B 9 6 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 4 9 6 2 1 1
sl. sl. sl. sl.

8va

gggg V V V V V V V V V V V V VVV V V V V V V V
81
I g V V VV V V VV V V VV VV VV V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V VV VVV VVVV VVVV VV
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 0 0 0 9 10 9 7 5 7 0 0 2 5 4 2 0 0 0
B 2 4 6 8 9 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 1
sl. sl. sl.
2

G Melody 2
8va 8va 8va

gggg V V V VVV V VV VV VV V VVV VV VVVV VV l Vf VV V VVV VVV V VVV l VVV V V V V V

I g VV V V V V V V VV VV VV VV
V VVV V fV
84

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
A 0 5 4 2 0 2 4 0 4 5 5 5 7 9 11 11 9 9 4 5 4 2
B 2 4 2 1 1 1 2 4 11 11 9 9 4 4 0
sl. sl.
2 6 sl. sl. H
P P
Fret 4th String 2nd Fret
with Thumb

Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org

 SONG FOR CHERI (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTION) - Artist Page 7 of 8

8va 8va

gggg V V V V V V f VV V VVV VVV VgVVV l V V V

V V V fVf VVV l
87
I g V
V f V V VgV f VgV V V V V
V V V
V V f V V f V V VgV f VgV V V

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 2 2
A 2 5 4 2 4 5 7 0 11 11 9 9 4 5 4 2 2 5 4 2 4 5 7 8
B 2 3 4 3 4 6 11 11 9 9 4 4 0 2 3 4 3 4 6 9
sl. sl. sl. H sl.
8

H Main Melody
8va

gggg VVVV V V V V V V VV V V V V V V V
90
I g V V VVVV V V V V V V V VV V V
V V V V
V V V VVVV
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A 9 9 7 0 0 2 5 4 2 0 0 9 9 7 0
B 9 6 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 4 9 6 2 1 1
9 sl. sl. sl. sl.

gggg V V V V V V V V V V V V VVV VVV VV V V VVV VV VV V V VVV l

8va 8va

93
I g V V VV V V VV V V VV VV VV V VV V V V V V V V V V VVV VVV VV
u VV
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 12 0 0 0 0
A 0 0 0 0 0 9 10 9 9 7 9 9 4 5 4 2 0 0 0
B 2 4 6 8 9 9 9 2 4 2 1 1
P H sl. sl.
2

8va

gggg V V V V V fV V V V VV VV VV V V V V t t
96
I g f VV VV f V f V gV V f V f VV VV V VVV VV VVV VV gVVV VVV VV VV

N.H.

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 [12]
A 10 9 7 5 8 7 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 0 [12]
B 7 7 9 0 5 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 1
6 6 sl. H sl.
4 5 5 4 4 2
sl.

8va

gggg V V V V V fV V V V VV VV VV V V V V t t
98
I g f VV VV fV f V gV V f V f VV VV V VVV VV VVV VV gVVV VVV VV VV

N.H.

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 [12]
A 10 9 7 5 8 7 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 0 [12]
B 7 7 9 0 5 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 1
6 6 sl. H sl.
4 5 5 4 4 2
sl.

Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org

 SONG FOR CHERI (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTION) - Artist Page 8 of 8
8va

gg R V VV VV VV V V V V t t R R
100
I g gg PPP f f VV VV VV V VVV VV VVV VV gVVV VVV VV VV PP f f VVV VVVV VVVV VVV VV VVV VV VVV PP VVV VVVV VVVV VVV VV VVV VV VVV
P V V P V V
N.H.

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 [12] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 0 [12] 4 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4
A 4 4 4
B 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 1 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4
4 5 5 4 4 2 4 5 5 4 4 4 5 5 4 4
sl. sl. sl.
D.S. al Coda
8va

gg R
102
I g gg PP f f VVV
P
VVV VVV VVV VVV VVV VVV
V V V V V
d 24
V V W
T 0 0 0 0 0
4 5 5 5 5 4 0
A 4
B 5 5 5 5 4 4
4 5 5 4 4 2 (2)
sl.
P = 140
S
rit.

c
8va

gggg 4 V c V V VV V V Vc Pz V cV WW VV WW
104
I g4 V V V u V V W VV WW
let ring let ring
7 7 0 0 2 4 4 2 0 0 (0)
T
A 0 0 (0)
B 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 (1)
sl. P
2 (2)

Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org

 Song for Cheri
Performance Notes

Song Specific Performance Notes

This piece is from James Hill’s most recent solo CD release “A Flying Leap”. On this
CD James presents us with a new picking style that he makes look effortless as he
navigates the fretboard of his G-String tenor ukulele. This is another advanced piece and
will take much dedicated practice in order to play it proficiently. In the key of B Major
the song begins with a very beautiful sequence of passages that move up and then down
the neck. There are a couple of tough stretches that may require some compromise. I’m
currently playing a long scale tenor and the 6-fret stretch at measure 12 is just a bit too
much for me to handle.

To help with the right hand picking I have labeled the fingering under the tab staff
directly under the symbol for either an upstroke (v) or a downstroke. Most of the entire
song is played with alternate picking with the exception of the intro, which is almost
entirely played with the index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand. This is the way
James has developed his right hand technique. I however, choose to play it with my
thumb, index and middle fingers of the right hand. I recommend doing whatever works
best for you.

Beginning at measure 46 the main melody kicks in to a fairly fast swing beat. The song
takes on a very bluegrass type of feel at this point. Again, I have identified the alternate,
up and down, picking pattern along with the right hand fingering at the start of this
section. At measure 70 of the Bridge James plays the B minor chord with the thumb of
the left hand reaching over the neck to grab the 2nd fret. This makes it much easier to
execute the passage.

After the bridge the song moves back into the main melody and eventually leads back to
the intro. This is a very challenging piece but very satisfying once you start to get in the
groove. Don’t worry, I’m right there with you. I have much practice to do if I expect to
be able to play this one start to finish. Good luck and have fun.

General Performance Notes

Keep in mind that the tablature is just a guideline. I try to transcribe the parts as close as
I can to the original recording, however, that doesn’t mean that I play them exactly as
written. It is hard to duplicate the exact strums that the player is using so I get something
close and go from there. The main reason I transcribe is to learn the song and have a
permanent reference to make it easier to learn the song again after I have forgotten it
months later. I find it very helpful to follow along in the tab while listening to the
recording several times before actually attempting to play the song. This gets you
familiar with the tab as it relates to the recording.

Tablature can be intimidating to some people. Here is a tip I realized one day. Playing
some of the individual fret numbers seemed awkward and uncomfortable until I noticed
that they came from within the “shape of the chord”. So whenever possible fret the
chord and then play the other notes from within the chord. This should eliminate some
moving around and make things a bit easier.

Above all else, have fun and if you have any questions feel free to contact me at
dominic@rcsis.com
http://www.ukeland.com/~dominator/