Rollin’ and Tumblin’: Learn to Play Slide Ukulele on this Classic Blues Tune
BY FRED SOKOLOW | FROM THE SUMMER 2025 ISSUE OF UKULELE MAGAZINE
Few blues tunes have had as lasting an impact as “Rollin’ and Tumblin’.” First recorded in 1929 by “Hambone” Willie Newbern—so named because he used a ham bone for a slide—the song has been reshaped and reinterpreted countless times over the years. But it was Muddy Waters’ 1950 version that set the gold standard, influencing a long list of blues and rock musicians. Just a small sampling of groups and artists that have put their own spin on it: Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and the Grateful Dead, not to mention Jake Shimabukuro, who released a psychedelic-sounding uke version last year with drummer Mick Fleetwood.
Like many great blues tunes, “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” follows a standard blues form, but it doesn’t stick to it rigidly. The song’s signature instrumental riff, played between vocal phrases, adds extra bars, making it a little unpredictable. That’s part of its magic—no two versions sound exactly alike. Most guitarists tackle the tune with a slide, typically in open-G or open-A tuning, and it stands out from the pack by starting on the IV chord instead of the I. Rhythmically, it’s mostly in 4/4 time, but many versions throw in bars of 6/4, adding to its rolling, hypnotic feel.
For this ukulele arrangement, I’ve adapted the song to open-C tuning, which is the equivalent of open G on guitar. Making the switch is easy—just tune your first (A) string down to G, so it matches the high G (fourth) string. This small adjustment gives you a ringing open C chord (C E G) instead of the usual C6 (C E A).
If you’ve never played with a slide before, don’t worry—it’s easier than you might think, and I’ll walk you through it. The key is not to press the slide down like you would with your fingers. Instead, you let it glide over the strings, right above
the fret, applying just enough pressure so the notes ring cleanly without buzzing.
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If this sounds a little abstract, don’t worry—the video demonstrates these techniques so you can see exactly how it’s done. And if you don’t have a slide handy, you can always use your finger to slide up to the notes instead. But I really encourage you to give the slide a try—it opens up a whole new world of sounds, and feels great once you get the hang of it. Happy playing!
Slip into Slide
Here are some tips on getting started with slide on uke.
Choosing a slide: You can use metal or glass, but I personally prefer a thick glass slide for its smooth, warm tone.
Fit and positioning: Most players wear the slide on their fourth (pinky) finger, which keeps the other fingers free for forming chords. It should fit snugly, but not too tight.
Playing technique: To play full three- or four-string chords, lay the slide flat across all the strings. But for those classic blues licks, you’ll often want to tilt the slide—forward when targeting the first string, backward when playing the second or third strings.
