Be Here Now: Ukulele

LaMontagne's fingerstyle approach translates beautifully to ukulele, and this arrangement captures the reflective quality of the original without losing its melodic anchor. Students get to work with a contemporary folk idiom that feels both accessible and genuinely musical, rather than overly simplified.

Quiet and grounded, with the kind of reflective quality that invites listeners to sit with the melody. The arrangement honors the song's meditative core while giving your hands genuine work to do on the instrument.

Ukulele students ready to move beyond basic chord progressions into fingerstyle territory and song arrangement. This works equally well for individual practice, classroom performance, or coffeehouse settings where contemporary folk material fits the vibe.

• Lean into the sustained notes; resist the urge to fill every space with strumming. The pauses matter as much as the sound.
• Pay attention to dynamic shaping across the three pages. The song should breathe, building and releasing tension naturally rather than staying at one volume throughout.
• Experiment with fingerstyle versus strumming patterns to find what matches your touch. The arrangement works both ways, but commit fully to whichever approach you choose.

Place this in an acoustic showcase or folk-focused concert where contemporary singer-songwriters sit alongside traditional repertoire. It's also strong material for a student recital or as an encore piece that doesn't require full ensemble coordination.

• Fingerstyle picking patterns on ukulele
• Sustain and dynamic control in solo performance
• Phrasing and breath awareness in vocal melody
• Arrangement interpretation and stylistic nuance