Today we learn Pūpū Hinuhinu, a beloved melody from the Hawaiian islands.
Shark's Cove | Nature is often a source of inspiration for composers.
Pūpū Hinuhinu Musings
Pūpū Hinuhinu is a lullaby written about the cowrie shell, composed in1950 by Nona Beamer. This song is said to have been inspired by the black sand beach of Punaluʻu on Hawaiʻi island.
Here's a translation of Pūpū Hinuhinu's lyrics:
Shiny shell
My shiny little shell
Found at the seashore
My shell, shiny shell
Shiny shell
My shiny little shell
We all listen
My shell, shiny shell
Shiny shell
My shiny little shell
To sleep, now to sleep
To sleep, to sleep
Study Tips
Melody
Babies need to be lulled to sleep, not simulated with a pulsing presto. Thus, lullabies feature a gently flowing melody set within a slow tempo. For Pūpū Hinuhinu, use a slow tempo (largo to adagio) and strive for a smooth and connected melody.
Listen to the Track
Listen to the track to help absorb the sound and feel of Pūpū Hinuhinu.
Pūpū Hinihinu | Peter Kun Frary, ʻukulele
Vamp
Pūpū Hinuhinu begins with a 2-bar introduction or vamp. Count 1-2-3-4 1-2-3 and pluck the quarter note pickup note on beat 4.
First and Second Endings
Up to this point, we've used the double bar repeat sign in almost every song. The bracketed measures at the end of Pūpū Hinihini, called first and second endings, are repeat signs that allow for differences in the final measure of the song. Here's how to play them:
First time through the song, play the first ending and repeat back—don't play the second ending—to the repeat sign at measure 3 after the vamp.
Second time through the song, play the second ending, skipping the first ending.
First and Second Endings | Repeat symbols with varied endings.
Play the Melody Now!
Practice the melody until smooth and aligned with the beat. Play along with the audio track to help shore up your rhythm.
Pūpū Hinihinu | Peter Kun Frary, ʻukulele. Play along with me!
Once the melody is beneath your fingertips, begin working on the chords.
Chords
The chords for Pūpū Hinuhinu are straightforward and few. The main challenge is maintaining the lullaby tempo without speeding up! We recommend the Flat-Four Strum: strum downwards on every beat with the thumb (beats 1, 2, 3 and 4). The P-i-m-a 2X arpeggio pattern also works great for Pupu Hinuhinu.
Flat-Four Strum | Strum down 4 times per measure (once on every beat).
Be sure to leave time in your practice sessions to review prior materials. Most pieces take weeks to fully absorb and polish. Don't leave music half learned.
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Pūpū Hinuhinu Musings
Study Tips
Melody
Listen to the Track
Play the Melody Now!
Daily Review
