Learning Ukulele with Curt
Basics the Beyond with Curt Sheller Your "TMI", "Total Music Information" Site…
Learning Ukulele with Curt
Under The Boardwalk
Harmonic Analysis Worksheet (RMA/HA)

Category: Harmonic-Analysis Instrument: Any Subjects(s): Ukulele • Information • Harmony

Under The Boardwalk

Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Under The Boardwalk.

Under The Boardwalk

Released: June 1964

Under The Boardwalk is a pop song written by Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick and recorded by the Drifters in 1964. It charted at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on August 22, 1964. The song has since been covered by many other artists, with versions by Bette Midler, Sam & Dave, the Tom Tom Club, the Rolling Stones, Billy Joe Royal, The Beach Boys, Bruce Willis, Bad Boys Blue, John Mellencamp and Lynn Anderson all charting in the United States or overseas. The song ranked number 487 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and number 489 in 2010.

The lyric describes a tryst between a man and his beloved in a seaside town, who plan to privately meet "out of the sun" and out of sight from everyone else under a boardwalk. The instrumentation includes güiro, triangle and violins. The song's chorus switches from a major to minor key. The opening line of the song references the Drifters' prior hit "Up on the Roof." Also, the violins are heard playing the riff of "Up on the Roof", before the chorus. (wikiwand);

Under The Boardwalk is in the The Daily Ukulele 365 Songs for Better Living book.

Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.
Under The Boardwalk Ukulele Chords
C G7 C7 F Am G

Theses and many other chords are covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.

C Tuning Chords

Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval
  • Three pickup notes, eight notes starting on a Perfect Fifth of the key then ↑ P4M2.
  • INTERVALS: Root=note that begins a scale of the starting key; C is C, D is D, Am is a, Em is E, etc... m=minor; M=Major; P=Perfect; D=Diminished; A=Augmented. • is up/ascending; is down/descending;

    Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet

    Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating a your own Harmonic Analysis Worksheet

    C
    C
    G7
    G7
    I
    I
    V
    V
    G7
    G7
    C
    C7
    V
    V
    I
    I7

    C Mix

    F
    F
    C
    C
    IV
    IV
    I
    I

    The C C7 to F , a I I7 a Secondary Dominant, V of IV resolving to F — Is so common that I rarely even look at the next chord, it is almost always going to be the IV chord of the tonality. If not, fix it fast.

    C
    G7
    C
    C
    I
    V
    I
    I
    Am
    Am
    G
    G
    VI
    VI
    V
    V
    Am
    Am
    G
    G
    VI
    VI
    V
    V
    Am
    Am
    VI
    VI
    Harmonic Analysis (HA)

    A Harmonic Analysis (RMA/HA) and its worksheet are intended to show the function of the chords, the harmonic principles used, the keys and tonalities the song explores. And, can be used for scale selections and chord and scale substitutions.

    < NOTE: A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a lead leadsheet. Minimal roadmap information such as repeats, fines, D.S., D.C., and codas has been used in preparing the worksheets to somewhat mirror the leadsheet in the Daily Ukulele book.

    Sections, Verse, Chorus, 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks …

    The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks, etc. as in indicated the Yellow Book. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to a previous verse or an section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to a different part of the song, a or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.

    If turnback chords are not indicated for the these 1st and 2nd endings in the original Yellow Book leadsheet recommended chord(s) will indicated in parentheses or as an alternate harmony in Red . Typically the last measures or turnbacks will be a chord that resolves to and harmonically leads you to the next section or turning you back to the same section. Typically a V or direct substitution of that next chord.

    Reference Key

    This is the key of the source leadsheet.

    • Under The Boardwalk is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of C .
    Harmonic Principles Used:

    These are the harmonic principles used in Under The Boardwalk.

    Nashville Number System (NNS)

    Nashville Numbering System always uses four bars/measures per line, no bar lines, and default is each number of the number of beats per bar/measure based on the time signature. If multiple chords in same bar then they are underlined. It can be as simple as convert the Roman Numerals above to Arabic number.

    At its simplest you simply replace the roman numbers with aberic numbers. e.g., I becomes 1 , II becomes 2 , etc. The only exception is the bVII7 chord becomes 7 as this borrowed chord from the Mixolydian tonality is so common and the VII (half-diminished seventh) in a major chord is so rare (actually never).

    Check the definitive book Nashville Number System

    Scale Selection

    Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed then scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical and horizontal choices. And, really only needed if you are going to take a solo or embellish the melody with added notes.

    Scale Abbreviation Legend

    Traditional Scale Names: Maj: Major, Dim: Diminished, WT: Whole Tone, Pent: Major Pentatonic,
    Scale Mode Names: Ion: Ionian, Dor: Dorian, Phrygian: Phrygian, Lyd: Lydian, Mix: Mixolydian, Aeol: Aeolian, Loc: Locrian

    Scale Abbreviation Legend

    Traditional Scales: Maj: Major (Ionian), Dim: Diminished, WT: Whole Tone, Har Min: Harmonic Minor,
    Contemporary Scales: Minor Pent: Minor Pentatonic, Pent: Major Pentatonic, Blues,
    Scale/Mode Names: Ion: Ionian (Major), Dor: Dorian (Minor), Phrygian: Phrygian, Lyd: Lydian, Mix: Mixolydian (Dominant), Aeol: Aeolian (Natural Minor), Loc: Locrian

    Checkout LESSONSeries : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book. And the QuickStart Series of Scale and Arpeggio books.

    RMA book cover QS1UKES book cover
    Performance Notes

    All FUll Diatonic chords and one supper common V of IV Secondary Dominant.

    A worksheet is often, really not needed with such a simple Full Diatonic chord progression.

    A Simple I , IV , V chord progression. The Tonic , Subdominant and Dominant , the Primary chords of the major key.

    In a short amount of time you'll come recognize these simple chord progressions, just by the chord grids listed at the top of the leadsheet (page). And, hearing where the chords are naturally changing.

    Scale Choices

    For a Full Diatonic chord progression the first choice scale is the Major scale in the key of the progression. A subset of the Major scale is the Major Pentatonic – the Major scale with no 4th or 6th scale degrees.

    Links & Resources

    Sign-IN — it's FREE — to view, un-blur any additional content for this lesson.

    End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

    Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

    Related Lessons
    Related Lessons for Under The Boardwalk.
    ULHA-YB-index
    The Daily Ukulele a.k.a., The "Yellow" Book Song Index

    Index of the songs in The Daily Ukulele book. 365 Songs for a Better Living.

    Related Lesson Series
    Related Lessons Series for Under The Boardwalk.
    Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection

    Harmonic Analysis (HA), also known as the study of chord relationships, is the method used to identify the harmonic role of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression refers to a sequence of chords, with each chord having a root note and belonging to a specific chord type. The function of a chord within a particular scale's tonality is determined by its relationship to that scale.

    The Daily Ukulele a.k.a., The "Yellow" Book

    Individual Harmonic Analysis worksheets for the songs of The Daily Ukulele book.

    Related Books & Charts
    Related Books for Under The Boardwalk.
    RMA1
    Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

    Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.

    RMA1CH
    Harmonic Analysis Major and Minor Harmonized Chord Chart

    Harmonic Analysis Major and Minor Harmonized Chord Chart for ALL 15 major and minor keys.

    HL00240356
    The Daily Ukulele

    Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.

    A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.
    These are books & reference charts that apply to a majority of all lessons on LearningUkulele.com / Learning Ukulele with Curt.
    Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

    Finally, learn the names of the notes of the fingerboard.

    Six Secrets of the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

    Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics.

    Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

    Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition.

    Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer

    Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position is a lot easier than you might think.

    Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele

    An organized collection of daily practice and reference material for the contemporary ukulele player for developing the vocabulary and knowledge necessary for single note playing.

    Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

    Reference Charts

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G - G C E A

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G – G C E A

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

    Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes

    A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A), A4

    Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

    🚀 🚧 End of Site Content 🚧 🌍
    NOTE: PICS ARE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. FAIR USE NOTICE:: This site contains images of which have not been pre-authorized. This material is made available for the purpose of analysis, teaching, comment and critique. The 'fair use' of such material is provided for under U.S. Copyright Law. In accordance with U.S. Code Title 17, Section 107, material on this site (along with credit and attributions to original sources) is viewable for educational and intellectual purposes - (frwebgate.access.gpo.gov). If you are interested in using any copyrighted material from this site for any reason that goes beyond 'fair use,' you must first obtain permission from the copyright owner.
    On the web since 1992 and a Mac since 1987 (Mac II) • Serving up Ukulele content since 2003 ( 22 years ago ) • Lets Kanikapila!!! v12.13.0 (8.2.23) • And, since Sept 2020, happily on Pop!_OS Linux and a System76 Thelio. Half the cost of the iMac and a real treat to use. I use it for ALL development work. Only wish the Affinity Suite of apps by serif where available on Linux (and I do know you can run them in Wine with a few hacks).
    This sit has ben profesionaly red. awl tpyos aree free and no aditonal chrge • I'm blaming it on “jazz” fingers. “Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
    Site developed, coded, and maintained by Curt Sheller, Curt Sheller Publications and hosted on DigitalOcean, eCommerce using stripe, managed using Laravel Forge, and analytics (which we DO NOT share) by Plausible.
    Made with by Curt Sheller for LearningUkulele.com / Learning Ukulele with Curt and the ukulele community • © 1992 - 2026 Curt Sheller