“Ei Nei” By Lena Machado ‘Ukulele Chords

One of the Hawaiian classics, Ei Nei, is a beautiful example of what happens when more modern jazz sounds make their way into Hawaiian music.

The version I used for reference is a ripping live performance by the Sean Naauao Trio. However, the song was written by Lena Machado. You can hear her old arrangement on her Hawaiian Songbird album.

It’s in the key of A and has some fun chromatic movements that hang on the salty notes before changing to a sweet maj7 chord.

Ei Nei
Lena Machado (in the style of Sean Naauao)
Hawaiian Song Bird
PDF Download

A   C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7    E  (repeat)

A   C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...

Dmaj7    E
Aloha wau ia 'oe
A     Amaj7      C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
    E ku'u aloha ei nei
Dmaj7             E
There'll be no one in your place
 A      C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
Ei nei

Dmaj7        E
As evening shadows fall
A     Amaj7           C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
    I hear your sweet melody
Dmaj7              E
That brings me fond memories
   A        (Ab)
Of you

A7                    A         (Bb)
   I'll be so lost without you
Dmaj7
Every thing seems so blue
B7
My heart keeps saying “it's you, dear
               C7        B7             (C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...)
It's you, it's you, just you, ku'uipo”

Dmaj7    E
Aloha wau ia 'oe
A         Amaj7     C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
   You're just mine alone
Dmaj7             E
There'll be no one in your place
   A            C#m7>Cm7>Dmaj7...
Ei nei.

By Brad Bordessa

I’m an ‘ukulele artist from Honoka’a, Hawai’i, where I run this site from a little plantation house in the jungle. I’ve taught workshops internationally, made Herb Ohta Jr. laugh until he cried, and once borrowed a uke to jam with HAPA onstage in my boardshorts. More about me