With the passing of Mr. Eddie Van Halen I thought it would only be fitting to revisit “Jump” from the 1984 album. I made an ukulele tutorial many years ago showing the basic picking part and chords, but here it is notated.
Riff #1:
A |---5---7---|-3----3---5-5-|-7----3--0-|---------|
E |---7---8---|-5----5---7-7-|-8----5--1-|-3---3---|
C |---7---7---|-5----5---7-7-|-7----5--0-|-4---2---|
G |-----------|--------------|-----------|-5---5---|
Riff #2:
A |---15---15---|--15---15---10--|---3---0--0-|----------|
E |---17---17---|--17---17---12--|---5---1--1-|-3---3----|
C |---17---17---|--17---17---12--|---5---0--0-|-4---2----|
G |-------------|----------------|------------|-5---5----|
(Use a low-G to get the C note in the last two chords.
Otherwise, just leave it out on high-g.)
Riff #3 (offset by 1 octave):
A |-------3--------2-|-5/7-5------|
E |-----5---5----3---|------------|
C |---5--------4-----|------------|
G |------------------|------------|
Riff #4 (offset by 1 octave except last bar):
A |-------3--------2-|------------|
E |-----5---5----3---|-3/5-3------|
C |---5--------4-----|------------|
G |------------------|------------|
~~~
Intro: Riff #1 three times, Riff #2 once
(For more practical version, play Riff #1 four times)
(Riff #1 - four times through verse)
I get up, and nothing gets me down
You got it tough. I've seen the toughest around
And I know, baby, just how you feel
You've got to roll with the punches to get to what's real
Pre-Chorus:
Am
Oh can't you see me standing here?
F Em Dm (Riff #3)
I've got my back against the record machine
F Em Dm (Riff #3)
I ain't the worst that you've seen
F Em G (Riff #4)
Oh can't you see what I mean?
Chorus:
(Riff #1 two times through chorus)
Might as well jump (Jump!)
Might as well jump
Go ahead, jump (Jump!)
Go ahead, jump
(Riff #1 - two times through verse)
Heyo! Hey you! Who said that? Baby how you been?
You say you don't know, you won't know until we begin
Pre-Chorus >
Chorus >
Solo:
Bbm Gb Ab Db x4
G C G F
G C G F
G/D F G F G F G/D
F/C G/D F G/D F G/D F/C
G5
G5
G5
C
C
Riff #1 two times
Chorus > x2
Here’s the old video lesson from when I was a kid: