tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post4209814057388841643..comments2024-03-26T17:50:42.904+00:00Comments on GOT A UKULELE - Ukulele reviews and beginners tips: The Ukulele Is Not The Happiest Instrument In The World...Rant!Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-29978923311771431302024-01-17T22:21:56.502+00:002024-01-17T22:21:56.502+00:00Love your videos. Bought A Kala Ziricote Tenor bec...Love your videos. Bought A Kala Ziricote Tenor because of your excellent review. Love it and it remains one of my favorites. Personally, I am happy every time I reach for a uke or my guitar or one of my fabulous Native American flutes or a hand drum. Music makes me happy. However, I have absolutely no problem with the notion that the Ukulele is a happy instrument, or even the happiest. So, I found your "rant" a bit much and over the top. It just doesn't matter in the scheme of things. But then that's why they call it a rant. Love the video reviews, and if it wasn't for being maxed out with Patreon subscriptions (as a retired, fixed-income senior), I'd definitely be lending my support.Burnell Yow!noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-25794318244101526232024-01-17T19:31:23.631+00:002024-01-17T19:31:23.631+00:00I love the Bassoon - I associate it with the sound...I love the Bassoon - I associate it with the sound tracks for so many animations and cartoons on TV which i enjoyed as a child eg Noggin the Nog etc -never heard of the clown image - bizarre - lovely warm woody tone - be proud! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-5766955365283469092017-08-25T20:49:36.039+01:002017-08-25T20:49:36.039+01:00I love my ukuleles. I adore this small, four strin...I love my ukuleles. I adore this small, four stringed instrument. Ask any ukulele player about the instrument, and the word love will inevitably be spoken. Why has this small, four-stringed instrument captured the hearts and minds of so many new players? Could it be because it is the size of a cat or an infant? I've heard others say that just holding it is enough to make them feel happy. You see, you don't simply hold an ukulele, you embrace it. And because it is relatively easy and fun to learn to play, it puts music within the grasp of many who might otherwise be reluctant to pick up an instrument. And, for those so inclined, the ukulele is extremely addictive. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10064438753866425542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-87705769943590295472017-07-20T18:37:15.922+01:002017-07-20T18:37:15.922+01:00Right Barry, I might as well say the cello is a sa...Right Barry, I might as well say the cello is a sad instrument. I have no idea what people mean when they say ukulele is a happy instrument. I'm happy when I play it well, or even decently. I ain't so damn happy when I play it crappily, or it won't stay in tune, or something breaks (yes, it has).<br />My rant: Nothing in this world, not a uke, not a damn thing, can make me happy or unhappy. It's a choice. Ukes have no choice.Ukulelegeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682685228439447153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-70125139414438837662016-11-30T21:48:57.443+00:002016-11-30T21:48:57.443+00:00Hy everyone!now you have destroyed my peace and uk...Hy everyone!now you have destroyed my peace and uke dream!buy for you 😉 I don't know about uke-bullies or similar but...I'm Italian and in some italian group and chat on internet it seems that people are a little cold..only because you're a newbie or 'cause you choose a baritone(aaaahhhh the devil himself!)or you don't participate enough ir not in the way they want...I have found instead a really good environment in uas anonymous for example and maybe there's only me from Italy there...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00211893727761212826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-23709455935799438462016-11-29T18:10:42.261+00:002016-11-29T18:10:42.261+00:00Good rant Barry. You make a lot of valid points. I...Good rant Barry. You make a lot of valid points. I find the idea of going to a Ukulele group and hearing 50 people playing along together challenging to my ears. They cannot possibly be precisely in tune with each other. Whether they are playing Hawaiian classics, George Formby or Beatles songs it usually sounds muddy. Outside of a formal orchestra I can't think of where people play the same instruments together in the way that Ukulele gatherings do. I'm all for the camaraderie of getting together and also for classroom tuition but the sound of a large scale group of Ukuleles playing together somehow diminishes the appeal of this versatile instrument. Obviously, as with guitars etc a few playing together can be a wonderful thing. Grant Ryderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16060432930863339619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-76805968828614391472015-04-05T19:49:01.227+01:002015-04-05T19:49:01.227+01:00I get what you're saying completely. I am quit...I get what you're saying completely. I am quite into the Hawaiian heritage of the instrument; but not the cheesy Hawaiian shirts and plastic leis, more the history and styles (slack key and the like.) I play mostly old traditional Hawaiian melodies and I would say that 90% of them have a sad melancholic tone. In fact I would say most traditional Hawaiian music has a melancholy to it. MattAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905090964364763298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-55064986938905471912015-04-05T19:33:03.736+01:002015-04-05T19:33:03.736+01:00The blues makes me smile. It's not inherently ...The blues makes me smile. It's not inherently happy though. Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-2722696068238048552015-04-05T19:31:51.250+01:002015-04-05T19:31:51.250+01:00I think that happy tag stems from a quote by Georg...I think that happy tag stems from a quote by George Harrison, something about playing a ukulele makes people smile.Ukeoholicsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-69555828395891930602015-03-04T16:51:42.855+00:002015-03-04T16:51:42.855+00:00And, if you took the time to click the CONTACT pag...And, if you took the time to click the CONTACT page above, you would see the author of everything on this site is indeed a 'he' - not that I am sure that matters..Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-18314279344825446612015-03-04T16:48:17.446+00:002015-03-04T16:48:17.446+00:00It's an opinion piece - the uke is inanimate a...It's an opinion piece - the uke is inanimate and cannot be inherently happy- you can play anything on it.<br /><br />But perhaps someone who has played for years, plays uke in a band and has devoted so many hours into the work on this site with the intention of helping beginners (countless uke reviews, interviews with professionals) means I must really hate it huh?Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-14389280820485071622015-03-04T16:46:46.592+00:002015-03-04T16:46:46.592+00:00But there is that 'happy friendly' uke com...But there is that 'happy friendly' uke community right there!Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-30007504796005568392015-03-04T16:19:11.681+00:002015-03-04T16:19:11.681+00:00The headline has nothing to do with the article!
...The headline has nothing to do with the article!<br /><br />"The ukulele is not the happiest instrument in the world" It may not make the author happy, but it undoubtedly is associated with happy connotations to many. The author needs to follow this headline by showing either that other people feel like him (I assume it's a him!) or that some other instruments make more people happy than the ukulele. He only denounces these happy feelings, he does nothing to say that any other instrument generates more of them.<br /><br />The title of this should be "I hate the ukulele and resent anyone who has fun with it." That would be much more accurate!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-33038295498712945332014-05-30T20:36:12.611+01:002014-05-30T20:36:12.611+01:00I think you're pretty right. As you said, the ...I think you're pretty right. As you said, the ukulele is first a musical instrument, a tool through which the player expresses his emotions, whatever they are. And I'm very glad to see more and more players showing the world all the possibilities of the instrument. They are good ambassadors. But I have to admit: whenever and whatever I play on my uke, it makes me happy!Stefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-30435835389243980252014-03-02T15:12:34.004+00:002014-03-02T15:12:34.004+00:00As a player of the bassoon, the so-called 'clo...As a player of the bassoon, the so-called 'clown of the orchestra' I agree with your remarks wholeheartedly! The bassoon in skilled hands, like most musical instruments,can express so many deep human emotions. What a waste to keep it to Teddy Bear's Picnic and would-be 'funny' trivia! At least I am not stereotyped into life in beach wear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-71738371165450729102014-02-22T13:45:43.866+00:002014-02-22T13:45:43.866+00:00I get what you are saying, but that whole 'the...I get what you are saying, but that whole 'the uke is funny' thing is something that gets me down. It stops it being taken seriously as an instrument. You never hear people saying that the violin is just a funny / cheeky / comedy version of a Cello.Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-45214631597230513732014-02-21T09:11:00.278+00:002014-02-21T09:11:00.278+00:00You have made several points: hawaiian happiness i...You have made several points: hawaiian happiness is a stereotype, one can play serious or even sad music on a ukulele, the players can be quite unfriendly... you made more, but these ones I'll remember.<br /><br />However (that's why there's a comments section, I think):<br />- I think high pitched music generally works more uplifting, on any instrument, regardless of 'island marketing' - it even works on a piano.<br />- the re-entrant tuning makes music sound faster and more uplifting, and not just on 'folksy' instruments like the banjo and the ukulele, but also on lutes and baroque guitars. I really think it has to do with psycho-acoustics, hearing a cascade of close-ranged notes has a different effect than the same sequence over a longer range.<br />- no-one can deny that the physical size is a funny thing to most spectators, like a miniature bike or gigantic shoes. To me, the size isn't funny at all, but to a lot of others it still is. Like a picollo flute, really.<br /><br />So there must be something 'happy' about a ukulele as an instrument, regardless of the marketing context, the musical styles played on it or the players' attitudes.karlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-56305297495750386762014-02-18T21:53:14.720+00:002014-02-18T21:53:14.720+00:00Matt - I am happy!! honest - not the point I was m...Matt - I am happy!! honest - not the point I was making. The uke makes me very happy. Just don't believe any one instrument is happy or otherwise!Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-66543523305708913482014-02-17T17:03:55.502+00:002014-02-17T17:03:55.502+00:00You'll get this with any group: when (ukulele ...You'll get this with any group: when (ukulele | banjo | mapping | ham radio | linux | …) nerds come together there will always be a strong feeling that "This [activity] trumps all problems". There will always be people who cause difficulties in social groups, and they are too easily ignored in situations like these. I'd recommend reading “Five Geek Social Fallacies” by Michael Suileabhain-Wilson — it's a brief article on interest-group dynamics, and how to avoid getting them poisoned.Stewart C. Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14196891814799297592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-45688848747710799152014-02-17T16:29:28.239+00:002014-02-17T16:29:28.239+00:00Did you know the Korala Explore is made in two new...Did you know the Korala Explore is made in two new designs... one with a picture of palm trees and the word 'Hawaii', the other with a smiley face on it, exactly the same as the one you use in this article, but with the frown turned upside down. I am not stocking them..... I am guessing neither would make you happy!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00089250328134832266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-83823639005570746742014-02-15T11:37:19.169+00:002014-02-15T11:37:19.169+00:00Baz, you're being grumpy haha
No, but I think ...Baz, you're being grumpy haha<br />No, but I think it's become the "positioning" in "marketing" the ukulele and to be honest as someone who likes to encourage others to play Uke etc I'm happy to forward the image, it's been successful hasn't it??<br />Plus like all good positioning it does have it's roots in truth; the Uke does have a very happy cheerful sound musically in general compared to many other instruments. It's also something that is easier to get immediate results with when learning which makes beginners happy & can seriously change lives! So yes, when promoting Uke to the "muggles" yes! It's happy baby! Luv ya cheers Ian Jive Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15713826615527939541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-243213522183711452014-02-15T10:43:06.010+00:002014-02-15T10:43:06.010+00:00nice one! I am struggling with this one at the mom...nice one! I am struggling with this one at the moment too. I make my living wearing Hawaiian shirts and bringing people together over a ukulele. The happy tag is very useful for attracting and keeping people, and generally true. It's ability to help people socialise cannot be denied (when compared to other instruments). Socialising often makes people happy. But we also cannot deny that it can be very pleasurable to play a sensitive sad song on the uke. We need to help people understand that the uke (and music) can help us express sadness too.thesumofthepartshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08193464486145845866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-3122420240757008312014-02-12T15:36:17.447+00:002014-02-12T15:36:17.447+00:00Ha ha Carl! That's what gets me too - that ...Ha ha Carl! That's what gets me too - that 'cheeky chirpy' dial is all too often turned up to 11...Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-10278206831617318992014-02-12T13:23:55.572+00:002014-02-12T13:23:55.572+00:00Excellent rant: 8/10. You dropped a couple of mark...Excellent rant: 8/10. You dropped a couple of marks only because there were plenty of opportunities to add swearing, and you might mention Cosmos and Underground by name and let people find out which is which in order to settle into their own place <br />I would love to turn up to a local ukulele player’s gathering and exchange skills, meet people, try other instruments etc, but my dread of being welcomed with open-arms and garlanded with leis at the door keeps my playing solo and curmudgeonly.<br />I am my own worst enemy regarding the ukulele and happiness – I play it specifically because I find it suits the songs of loss, missed opportunity and unrequited love that I am drawn to, and yet when I took delivery of a new instrument at work the other week and colleagues goaded me into playing something for them, I worried that they would never have heard of anything I enjoy playing, or things would just go too slow for them as an audience and I gave them ‘Ain’t she sweet?’ at maximum chirpy-setting instead.<br />Carlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-31397044846831508472014-02-11T21:57:14.125+00:002014-02-11T21:57:14.125+00:00Very well stated.Very well stated.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10628989886669495997noreply@blogger.com