31 Jan 2011

31 Jan 2011T19:09

New ukulele tuner on its way - the Snark

My Kala clip on tuner has been beaten and bruised too much, and now the hinge broke.

No matter, these things are cheap as chips (and an essential purchase for new players - not got one yet? Go and find one!)

Anyway, I needed a new one and bought this - the Snark

So why that particular tuner? Well, unless you are getting into spending £50 plus (which I dont think is worth it) most clip tuners are all about the same price (in the £10 - £15 range) and essentially all do the same thing very well. I bought this one because it looks funky, and I like the name. Also heard good things about the screen too. This one works on both vibration or can be switched to use an inbuilt microphone. The blue version only works on vibrations.

I will, in due course, be doing a proper article on tuners for my beginners guides, so keep a look out.

T16:05

Bladon Races - Ukulele chords

Quite a long one this - but this is a classic Geordie folk song.

BLADON RACES

I went to Blaydon Races
D
Twas on the ninth of June
A7 D
Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Two
G D
On a summer's afternoon
E7 A7
I took the bus from Balmbras
D
And she was heavy laden
A7 D
Away we went along Collingwood Street
G D
That's on the Road to Blaydon
A7 D

Oh me lads, you should've seen us gannin
D A7 D
Passing the folks along the road
G D
And all of them were starin'
G E7 A
All the lads and lasses there
D
They all had smilin' faces
A7 D
Gannin along the Scotswood Road
G D A7
To see the Blaydon Races
D

We flew past Armstrong's factory
D
And up by the Robin Adair
A7 D
But gannin ower the Railway Bridge
G D
The bus wheel flew off there
E7 A7
The lasses lost their crinolines
D
And veils that hide their faces
A7 D
I got two black eyes and a broken nose
G D
In gannin to Blaydon Races
A7 D

Oh me lads, you should've seen us gannin
D A7 D
Passing the folks along the road
G D
And all of them were starin'
G E7 A
All the lads and lasses there
D
They all had smilin' faces
A7 D
Gannin along the Scotswood Road
G D A7
To see the Blaydon Races
D

Now when we got the wheel back on
D
Away we went again
A7 D
But them that had their noses broke
G D
They went back ower hyem
E7 A7
Some went to the dispensary
D
And some to Doctor Gibbses
A7 D
And some to the infirmary
G D
To mend their broken ribses
A7 D

Oh me lads, you should've seen us gannin
D A7 D
Passing the folks along the road
G D
And all of them were starin'
G E7 A
All the lads and lasses there
D
They all had smilin' faces
A7 D
Gannin along the Scotswood Road
G D A7
To see the Blaydon Races
D

We flew across the Tyne Bridge
D
And came to Blaydon Toon
A7 D
The barman he was calling then
G D
They called him Jackie Broon
E7 A7
I saw him talking to some chaps
D
And them he was persuadin'
A7 D
To gan and see Geordie Ridley's show
G D
At the Mechanics' Hall in Blaydon
A7 D

Oh me lads, you should've seen us gannin
D A7 D
Passing the folks along the road
G D
And all of them were starin'
G E7 A
All the lads and lasses there
D
They all had smilin' faces
A7 D
Gannin along the Scotswood Road
G D A7
To see the Blaydon Races
D

Now when we got to Paradise
D
There were bonny games begun
A7 D
There were four and twenty on the bus
G D
And how we danced and sung
E7 A7
They called on me to sing a song
D
So I sang 'em 'Paddy Fagan'
A7 D
I danced a jig and I swung me twig
G D
The day I went to Blaydon
A7 D

Oh me lads, you should've seen us gannin
D A7 D
Passing the folks along the road
G D
And all of them were starin'
G E7 A
All the lads and lasses there
D
They all had smilin' faces
A7 D
Gannin along the Scotswood Road
G D A7
To see the Blaydon Races
D

The rain it poured down all the day
D
And made the ground quite muddy
A7 D
Coffee Johnny had a white hat on
G D
Shouted 'Wee stole the cuddy?'
E7 A7
There were spice stalls and monkey shows
D
And old wives selling ciders
A7 D
And the chap on the ha'penny roundabout
G D
Saying 'Any more lads for riders?'
A7 D

Oh me lads, you should've seen us gannin
D A7 D
Passing the folks along the road
G D
And all of them were starin'
G E7 A
All the lads and lasses there
D
They all had smilin' faces
A7 D
Gannin along the Scotswood Road
G D A7
To see the Blaydon Races
D

T13:34

Ukulele Heroes - Jake Shimabukuro

Moving on from an old school ukulele hero in the last edition, I now turn to a modern phenomenon, and what a player he is - Jake Shimabukuro.

Jake is is a 34 year old virtuoso of ukulele - and virtuoso is exactly the right word when you see him play. Simple strums and catchy tunes are not for this player, rather sublimely complex renditions of pop, jazz and classical styles played in a mixture of strums and picks. Jake has brought the ukulele bang into the 21st century.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, ( fifth generation Japanese American) he first picked up the uke at the age of four years old and never looked back. He came to public attention playing alongside Lopaka Colon and Jon Yamasato in the Hawaiian band, Pure Heart, with their first album winning four of the Hawaiian grammies including 'Most Promising Artists' and 'Album of the Year'.

More recently Jake has performed solo and without a doubt has a huge career ahead. His style is contemporary, but capable of making even the hardest of music theorists raise an eyebrow, whether he is covering Bohemian Rhapsody, or something traditionally Hawaiian. In fact, he states his idols when growing up included Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Pat Metheny. His rise to fame was marked last year by accompanying Bette Midler in her spot at the British Royal Variety Performance, playing uke to the Beatles "In My Life" to rapturous applause. He has also played with Jimmy Buffett, Ziggy Marley and Cyndi Lauper.

He is also famous on the youtube rounds, but Jake is no short term sensation and be prepared to see a LOT more of him.

He claims (quite rightly in my opinion!) that the uke is the instrument of peace, and is famed for playing Kamaka instruments.

JAKE SHIMABUKURO HOMEPAGE

30 Jan 2011

30 Jan 2011T10:04

Molly Malone - Ukulele chords

Another great traditional folk tune that works well on the ukulele

MOLLY MALONE

G Em Am
   In Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty
   G E7 A7 D7
   I first set my eyes on sweet Molloy Malone
   G Em D7
   She wheeled a wheelbarrow, through streets broad and narrow
   G D- Am Em D G
   Crying: Cockles and Mussels, Alive, Alive O

   G Em
   Chorus: Alive, alive O
   Am D7
   Alive, alive O
   G D-
   Crying, cockles and Mussels
   Am Em D7 G
   Alive, alive O

   She was a fishmonger, and sure twas no wonder
   For so were her Father and Mother before
   And they all wheeled their barrows,
   Through streets broad and narrow
   Crying: Cockles and Mussels, Alive, alive O

   (chorus)

   She died of a faver, and no one to grieve her
   And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
   Now her ghost wheels her barrow
   Through streets broad and narrow
   Crying: Cockles and Mussels, alive, alive O

   (chorus)

29 Jan 2011

29 Jan 2011T13:57

The VOLCAPO - Ukulele Capo review

I'll be honest with you, I hadn't really thought much about ukulele capos before, and I think that is because I am a guitar player. You see, my guitar capos tend to be fairly heavy, substantial pieces of metalwork, with powerful strings and imposing jaws. Similar (but scaled down versions) are available for the ukulele, but to my mind they would seem overkill on such a diminutive instrument. Then the good people at Sutherland Trading made contact with me and asked me to review a brand new and rather exciting looking product - the VOLCAPO.

For my beginner readers, a Capo is a device that effectively moves the nut of the instrument to a different fret. It attaches around the neck of the ukulele at a fret position of your choosing and tightens (in the case of the guitar styled capos, usually with a spring or ratchet) a padded strip across the strings at that point. This raises the pitch of all the strings equally, and you can then play at the next fret down as your 'new' first fret. Why would you do this? Well several reasons, but for beginners, it's usually for those occasions where you find the song and chords you have learned are too deep for your voice. The capo allows you to play exactly the same chord shapes, but the notes will all be uniformly higher.

As I said in the introduction, I don't like the idea of bolting a large sprung metal device to my ukulele, so the Volcapo has really caught my attention, as it is made of wood, leather, string and a something that looks like a tuning peg!

The Volcapo was developed by Chris Baird, the guitar technician for American band Korn, as a guitar capo. Chris made them privately and sold them to various 'stars' whilst on the road, but only as a sideline or hobby. The product came to the attention of Sutherland Trading in the UK via Dean Markley strings, and they made contact with Chris to enquire whether he could fashion the same product for the ukulele. The Volcapo Uke Capo was born.

They are completely handmade in Long Beach California from wood, leather, nylon and that tuning peg, and are rather ingenious in the way they work. You have a carved piece of wood, that in profile looks to me like the shape of those low looking Hawaiian volcanos (presume that's where the name comes from) with a padded piece of leather glued to the flat base. The leather extends from the wooden block as this will provide the neck padding, and a nylon thread runs through it attached to a plastic peg shaped like a ukulele tuner.

The wooden part of the Volcapo is placed across the strings in normal capo fashion, with its padded leather side down onto the strings. You then pass the leather strip around the neck of the instrument. The string is guided into a notch on the side of the wooden block and the peg inserted into the hole on the top.. By turning the peg and thus winding the string around it, the Volcapo tightens. I'm a sucker for simple things that just work, and this just works!

For me, it is the style of the product and the handmade origin of it that suits the ukulele perfectly, That use of wood goes perfectly with the uke, and the product will CERTAINLY cause people to ask questions (I certainly haven't seen anything like it before). It certainly stands out when fitted to your instrument.

So, how does it work? - quite simply, very well. The main positive with this capo, that sets it apart from other metal sprung capos, is the weight – this thing weighs very, very little. The ukulele is a very light instrument that, in most cases, is held without a strap and cradled by the arm. The bane of many cheap ukes are those that have cheap, heavy geared tuners fitted which weigh the head down and make it tricky to hold. I would imagine fitting a heavy metal capo would do the same thing, and the Volcapo causes no problems in that regard – you really cannot feel it is there.

The friction peg works just fine, and you can actually finely adjust the tension quite well. Moving the capo from fret to fret is just a case of slackening the peg a little, relocating the wooden block and re-tightening the peg. I found no issue with uneven pressure or strings being muffled, and found it hugely entertaining to play some of my favourite chord progressions at ridiculously high places on the ukulele neck. It must be said that it isn't as quick to move as a sprung trigger capo, but it really isn't that much hassle.

The only slight gripe I have is that the tuning peg can get in the way a little with certain chords. It isn't a huge problem, but I did find myself bumping my knuckles on a couple of chords, most commonly E7, or those that use a lot of fingering at the first fret. Perhaps a smaller block or peg would solve this, but to be honest on a small instrument such as the uke, I suspect any capo may have this issue. It didn't trouble this ukulele player and found it quite easy to adjust my fingering, but you should be aware of it.

The product is available in the usual ukulele sizes (soprano /concert or tenor / baritone), and are shown below. It retails in the UK at £9.99 and should be available at the big uke stores such as Duke Of Uke, Eagle Music and Southern Ukulele Store. US distribution is not yet finalised, but I am told that Chris is working on it. Keep an eye on his new website for details at www.customcapo.com

In summary, I think its a very nice product, in particular the way it fits the whole feel and ethos of the ukulele. It's simple, works ingeniously well and is nicely priced. Keep an eye on some of your finger placements, but on the whole I think you will get on well with this. In fact, one lucky reader can try one first hand as in the next week or two I will be running a new free to enter competition on the blog to win a Volcapo!

Thanks to the guys at SUTHERLAND TRADING for the product to review

T13:13

Fancy earning some ukulele money?

Following the launch of my ebook (which has gone very well), I have set up my Smashwords book account to allow affiliate referrals.

What does that mean?

Well, my book is for sale in a variety of formats on the Smashwords website here WHAT UKULELE PLAYERS REALLY WANT TO KNOW.

When you are registered, If you scroll to the bottom of the page you will see an affiliate referral link that you can copy. If you set yourself up with a free Smashwords account, by placing that link to my book on your website or blog, when somebody buys the book through that link, you will earn a share of the royalty I get paid for the book. Simple! NOTE - you will not see the link if you are not logged on to Smashwords!!

Feel free to use a copy of the book cover as below also. I think this is a neat way to encourage promotion, without expecting people to do it for nothing.

T11:13

Ukulele Heroes - George Formby

This is part of a new series on the blog that looks at some of the key names in ukulele history. Whilst many associate this particular entry as somewhat ubiquitous, I am British, and thought I would start with the late, great, George Formby.

George Formby was born George Hoy Booth in 1904, in Wigan, Lancashire, England, and is fondly remembered as a film star, comedian, and most of all, a ukulele player.

George's father, James Booth, was also an entertainer in the music hall tradition, who adopted the stage name "George Formby" named after the town of Formby just north of Liverpool. Upon the death of his father in 1921, George Jr gave up his budding career as a jockey, and entered the world of entertainment, taking on his fathers stage name and material.

In 1924, he married Beryl Ingham who became his manager, and his career started to spiral to giddy heights. In his early career, George didnt use the uke at all, and it is rumoured that he first played it on stage as a bet with friends. It stuck, and probably became the item most associated with George.

His act was one of bumbling clumsy yet endearing and cheeky northerner, with a little bit of sauce thrown in. George was famed for his phrases like "Turned out nice again", and "ooh mother".

His songs, most often accompanied on the ukulele were rife with double entendre and humour, and were played in his trademark cheeky syncopated style, with some of his most famous works including Leaning On A Lampost and When I'm Cleaning Windows.

By the mid 1930's his stardom was reaching a peak and he embarked on a series of hugely successful comedy movies that were a huge box office success, his most famous being "Let George Do It"

In his later years, George was a regular at the Royal Variety Performance and received an OBE for his services to the entertainment industry.

After a bout of ill health and heart trouble, George sadly died of a heart attack in 1961, and his funeral procession was attended by an estimated 100,000 mourners.

Whilst many may now look back on George as a novelty, or even as something that puts the uke in the wrong light, I think that is most unfair. George was an international star, and there is no doubt that his love of the ukulele brought the instrument to the attention of a great many people.

T10:16

The Fields Of Athenry - Ukulele Chords

Wonderful traditional Irish folk tune for the ukulele

THE FIELDS OF ATHENRY

   G
By a lonely prison wall
  C G D
I heard a young girl calling
G C D
Micheal they are taking you away
G C
For you stole Trevelyn's corn
   G D
So the young might see the morn
   G
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay

Chorus

G C G Em
Low lie the Fields of Athenry
   G D
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
   G C
Our love was on the wing
   G D
We had dreams and songs to sing
   G
Its so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry

Verse 2

By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
Nothing matter Mary when your free,
Against the famine and the Crown
I rebelled they cut me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity

Chorus

Verse 3

By a lonely harbor wall
She watched the last star falling
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry

Chorus

28 Jan 2011

28 Jan 2011T23:45

Bohemian Rhapsody on Ukulele - Jake Shimabukuro

OK OK, everyone is linking to this, so it's my duty to share.

Listen good people - this is how good a uke can sound. Those who scoff that this is a toy guitar, those who laugh when you are beginning, those who cannot take it seriously - just watch and listen.

Glorious

T18:43

New Ukulele alert - drool

As my readers may well know as well as me playing a banjo uke (an Ozark cheapie) I am also a huge fan of Flea and Fluke ukuleles. Imagine my delight to hear that the two things had come together?

The instrument was unveiled at the NAMM musical instrument show recently, and I think it looks great. It has that typical Flea slotted head, is based on a soprano scale banjolele, and has an 8" remo head. What I like the most is the lack of the normal tensioners that you see on banjoleles, with a more unique drum looking mechanism to hold the head tight.

Have a look for yourselves in this video from NAMM brought to you by Ukulele Underground. Jim Beloff of the Magic Fluke Co talks us through the Fluke Banjolele.

T08:22

The Banana Boat Song - Ukulele Chords

The Banana Boat song - one of the first tunes I learned on guitar many, many moons ago, but works great on ukulele if played with a relaxed island rhythm!

A great beginner song - only two chords to worry about, and both of those only use one finger!

BANANA BOAT SONG FOR UKULELE

 D                                  A7      D
Day-oh Day-oh Daylight come an' I wanna go home
 D                                  A7      D
Day-oh Day-oh Daylight come an' I wanna go home


 D
Six han' seven han' eight han' bunch
 D                   A7      D
Daylight come an' I wanna go home

Six han' seven han' eight han' bunch
                      A7
Daylight come an' I wanna go home


  D
Come mister tally man tally me banana
                     A7       D
Daylight come an' I wanna go home

Come mister tally man tally me banana
                     A7       D
Daylight come an' I wanna go home 

 D                                  A7      D
Day-oh Day-oh Daylight come an' I wanna go home
 D                                  A7      D
Day-oh Day-oh Daylight come an' I wanna go home

27 Jan 2011

27 Jan 2011T10:30

Can a ukulele be art?

Is a ukulele just a functional instrument, or can it be art? A friend of this blog directed me to the work of Amy Crehore recently which may answer the question!

Amy, from the US is a celebrated fine art oil painter and has been exhibited in many galleries, exhibitions and magazines over the years and I adore her vintage and dare I say, slightly spooky style of art. I say spooky, the images show a childlike innocence, but then you look into them a little more and realise that things are not quite what they appear to be.

Aside from her paintings, in 2007, Amy started to paint ukuleles, completing her first "Tickler brand" uke shown below

credit: original artwork copyright Amy Crehore

And since then she has gone on to paint many ukes, 13 of which were exhibited in her solo show "Dreamgirls and Ukes" in Los Angeles in 2009. The ukes are all one of a kind fine art pieces of work, and I think they are wonderful.

Below are a few more of my favourites from her collection. You can find out more about Amy on her webpage THE ART OF AMY CREHORE

And you can browse her fabulous work, including her ukulele collection, on her Flickr page - AMY CREHORE FLICKR

Amy also blogs here - LITTLE HOKUM RAG

Enjoy!

REGAL

credit: original artwork copyright Amy Crehore

DEMON

credit: original artwork copyright Amy Crehore

MOTH

credit: original artwork copyright Amy Crehore

Many many thanks to Amy for her kind permission to include her work on this blog. Check out her work as I am sure you will love it.

26 Jan 2011

26 Jan 2011T20:20

Famous ukulele players - part 15

Wow, hot on the heels of issue 14, I have some more 14 ukers to add to the ever growing list. Enjoy!

(thanks to my follower Marcy for the Lucille Ball pic, and as usual, links to previous editions are at the end of this post)

Liz Renay

Lucille Ball (with her daughter)

Sam Brown (another daughter connection, daughter of the great Joe)

T19:49

Ukulele ebook - a BIG thank you

Wow, just WOW

Can I just say a huge thank you. Since launching my ebook, What Ukulele Players REALLY Want To Know, sales have been great.

I was really staggered today to find that my book has made the top 100 UK Kindle downloads in the music section (it's at number 43!) which is amazing. Very very grateful and I hope that the book has gone down well.

Its a short little book, packed with tips from this site in a format to carry around, or read on your iPhone if you dont have a Kindle.

The Kindle book is available here for the UK - What Uke Players REALLY Want To Know - UK

Here for the US - What Uke Players REALLY Want To Know - USA

And if you dont have Kindle or Kindle software - here - SMASHWORDS

Plug over - thank you!

what ukulele players really want to know ebook

25 Jan 2011

25 Jan 2011T08:14

Waltzing Matilda - Ukulele chords

A fabulous traditional tune, credited to Banjo Paterson, and now something of an unofficial Aussie national anthem - Waltzing Matilda for the ukulele.

Get your practice in - it's Australia Day tomorrow - Best wishes to all those uke playing friends down under.

WALTZING MATILDA

C G F
Once a jolly swagman camped beside a billabong
C G
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
C G C F
And he sang as he watched and waited 'till his billy boiled,
C G C
"You'll come a waltzing, Matilda, with me."

Chorus:
C F
"Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
C G
You'll come a waltzing, Matilda, with me."
C G C F
And he sang as he watched and waited 'till his billy boiled,
C G C
"You'll come a waltzing, Ma tilda, with me."

Down came a jumpbuck to drink at the billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he stowed that jumpbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a waltzing, Matilda, with me."

Chorus.

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
Down came the troopers, one, two, three.
"Where's that jolly jumpbuck you've got in your tucker bag?
You'll come a waltzing, Matilda, with me."

Chorus.

Up jumped the swagman, sprang into the billabong,
"You'll never catch me alive," said he.
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
"You'll come a waltzing, Matilda, with me."

Chorus.

24 Jan 2011

24 Jan 2011T20:31

Famous ukulele players - part 14

It's been a while since I did an edition of this, but have a few more (obscure) additions to the famous ukulele player roster.

As always, if you have any suggestions (I need photos though) please do let me know. Still struggling to find pics of Griff Rhys Jones, John Paul Jones, Jimi Hendrix and Steve Martin playing a uke, though I am assured they do play.

George Benson (honest, that's him on the right!)

Jack Johnson

Matthew Morrison

As always, links to previous editions below!

T14:53

Is the ukulele suitable for children?

Parents may well be asking themselves this question - is the ukulele a good instrument for children to learn?

Well, the short answer from this particular blogger is a resounding YES!!

Firstly, some background. I can share my experiences based on growing up in the UK (and admit, it may differ elsewhere). It's well established thinking that playing music as a child is excellent for artistic and social development. Music requires concentration, but is also fun and can be enjoyed with many others. When I was going through school, the options for music learning were mainly limited to the recorder, the piano, the violin and the guitar. I ended up playing the guitar myself, but could easily have taken up one of the others (the recorder being the natural starter for the piano believe it or not). One thing I will say now, as an adult, is that knowing a violin player, and playing a bit of piano, and lots of guitar and ukulele, the ukulele is the easiest instrument to make a start with. That isnt to say the uke is easy full stop, it isn't and takes a lifetime to master (heck, I am just a strummer, there are some real virtuosos out there). What I am saying though is from scratch, I believe the progress can be made quicker on a ukulele as a child than other instruments. Clearly the piano is more complex in view of the coordination required, and the violin requires great technique.

There are, however other reasons why I think a ukulele is great for a child.

Size - pretty obvious really, but the ukulele is a small instrument, and a lot easier for a small child to hold than a guitar (and a lot smaller to store in the house than a piano)
Cost - beginner ukuleles are significantly cheaper than beginner guitars, violins or pianos
Fun factor - the ukulele is a happy instrument, and I believe that kids will feel that they are guitarists by holding one. Beginner ukes also come in a great range of bright, child friendly colours. The fact that Spongebob Squarepants plays one should also help make the childs mind up!
Ease of pickup - as I say above, the early days with ukes allow a new user to make lots of progress. A simple strum is easy to pick up, and when you consider that several chords only need one finger to play them, you can see why you can teach a child a song rather quickly. Guitar, violin and piano will take months to master the basics - I genuinely think a child can master ukulele basics in weeks or even days. I taught my 8 year old daughter "Baa Baa black sheep" in ten minutes...
They don't require blowing - seems rather obvious, but unlike woodwind or brass instruments, the uke leaves the mouth free for singing. Get a bunch of kids together playing "Twinkle Twinkle" and singing as well, and the fun factor goes through the roof (I strongly believe that singing when playing any instrument is a huge boost to speed of learning)
The uke suits childrens songs - the nature of simple childrens songs (nursery rhymes and the like) added to the fact that you can sing when you play, makes the uke a great instrument to play. Most simple tunes are only two or three chords, meaning a child will get quick satisfaction at having "created" something and been artistic.
Transferable - As well as teaching a child the basics of music theory, the uke is the perfect instrument that will allow a transfer to guitar or violin at a later stage.

If you are a parent reading this, I would urge you to consider the uke for your child if they are wanting to play music. Pick up a Makala Dolphin (excellent cheap beginners uke) and encourage them. You must however remember that the ukulele DOES require practice, and I would strongly advise thinking about lessons or other form of tuition.

As the uke is now being taught in some schools the age of those classes seems to suggest that children from the age of 6 up should easily be able to start with the ukulele (that isn't hard and fast, and I would advocate letting younger children just bang and slap away on a cheap uke as a means of introduction).

So I do hope if you are reading this considering and instrument for your child, that the uke is considered further. One very serious word of warning though. There are many parents out there who bought ukes for their children, only to find they themselves become addicted!!

As a final point, if you have very young children, why not use the ukulele to help you with singing nursery rhymes - as well as taking on board the songs, they will see you playing and make the connection. I have some ukulele chords for well known nursery rhymes linked below.

UKULELE NURSERY RHYMES VOLUME 1
UKULELE NURSERY RHYMES VOLUME 2

T09:57

Roll In My Sweet Babys Arms - Ukulele chords

This is a great old time country folk song that, played in a chugging rhythm works great on the ukulele

ROLL IN MY SWEET BABYS ARMS

Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms

I [G]ain't gonna work on the railroad
I ain't gonna work on the [D]farm
Gonna [G]lay 'round this shack till the [C]mail train comes back
And [D]roll in my sweet baby's [G]arms

Chorus:
Roll in my sweet baby's arms
Roll in my sweet baby's arms
Gonna lay 'round this shack till the mail train comes back
And roll in my sweet baby's arms

Where were you last Saturday night
While I was lying in jail
You were out walking the street with another man
Wouldn't even go my jail

Mama was a beauty operator
Sister could weave and spin
Daddy's got an interest in an old cotton mill
Watch that money roll in

I know your parents don't like me
They run me away from your door
If I had my life to live over again
I wouldn't go back there no more

T00:06

2001 A Space Odyssey - Ukulele Style

Where else are you going to find a Kubrick / Ukulele connection ( a part of me knows he would probably adore this)

The tuning reference is just great!!

23 Jan 2011

23 Jan 2011T15:51

Ukulele beginners tips - what is a K Brand Ukulele

As you develop your interest in the ukulele, you will find in your (many) web searches that you will find the term 'K Brand' when referring to ukuleles - but, what does that mean?

As we have discussed before on this blog, the ukulele, whilst European in origin, has it's roots deeply in Hawaiian soil. The term K Brand really refers to the four main, hand made, and most well known ukulele makers in Hawaii, namely, Kamaka, Kanile'a, KoAloha and Ko'olau. These brands are considered by many to be about the best around, using superb woods and age old building techniques to create stunning instruments.

That said, there are actually a host of ukulele brands that begin with the letter K, including

Kala
Kawika
Kelii
Kohala

Many of these are not Hawaiian at all, in fact only Kelii is an actual hand made Hawaiian brand, with some of the others, such as Kala being made in the far east.

To further complicate matters, the term K Brand does something of a disservice to the wonderful Hawaiian uke manufacturer G-String, which are considered by many to be right up there with the big four K ukes.

Needless to say, if you are buying a genuine K Brand uke from those four (or a uke from G String) you are purchasing a high end professional, hand made instrument that has not come from a mass production factory.

So, a little more about those top brands.

KAMAKA UKULELES Kamaka ukes, with their distinctive double K logo on the headstock, were founded in 1916 by Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka in Kaimuki, near Honolulu.

Kamaka are credited for inventing the pineapple shaped ukulele body, and are endorsed by some big ukulele names, including Jake Shimabukuro and George Harrison. They are also famed for their support of the disabled community, winning the Outstanding Employer for Persons with Disabilities award.

They manufacture 9 models of ukulele in a variety of sizes.

Kamaka ukuleles

KANILE'A UKULELES Kanile'a ukes are a more modern brand, but made on Hawaii to similar exacting hand made standards by Joe and Kristen in Kaneohe.

Joe started playing uke at school and started training to be a master luthier in 1990, and in the last 20 years has built up an enviable reputation for quality instruments.

They offer a large range of models, with some special finishes and bracing systems.

Kanile'a ukuleles

KOALOHA UKULELES
Koaloha ukes are hand crafted in Honolulu by Alvin Okami, who actually started his career as a singer!

Alvin started his manufacturing business in 1981, and now make a large range of high quality ukes in a variety of styles including the unique Pineapple Sunday, considered by many to be one of the best 'stand out' ukes on the market.

Koaloha ukuleles

KO'OLAU UKULELES
Ko'olau started in 1979 as Kitakis Stringed Instruments, based in Wahiawa, Hawaii. The business expanded, and changed its name to Ko'olau, named after the mountain range on the eastern edge of the volcano on the island of O'ahu.

The company started in the early years making a small number of hand made ukes and mandolins, but mainly focussed on repairs to instruments. In the 1990's and the resurgence in ukulele popularity and the business expanded to the large range of expertly built, hand made ukes available to this day. Ko'olau are also responsible for the Pono (non hand made) line of mid level ukuleles

Ko'olau ukuleles

G STRING UKULELES
G String ukuleles, as I say above, are the honorary K Brand uke - honorary because sadly their name does not begin with a K, but they are right up there in the quality stakes!

They are a small company located in the Hilawa valley on the island of O'ahu, with a smaller number of ukes in the product range, but expertly built, and, of course, offering bespoke services. Started in 1993 in a single garage they have quickly built a huge reputation.

G String ukuleles

T08:59

The Leaving Of Liverpool - Ukulele Chords

Fabulous traditional tune that works well on the uke

The Leaving Of Liverpool

G C G
Farew ell to you, my own true love,
D7
I am going far a way.
G C G
I am bound for Cal - i - for - ni - a,
D7 G
But I know that I'll retu rn some day.

Chorus:
D C G
So fare you well my own true love,
D
And when I return, united we will be.
G C G
It's not the le aving of Liverpool that grieves me
D7 G
But my darling, it's when I think of thee.

I'm off to California
By way of the stormy Cape Horn,
And I will send you a letter, love,
When I am homeward bound.

Chorus

I've shipped on a Yankee clipper ship,
Davy Crockett is her name,
And Burgess is the captain of her
And they say she is a floating hell.

Chorus

I'm bound away to leave you,
Goodbye, my love, goodbye.
There ain't but one thing that grieves me,
That's leaving you behind.

Chorus

Oh the sun is on the harbor, love,
And I wish I could remain,
For I know it will be some long time
Before I see you again.

Chorus x 2

T08:54

This Land Is Your Land Ukulele chords

This Land Is Your Land for ukulele

(lyrics provided strictly for educational purposes only)

CHORUS:
F C G7 C C7
This land is your land, this land is my land , from California to the New York island,

F C Am G7 C C7
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters, this land was made for you and me.

F C G7 C C7
As I was walking that ribbon of highway, I saw above me that endless skyway,

F C Am G7 C C7
I saw below me that golden valley, this land was made for you and me. (CODA: C F C)

F C G7 C C7
I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps, to the sparkling sand of her diamond deserts,

F C Am G7 C C7
And all around me a voice was sounding, this land was made for you and me.

CHORUS

22 Jan 2011

22 Jan 2011T18:28

Ukulele gig report - 22 January - Battle Day

Today was our towns battle re-enactment day (Parlimentary troops versus the Royalists) so we knew it would be packed. What better day to find an audience?

Down the the local pub on the route of the parade with a couple of ukuleles, and it went down very well. A mixed audience complete with soldiers in breastplates brandishing pikes!

Song list included (for inspiration to new ukers)

Under African Skies
Maggie Mae
Hey Good Lookin
Down Under
Born To Run
Dream a little dream of me
Thunder Road
Stuck In the Middle With You
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
I Wanna Be Like You
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
One Hand In My Pocket
9 to 5
Jolene
A Pair Of Brown Eyes
Leaving Of Liverpool
Delilah

Fun times, and only the one shout of "what's with that small guitar" today.

20 Jan 2011

20 Jan 2011T22:06

Man alive! Kala have gone psychedelic!

I just adore these - Kala are releasing a range of psychedelic inspired ukulele designs

The range is called UKADELIC, and I think they look great. From left to right above we have the green paisley, the tartan flag, the tie die, the Tiki and the pink paisley. There are other designs too including a reggae pattern.

They are standard models, souped up with graphics, so will be laminates, but knowing Kala, that is no bad thing.

Find more here - KALA UKULELE HOMEPAGE

T08:21

Aint She Sweet - Ukulele chords

Another perfect song for the ukulele - Aint She Sweet

(lyrics provided strictly for educational purposes)

Am7 C#dim G7
Ain't she sweet
Am7 C#dim G7
see her walkin down the street
C E7 A7
well I ask you very confidentially
D7 G7 C
Ain't she sweet

Am7 C#dim G7
Ain't she nice
Am7 C#dim G7
well look her over once or twice
C E7 A7
and I ask you very confidentially
D7 G7 C
Ain't she nice

F9
Just cast an ey
C
in her direction
F9
oh me oh my,
C
aint that perfection

Am7 C#dim G7
I re - peat
Am7 C#dim G7
well dont you think thats kind of neat
C E7 A7
and I ask you very confidentially
D7 G7 C
Ain't she sweet

-->

19 Jan 2011

19 Jan 2011T08:22

Ukulele ebook now on Amazon Kindle

Pleased to report that my ukulele ebook, What Ukulele Players REALLY want to know is now available on the Amazon Kindle store

For UK customers, it can be found HERE

International customers, click HERE

Feedback gratefully received!

18 Jan 2011

18 Jan 2011T21:44

Stephin Merritt confuses US TV

I don't know if I have said, but I ADORE Stephin Merritt. If you dont know his work, get hold of any music by a band called the Magnetic Fields.

Now, Stephin plays the uke (though that's not the reason I like him, liked his band before I picked uke up) but he also has a kind of, erm, dark sense of humour. He is a genuinely nice guy, but you have to know how to read him. He certainly doesn't strike me as someone who plays up to sycophancy.

Anyway, a blog follower forwarded me this video, which is one of those that you wince when you watch. That said, it's the dumb interviewer who is the butt of this particular exchange. Wonderful uke piece at the end too.

One of my favourite uke videos of all time.

T19:10

Ukulele ebook published!

I am pleased to announce that my ukulele ebook, titled "What Ukulele Players REALLY want to know" is published in ebook format.

I have been toying with this idea for a while now, and for the past few weeks have been collating, expanding and re-writing a host of beginners guides for people to download and read on their ebooks. It's a book aimed at absolute beginners that tries to break away from the rigid rules of the normal tuition books and answers questions those guides just dont deal with.

The idea is that it becomes a resource that is always available, when the internet is not around.

I have also added a useful glossary section and reference guide.

For those of you with an Amazon Kindle:

ukulele book - UK Kindle store

ukulele book - US store

if you dont have a Kindle, its available for other e-readers, pdf etc at SMASHWORDS

Reviews appreciated!

Enjoy!

T09:23

Ukuleles in the movies - PART 2

Continuing my series about ukulele appearances in famous movies!

THE JERK

Navin is an idiot. He grew up in Mississippi as adopted son of a black family but on his 18th birthday he feels he wants to discover the rest of the world and sets out to St. Louis. There everyone exploits his naivety, but then a simple invention brings him a fortune.

Ukulele moment - The classic scene on the beach where Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters sing together, with the ukulele, the wonderful song "Tonight You Belong To Me". It wasn't actually Steve Martin playing in the movie, which I find strange as he is a musician. The ukulele was overdubbed and played by Lyle Ritz

IMDB Link - The Jerk

MIXED NUTS

Philip runs a crisis hotline with Catherine and Mrs Munchnik. That's the easy part, now it gets tricky... Stanley loves evicting people and he evicts Philip. Philip loves helping people and he is loved by Catherine. Catherine is loved by Louie who loves writing songs. Chris loves dancing to songs and loves to wear large dresses. Gracie also loves to wear large dresses because she's pregnant. She loves the baby's father, Felix, who loves to paint. That just leaves Mrs. Munchnik who hasn't been loved by anybody in a very long time.

Ukulele moment - another Steve Martin movie, but in this one, it's Adam Sandler ( a ukulele player in real life) who plays Louie, the guy who loves writing songs and playing his ukulele.

IMDB Link - Mixed Nuts

THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO

Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey during the Depression and is searching for an escape from her dreary life. Tom Baxter is a dashing young archaeologist in the film "The Purple Rose of Cairo." After losing her job Cecilia goes to see the film in hopes of raising her spirits. Much to her surprise Tom Baxter walks off the screen and into her life. There's only one problem..Tom isn't real. Meanwhile Hollywood is up in arms when they dicover that other Tom Baxters are trying to leave the screen in other theatres. Will Tom ever return and finish the film or will he decide to stay in the real world?

Ukulele moment - Mia Farrow as Cecilia, the ukulele playing waitress

IMDB link - Purple Rose Of Cairo

UKULELES IN THE MOVIES PART 1

17 Jan 2011

17 Jan 2011T18:33

Dock Of The Bay - Ukulele chords

One of my all time favourite songs, and one of my favourites to play on the ukulele

I also get the impression that dear old Otis would have seen the funny side and appreciated hearing this on the uke

(lyrics provided strictly for educational purposes only!)

Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding

[G]Sittin' in the mornin' [B]sun
I'll be [C]sittin' when the evenin' [A]come
[G]Watching the ships roll [B]in
And then I [C]watch 'em roll away a[A]gain

I'm [G]sittin' on the dock of the [A]bay
Watching the [G]tide roll a[E7]way
I'm just [G]sittin' on the dock of the [A]bay
Wastin' [G]time [E7]

I [G]left my home in [B]Georgia
[C]Headed for the 'Frisco [A]bay
'Cause [G]I've had nothing to [B]live for
And looks like [C]nothin's gonna come my [A]way

So I'm just gonna [G]sit on the dock of the [A]bay
Watching the [G]tide roll a[E7]way
I'm [G]sittin' on the dock of the [A]bay
Wastin' [G]time [E7]

[G]Look [D]like [C]nothing's gonna change
[G]Every[D]thing [C]still remains the same
[G]I can't [D]do what [C]ten people tell me to do
[F]So I guess I'll re[D]main the same

[G]Sittin' here resting my [B]bones
And this [C]loneliness won't leave me a[A]lone
It's [G]two thousand miles I [B]roamed
Just to [C]make this dock my [A]home

Now I'm just gonna [G]sit at the dock of the [A]bay
Watching the [G]tide roll a[E7]way
[G]Sittin' on the dock of the [A]bay
Wastin' [G]time [E7]

16 Jan 2011

16 Jan 2011T23:36

When I'm Cleaning Windows - Ukulele chords

How could I come this far with the blog and not put up a George Formby song?

Yes, yes I know, its a cliche, but be honest, if you have a uke, are you honestly telling me you havent considered it.? I love playing this - it looks easy, and it really is just two repeating patterns, but it can play quite fast, and you need to get the rhythm right. Have fun missus!

(keep an eye on the blog, as I will be doing a bit of a bio on George Formby in weeks to come...)

(lyrics provided strictly for educational purposes only!)

When I'm Cleaning Windows

I go window cleaning to earn an honest bob.
For a nosey parker it's an interesting job

[F]Now it's a job that [F7] just suits me,
[Bb] A window cleaner [G7] you will be.
If [F] you could see what [D7] I can see
[Db7] When I'm cleaning [F] windows.

[F] The honeymooning [F7] couples too,
[Bb] You should see them [G7] bill and coo.
You'd [F] be surprised at [D7] things they do
[Db7] When I'm cleaning [F] windows.

[A7] In my profession I work hard, [D7] but I'll never stop.
[G7] I'll climb this blinking ladder [C] 'til I get right to the [C7] top.

[F] The blushing bride she [F7] looks divine,
The [Bb] bridegroom he is [G7] doing fine
I'd [F] rather have his [D7] job than mine
[Db7] When I'm cleaning [F] windows.

[F] The chambermaid sweet [F7] names I call,
It's a [Bb] wonder [G7] I don't fall.
My [F]minds not on my [D7] work at all
[Db7] When I'm cleaning [F] windows

[F] I know a fellow [F7] such a swell,
He has a [Bb] thirst it's [G7] plain to tell.
I've [F] seen him drink his [D7] bath as well
[Db7] When I'm cleaning [F] windows

[A7] In my profession I work hard, [D7] but I'll never stop.
[G7] I'll climb this blinking ladder [C] 'til I get right to the [C7] top.

[F] Pyjamas lying [F7] side by side
[Bb] ladies nighties [G7]I have spied.
I've [F] often seen what [D7] goes inside,
[Db7] when I'm cleaning [F] windows.

[F] There's a famous [F7] talkie queen,
[Bb] looks a flapper [G7] on the screen.
She's [F] more like eighty [D7 ]than eighteen
[Db7] When I'm cleaning [F] windows.

[F] She pulls her hair all [F7] down behind,
Then [Bb] pulls down her, [G7] never mind
After [F] that pulls [D7] down the blind
[Db7] When I'm cleaning [F] windows.

[A7] In my profession I work hard, [D7] but I'll never stop.
[G7] I'll climb this blinking ladder [C]'til I get right to the [C7] top.

[F]At eight o'clock a [F7] girl she wakes,
[Bb] At five past eight a [G7] bath she takes.
[Db7]When I'm cleaning [F] windows.