Are ukuleles a real instrument?

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: M.Ted
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:57 PM

FYI, Kaleea, there are five strings on my uke--/and a word of Warning to Terry Allan Hall--with ten steel strings on that short little neck, there is a lot of tension on the Tiple's neck. The bridge and top tend to give out on them at some point--I've been there, I've seen it, and I'm lucky I lived to tell about it:-)

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:40 AM

Love 'em....between my daughter and myself, we have a soprano, a tenor, a baritone, a (soprano) banjo-uke and a "taro-patch" (an 8-stringed tenor uke)....looking for a tiple, next (same tuning as a soprano, but 10 strings - double-triple-triple-double, with the triple courses, the middle string is tuned an octave lower.)

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: GUEST,Julian
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 06:28 AM

I've always felt that when it comes to a music session in a pub or whereever, you are either in (with an instrument) or out (just a bystander who may listen to the music if they wish). I don't want to lug a big guitar around with me and have to find space for the case, so I've got myself a uke. I can sit in on a session if I want; I can be as quiet or as noisy as I feel fits; I don't take up too much space or get in other people's way; and if the other "musicians" don't like it, tough, 'cause they should be more accommodating and less elitist.

Did that end as a bit of a rant, sorry didn't mean to. But at the end of the day if you want to make music with other like minded people, I say, go for it.

Cheers

Julian

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 05:57 AM

There is a lot of Uke information on the web. You can print off chord charts for diferent common tunings and arrangements for anything from George Formby to Jimi Hendrix.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 04:43 AM

Thanks Bob, that makes sense and shows how brain-washed you can get my western instruments and tunings.

Kaleea - if you took the time read my original post properly you would see that at no point did I suggest that the ukulele has only 3 strings. And I play the melodeon, which many people do not consider a musical instrument (with the emphasis on musical!)

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Kaleea
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 02:42 AM

are you real? well, are you? do you play any musical instrument? do you know what one is? did you know that there are four strings on a ukulele? did you know that if you count the strings under the top (vertically) string, there are three underneath (vertically) it? should any alleged personage who does not know the answer to these or any of the above questions be allowed by society to obtain or accost any musical instrument?

Subject: RE: Are ukeleles a real instrument
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 02:38 AM

G'day Dazbo,

"Why is the top string (vertically speaking) tuned to a higher pitch than the two below it?"

That's a "re-entrant" tuning ... if you think of the standard "C" chord on a 'C'-tuned Ukulele (dGBe) the chord (due to the octave higher string) is sounded eGce ... so the 'e' at each end is the same note. This means that quick up-&-down strumming techniques sound more 'even' as they don't particularly run Up then Down ... only the middle notes show a different order.

This type of tuning is used on a lot of South American stringed instruments - for the same reason. The way we are accustomed to tune a 6-string guitar ... for our particular style of music does not create an absolute rule. Enjoy the Ukulele for what it is and what it does ... not what some preconception says it should do.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: JennyO
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:29 AM

the name of the instrument means "jumping flea."

Aha! Is that why people always sing My Dog Has Fleas when tuning them?

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Gurney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:11 AM

I'll second Uke at 5.58. There is a Polynesian guy at the local outdoor market who makes, plays, and sells them. Very impressive.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:40 AM

But please, spell it right! Two U's, followed by two E's. Uku in Hawaiian means flea or other small insect (when I had my pediatric practice on the Big Island I treated lots of kids for ukus, a/k/a head lice), and lele means leaping or jumping. Hence, the name of the instrument means "jumping flea." There are two competing explanations for that: (1) it refers to the player's fingers, (2) it was the nickname of the diminutive British naval officer who played his small vihuela at the royal Hawaiian court and led to its popularity throughout the islands.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 10:50 PM

Listen to Eddie Kamae on "Granada" or "Aloha Oe" or "Tropical," etc. (cuts on "Heart of the 'Ukulele," re-released as a cd), available from mele.com. He taught many of the more recent players.
Heart

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Uke
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 05:58 PM

I felt I had to place at least one message on this thread, if only to say... viva la ukelele!

The uke is great for singsongs, not so loud as a guitar and more portable. It is also more forgiving of unskilled playing.

Ukulele playing has reached a high level of mastery in Pacific Island string-band music, which often have several ukes, keeping a high-pitched rhythmic pulse going. In the last few years a new style of uke has a started to appear in New Zealand, probably from the islands. It has a solid body and is strung like a mandolin. Sounds different and very nice.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Cluin
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 03:15 PM

Paul McCartney, for one. I think he did "Something" on uke.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 02:20 PM

Reminds me, in the Concert for George, several songs were done on uke. Really nice stuff.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Houston_Diamond
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 02:01 PM

As the GUEST said:-
RE: Are ukeleles a real instrument?

Anything can be an instrument if it makes a suitable sound i.e. one that is inkeeping with the melody or tune (even suitably shaped bones. lol).

But, metaphysically speaking is any instument "real" or does it mearly exist because the id depicts it's physical state?

I quite liked hearing George Formby's Uke playing.

As you may already have guessed I'm a bit strange and my advise should probably be ignored.

Daft as a T Chest Bass Houston.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: GUEST,Sooz
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 01:36 PM

Apparently George Harrison used to carry a few spare ukes in case any of his friends forgot theirs!

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Cluin
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 01:21 PM

The ukelele is poised for a comeback boom. Expect to see one in Clapton's hands at some major concert soon.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 01:18 PM

Ukes can be so twee when played badly, but in the hands of someone who knows how they are marvellous.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 12:12 PM

They're Hawaiian adaptations of Portuguese-style guitars. So that alone makes them musical instruments. I saw some 18th century originals in a museum once.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 12:06 PM

I can feel the urge returning!!

I almost bought one at Towersey festival this week end (they didn't have a tutor book :-( ).

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 12:00 PM

Like so many instruments , the uke is very simple to play easy stuff on , but is capable of all sorts of GREAT music - I second the advice in Sttaw's post above - That is some FRIGHTENING uke playing !

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Paul Burke
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 11:57 AM

Yes, my mate Steve Williams plays it brilliantly. Rock, though, so less likely to interest the denizens of this place.

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 11:52 AM

Have a listen to this UKE
link in the first post and your questions will be answered

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 11:44 AM

What do you mean by instrument?
What do you mean by real?

If you plan to play it in solitude, no problem. Go for it.

If you plan to play with other musicians, there might be issues.
Then the important question is "What do THEY mean by real instrument?"

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: Splott Man
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 11:27 AM

Yes

Yes

Fun

Don't know

Yes

Try www.ukuleleorchestra.com/ to see just how well they can be played

Have fun...

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 11:17 AM

Where the £@#! did that apostrophe come from?

Subject: Are ukelele's a real instrument
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 11:16 AM

Well are they?

Do you play one?

What's it like?

Why is the top string (vertically speaking) tuned to a higher pitch than the two below it?

Should I get one?