Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 11 Dec 09 - 06:10 PM Bright pink is just one choice among many cheerful rainbow shades which the ukes made from China come in. Only £20 or so, but perfectly satisfactory - though, as I said, improved a lot by changing the tuning mechanism. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: GUEST,Al no cookie Date: 11 Dec 09 - 11:09 AM And then there's this guy clicky: this guy |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Artful Codger Date: 11 Dec 09 - 06:00 AM Then again, maybe she'll wear the matching outfit: Dolly singing "Jolene" |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Artful Codger Date: 11 Dec 09 - 05:57 AM Recent uketante here. Got a baritone and a concert (Kala and Mainland), and I'm pleased with both. Smedley: Have you considered fashioning a brown-paper-bag skin to cover the body when she plays it? |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Smedley Date: 11 Dec 09 - 03:27 AM The woman in the office next to mine has a bright pink uke (probably frowned upon in some circles for fivolity of hue). She is threatening to make me sing 'Jolene' with her once she has learned the music. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: mcpiper Date: 11 Dec 09 - 03:23 AM Another from NZ. Have had a uke since I was in Miss Parkers ukulele group at Awapuni primary school, Gisborne, in about 1962. Met Miss Parker at a wedding I played for (highland pipes)a little while ago, she was delighted I still had a uke. Local music shop guy sells heaps of them, can get a real good one for about $150, worth every cent, saw a lady, about 70 years old buying one the other day, her and her mates were going to learn to play and have afternoon uke sessions. Biggest thrill, hearing my son do stairway to heaven on my tatty ole uke. Ukes rule |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Al Date: 11 Dec 09 - 12:06 AM And then there's this guy: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/10/boy-on-ukulele-does-jason_n_387602.html |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Al Date: 10 Dec 09 - 11:44 PM I play them a little bit. They are especially fun to play in Hawaii. It's fun to walk around with one there and start playing it any old time for no particular reason at all. Lots of people do that there. Al |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 10 Dec 09 - 05:12 PM I'd advise anyone getting (or giving) a cheap uke to consider replacing the friction tuning pegs with machine-heads. Only costs about £5 and takes five minutes installing them. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Fred Maslan Date: 09 Dec 09 - 10:24 PM I have two ukes and a banjo uke, they and the recorder are the only instruments I have been brave enough to play in public. (using my all purpose collection of three chords} |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 09 Dec 09 - 08:06 PM A mate with a music shop says ukes are selling pretty well these days. Great little presents. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Girl Friday Date: 09 Dec 09 - 10:56 AM The other Leopard - Mumblin' Len has a uke and uke banjo. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Ernest Date: 08 Dec 09 - 03:29 PM Giok, here`s a site with a lot of links for uke: http://nwfolk.com/uketabs.html Good luck! Ernest |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: PHJim Date: 08 Dec 09 - 12:05 PM The ukers seem to be coming out of the woodwork everywhere. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: John MacKenzie Date: 28 Jan 09 - 02:31 PM I want to take up Uke, advice please. John |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Stringsinger Date: 28 Jan 09 - 02:27 PM McGrath, in the 20's the Gibson Company produced the "Mandolute" which was a single-coursed four string instrument like a mandolin that was tuned like a tenor banjo. CGDA and also higher tunings DAEB. It has a mandolin sound in register but not in quality as the mandolin characteristic is defined by the double-strung strings. My friend Bill Rutan has had one made which he uses for gigs. It can play all the chords that are needed as on a uke but is open-voiced like a tenor banjo. Everyone: Both the tenor banjo and the uke are more harmonically versatile than for which they are given credit. You can play sophisticated jazz tunes on both. Chord melody is facilitated by the use of just four strings. An alternate tuning would be CGBD as used on a plectrum banjo but for the uke, it might have to be tuned higher. The fourth string would be thicker like on a baritone uke unless you raised the C an octave. This could be done on a tenor banjo tuning as well (often called a "high C" tuning). |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Will Fly Date: 28 Jan 09 - 01:44 PM The uke is the choice of composers from Carolan to the Beatles: See? I play a tenor uke - wish I could play it like Phil! |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Ernest Date: 28 Jan 09 - 01:25 PM Pip, does the material you sing fit a uke-accompaniment? If you don`t know, ask your uke-playing friend to lend you his for a while and you will find out.... Good luck Ernest |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: GUEST,Jim Date: 28 Jan 09 - 12:24 PM Listen to Bob Brozman or Manitoba Hal for some good blues ukulele. David Newland ofTornto has helped organize a ukulele gathering. Read more about it on his Facebook page. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Phil Edwards Date: 27 Jan 09 - 06:44 PM I've been talking about taking up the guitar for yonks now but never got round to it. (I sing unaccompanied, but sometimes you just want a bit more.) A friend suggested I take up the ukulele instead, stand out from the crowd... It wasn't an entirely frivolous suggestion - he plays the uke himself, as well as a variety of guitars - but I'm dubious about whether this would be a good way to go. What do people think? |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Fidjit Date: 27 Jan 09 - 01:48 PM Hey I'm leading the "Spoons Workshop" At our Uke day Festival on Feb, 7th 2009 Clank ! Clank ! Chas |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: GUEST,Lindsey Date: 27 Jan 09 - 11:51 AM I have a polkalele. (polka-lay-lee as printe on the instrument) http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeelin/2743561860/in/set-72157601024234110/ |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Big Al Whittle Date: 26 Feb 07 - 04:02 AM Leadfingers - I wasn't being confrontational. the prodigious RH technique was, as you say, a big bit of the successful george Formby equation. there used to be a guy called Eric Ilott, who did the folk clubs with banjoleles etc, which he carried round in a sort of sailors cavas sack - and he sung songs about the sea etc. he was pretty good. I don't say you have to be a brilliant technician like George Formby. Frequently you get these GF impersoantors who can do all the rolls etc, but are painful to listen to. I guess there are no EASY instruments - not if you want to play them right. sorry if I seemed to be argumentative. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: GUEST,M.Ted Date: 26 Feb 07 - 02:28 AM The idea that George Formby had several ukes in different tunings because he only knew one set of chords is absurd. Many of his songs use circle of fourth progressions, so you need to know all the chord fingerings to play them anyway(there aren't that many). The instrument that he played, mostly was not really a uke, it was a banjolele, which loses it's characteristic sound when played in closed position. He used instruments tuned to different keys so that he could use the same open chord voicings, and thereby get the same full, ringing sound in those different keys-- |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Leadfingers Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:11 AM wld - What made George Formby an entertainment super star was his right hand technique on the Uke . The Segovia reference was entirely superfluous ! And my comment was NOT derogatory , simply a statement of fact ! |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Big Al Whittle Date: 24 Feb 07 - 06:40 PM thats a bit like saying Segovia only used one set of chords. Its what you do with them - not how many tunings you know. I've never seen a really good tuition video on the uke. And I did throw a few hundred quid at the project one time. It looks hideously difficult, like frailing a five string. Most people you see playing them are lunatics. there is definitely a hole in the market for someone who can mastermind the resurrection of this very delicate and demanding instrument. Good instruments aren't cheap though, and frankly its a bit like deciding you want to play the guitar in 1947. there just ain't the community and back up to help you - you really will find yourself on your own. If you aspire to create music that is - if you want to join the band of lunatics, I bet they'd find a place for you in their ranks. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Leadfingers Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:24 PM George Formby only knew one set of Chords , I believe , so had a Banjo Uke tuned for what ever key he was in ! carried the full set when he was touring ! |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: M.Ted Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:08 PM The two different tunings have nothing to do with which side of the pond you're on--some uke players tune to A, some to G, no matter where you are--it makes uke sessions a bit difficult manage-- |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Lucius Date: 24 Feb 07 - 11:39 AM I don't call myself a uke player per se, but I do teach Uke to five dozen forth graders. Does that count? |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: leftydee Date: 24 Feb 07 - 09:32 AM Anyone remember my ol'lurking friend Cap'n Bob? You oughta hear that dude play the uke!! He'll play anything from classical to Irish to rock and roll. He and his friend Bud build some mighty fine Ukes too. I have a bunch of ukes and have always loved to play them. Try it, dear friends, for I have never seen a frowning uke player. Ukuleles make you happy! |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Fidjit Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:07 AM Came over this on this uke site in Sweden about tuning. Now why do they have to be different on the other side of the pond? Different ways of tuning a ukulele measured in Hertz European (Hertz) Soprano Concert 1 Concert 2 Tenor 1 Tenor 2 Tenor 3 First A (440) A (440) A (220)* A (440) A (220)* D (146,8) Second D (293,7) D (293,7) D (293,7) D (293,7) D (293,7) G (196) Third F# (370) F# (370) F# (370) F# (370) F# (370) B (246,9) Fourth B (493,9) B (493,9) B (493,9) B (493,9) B (493,9) E (329,6) Low A Low A G-tuned American (Hertz) Soprano Concert 1 Concert 2 Tenor 1 Tenor 2 Tenor 3 First G (392) G (392) G (196)* G (392) G (196)* D (146,8) Second C (261,6) C (261,6) C (261,6) C (261,6) C (261,6) G (196) Third E (329,6) E (329,6) E (329,6) E (329,6) E (329,6) B (246,9) Fourth A (440) A (440) A (440) A (440) A (440) E (329,6) Low G Low G G-tuned Chas |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: GUEST,Jim Date: 22 Feb 07 - 01:52 PM Manitoba Hal and Bob Brozman are two guys that, although both are better known for their slide playing, both play great blues ukulele. Also, check out My Ukulele Helps Me Beat The Blues on the new Highwater String Band CD. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Leadfingers Date: 22 Feb 07 - 10:05 AM I find myself somewhat amazed that such a long term lurker as Trayton has actually posted to this thread ! AND come out of the closet as a Ukulele player ! |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Scrump Date: 22 Feb 07 - 09:36 AM Bloody 'ell Alec - if yer makin' no comment, yer could at least do it quiet, like, man! :-) |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Alec Date: 22 Feb 07 - 09:24 AM NO COMMENT!!!! |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 22 Feb 07 - 09:14 AM I made a rug once, does that make me a hooker? *BG* LTS |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Alec Date: 22 Feb 07 - 09:05 AM As far as I'm concerned,trayton,if you play,you qualify as a player. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: trayton Date: 22 Feb 07 - 09:00 AM As Leadfingers said "he has a rather nice Ovation Uke" and it's on loan to me. Do I qualify as a player well I have played twice in public and I do practice with a view to playing again so I will leave it up to you. What I will say is that it's the most fun I have had with any musical instrument. A quick search for internet Ukulele sites, a few hours and a few chords later and I was hooked. trayton |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Scrump Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:37 AM Mooh: agreed, but I knew Hendrix could play that way if he wanted to. I was merely adding him as another example. The two guys I referred to both could only play that way though, because that's how they'd learnt. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: GUEST,John Robinson Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:29 AM I have a George Formby signature model Uke Banjo. Now that "Acoustic" magazine is running a regular tuition column on the Uke I've been tempted to re-string it and have a go. Would have done so if not for having my brain taken up trying to understand the Martin Taylor column in the same magazine! |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Mooh Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:15 AM Scrump...Hendrix might have been able to play a righthanded guitar lefthanded without restringing it, but he didn't do it normally. There's all kinds of video evidence that he restrung righthanded guitars to play them lefthanded, witness YouTube. Peace, Mooh. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Scrump Date: 22 Feb 07 - 07:06 AM I've seen two very good left handed guitarists recently who both play a standard right hand guitar strung normally, playing it upside down (southpaw Jimi Hendrix used to do that too). So I assume it would be possible to play a uke the same way? |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 22 Feb 07 - 05:30 AM I am not "kackhanded". I am one of the few, the chosen, the Great Ones! *BG* It's not the strumming or the chord sequences I find difficult, but putting the two together on an instrument not designed for one of my uncommon talents! Besides, I don't think a teacher would be willing to restring an instrument just for me. There are left handed manuals available, just as there are left handed scissors, left handed fountain pens, left handed knives and left handed tin openers. They tend to be rare and expensive though. Left handed Ukeleles are incredibly rare - they have to be, otherwise Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo would have played them instead of painting. LTS |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Fidjit Date: 22 Feb 07 - 05:23 AM Ok. First of all. What I learnt at the workshop was when it's in tune the open strings give you "Bm". That shouldn't be hard even for Liz. Liz you'd have to string it upside down so to speak for your "Kackhandedness" Next hold first string down with third finger on the third fret. That's a chord og "D" Two chords for nearly nothing. Now start singing. "Oh, I would't leeeeave my little wooden hut for youuuuu" Chas |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Scrump Date: 22 Feb 07 - 04:45 AM I'm a full-on left handed person. I tried to learn guitar once but failed miserably because the 'Play with yourself in a day' book was for a right handed person. I never could get the hang of working both hands together, even though I can rub my tummy and pat my head (or vice versa). Off topic slightly, but LTS's comment above about a left-handed person trying to learn guitar from a book written for a right-handed person makes me wonder - does anyone know of a guitar tutor book written for left-handed people? If not, maybe there would be a market for one :-) If I can't do it on a guitar, there's no hope for a uke! A uke should be easier to learn than guitar, having only 4 strings instead of 6 - shouldn't it? I also 'graduated' from guitar to uke, and found it relatively easy to play chords, with the uke being tuned in the same intervals as the first 4 strings on a guitar ('my dog has fleas' tuning). But people do underestimate the skill needed to play a uke well, which is why I admire the often unfairly maligned George Formby. The right-hand technique is IMO more difficult to master than the left hand (of course I'm talking here about a right-handed instrument and player). |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 22 Feb 07 - 04:15 AM I was. Thanks. LTS |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Alec Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:07 AM Cross posted & crossed wires there LTS I thought you were refering to the sheet music you were looking for. |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Alec Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:04 AM OK I'll see if I can come up with anything else. Or did you mean buying a Uke? :0) |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:04 AM And Alec - I'm a full-on left handed person. I tried to learn guitar once but failed miserably because the 'Play with yourself in a day' book was for a right handed person. I never could get the hang of working both hands together, even though I can rub my tummy and pat my head (or vice versa). If I can't do it on a guitar, there's no hope for a uke! Besides, think of all that money I could spend on chocolate! LTS |
Subject: RE: How many 'Cats play Ukes? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:58 AM Thanks Alec, it's a good suggestion but not one I can follow up on at the moment. LTS |
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