Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 12:33 PM

wav, does that entitle you to play the recorder. i like the idea of the didge only being played in australlia far away in australiais a good tune for it

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 06:38 AM

Here I am sittern
As I strum my cittern
Diego's on the the guitar
a bloke from Turin is on the mandolin
And the Irish are having a jar

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 04:21 PM

Loving our world/our United Nations being multicultural, Sandman, I'd rather, e.g., English play the cittern, Spanish the guitar, Greeks the bouzouki, Italians the mandolin, Russians the balalaika, etc.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 03:18 PM

well its a sort of tradition in folk clubs. there's nowhere else you get that of toleration of amateurish ness. And fair enough....I suspect we've all been beneficiaries of it at the outset of our performing careers. The trouble is, some people acknowledge no imperative to improve - so they go on for years singing from loose leaf folders - after a bit John Denver gets to sound like the Dubliners, Cyril Tawney sounds like Bert Jansch.

I'd go as far as to say its traditional.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 02:55 PM

so WAV, are non Hawaiian allowed to play

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 02:12 PM

Yes - and the playing of it if you are Hawaiian.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 01:42 PM

And compared to the glum bum reading a ballad from an exercise book who regarded himself as the soul of the tradition
that is a go at traddies

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 01:30 PM

I'm not sure I am having a go at traddies. I went to one club when a bloke read out the words of Crystal Chandeliers. 1970 is a fair while back. I was quite young then.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 09:55 AM

no i am talking about the uk , and saying reading words at a folk club is a recent thing and involves people doing all sorts of material badly, it was unheard of in 1970.
why do you have to have a go at people who sang trad ballads, many of them practised as derek brimstone or martin carthy did

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 08:43 AM

lets face it - its so long since we had regular folk clubs - I'm beginning to think I imagined them.

However I remember quite a lot of people at some of the folk clubs I went to, reading from books, loose leaf folders and recently they had the words on a tablet - with a little footswitch to turn the virtual page over.

Perhaps they don't do that in Ireland. Perhaps everybody knows the words over there.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 06:25 AM

Derek practised hard so did martin carthy, that is partly why they were successful. if you dont put in effort at whatever kind of music you are letting yourself down .
i do not remeber any singers reading from exercise books , that is a feature of the uk folk revival that has occurred in the last 20 years. personally i thought Derek was amusing.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 05:03 AM

I suppose its all a matter of temperament.

I remember the first time I saw Derek Brimmstone. I loved many of the songs he sang, and the artists who sang them - Dylan, Broonzy, Jackson C. frank, Jeremy Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Reverend Gary Davis, etc.

However I was 18 years old. I thought him telling jokes and tall stories between songs was disrespectful to the material and the serious business of folk music. I wasn't impressed.

Itwas about six years later I was walking through
the streets of Tamworth and I saw a pub with a sign in the window - saying Brimstone was appearing there that very night.

Suddenly I understood that his approach had enabled him to sing great songs for a living - whilst I had been working at a shit job.

Later, when I got to know Brimstone well. I found out that Derek's way of going about his job was very serious and involved a lot of guts and hard work. And compared to the glum bum reading a ballad from an exercise book who regarded himself as the soul of the tradition, I think there was a a greater amount of determined earnestness in Brimmo's approach.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 03:44 AM

if you want to play any instrument well you need to practise, yes acuiring technique is a serious business when acquired it then gives pleasure to listenerswhat does that have to dowith being po faced . if you want to stand smiling and playing an out of tune instrument in a group go ahead but dont expect anyone to listen, if smiling and not being po faced is more important than playing music and giving pleasure through beautiful music then become a stand up comedian

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 02:07 AM

I disagree Vectis. Drop the string - it becomes an inferior guitar or bass guitar.

The high G 0r A is part of what it does - like the drone string on the G banjo.

Only it doesn't drone - what it does is make the up and down stroke two distinct chords that can be deployed in a variety of both fast and slow rhythmic patterns. With the lift offs - - it gives the player access to four chords

That's the essence of the instrument You can get these dazzling counterpoints. Like flamenco. Its a real folk instrument.

As far as I can see - the 'we must take music as a po-faced serious business' crowd have mercifully not twigged yet.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 01:13 AM

Surprising subgenre: microtonal ukulele. There are several covers out there on the web of the Turkish mystical folksong by Asik Veysel, "Uzun Ince Bir Yoldayim" (I am on a long narrow road". Just takes one little added partial fret to make all the difference.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: vectis
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 12:16 AM

If you drop the top G string an octave it becomes a much better accompanying instrument for tenors, baritones and basses.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Jun 21 - 11:01 PM

I would venture to say that the ukulele is at a funny stage in England. Its a bit like the guitar was in the 1950's. There is instruction - but its very bad generally speaking.

The uke has yet to go through the Bert Weedon moment. Weedon, looking back though I would never have realised it at the time, was a teacher of genius - who somehow managed to convey the vastness of the subject simultaneously with the instant gratification of the two and three chord trick.

I've just spent a year doing nothing with the uke, because I just couldn't see a way forward.

Then suddenly the I understood the rhythmic possibilities inherent in that high top string. None of the videos on youtube had pointed this out. And this single revelation has given me a huge vista of possibilities.

Its such a basic point, and I wasn't picking it up.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 03 Jun 21 - 06:23 PM

Ukulele - a history of Hawaii's national instrument
The Forum    BBC World Service 16 May 2021

Throughout its 130-year-old history, the ukulele has often been underrated – for many, this tiny four stringed instrument is a musical joke, a plastic toy or a cheap airport souvenir, but in fact, some of the world’s greatest musicians have played and admired it, and it has enduring associations with the struggle for Hawaiian independence since its arrival on the islands from Madeira in the late 19th century. The ukulele is also surprisingly versatile and musicians are forever involved in the challenge of expanding its repertoire, from Bach to ukulele concertos to jazz.

Joining Bridget Kendall to find out more about this deceptively humble instrument is
the award-winning musician Brittni Paiva, who’s been described as Hawaii’s pre-eminent ukulele artist; Jim Beloff, the co-founder of Flea Market Music, publishers of some of the first ukulele song books which played a key part in the modern ukulele revival, his forthcoming memoir is UKEtopia: Adventures in the Ukulele World; and Samantha Muir, a classical ukulele musician and composer, who’s doing a PHD at the University of Surrey in the UK to create new works for the classical ukulele repertoire."

Produced by Anne Khazam
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1rl3

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 02:22 PM

yes theres all that - of variable quality.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 01:58 PM

are there any formby videos and there should be sheet music of his stuff

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 09:32 AM

My ambition , when I started the uke last year was to go to Blackpool and meet all the George Formby fans. since Covid , of course - there haven't been any meetings.

I wasn't really good enough last year. I've lost a bit of impetus. my local teacher is very good but she doesn't really do the sort of stuff I'm interested in.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 03:33 AM

playing a uke could be like having a dead george formby in the living room

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Felipa
Date: 17 Mar 21 - 04:13 PM

If you play ukelele and take it seriously, you could be very interested in joining the Menucha Ukelele Band Camp online 7-9 April 2021. The programme will work on a Pacific timezone as Menucha is in Oregon U.S.A., but the organising team will "record the classes and make them available afterwards so you can revisit them. You'll be able to take ALL of the classes!" (there is a fee, of course)

Lots of detail at: https://menucha.org/programs/uke-band-camp

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 17 Mar 21 - 10:39 AM

I nearly became a bodhran player.
One night this group came and they had this amazing instrument - all the way from Ireland and made from a goatskin. you could see the colours the goat had been - all brown and white hairy bits.

I was going to send for one, like it. However my wife said it was cruel doing that to a goat. it would be like having a dead goat in the living room.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Og
Date: 17 Mar 21 - 09:36 AM

I started on a soprano ukulele in the 7th grade, graduated to baritone and on to guitar, banjo, bass, and mandolin. It's a great starter instrument for small hands...like a present for for a grandchild!

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 17 Mar 21 - 08:33 AM

People play instruments for all sorts of reasons. run a folk club long enough and you will hear a great many, but probably not all of them.

I had a deaf bloke come one time - totally refused to let anyone tune his guitar - he regularly used to empty the place. (this was in the years before digital tuners). it was tough on my wife, who was disabled and couldn't get out the way.   And you looked such a brute if you attempted to wrest the instrument from him to tune it.

One uilean pipe player turned up with the pipes in the box he'd got them, still selotaped. We had his his very first attempt to play them.
As none of us knew how they should sound, it went down quite well!
Since taking up the uke, I've met some right buggers, some amazing uke players as well of course. I think you've got to be a bit philosophical about it. humanity (folks) is very diverse.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Felipa
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 06:31 PM

My comments earlier today were replies to messages from michaelr and tritoneman on 23 Feb.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 05:52 PM

Why can't a person just play ukulele because it's enjoyable?
for most people progress on an instrument is part of the enjoyment to make progress of any sort, a little bit of effort and practice is needed[ this is what i interpret as taking seriously]. beyond that ..well there are degree of seriousness, i suppose, but how about just regular practice, checking tuning. I am not asking for virtuoso performance but just some respect for audiences
some may want to play for an hour a day some may want to play for ten minutes a day. even ten to 15 minutes a day will see improvement, in my experience as you improve it becomes more enjoyable
not taking it seriously means not bothering to practise and not bothering to pick it up and play it in private, not bothering to check your tuning etc.
well that is not enjoyable for listeners.
Personally. when i play i try to do my best i practise[ the amount can vary] and performances can vary [not just because of practice , but bio rhythms etc]
Finally, i would not find it enjoyable to be given any instrument and told to play it if i had never practised on it.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 10:53 AM

Bloody hell! Getting in tune...whatever next!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd1ZuBnuJek

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Felipa
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 10:14 AM

The standard tuning for soprano, concert and tenor ukeleles is g C E A. You can even find online tuners and instruction videos to help you tune the instrument.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: leeneia
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 10:07 AM

Why does everything have to be serious?

Remember when there were funny songs on the Top 40? Remember when there were TV shows where people sang, danced and told funny stories? Remember when families went for long rides in the car and sang songs on the way?

Why can't a person just play ukulele because it's enjoyable?

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Felipa
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 09:32 PM

TRITONEMAN - I read "at the age of 91" instead of "at the age of 9, I". I had to look back when I read that you later moved on to guitar.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Elmore
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 09:28 PM

No, we shouldn't take the uke seriously, but I take allison young, who plays, "I wanna be loved by you" and several other songs, accompanying herself on ukulele very seriously. Many songs on You tube.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Mar 21 - 03:15 PM

a bad workman blames his tools. anon

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Mar 21 - 11:28 AM

didn't know you did Major!
Basil fawlty

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Mar 21 - 11:07 AM

then why bother to tune a guitar why bother to play percussion in time why bother to try and sing in tune

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Mar 21 - 07:57 AM

Perhaps the best thing for music is not be taken seriously.


i remember Billy Connolly being told by some sage that comedy was a serious business. he said, "Aye! It is for that bastard!

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Mar 21 - 10:32 AM

Yes when the player treats them seriously , no different from any other inastrument

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: RTim
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 10:59 AM

Yes...See and hear here......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsGtqH-YISQ


Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Gordon Jackson
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 10:16 AM

I don't think George would've got the Beatles job had he not played guitar as well ...

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Mar 21 - 10:24 PM

I do love the sequence of the
Phil d'Conch post
followed by the invaluable Mudcatter,
Frank Hamilton.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer
Date: 06 Mar 21 - 03:18 AM

I consider myself a fairly serious guitar/bouzouki player so when l got a tenor uke that was approached the same way. Chords are easy to work out but more interesting finger picking creates a harp quality - goes well with duet concertina. It’s also good fun across a number of song styles, get one soon. I also use exclusively for Dementia online singing sessions as it’s very clear sound and can be kept simple, great for strong singing.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Mar 21 - 03:01 PM

yes thats fair enough mo, but then they shouldnt mind if people criticise ukeleles or their effort. its true there's a lot of enjoyment to be had in music at whatever level. Joining in., but it may not be enjoyable for the people listening , practice perhaps should be done in private or playing with other people in the way you advocate should possibly be done in private.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 05 Mar 21 - 08:32 AM

We should take it as seriously as the player takes it.

But life is short, no-one has time to take everything they do 'seriously'. And there's a lot of enjoyment to be had in music at whatever level. Joining in.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Mar 21 - 02:44 AM

like any instrument it deprnds how they are played. unfortunateley some players dont give the instrument respect, they think they do not need to practise, that they can hide in a large group.
its a four stringed instrument and has as just as much potential as any other four stringed instrument, such as banjo.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: vectis
Date: 04 Mar 21 - 10:47 PM

They are taken most seriously down here in New Zealand. Very popular too.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 04 Mar 21 - 09:10 PM

The ukulele has an ability to play sophisticated chords with four voices (strings). They were
popular during the Twenties and Forties because they could accompany the popular music of that time. You can even play jazz changes on them.

Check out some of the more virtuoso players and you will be surprised at what the uke can
do. Hawaiian music has some tricky rhythms that can be played and some of the Hawaiian players are excellent.

Some of the Hawaiian uke makers produce instruments with sweet tones. Koa wood seems to be the best. I have a Kanele'a uke which has a great sound. The uke comes from a Portugese
instrument called the Braghina or Machete brought to the Island by Portugese sailors.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 01 Mar 21 - 10:33 PM

OP: ...huddles of menopausal men in intense discussions about the merits of their instruments as if they were discussing attractive women or their Taylor or Martin guitars.

I'm imagining OP's reaction to the likes of Sarah Longfield covering Slayer's Payback (NSFW, parental advisory &c &c.)

Britni Paiva – Europa

Rob Scallon – War Ensemble

Ukulele Anthem (Amanda Palmer)
“Sid Vicious played a four-string fender bass guitar and couldn't sing
And everybody hated him except the ones who loved him
A ukulele has four strings, but sid did did not play ukulele
He did smack and probably killed his girlfriend nancy spungen
If only sid had had a ukulele, maybe he could have been happy
Maybe he would not have suffered such a sad end
He maybe would have not done all that heroin instead
He maybe would've sat around just singing nice songs to his girlfriend
So play your favorite cover song, especially if the words are wrong
'Cos even if your grades are bad, it doesn't mean you're failing
Do your homework with a fork
And eat your fruit loops in the dark
And bring your etch-a-sketch to work
And play your ukulele
Ukulele small and forceful
Brave and peaceful
You can play the ukulele too it is painfully simple
Play your ukulele badly, play your ukulele loudly
Ukulele banish evil
Ukulele save the people
Ukulele gleaming golden on the top of every steeple
Lizzie borden took an axe, and gave her father thirty whacks
Then gave her mother thirty-one, and left a tragic puzzle
If only they had given her an instrument, those puritans
Had lost the plot completely
See what happens when you muzzle
A person's creativity
And do not let them sing and scream
And nowadays it's worse 'cause kids have automatic handguns
It takes about an hour to learn how to play the ukulele
About same to teach someone to build a standard pipe bomb
You do the math
So play your favorite cover song, especially if the words are wrong
'Cos even if your grades are bad, it doesn't mean you're failing
Do your homework with a fork
And eat your fruit loops in the dark
And bring your flask of jack to work
And play your ukulele
Ukulele, thing of wonder
Ukulele, wand of thunder
You can play the ukulele, too
In london and down under
Play joan jett, and play jacques brel
And eminem and neutral milk hotel
The children crush the hatred
Play your ukulele naked
And if anybody tries to steal your ukulele, let them take it
Imagine there's no music, imagine there are no songs
Imagine that john lennon wasn't shot in front of his apartment
Imagine if john lennon had composed "imagine" on the ukulele
Maybe folks would have more clearly got the message
You may think my approach is simple-minded and naïve
Like if you want to save the world then why not quit and feed the hungry
But people for millennia have needed music to survive
And that's why i've promised john that i will not feel guilty
So play your favorite Beatles' song
And make the subway fall in love
They're only $19.95, that's not a lot of money
Play until the sun comes up
And play until your fingers suffer
Play LCD soundsystem songs on your ukulele
Quit the bitching on your blog
And stop pretending art is hard
Just limit yourself to three chords
And do not practice daily
You'll minimize some stranger's sadness
With a piece of wood and plastic
Holy fuck it's so fantastic, playing ukulele
Eat your homework with a fork
And do your fruit loops in the dark
Bring your etch-a-sketch to work
Your flask of jack
Your vibrator
Your fear of heights
Your nikon lens
Your mom and dad
Your disco stick
Your soundtrack from "karate kid"
Your ginsu knives
Your rosary
Your new rebecca black CD
Your favorite room
Your bowie knife
Your stuffed giraffe
Your new glass eye
Your sousaphone
Your breakfast tea
Your nick drake tapes
Your giving tree
Your ice cream truck
Your missing wife
Your will to live
Your urge to cry
Remember we're all going to die
So play your ukulele”

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Mar 21 - 12:22 PM

its a bloody interesting question really. There are obviously some people for whom - a musical instrument is serious business. serious like World War One, or The Gettysburg address.

i think for me, its a trivial pursuit. not that i don't try hard. not that i don't spend more than I should on musical instruments, but I'm not keen on the idea of being 'a serious musician'. Its like some bloody silly woman saying at a children's party - "Oh the little chap is SO serious!" when what she means is the kid is a little po-faced twat.

Subject: RE: Should We Take Ukuleles Seriously?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 21 - 04:20 PM

Any one who thinks a uke is not a serious musical instrument deserves to have one shoved up their bum and asked to play Mozarts horn concerto in e flat.