How many 'Cats play Ukes?

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.