Yeah, the main son I play is “Queen Bitch”, and some others, but I don’t quite like them as much as that one. Plus, that song is one of my favorite Bowie songs, as it is about him watching Lou Reed trying to by heroin off of a hooker. Not that I do heroin, I just like the Velvet Underground.
Blog update Advice for beginners on different ukulele sizesClicky
By the way, what types of ukulele do some of you guys have, all I have is a little pineapple one, not the standard shape.
Me, as you see from blog, soprano, concert solid mahogany, and concert neck on soprano electric. Shortly another soprano joins fold. Never felt need for tenor or baritone.
New post on my blog that may well help sway the undecided - just got hold of a £25 uke (£25!!!) which plays brilliantly, and seems to me to be the perfect, low risk, beginner uke See review here Clicky for review
Nice, I have two thrasher guitar’s, but no thrasher ukulele. If i was inclined to play more often I just might get one of those.
Mine says:" Universal Wordwide Trading inc" on the inside. Kind of a cheap model, I suppose. Someone I knew went to Hawaii a couple years ago and I really wanted one of the Kamaka but a bit pricey to start out. Is it worth the money PaulJ, as far as tone and such , to spend the extra beans?
If you look at my recent blog posts, great fun ‘can’ be had for a few clams… Thing is, there is a risk with some at the cheap end that you get a pup… Some low Enders are always bad, but I think the makalas for only 25 quid are a bargain. May be the odd shoddy one, but worth risk in my view. The vast majority are very playable. That said, if you start off, get a good one and really take to it, you WILL then upgrade, the big question is how far do you go. Me, I am not professional, And my prize uke is £175. The Hawaiian ukes are so so sweet but cost minimum £500. I could never justify that. Heck, there are pro performers out there who would never consider that money. Flea seem popular with professionals (£120 ish). Hell, you can get a Martin fir £300. My advice depends in how serious you are, and whether you have guitar type background. If you do, and are super serious spend bit more, flea, ohanA, kala, mainland. If you are total beginner testing water, be careful but makala and lanikai worth the risk in my view. If the bug bites, you then upgrade. Likewise, if you start at higher end, go back to the makala brand at some point like I did for a brilliant camping uke!
How would this be for a beginner? http://cgi.ebay.com/Oscar-Schmidt-Concert-Ukulele-Active-EQ-Pickup-Sys-/180488957878?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item2a05faefb6
Meant to be half decent ukes, though if I’m honest, you are spending money on electrics there- are they reall necessary?
Well, I might want to play loud lol!
I have unusually small hands fingers and can’t really reach all of the strings my guitar real well (and its a three-quarter size and I still have this problem) and I have had the ukele suggested to me before as an instrument I should try. I’m up to my eyeballs in debt from ‘pre-pact’ panicked snuff/snus acquisitions, but I just thought I’d remark to say I am reading along here with interest
Speaking of Ukulele, have any of you guys seen that video from the eighties (approximately, maybe it was early nineties), where a stand-up comedian plays a few songs like “Purple Haze” and a few others on an electrified little uke? I think the video can be found on youtube under something like “songs you wouldn’t usually hear on the ukulele”.
It can be a weirdly expressive instrument played well and I’ve heard ‘while my guitar gently weeps’ played hauntingly beautifuly on the uke. The Beatles were great fans and played pretty well, probably due to the George Formby influence.
The more I look, the more I want! Now, if only the personal digits would cooperate!
It is a lovely sound played well. Do some YouTube searching re the small hands, sopranos are perfect. Reason they go down well in schools. If hands are big, that’s cool, get a concert scale! And re the post on electrics… Was just saying that for a first uke, would concentrate on uke quality rather than electrics. That is a nice uke, but a bad uke electrified is just as bad. I would check what acoustic instruments you can get for same money. Must say, I’m delighted with interest and various views of my blog. I am passionate about music and am trying to get more people playing the uke. (that was point of the blog). Great news is through a variety of links to blog I can confirm three people bought ukes this week cos o the blog!!
Hey, this sounds interesting! I must check out your ukeblog, paul. Here’s my favourite uke-duo, U900, playing “Walk, don’t Run”
I’m thinking I really want one. Choosing is confusing. I wonder if there are any stores here in BF-Kansas that sell ukes.
The moment I find a teacher I’m going to buy me a uke!!
Shouldn’t be confusing! And really, it’s a simple instrument, don’t worry about teachers, there Is so much online to help. Check links on right side of my blog (see OP) and pay special visit to ukulele underground forum. Ask questions there, or feel free to email me (contact details on blog) it really is a simple, fun, cheap instrument!