Uke Hunt is Four

Yes, Uke Hunt is four years old. I’ll forgo the usual self-indulgent post and do a quick look back at the last twelve months on the blog and in the ukulele world.

Stats

My mind continues to be blown by the number of people who visit. In the last year there have been 3.4 million visits and 17.5 million page views. Both up about 75% on the year before.

As always, a huge thanks to everyone who visits the site. And in particular to everyone who gets invloved by commenting, emailing and mentioning the site around the net. Knowing that people appreciate the site and find it helpful really makes the difference when I feel like packing it in.

May 2010

In chords: Billy Corgan and South Park.
In video: Trent Reznor busts out the uke and Honeycomb do an incredible session.

June 2010

The internet debated if Tiny Tim should be in the Ukulele Hall of Fame.
Frank Sidebottom died.
In tabs: Rodrigo Y Gabriela
In chords: She and Him

July 2010

The Uke Hunt podcast makes its debut.
I released How to Play Classical Ukulele and tabbed up O Fortuna.
I bought my favourite ever ukulele.
I considered the upside of having ads on the site.
I listed the essential ukulele records of the 2000s.
In tab: Tallest Man on Earth and Bjork
In chords: Darren Hanlon and Amanda Palmer

August 2010

I listed songs with chords you know (an update to that coming soon).
I talked ukulele history with Jim Tranquada.
The Big Foot and Tiki Show hit the net.
I listed my tools of the trade.
In tabs: Kaki King and Top Cat.
In chords: Cee-Lo Green, Mumford and Sons, Paolo Nutini and Smashing Pumpkins.

September 2010

I got my hands on the Mighty Ukulele DVD.
In tab: Fraggle Rock.
In chords: Rocky Horror Picture Show.

October 2010

I went to Wukulele without anyone noticing and caused such a ruckus with my write-up that I took a post down for the first time ever.
Ukulele in poetry.
Jim Boggia covers Springsteen.
In tabs: Duelling Banjos, The Stripper and Falling Slowly.
In chords: UOGB and Carly Simon
Riffs: Dillinger Escape Plan, Deee Lite

November 2010

I discuss why you should give a crap about copyright terms.
I round up ukulele iphone apps.

In tabs: Ellie Goulding, Sonic the Hedgehog and five Black Keys riffs.
In chords: Florence and the Machine and Sophie Madeleine.

December 2010

Ukulele Quiz 2010
Christmas chords for: The Hives and Cyndi Lauper, Rocky and Balls, Weezer and Hello Saferide (one of my favourite Xmas tunes of all time and it gets zero comments).

January 2011

Amanda Palmer grows that shit like a jungle.
I find out about quelbe and fungi.
In tab: Gorillaz.
In chords: Charlieissocoollike’s entire album

February 2011

Manitoba Hal wins ukulele video of the year.
The UkeTube takes a trip to Madeira.
In tabs: Manitoba Hal and ABBA.
In chords: Beach Boys, WIUO and Ryan Gosling.

March 2011

Kahauanu Lake (writer of Pua Lililehua) passed away.
I do my best to stick up for Tiny Tim.
In tabs: Crazy by Willie Nelson and Gnarls Barkley
In chords: Eddie Vedder, Bee-Gees and The Pogues.

April 2011

Musicguymic shut up shop due to ill-health.
The name U K L Lee crops up on Obama’s birth certificate.
I have a shot at explaining Bosko’s CAGFD system.
In tab: tUnE-yArDs, John King and the Cabral manuscript.
In chords: Mumford and Sons

May 2011

I wrote the post you’re reading right now.
In tab: Five grunge riffs.
In chords: Garfunkel and Oates and The Smiths

View Comments

35 Comments

  1. Julia May 25th, 2011 6:33 pm

    Happy Birthday Ukehunt ;) may there be many years more

  2. Armelle May 25th, 2011 7:07 pm

    Congratulations on reaching such a very respectable blogging age, Al.
    Nice roundup, I admire your ability to come up with new things all the time which makes your blog so lively and pleasant to read.
    Keep on posting !

  3. The Captain May 25th, 2011 7:14 pm

    Yeah, congratulations. Even in a short blogcation I already know what it would feel like without Ukehunt. When I feel like packing it in with my uke, you always come up with great new inspiration. So keep on bloggin’!!

  4. KeithW May 25th, 2011 7:27 pm

    I was going to ask what that spike was, then I noticed the date . . .

    I’ve held off asking until now, and I’ve never seen you mention it, so . . . the name. The shortened name. Intentional, yes?

  5. Dan May 25th, 2011 8:17 pm

    Woodshed,

    You are the reason I play Uke.

    Don’t pack it in!

    My favorite blog post of the week is almost always Uke Tube. Thanks for taking the time to find all that cool music for us.

    Love,

    Dan

  6. Dan May 25th, 2011 8:20 pm

    P.S. Your arrangements are really good as well. I love playing your version of Crazy from last month.

  7. Ian Emmerson May 25th, 2011 8:47 pm

    Keep it up fella, and well done on reaching the big … four.

  8. Bossarocker May 25th, 2011 9:01 pm

    Congratulations, Al. Don’t ever stop or I’ll send the girls round.

  9. cardboardfrog May 25th, 2011 9:27 pm

    congrats on another good year woodshed

  10. pepamahina May 25th, 2011 9:56 pm

    Holy smokes, those are some amazing numbers! Your work here definitely improves my life. How many people can say that they positively affect the lives of millions? XXOO

  11. Jet86 May 25th, 2011 9:57 pm

    Congrats. This site has been awesomely helpful to me as I’ve started to learn the Uke (and I’m sure will continue to be so)

  12. Ron Hale May 25th, 2011 10:57 pm

    Not nearly enough warm & fuzzy ukulele happy-talk here, for my mind. Looking out my window as I type this, I can see pure white unicorns playing colored ukes making up a rainbow-hued Unicorn Ukulele Orchestra. Little lambs gambol about bleating
    the sheer joy these four strings bring to all of us. Why, I’ve half a mind to pick up mine and join the frolics. Uke light up my life…

    See, this is the vibe that you need to bring to the site, Al.

  13. George Stone May 26th, 2011 8:39 am

    Congratulations my friend!
    I sign for 4 more, …and more, you’re allways the good refference, the point, much of the starts in the ukulele world have to thank the existence of this page, much of the ukulele players too, me, I haven’t enought thanks, helper, good friend, good person, maybe one of the reasons why I begin to be what I am now.

    So, keep the flame alive! Long Live Ukulele Hunt!

    Thanks Al, such a good ukulele page, in my modest opinion, the best!

  14. Cappers May 26th, 2011 8:58 am

    Congratulations on turning 4 years old. I’ve only been playing a few months now and this site is my main source of information, tips, tabs etc. Added to that you’re undoubted enthusiasm for all things ukulele is infectious, i’m now well and truly an ukulele addict :) Keep up the good work!!
    Cappers

  15. Holdin Coffee May 26th, 2011 8:58 am

    Dude. Really great stuff here. I gotta tell ya, it wasn’t until year three that I realized you and WS64 are NOT, in fact, the same person. But I still don’t know who ‘Wolfgang’ is.

  16. Woodshed May 26th, 2011 10:24 am

    Julia: Thanks very much!

    Armelle: Thanks! I hope I can keep coming up with stuff.

    Captain: Thanks. I will do.

    KeithW: Yes, I’m afraid it is.

    Dan: Thanks. Not planning on packing it in any time soon.

    Ian: Cheers!

    Bossa: I won’t give up, but feel free to send girls around anyway.

    cbf: Thanks very much!

    pepamahina: Thanks. I think ‘millions’ is stretching it.

    Jet86: I’m very glad you’re find it useful.

    Ron: You’ve only got yourself to blame if I take that advice to heart.

    George: Thanks very much!

    Cappers: Thanks. I will do.

    Holdin Coffee: Hahaha! No, we’re just brothers from another mother.

  17. Rob NY May 26th, 2011 12:12 pm

    Congratulations Al! I look forward to opening the Ukehunt email everyday. I really love this site. I’ve learned and enjoyed so much. Thank You.

  18. Phredd May 26th, 2011 12:39 pm

    Happy Birthday UkeHunt and Congrats Woodshed, thanks for making my daily visit so enriching and fun!

  19. Stuie May 26th, 2011 5:24 pm

    Happy Birthday!
    Keep up the awesome :D

  20. Simon Conner May 26th, 2011 6:48 pm

    Many happy returns…

  21. Katie in AL May 26th, 2011 7:07 pm

    Happy Birthday!!
    This was my first and lasting uke blog when I entered Uketopia last year. =)

  22. banterCZ May 26th, 2011 8:01 pm

    Congratulation! Your website is really helpful, thanks.

  23. PaulC May 26th, 2011 8:57 pm

    Happy Birthday, Woodshed! You have been a huge influence on my ukulele journey and UkeHunt has been a daily ritual of mine for years now. Keep up the fabulous work, and thank you.

  24. Danny May 26th, 2011 11:08 pm

    Happy B-Day! Just got my first Uke on Sunday, and found you that night. Looking forward to learning a lot!

  25. Turp May 27th, 2011 12:17 am

    Congrats! Keep up the good work, you’ve help me and others expand our contemporary uke catalog!

    Many Thanks/Cheers!

  26. Lyndsey May 27th, 2011 12:19 am

    YAY! Happy belated (by one day) birthday, Uke Hunt! This is exciting! lol I discovered this website in the summer of 2010. You forgot to put that up there, but it’s cool. :D Just kidding, but no really. This is an awesome site! Congratulations on its popularity!

  27. sanford(andsong) May 27th, 2011 4:40 am

    (everybody!):
    u-khunt! u-khunt! u-khunt! u-khunt!

    It is rare to visit a “specialized” website that makes one LAUGH on so regular a basis. Maybe i’m just a sucker for deadpan English “slight” of hand, but i love that Al doesn’t suffer fools.

    Four years and it’s just the beginning…

  28. Woodshed May 27th, 2011 7:10 am

    Rob: And thank you for all you comments and kindness.

    Phredd: Thanks very much!

    Stuie: I’ll try my best.

    Simon: Cheers!

    Katie: Thanks!

    banter: Thanks, glad you find it useful.

    PaulC: Thanks very much!

    Danny: Hope you find plenty here to get you going.

    Turp: Thank you!

    Lyndsey: Hahaha! I’ll add that right away.

    sanford: Thanks, it’s great to have you aboard.

  29. L.bo Marie May 27th, 2011 5:29 pm

    so great Al, you should be super proud!

  30. Jim D'Ville May 28th, 2011 1:48 am

    Al, Thanks for all your help to me over the years. I say we have a party at year 5!

  31. Woodshed May 28th, 2011 8:06 am

    L.bo: Thanks! I am.

    Jim: You’re very welcome.

  32. Craig Robertson June 3rd, 2011 9:26 pm

    I wouldn’t keep reading you unless you were interesting. Ergo, you’re interesting.

  33. Woodshed June 4th, 2011 10:17 am

    Craig: Thanks! I always feel like ‘interesting’ is intended as an insult. But I take it as compliment anyway.

  34. Craig Robertson June 4th, 2011 1:47 pm

    The degraded meaning of “interesting” is, indeed, an insult. (wow, that was very…interesting). Usually used when you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings by telling them that what they just did sucked.

    However, in this case, I fall back on the original meaning of the word. Worth my interest.

  35. Israel Volmar June 22nd, 2011 3:46 pm

    Greetings! I’ve been following your website for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Austin Texas! Just wanted to tell you keep up the good work!

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