I find Weissenborn ukuleles very appealing. But $3,000?
Always wanted to have “Kelly Boy De Lima” scrawled across your fretboard? Other than that, a rad looking uke.
Charity auction for ukulele signed by Ingrid Michaelson.
Photos: Handsome young man smoking, Baltimore beach gang.
I’m officially the number one ukulele site again.
Ukulelia returns after falling down the back of the internet. Don’t forget to update your subscription too. The old one isn’t working.
Amanda Palmer promises an EP of Radiohead covers on ukulele.
In the comments: Good knowledge from David, Foxboy and 4DJB25 who pointed out that South Park’s Tardicaca Hula Gal references Sol Hoopi’i’s Hula Girl and the Warner Brother’s exploding musical instrument tune Endearing Young Charms.
Emily Ritz’s Honeycomb turn in an incredible session for Chasing the Moon. They just keep getting better.
Ukulele act, the Blackbirds are doing well in Australia’s Got Talent.
Mrs. Myrtle Graesch (R) playing the ukelele for dancers Earl and Margie Zinn (L) in Gay 90’s revue (thanks to Jenny Flame).
Apple have finally released the iPad over here. If you’re looking for a justification to buy one (and I frantically am because I can’t think of one) here are 4 iPad apps that can make you a better musician and here’s Lang Lang playing the iPad.
Sanford and Son never made it over here so I’m wasn’t very familiar with the theme tune before I started working on my version. Which might explain whey I go rogue at a few points in the arrangement. Particularly in the middle section where I’m improvising between the main theme (although the main theme itself isn’t very strong in this section).
There are a couple of techniques you’ll need to use quite extensively in the tune: right-hand muting (resting the underside of your hand on the strings just in front of the bridge) and strum blocking. Strum-blocking is something I’ll have to write a full post about. Briefly, it involves playing single notes by strumming and blocking the strings you’re not playing by muting with left-hand fingers (or right-hand fingers if you’re left handed). The advantages of this way of playing is that it gives you more attack and makes it easier to switch between chords and single notes.
If you’re anything like me you’ll often hear, “Wow, I didn’t know they could be that small. Does it even work?” And I expect I’ll hear it even more often now I’ve bought a Kala Pocket Uke.
The Pocket Ukulele is Kala’s sopranino size ukulele (although they do the smart thing market-wise and avoid the term ‘sopranino’). And it’s certainly tiny. Here’s a photo of it next to a standard soprano.
It has obvious gimmick appeal. But with a significant price tag (MGM currently has them for $279) they have to go beyond that to make them a worthwhile purchase.
Size: Sopranino (scale length: 11 inches)
Construction: Solid Acacia
Fretboard: Rosewood.
Frets: 12
Tuners: Friction
Music: Sister Kate
All the examples are played in E-tuning (four frets up from standard tuning).
Music: Staten Island Slide – Craig Robertson.
12th fret harmonic followed by 12th fretted on each string.
3rd string open,1st string 3rd fret, 1st string 10th fret.
Novelty Value: The big appeal of it certainly is the cute-factor. And there’s a lot of fun to be had playing it. I couldn’t resist pulling out some of the old music hall tricks on it.
Strumming: With some fast paced strumming it sounds great. ‘Primitive’ is the word I’d use (and I certainly don’t mean that in a bad way). And it’s louder than I would have expected.
Transportability: It fits comfortably length-ways in a laptop bag. The gigbag is very sturdy too (although significantly bigger than it needs to be).
Smell: Strong, almost burnt smell to it. I like it. (I don’t know how this became an official category for judgment, but it is.)
Playability: Even with my tiny lady-hands it’s difficult to play. Fretting accurately is very difficult (even Bartt has trouble keeping it in tune). The intonation test is a bit misleading really. I had to fret incredibly carefully to make the test fair. In real playing you won’t be able to fret accurately further up the neck.
Tone: Compared to a standard solid wood ukulele, there’s not much tone there. Unless you’re giving it some welly, it’s very lacking. And I’d avoid any single-note playing on it.
Friction Tuners: They didn’t have any choice but to use friction tuners on here. They’re decent enough but they’re always going to be more of a pain to work with than geared tuners.
The Kala Pocket Ukulele is a soprano ukulele turned up to 11. All the things you love about the soprano are amplified. And so are the annoying things about them.
There’s certainly a place for it. I think it’s best use would be adding an extra tonal layer in a group. The sound is distinct from other ukuleles and it does what it’s good at very well. But don’t buy it as an all-purpose ukulele.
A ukulele song cropped up on South Park. So it was inevitable it’d end up on here.
The song was interrupted various times, but I think I pieced together the first verse and the chorus.
Twiddly Bits
Quite possibly the first time in history the words, “We want the ukulele solo!” have been used.
Here’s the version that makes the ukulele explode.
And it really is a B flat that does it. Interestingly, B flat seems to be the note and key of choice for comedy. I seem to remember George saying, “We should have done it in B flat,” after the UOGB’s song on Skins.
Requested by Tuscadero
I almost broken my golden rule this week by posting Taimane’s cover of Eleanor Rigby. But in the end she got elbowed out by some less expected covers of tunes by NWA, Iron Maiden and Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Also up is a performance by Heather Smith at the Chicago Ukulele Cabaret. You can read a rundown of the event here (thanks to Anne for alerting me to that) but the main reason to read it is to see Ted from the original Ukulele Cabaret getting uppity about them stealing the name in the comments.
A couple of interesting ukes from Mike Chock: mango and papaya. How do you feel about the increasing number of weird ukulele shapes? Every time I see one I squee a little but it quickly becomes a bit of a novelty. The guitar-shape of the ukulele is more an accident of history than anything but it is classy.
And in a similar vein M’s Craft surf ukulele.
The Kala travel ukulele now comes as an electric.
Photos: Banjo and homemade ukulele, Swimsuit girls with ukuleles.
The new U900 record, Ukulele Beatles (oof), is available for pre-order on Amazon Japan (Thanks to Nutcrackerkuge for that).
If you missed the first of Bossa’s Ukulele! Radio Shows you missed some killer tracks, a chat with Armelle and an awkward interview with the world’s handsomest ukulele blogger. Make sure you don’t miss the next one on Wednesday 26th May, 7-8pm UK time.
Gary San Angel, producer of The KoAloha Story and he’s got a new project he wants you to be involved with:
The project is called, “My KoAloha Story”. The concept is simple. I’ll be sending a HD camera out to trusted individuals around the country and the world. Individuals would film themselves telling a story, playing a song and perhaps giving their own testimonial about their own KoAloha story. KoAloha as you know is a unique company and many KoAloha uke players have had very inspired and moving experiences in relation to their instrument.
So if you have a KoAloha story of your own, you can find out the details on his website.
Jake Shimabukuro at TEDx Japan.
Lots of uke building courses going on if you can make it to Vermont, Wales, Finland and Hawaii.
If you fancy a trip round Scandinavia with a bunch of ukulele players.
Boulder Acoustic Society are raising funds to release their new album. I’ve signed myself up for one of their ukulele player packages. If you really want to splash the cash, you can get yourself a one-off Mya Moe Ukulele.
10 ideas for recording amazing guitars (and ukuleles).
How to play Chuck Berry GUGUG style.
Bill ‘Compo’ Owen tries to do a Formby.
First off, if you’re interested in playing classical music on the ukulele then John King’s The Classical Ukulele is an absolute must.
But here are some of my efforts:
Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)
Carl Orff – O Fortuna from Carmina Burana
Chopin – Funeral March
Danse Macabre
Ferdinando Carulli – Andante
God Save the Queen, Rule Britannia
Masaniello, Galope
Ode To Joy: Easy Classical Strumming
Ode to Joy: Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Version
Ranz de Vaches “>Ranz de Vaches
Sakura Sakura
Waltz, Danca Camponeza
I’ve also done an ebook of classical ukulele tabs:
And there’s Wilfried Welti’s excellent book of classical tabs.
As promised, here’s a rundown of the third year of Uke Hunt in case you missed anything significant.
John Kavanagh passes away.
Moustaches of the World ukulele.
Mahalo Flying V is the worst ukulele I’ve ever played.
Peggy Sue put out my favourite ukulele song of the year.
I wrote up Rocky and Balls and Black Kids
The London Uke Festival takes place.
I caved and tabbed I’m Yours which directly resulted in me ending up in hospital.
I’m still proud of getting Naked As We Came onto a uke.
Ukulelezo does my all-time favourite ukulele cover.
The Bobby McGees get a week to themselves.
I write up John King’s arrangement of Larry O’Gaff and Elliott Brood.
I released How to Play Ukulele Strums which I’m really proud of. I think that and How to Play Blues Ukuele are the best I’ve written.
Uke Hunt t-shirts are a massive disaster.
I interviewed Bob Brozman – a massive musical hero of mine.
Channel 4 news ask if everyone will play the ukulele.
Steve Marriott ukulele video crops up.
Keyboard riffs for ukulele include Axel F, A-Ha and Biz Markie.
Kate Micucci and William H Macy get laid.
Extensive discussion of the exact recipe for Katzenjammer’s Cherry Pie is put to rest by Katzenjammer’s Marianne.
I chatted to The Beatles Complete on Ukulele guys.
Tabs and chords for Queen’s Good Company.
I chat to Will of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain about their Prom night.
Best ukulele-featuring film ever released.
The Lancashire Hotpots turn emo.
Easier arrangement of Indiana Jones. Tabs for U900/The Ventures: Diamond Head, Walk Don’t Run and Hawaii Five-O
Lulu and the Lampshades are confused by the Proust Questionnaire.
James Hill busts out some killer dance moves (Ladies, please ensure you have a dry pair of underwear on standby before watching.
I write up the chords for the Bushman contest winner.
Riffs for ukulele include Cochise, Master of Puppets and – a personal favourite of mine and no one else, Death of Auto-Tune.
I write up Mr B’s Chap Hop History.
My version of the Upstairs, Downstairs theme appears on Radio 4 (MP3 link) without acknowledgment – if I paid my license fee, I’d stop.
Tabs include Music for a Found Harmonium, Harry Potter and In the Mood.
The ukulele quiz was too difficult.
Christmas shenanigans: Garfunkel and Oates… twice, U900 covering the Ventures and the long overdue blog debut of Half Man Half Biscuit.
I was away most of the month but I did write up Coronation Street and tUnE-YaRdS’s Hatari.
U900 win Ukulele Video of the Year.
I cobble together some ukulele lessons.
SoftSpot release my favorite ukulele video of the year so far.
Tabs and chords include Hoppipolla, April Smith’s insanely catchy Colors, The Who’s Red Blue and Grey and the best kids’ song in the world.
Uke Hunt gets a makeover.
I attempt to bring together every ukulele club and group in the world.
I interviewed Cory McAbee and no one cared. But I did. A lot.
Christoph Waltz humpink a ukulele.
Chords for Paul McCartney and OK Go.
10 things you hear about ukuleles that might be bollocks.
Musical snippets to make you look like a smart-arse.
I cave over Hey, Soul Sister and pay the customary Fall-feit.
Jonsi’s Go Do is very lovely.
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