MGM has the new Kala UBass. It’s a collaboration between Kala and Road Toad to make a more affordable version of the RoadToad Bass ukulele.

I’m always a little suspicious when I see a ukulele made from wood with a very Hawaiian sounding name – it always seems like a marketing gimmick. Not being an expert on Hawaiian flora, I’ve been a little puzzled by Pono‘s ‘ohai ukulele. I thought they meant ‘ohia wood, Google thought I meant ‘ohia wood. But, no, Ko’olau say ‘ohai wood is completely different. So that’s my new thing learnt for the day. On another note, those ukuleles are very cheap for a Pono.

One wood I do know exists is maple. And it sure makes for a funky looking back of a ukulele.

I’m also familiar with the existence of coconuts. But I’m not sure I’d want a ukulele made out of one.

Ukulele photo of the week: Three Chicago men.

It’s your last chance to sponsor my part in the ukulele world record attempt before the big day. And if you’re going to be at the London Uke Festival come up and say hi – I’ll be the only person in a Ukulele Hunt t-shirt (like this one).

It’s obviously uke festival season as the Vicenza Ukulele Festival is next weekend and includes Veronica Sbergia, Aaron Keim, Uke Box and many more.

New classical ukulele tab site from Jamie Holding (who you may know as Blake12000).

Bosko and Honey are going to be doing an Oz Ukulele Safari. And they’ll be joined by Seeso and another mystery guest.

New album from Minor Constellations which you can download for free. Geoffrey Richardson, of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, has put a beautiful uke tune up on his MySpace (thanks to Paul).

New ukulele print from Amy Crehore.

Kathy Clugston has been uking it up on the radio again. This time with Roland Taylor (who is producing the Ukulele Orhcestra of Great Britain’s Proms performance). You can listen to it here – starting around 8:30.

How to solve sexual frustration – play the ukulele (Not a site you want your boss to see you on).

Moral of the story #1: Don’t lend anyone your ukulele. Moral of the story #2: Kids are reading too much Twilight.

Does anyone ever put peanut butter in their ukulele?

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain are taking part in this year’s Proms and they’re having a play along for everyone attending. To that end, they’ve put up tabs and tutorials of the parts. But there’s no tab for the counter-melody – only standard notation. Nightmare! So I did my ‘Every good boy deserves football’ and here’s what I reckon.

I can’t be sure it’s spot on. I can’t hear them playing it at any point to check.

Here it is along with the main melody and the chords:

And I’ve put together a solo version based on this arrangement for those of us who are far too white trash to visit the proms.

Visit UkuleleOrchestra.com

I do sometimes have it brought home to me that not everyone hangs on every single word I say. Hard to believe, I know. So here are a few things that are popular, good or over-looked that might have slipped by you.

The Most Popular Tabs and Chords

Well, it’s all fairly obvious stuff. Exactly what you’d expect.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Beirut
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Wait! What? Yes, Daft Punk is the fourth most visited tab/chord post on the blog. No, I don’t know why.

My Favourite Tabs and Chords

James Bond Theme – I think it’s the best arrangement I’ve done. Other people tend to think it’s…
Baby Elephant Walk – I like this one but it needs some work.
Sophie Madeleine – Take Your Love With Me – Just a brilliant chord progression.
Davy Graham – Angi
Naked As We Came – yeah, it was only yesterday. But I like it.

I Should Have Just Stayed in Bed

I toiled for hours. Deep into the night I sat playing. Sweat dripping from my brow. Blood dripping from my fingers.

Bollocks to you James Earl Jones. Sometimes you build it and no-one comes.

Carl Ray Villaverde’s version of Tears in Heaven
Chopin’s Funeral March
Mara Carlyle’s Baby Bloodheart

The How to Play Ukulele eBooks

I’m reliably informed by proper internet marketing people that I should sell my ukulele ebooks a lot harder than I do. Because most people visiting Uke Hunt would have no idea they existed – I’m sure quite a few regulars might not know – and those that do know they exist might not know that I’m the one who wrote them.

I don’t want to go all hard sell on them, but I will make them a bit more obvious. Because I think they’re really good and I’m proud of them.

The Interviews

Most viewed:

Rod Thomas – this one has been viewed over 10,000 times. I couldn’t be happier to give him any exposure I can – he’s the nicest guy in the world. And I have a man-crush on him.
Kate Micucci – is also very sweet. But I don’t fancy her as much as I do Rod.

My faves:

Gus from GUGUG
Dean ‘Minor Constellations’ Engle and Madeline Ava – Both insanely talented young lyricists. Dean has released a new album which you can download free on Rack & Ruin Records (click the album cover). Madeline’s stuff has disappeared from the interwebs along with CLLCT (*sobs*). After reading about her on here, Dean asked Madeline to marry him. I’m still hoping it’s going to happen – it’d make me the happiest blog-pimp in the world.

Useful Stuff

Slash chords – People are always asking, “how do you play B/C on a ukulele?” or some such. I think part of the problem is that people don’t know what to Google when they have that problem. So if you don’t know what a slash chord is, read the post now.
Blues scale and Pentatonic scale – essential if you ever want to do any improvising and solo shenanigans.
10 Reasons You Need to Buy a New Ukuele – psychologists say that people buy based on emotion then search for logical reasons to justify it. That’s certainly true of a lot of uke purchases.

Some Things Just Don’t Catch On

Me (in August 2007): Hey, here’s an idea. Why don’t I do a post with photos of me making stupid faces? And I’ll have a little test-what-you’ve-learnt bit at the end. Wow, everyone’s going to be really engaged with this post. I should do this all the time.

The Internet: Zero comments.

Man alive this one is a toughy. I’ve had a few failed attempts at getting this to work on the ukulele. But I persisted because it’s a beautiful song. And I’ve finally got a version I’m pleased with.

The difficulty with playing this on the ukulele is that the bass part is so important. To get that and the ringing notes I’ve had to transpose them into the same octave. Which adds another layer of difficulty because you have to give these notes an extra little umph to emphasize them.

Here’s my attempt at playing it.

Download

Anyone who can play this and sing at the same time has my unending respect.

Requested by MC Safety.

UPDATE: For anyone looking for an easier version to play while singing, check out Seeso’s version.

Shigeto Takahashi – Peanut Vendor (MP3)
Shigeto Takahashi – Goofus (MP3) via his website

I’m a big fan of Shigeto’s playing. He was the first person I ever interviewed for the blog. He’s just released his debut CD Roots Trip which contains spirited uke versions of traditional Hawaiian songs, classical music and traditional tunes. You can check out more of his older demos here.

It’s one of the greatest songs of all time Theme from Sparta FC is most famous for its use as the backing music for the BBC’s Final Score. Which lead to Mark E Smith reading out the football results. “Tottenham Hostpur postponed. West Ham United one h.”

The original riff is played on the E and B strings of the guitar. So I’ve had to tune the C string down one fret to B to fit it on the uke. But other than that it works pretty well. Here’s the intro followed by the riff.

Here’s me playing it on the uke:

MP3

UPDATE: A massive thanks to Dylan for alerting me to the existence of this recording of The Fall doing Who Makes the Nazis? for a Peel Session. ON A FREAKIN’ UKULELE! A very out of tune ukulele.

In a rare occurrence, the best video I came across this week doesn’t have a uke in – although I’ve read the band has a uke song. Despite that, Katzenjammer’s skiffle-tastic Ain’t No Thang is probably the best thing that has ever happened to my ears and eyes simultaneously. There are a million things I love about it and I’m very tempted to list them all. The song includes a bass balalaika solo. But that wouldn’t even top the list. I have to make it the featured video even if it is ukeless. I just wish their whole album was that raw.

Once you’ve watched that a few dozen times, this week’s UkeTube includes Izumi (who I’m 100% sure I subscribed to but somehow missed her stuff and had to be reminded by KDUS – to make up for it I included her twice), one of Jake Wildwood’s finest songs, Krouk blasting out the Smeckisms and plenty more.

Read the rest of this entry »

Some incredible carving on this snake charango. I think it would freak me out too much to play it.

The handsomest ukulele around this week is this Kerry Char ukulele.

Some award winning work on this surf-themed Makani ukulele. There’s obviously a huge amount of skill gone into it. But I’m not sure I like it.

It’s obviously not a ukulele, but I love that this instrument has a 19th Century pin-up painted on the back.

Ukulele puzzle box.

Ukulele photo of the week.

The UOGB provide a tutorial for playing Ode to Joy. Which you can play along with them at the Proms. They were plugging it on Radio 4’s Today (listen again here – starts about 1:41) along with Kathy Clugston.

Details of the John Kavanagh Memorial Concert.

Pam finds out what ‘‘Made in Hawaii’ really means. And the post is followed up by an article in the Hololulu Star Bulletin.

Uni visits Auckland where, according to the anchor, she’s a famous as the Rolling Stones.

For those of you who weren’t so keen on Madame Pamita’s lo-fi approach to recording, she has now rerecorded some songs in dazzling mono.

The Lille ukulele club COULE has a new website complete with uke-news blog in French and English and some funky illustrations.

Jeff always has the best ukulele photos on his blog and this one is an absolute gem.

Everyone is voting delete on this Flikr photo – it has to be saved (via Ukulelia).

Another – more challenging – ukulele quiz (via Seeso). 16/20 for me. But I dispute question 16 (and 18).

Daily Growl has an MP3 of Fanfarlo’s The Walls are Coming Down.

Uke Handie Stand.

I mentioned the other day that I couldn’t be sure Frank Sidebottom played the uke. I can now be sure.

Rodin and his Applause.