My Bushman Ukulele
Many, many years ago, about 14 or so, YouTube recommended a video of a cute blonde playing the ukulele and having a lot of fun with her friends. I completely blame my ukulele addiction on Julia Nunes. That video triggered something in my creative side and I was off to find myself an ukulele and learn how to play. Julia had won the first Bushman ukulele contest and I watched the excitement in her unboxing video. And then I saw a couple of the members of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain were playing Bushman ukuleles. Within a few months I had seen both Julia and the UOGB live in concert. And set my heart on getting my own Bushman ukulele. I entered the Bushman contest, hoping to win a gift certificate toward one of these beauties. And did okay with my original song, I Learned to Play…
UKEtopia! Adventures in the Ukulele World
There are many, myself included, that put a great deal of the credit on Jim and Liz Beloff for the current wave of ukulele popularity in the United States and the rest of the world. Chances are pretty high that if you play ukulele you have a number of Jumpin’ Jim’s song books in your collection. Many uke clubs use the big yellow The Daily Ukulele for their jam sessions. Regulars at ukulele festivals and workshops all over the world; Jim and Liz add a touch of familiarity and family to the gathering. Their welcoming personalities are a big part of their success! Flea Market Music has been teasing a new Beloff book for several months. I was tempted to pre-order on Amazon, but The Magic Fluke Company sent out a message a few weeks back that they had autographed copies available, so I sent my order off to Phyllis and…
Murder Plays a Ukulele
At some point or another, most of us in the ukulele community have seen this picture: It is the illustration that accompanied the article Murder Plays A Ukulele by M.K. Arnold, published in the July 1941 issue of Master Detective Magazine. Subtitled, “A ukulele – an abandoned car – and a bicycle on the beach . . . smart detective work linked them together and nabbed the killer.” The picture itself is more than a bit off, as the two main characters were only a couple years different in age, both in their early 20’s, and both played the ukulele. This isn’t a work of fiction, it is a true story! But it took my librarian sister, Sarah Howard, almost a year to unearth a copy of the article in the Library of Congress and get it to me. Frederick David Galloway was born in New York in 1902 and lived…
A Visit in the Berkshires – The Magic Fluke Company
Driving through the Berkshires on Highway 7, you will encounter beautiful scenery and picturesque views. And if you know what you are looking for you may spot a small building as you enter Sheffield, Massachusetts, just north of the Connecticut border. Nestled in the shrubbery is a colorful sign for The Magic Fluke Company. This is the home of the company where all the Flukes and Fleas are assembled, where customization is done and the final inspections are completed. I had mentioned in a Facebook ukulele group that I was taking my Fluke with me to avoid any issues regarding the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as my wife and I crossed the Canadian border on our ten-day road trip through Canada and New England. Another member suggested we stop by The Magic Fluke Company. Dale and Phyllis Webb started in the company in 1999, with encouragement…
My New Talsma Pineapple!
A bit more than a week ago, my favorite ukulele luthier put a post on Facebook: Soprano Pineapple Ukulele, 13.625″ scale. I built this for fun and to sell during my lock down. Quilt Mahogany top, back and sides. African Mahogany 5 piece neck with koa center. Curly koa bindings. Emerald green tint head plate, fretboard and bridge. Grover Champion tuning pegs. This is built nice and light with a very thin satin lacquer finish, sounds great. It could be yours – PM me if interested. Well, I was interested, so I sent the PM. I had been thinking about another Talsma for about a year. And I was debating about size and shape and how much I wanted to spend and what features. Another friend was considering selling one of his and was giving me first refusal. I was thinking hard about it and he decided to keep it…
Photographing Your Ukulele for Identification
I get lots of requests from readers that would like me to tell them how old their Martin ukulele is and what style it is. I love getting these requests! Most of the senders think to include a picture or two, but they are often not very helpful in allowing me to answer their questions. So I thought I would provide some examples of what information and what types of photos can help with identification. The first piece of information is going to be the overall length of the ukulele and/or the length between the saddle and the nut. For those unfamiliar with the instruments, the saddle and nut are the two ‘bars’, usually ebony, that the strings go over at each end of their run. For an ukulele you are going to get 13 inches, 15 inches or 17 inches. There are larger ones as well, but these are…
The UKUL3L3 Dude!
After several years of being totally jealous of the individuals that had acquired Michigan’s UKULELE license plate and then the GCEA plate, (Yes, I know who has them both!) I finally went my own route. After consulting with a number of individuals and test marketing, I made a decision. You have to apply in person, so I made an online appointment at the Secretary of State office one Monday morning for the following Thursday. I walked in and out in less than ten minutes with my receipt and new registration. It arrived about two weeks later, and I was out of town. After another week, I finally put it on the car! I have also registered the domain name, so it will lead anyone that happens to look for it to The Ukulele Dude!
Should I Put a Strap on My Ukulele? FAQ
To strap, or not to strap? That is the question! Whether ’tis nobler to suffer the slings and tie downs in outrageous colors, or to run free, perhaps to fall. Most professionals use a strap or leash when they are performing. The use of the device allows them to move their fingers up and down the fret board more quickly, without worrying about the possibility of the instrument falling. It is also more difficult to hold the ukulele securely when you are plugged in. The amp cord changes the weight of the instrument and pulls down on it. I prefer the use of a leash. It provides me some additional safety when playing and will prevent the instrument from crashing to the floor inadvertently. And it does not change the instrument with any holes or drilling. Jake Shimabakuro uses a leash. I got a chance to talk to him about…
What Are The Best Ukulele Strings to Use? FAQ
The answer to this question requires knowledge of too many factors and variables for a single answer to work for any two players. So rather than attempt to provide a single answer, I’ll give you a lot of the factors to consider with input from some more knowledgeable folks. What type of music do you play? What type of instrument do you have? What sort of sound do you want to get out of your instrument? In general, you can expect strings to have these basic parameters: Different types require different tensions, which along with the surface of the string, affect the feel to your fingers. The best way to determine what works for you is to experiment with different types and find the ones you like best on your instrument. A type of string you love on one instrument may very well sound muddy or soft on another. From…
Reading Chord Charts and TABs – FAQ
One of the common questions beginners have is on how to read a chord chart or TABs. I’ve put together a one page diagram that should answer most of the questions and help get a beginner get used to the correct nomenclature to use when they are asking more in depth questions. Feel free to download and share with others, I just ask that you leave the website and copyright info on the document. Showing up to an ukulele club meeting for the first time can be a bit daunting. You don’t know the people and you don’t know if you have the skill level to play with them. The biggest challenge is the possibility of getting confronted by a new and unexpected format for the music. Learning the Z Chord can be a big help! Clubs collect music from many sources and they all seem to create their own…