The Easter holiday arrived, and with my birthday on the horizon M suggested a Ukulele as a potential birthday present. I must confess I was dubious to begin with - though I have also felt a yearning for some non-computer based interest in my life. So, I borrowed M's Uke to have a go.
All I can say is, I love it. In just a couple of days I had enough Chords to play Cohen's Hallelujah off by heart, along with the usual "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (typical beginners stuff) from music. I never thought that I would ever play tunes on a stringed instrument with any degree of skill since I traded the violin for an oboe at the end of the 80's. Any attempt at the guitar left me crestfallen as I simply couldn't get my hands round the neck for some chords without leaning on all the other strings... the Uke has changed my mind about strings. In just a week of playing I have been able to add "Dream a Little Dream of Me" by the Mamas and the Papas to my off by heart list, and can play loads of others from chord sheets. Wow.
The best thing is, M and I can play duets. It's such fun.
Just watch out at Christmas, you'll know if we are carolling you, because every carol will have a Hawaiian Ukulele lilt to it :-D
M will therefore be giving me a Uke for my birthday.
And if you are interested yourself, we recommend the Kala soprano Uke as a great beginners instrument. Has decent tuning keys (the geared kind) and made from decent wood:
http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Guitars/Acoustic/Ukulele/sc1414/p6730.aspx
There are other ones (e.g. Ashton) which we tried but it wasn't good. Hence recommending the above - plus, it gets good recommendations from others on the internet.
All I can say is, I love it. In just a couple of days I had enough Chords to play Cohen's Hallelujah off by heart, along with the usual "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (typical beginners stuff) from music. I never thought that I would ever play tunes on a stringed instrument with any degree of skill since I traded the violin for an oboe at the end of the 80's. Any attempt at the guitar left me crestfallen as I simply couldn't get my hands round the neck for some chords without leaning on all the other strings... the Uke has changed my mind about strings. In just a week of playing I have been able to add "Dream a Little Dream of Me" by the Mamas and the Papas to my off by heart list, and can play loads of others from chord sheets. Wow.
The best thing is, M and I can play duets. It's such fun.
Just watch out at Christmas, you'll know if we are carolling you, because every carol will have a Hawaiian Ukulele lilt to it :-D
M will therefore be giving me a Uke for my birthday.
And if you are interested yourself, we recommend the Kala soprano Uke as a great beginners instrument. Has decent tuning keys (the geared kind) and made from decent wood:
http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Guitars/Acoustic/Ukulele/sc1414/p6730.aspx
There are other ones (e.g. Ashton) which we tried but it wasn't good. Hence recommending the above - plus, it gets good recommendations from others on the internet.
And if you do get a Uke, don't forget my Uke Tuner software:
http://myfamilynewspaper.blogspot.com/2008/07/uke-tuner.html
http://myfamilynewspaper.blogspot.com/2008/07/uke-tuner.html
