Damn you, Ukelele Ike!

The BBQ Pit
1

For years I resisted. I’d look at them on eBay and hold myself back. But now I’ve got your collected recordings, and dammit, I have to do it: I have got to have a ukelele.

Sure, the songs are fabulous; don’t get me wrong. In fact, if anything they’re too good. The scratchy recording of “Fascinating Rhythm,” “Hard Hearted Hannah,” both versions of “It Had to Be You,” and especially “I Can’t Get the One I Want”: wonderful, soulful stuff.

But dammit, I’ve got too many toys already! Two guitars, a digital camera, a digital video camera, a portable computer, even a portable briefcase-bar; the last thing I need is more stuff to waste my time with.

But after hearing these recordings, there’s no getting around it; I have GOT to have a ukelele. I think I’ll head over to eBay right now…

2

“Like my mother’d always say,
You’ll never go astray—
If you keep your ukulele in your hand, son—
Keep your ukulele in your hand!”

3

May I introduce you to my new hobby as of a couple of months: The Booze’n’Uke Orchestra :o

And this is where it all started.

4

Yeah, I have found myself entering a Ukelele Ike phase lately, too, since finding an internet radio station (Dismuke on Live365) with a couple of his songs in rotation. I was predisposed, though, being a jugband fan who used to do a mean Jiminy Cricket singing “When You Wish Upon a Star.”

5

As a ukulele player, may I suggest you get a good uke to start with, Being a guitar player, I’m sure you understand the importance of a quality instrument.

Old Martins seem to be the best. I have two '60s vintage Martins, one standard, one concert.

But if you must have a new uke, consensus seems to be the Fluke uke is the way to go. Stay far away from the new Martins, especially the “Backpacker” ukes.

Obligatory Ukulele Link. This is the website of Jim Beloff. I attended one of his famous “Ukulele Workshops” a couple of years ago, and the man knows his stuff.

6

And so my (probably ill-advised) Mod-baiting experiment comes to an end.

Thanks for the advice, all; I’m poking around the various models, and the Fluke Uke seems to be right up my alley in terms of price/commitment. I like that green color, too…

Any suggestions as to where to start learning? Is there a standard instructional book? I started guitar when I was given one for Christmas in 1988 (hadn’t even wanted one; I have no idea why they gave it to me) and I just started banging around on it. Obviously, it took years before I got anywhere.

I’m thinking on a uke I’ll pretty much be able to pick out chords on my own, since I know the basics of how chords work and such, but wouldn’t mind some pointers to get started.

7

That’s what YOU think. I’ve got my eye on you now, baby.
[sub]If you like a ukulele lady,
ukulele lady like a you.
If you want to linger where it’s shady,
ukulele lady linger too.
If you kiss a ukulele lady
while you promise ever to be true,
and she see another ukulele lady fool around with you.
Maybe she’ll sigh, maybe she’ll cry,
Maybe she’ll find somebody else
by and by-y-y
to sing to when it’s cool and shady,
where the tricky wicky wackies woo.
If you like a ukulele lady,
ukulele lady like a you.[/sub]

8

Did that last post mean Uke is bi-sexual? :slight_smile:

At least he was right about the jaywalking origin.

(I forgot to tell you that, sweetums}

9

OK - you asked for it. Ukulele 101.

Tune the uke A-D-F#-B

Now, chords are the same as guitar, except for the following two things:

  1. There are 2 low strings missing. Ignore them.

  2. All chords you play are a fifth higher than the guitar chord.

For instance, a G chord on guitar would be played on uke as the third fret, last string. That’s all.

And you’re not playing a G, you’re playing a D chord. A fifth higher.

Make sense?

10

Thanks, Rico! That sounds like a good “cheat-sheet” method to start with. So the strings are tuned with intervals of 4th-maj3rd-4th? I.e., 5 frets-4 frets-5 frets? This is great nuts-and-bolts advice.

I’m taking a road trip in a few weeks; one wonders if the ukelele might be a good road-trip musical instrument.

11

And this is quietly making me crazy. I am an old clarinet player and I don’t give one single damnation about which tone/chord is sounded, only how I put my fingers. The brute that made me buy my ukulele doesn’t have the same guitar background as I have and is very happy to refer to a D chord as an A. Gaah!

With my very limited experience I’d say that you can’t find a better. It’s light, easy to carry, impresses the ladies (if you are a mann, that is) and many other positive things.