I know this is a guitar forum, but is anyone else really loving the ukulele?

Dave-the-Pub-muso

Hi all, just looking for other players interested in ukulele. I find it a great instrument to mess around on when needing a break from guitar. I recently picked up a relatively cheap semi-acoustic uke in London which I now use to spice up my live shows - people get quite a kick out of this "little guitar". Also great for recording to add something different to sonic spectrum. My band Soulfire used an incredibly cheap uke for the intro to our sinlge "Live my life"...

They are quite difficult to get hold of in SA, but I imagine that some of you might be interested these little gems! Drop us a line if you agree.

As they say: "Uke can change the world..."

Cheers,
Dave

[deleted]

I have played one, don't own one. lovely instrument. I have to agree with you..

Bob-Dubery

Ukes are big in the UK (ouch). A lot of schools teach uke, and they teach with it tuned DGBA to make migration to the guitar easier.

I think the key to all of this is The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain who seem to be sending "uke-vibes" out into the ethers from where those vibes enter the sub-concious of impressionable and/or unstable persons.

FatBoy

I dig ukes, don't own one yet, but will love to have one around.

Dave-the-Pub-muso

Bob Dubery wrote

I think the key to all of this is The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain who seem to be sending "uke-vibes" out into the ethers from where those vibes enter the sub-concious of impressionable and/or unstable persons.

Yip, I've checked out the Uke orchestra of GB on youtube. Rubbish singers, but great entertainers! If you're interested, check out "you don't buy me flowers" or "Ruby" with Kaiser Chiefs. As for the mentally unstable - I think they're drawn to most things musical...

AlanRatcliffe

Britain has a long history with the uke, with guys like George Formby and with the skiffle bands being a part of their cultural mix. So they do pop up all over the place in British music. Brian May often uses one (i.e. Good Company from Night at the Opera).

Dave-the-Pub-muso

Formby was a great entertainer.

Spyke

I've taken a liking to Ukes too. This was spurred on by my entry into the Sunset cocktails challenge when I drew inspiration from Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

I have no idea how to play one or how it would differ from guitar but I think I'll own one some day. Saw one at Music Connection for around the R3500 mark.

Dave-the-Pub-muso

Ukes are usually tuned G,C,E,A. Although these notes are different to guitar, the intervals between strings are the same (the G string is , however, tuned an octave up).

In other words the guitar strings D,G,B,E have the same relationship to each other as the four uke strings. That is to say, D to G on a guitar is equidistant (in terms of semitones and ignoring the octave factor) to G to C on a uke. So you can use some guitar chord shapes on uke and they'll work, but the the chord name will be different. If you put down a guitar "D" chord shape on a uke, you'll actually be playing a "G".

I picked up a cheapie from Bothners for around R500 and subsequently got a much better semiacoustic in London for 50 pounds...