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I’M YOURS
Jason Mraz
HAPPY
Pharrell Williams
THREE LITTLE BIRDS
Bob Marley
FALL 2014 ROCK ISLAND LINE
Traditional
Meet Martin
Guitar’s Uke
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He’s Yours!
JASON LP
MRAZ
Roy
Smeck’s
Wacky
Lesson to
Recounts Remember
the making of
a uke classic 6 Sweet
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Mahogany Ukulele www.sagamusic.com Connect with us on
DEPARTMENTS
12 Why I Uke
Uke is more than a hobby—it’s a passion
and necessity
By Angie McLaughlin
14 Club Uke
The Tampa Bay Ukulele Society:
The nation’s third-largest uke club loves to jam
By Julie Garisto
16 Uke News
Rob Scallon slays Slayer; Dealer survey
reveals uke uptick; and Hawaii official
instrument bill update
18 Gods of Uke
FEATURES
Roy Smeck: Wizard of the Strings
By Marcy Marxer
Birth of the Uke, p 62
Uke Basics
22 Finger Rolls
By Alec Poletsky
40 The Heart of an
Instant Uke Classic 24 Circle of Fifths
By Fred Sokolov
Jason Mraz’s 2008 hit ‘I’m Yours’ has enjoyed
real staying power thanks to ukulele players
68 Mixed Media
By David Knowles
New albums by Lemon Nash,
Zee Avi, Uke-Hunt, and more
44 Redemption Songs
Singer-songwriter LP credits the uke Gear Reviews
with her return to the performance spotlight 70 Kala Reso Exotic wood and classic style
By David Knowles By Breeze Kinsey
SONGS
48 Yesterday & Today TO PLAY
72 Collings’ Ukes Basic and deluxe models
offer top-shelf quality
The Mersey Belles channel a retro vibe
By Adam Perlmutter
in pursuit of modern-day fun
By Amber von Nagel
26 Happy 74 LuLu Ukuleles Masterpieces you can play
Pharrell Williams By Breeze Kinsey
53 Long Live the Republic
Mike McQueen, the owner of Georgia’s Uke Republic, 30 I’m Yours 77 Great Ukes
gave rise to a one-man ukulele empire Jason Mraz Ludwig Wendell Hall banjo uke
By A.A. MacQueen By Simon Brown
34 Three Little Birds
78 Uke Were There
58 Four-String Therapy Bob Marley
Photo submissions from uke enthusiasts
Uke2Heal brings the healing power of
38 Rock Island Line
the ukulele into hospitals and senior centers
Traditional
By David Knowles
Fall 2014
VOLUME 1, ISSUE No. 6
62 Birth of the Uke 9 TWEET UKE ON THE COVER
Hawaii often gets credit for giving the world the ukulele, 10 CALENDAR Jason Mraz
but Portugal deserves its due 20 UKE CHORDS PHOTOGRAPHER
By Sandor Nagyszalanczy 78 UKE WERE THERE Stacy L. Revere / Getty Images
4
UkuleleMag.com 5
UkuleleMag.com
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
Editorial Director Greg Cahill
Editor David Knowles
Managing Editor Whitney Phaneuf
Senior Editor Greg Olwell
Staff Writer Mark Segal Kemp
Production Designers Brad Amorosino, Bayard Heimer
Production Manager Hugh O’Connor
Contributing Editors Andrew DuBrock, Alec Polesky,
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
INTERACTIVE SERVICES
Interactive Services Director Lyzy Lusterman
Creative Content Manager Joey Lusterman
Creative Content Coordinator Winston Mapa
Digital Developer Breeze Kinsey
Community Relations Coordinator Courtnee Rhone
Single Copy Sales Consultant Tom Ferruggia
MARKETING SERVICES
Sales Director Cindi Kazarian
Sales Manager Ref Sanchez
Marketing Services Associate Tanya Gonzalez
David Knowles and his 1960’s
Kamaka gold label uke.
O
ne of the most remarkable things pick up a ukulele you are no longer alone.
about the ukulele, and a big Just ask pop star Jason Mraz (page 40),
reason I am excited to begin my whose hit “I’m Yours” (page 30) has gone Stringletter.com
new role as editor of this magazine, is the on to be one of the most covered songs on
Publisher David A. Lusterman
extent to which the instrument fosters a the ukulele of all time. As Martin ukulele
sense of community. As Santa Cruz collec- ambassador LP (page 44) puts it, the uke is FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Director of Accounting & Operations Anita Evans
tor Sandor Nagyszalanczy details in his a “happy instrument,” that turns out to be
Bookkeeper Geneva Thompson
authoritative article (page 62) on the uku- perfect for playing Pharrell Williams’ smash Accounting Associate Raymund Baldoza
lele’s origins, that’s always been the case. “Happy” (page 26).
General Inquiries FrontDesk@Stringletter.com
Celebrating their arrival in Hawaii in the To do our part in helping perpetuate the
Customer Service Help@AcousticGuitarService.com
middle 1800s, immigrants from Madeira, spirit of ukulele kinship, Ukulele magazine is Advertising Inquiries Marketing.Services@Stringletter.com
Portugal, played joyful songs for their fellow starting a contest that asks readers to sub- Send e-mail to individuals in this format:
FirstName.LastName@Stringletter.com
passengers on the four-stringed instrument mit videos of themselves playing one of the
that would eventually become known as songs printed in this issue. The first place Front Desk (510) 215-0010
the ukulele. winner, as decided by your votes at Ukule- Customer Service (800) 827-6837
General Fax (510) 231-5824
Today’s ukes still evoke that same uplift- leMag.com, will receive a LuLu tenor uku-
Secure Fax (510) 231-8964
ing spirit, whether it is expressed on social lele, second place wins five sets of GHS
media sites, as our new section Tweet Uke strings, and the first 20 people to submit Mail & Shipping
501 Canal Blvd., Suite J, Richmond, CA 94804
(page 9) aptly illustrates, at boisterous videos will be sent a free pack. Whether you
clubs like the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society win or not, I hope the contest takes on a Printed in USA
(page 14), or through the good works of life of its own, and does its part in helping
groups like Uke2Heal (page 58), which foster the ukulele community that has
helps connect ukulele players with hospitals sprung up around our favorite four-stringed
and senior centers. Simply put, when you instrument. —David Knowles, Editor
GOT A QUESTION or comment for Ukulele’s editors? Please send an e-mail to editors.uke@stringletter.com TO ADVERTISE in Ukulele, call Cindi Kazarian at (510) 215-0028, or e-mail her at
or snail-mail Ukulele Editorial, 501 Canal Blvd., Suite J, Richmond, CA 94804. cindi@stringletter.com.
RETAILERS To find out how you can carry Ukulele magazine in your store, contact Alfred Publishing
JOIN US ONLINE at UkuleleMag.com to activate your free e-mail alerts and get uke content that entertains,
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enlightens, and inspires, sent right to your inbox. Ukulele magazine is now on all your favorite social
networks, too. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube and join the conversation today! Except where otherwise noted, all contents © 2014 Stringletter, David A. Lusterman, Publisher.
6
Music shook the studio walls,
then the world.
Singer and songwriter LP
Uke player 3 years
Learn more about the Martin 2 Concert Uke, Ocean Way Recording and Warner Bros. recording artist LP at martinguitar.com/lp
(tweet uke)
W
e can’t help but notice that the ukulele inspires some truly wonderful Follow us
140-character-or-less messages on Twitter. Here are some of on Twitter
our favorite ukulele-themed tweets from the past few months. @UkuleleMag
Someone is playing a
What is the point of ukulele in the distance
owning a ukulele if you it’s like the world is
cannot play ‘I’m Yours.’ conspiring to make
@bugg_off
me cry tears of joy.
@franniball
Is there anything I really need to stop
eating pancakes
sexier than a 300 lb. while I play ukulele.
man playing a @ChantreeSayWhat
Magnetic Fields
I didn’t think it was
song on a ukulele? possible, but I just wrote
@popmortem a sad ukulele song.
@hjellybeany94x
I have decided that I am happy with my
ukulele, I don’t want another one because
I love it so much and it’s perfect.
@Franny_Joy
I like how my Who needs a boyfriend
natural response when you have a ukulele,
to anxiety is to eat honestly.
guacamole, scroll @Walker8Carly
through Tumblr,
and play the
ukulele.
@groovyhedgehog I have decided that the
rest of this summer
shall consist of ukulele.
@lhbflute
UkuleleMag.com 9
(uke calendar)
JULY AUGUST
OAKRIDGE
UKULELE FESTIVAL
AUGUST 1-3
OAKRIDGE, OREGON
If a quiet weekend in the mountains is more
your speed, the Oakridge Ukulele Festival will
fit the bill.
Nestled in the Cascade Mountains,
this festival will have plenty of classes,
performances, vendors, and jams. This year’s
event boasts some talented instructors,
including Ronnie Ontiveros, Richard Colombo,
Pat Knaus, Penny & Victor, Danielle Ate the
Sandwich, Brook Adams, and much more.
oakridge-lodge.com/events
MIDWEST
UKE FEST
AUGUST 16-17
Raiatea Helm
WOODBURN, INDIANA
UKULELE CZECH UKULELE This little festival just outside of Fort Wayne,
Indiana, is sure to please ukers from the
FESTIVAL HAWAII FESTIVAL Midwest and beyond.
Held at the Folkcraft Instruments facility
JULY 20 JULY 25-27 (the makers of Druid Moon ukuleles), this
OAHU, HAWAII PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC year’s festival includes performances and
workshops by Lil’ Rev, the Ukulele Cowboy
Where better to celebrate the ukulele than Rather plan a trip to Europe this summer? Society, Bing Futch, and Richard Ash.
in the instrument’s birthplace? The Czech Ukulele Festival is coming back midwestukefest.com
In addition to the festival’s workshops, for a second year. Held in the beautiful city of
activities, and copious amounts of food Prague, this truly international festival offers
and drink, this year’s bill features talented a plethora of workshops, open mics, food and
performers from Hawaii and beyond, including drink, and performances by uke players from
the legendary Herb Ohta, Willie Kahaiali’i, all over the world.
Raiatea Helm, Nick Acosta, the Sunset The festival starts off with a “surprise
Strummers, Ryo Montgomery, Fulare-Pad, event” in Prague’s city center, then a cruise
StarWish, and others. down the river Vltava in a vintage paddle-
Looks like July might be the right time to steamer boat. Gatherings will run late for
plan that island getaway you’ve always wanted all you night-owl ukers out there.
to go on. ukulelefestival.cz
ukulelefestivalhawaii.org
Zoe Bestel
10
THE UKE LIFE
By Mike Taylor
SEPTEMBER
WINE COUNTRY DOCK STREET
UKULELE FESTIVAL UKE CAMP
SEPTEMBER 5-7 SEPTEMBER 19-21
SAINT HELENA, CALIFORNIA SHELBURNE, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
This free festival has everything you need for The quaint Canadian harbor town of Shelburne
the perfect Napa Valley getaway: great food is home to the Dock Street Uke Camp, a lovely
and wine, breathtaking scenery, and ukuleles. retreat for uke players of all levels.
The three-day celebration will be headlined This year’s camp will host instructors
by Heidi Swedberg and Daniel Ward. With Tim Sweeney, Nigel D’Eon, Rev. Hank Mumps,
live performances, workshops, vendors, wine and Manitoba Hal. The camp will offer plenty OHIO UKULELE
tasting, and Northern California’s late summer
sunshine, what’s not to love?
of jam sessions, lessons, concerts, and even
a harbor cruise.
CAMPOUT
winecountryukefest.com ukecamp.blogspot.com
SEPTEMBER 28-29
LOUDONVILLE, OHIO
GRAND NORTHERN ALBUQUERQUE If you’re looking to rough it in the great
UKULELE FESTIVAL UKEKOPELLI outdoors with your trusty uke by your side, this
SEPTEMBER 13-14
FESTIVAL ukulele camping trip may be the event for you.
The laid-back gathering will feature lots of
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND jamming and open mic performances along
SEPTEMBER 26-27
with a community potluck and breakfast. Make
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
This uke festival’s lineup is bound to please sure to pack some s’mores in your uke case!
any uke fan, whether they’re from the UK or facebook.com/events/399148013519698
In its first year, the Albuquerque Ukekopelli
elsewhere.
Festival offers a generous lineup of
Co-headlined by the legendary Ukulele
Orchestra of Great Britain and Del Rey, the
workshops, performances, and vendors.
Heidi Swedberg, Lil’ Rev, and Daniel Ward
OCTOBER
lineup also features Andy Eastwood, Zoë
will all be instructing classes on this fine
Bestel, Tricity Vogue, the Mersey Belles,
autumn weekend in the desert. This is
(see Yesterday & Today, p. 48) the Uke Box,
the Mother Ukers, and many more.
a new festival worth checking out. OLD WEST
At this festival, ukers can perfect their
abqukefest.com
UKE TRAIN
playing, learn to build their own instruments, or
visit the Grand Bazaar to buy a new uke or two. OCTOBER 18
northernuke.com CARSON CITY, NEVADA
All aboard! Back for its second year, this
Daniel Ward
& Hedi Swedberg gold-country excursion takes uke enthusiasts
through the Sierra Nevada mountains by way
of steam train.
Strumming away in antique Pullman cars,
ukers will roll through the Wild West in style,
arriving in Virginia City, Nevada, for a “mini
uke fest” and an overnight stay in the
historical town.
playuke.net/old-west-uke-train
UkuleleMag.com 11
(why i uke)
Pride & Joy
An unexpected gift turned Angie McLaughlin
into someone who couldn’t put down her uke
ANGIE
B
y writing and singing songs animated with McLAUGHLIN
the soul of swing, vintage Hawaiian, gospel,
jazz, and blues from the ’20s and ’30s, a
psychotherapist-by-day leads her band through
regular gigs in some of Dublin, Ireland’s favorite
pubs and concert halls.
More than just limiting herself to repeating
songs of that era, however, Angie McLaughlin relies
on her uke to write material with more modern
sensibility and wit for the five-piece band the
Illywhackers (with which she performs under the
nom de plume “Minnie”). With songs like “License
to Beat the Blues” and “Don’t You Touch My
Ukulele” on the band’s self-released debut album
Make Me Yours, it’s clear that McLaughlin and her
band are much more than a retro-novelty act.
‘People have asked if music is my
hobby, and as most musicians know,
it’s more than that—it’s a passion
W
hen I lived in San Fran- that I’ve always loved and that my and a necessity, like breathing.’
cisco, an old bandmate 1970s Yamaha acoustic guitar
played ukulele on a few never seemed to manage. It was
of our songs and it introduced me initially in the old [alternate] tun- know, it’s more than that—it’s and joy is my Kamaka soprano,
to the delights of the ukulele. ing, so I had to relearn the a passion and a necessity, like which I’ve had for about ten years.
Then I got a surprise gift for chords when I re-tuned it to breathing. One of my absolute That’s my gigging ukulele along
Christmas from my partner of an GCEA. I couldn’t put it down and pleasures is playing with a fantas- with my Gold Tone banjo-ukulele.
old Harmony ukulele. It had been even took it to work with me. tic group of musicians, and good I still have a soft spot for my old
his dad’s when he was a boy. I The first song I learned to play friends to boot: Shane McGrath Harmony, but it’s impossible to gig
was initially confused—as I had was the Andrew Sisters’ version of (mandolin), Christian Volkmann with as the wooden friction pegs
never expressed any interest in “Rum and Coca Cola” and one day (double bass), Sheila Sullivan slip too easily.
playing ukulele—and then was I played to a group of my clients— (violin), and Carl O’Byrne (cornet). I like playing [ukulele] like it’s
quickly chuffed rotten as I fell in who were in recovery at the time. I I’m the proud and ashamed a ukulele, not a baby guitar. I like
love with it. Suddenly, I could play had to apologize after, but they just owner of eight ukuleles now—five picking and writing songs that
barre chords that I had never laughed and were fine with it. of them given to me by a friend— complement its sound.
managed on the guitar and I was People have asked if music is including a cigar-box ukulele and a Other than that, its great
able to get that old ’20s sound my hobby, and as most musicians Roy Smeck banjo-ukulele. My pride fun—that’s all.
12
(club uke)
High Society
The nation’s third-largest uke club, the Tampa Bay
Ukulele Society, knows how to host a jam session
By Julie Garisto
throughout central Florida, the larger group is
the third biggest confab of uke players in the
United States.
“I thought we’d get around a dozen or two-
dozen players, not hundreds,” says Steve
Boisen, 46, who founded the club in 2009.
“Now we have non-profit status and a board
of directors.”
Boisen, who performs with his daughter in
the uke duo the Barnkickers, conceived the
TBUS as a place “for beginners to learn some
new songs and techniques and for players of
all levels to perform together in a supportive
environment.”
A Berklee College of Music alum and multi-
instrumentalist, Boisen thinks the key to the
group’s success is the accessibility of the uke.
“People will start ukulele who are too intimi-
dated to try other instruments,” Boisen says.
“They will pick up a ukulele and play it with just
a little practice.”
The relative ease of playing a ukulele, Boisen
argues, recalls a more primal time in our history,
when music was something people just did.
For Boisen’s 22-year-old fashionable, yet
folksy, daughter AmandaLynn, being a member
ukulele community has become a big part of
her life. Wearing glasses and a short brim
fedora, she fits the part of uke ambassador
perfectly. “My dad and I just fell into it,” she
Rod Harrington says. “It wasn’t preconceived. We got together
with friends and said, ‘Well, let’s just form a
club. It wound up becoming a doorway into
O
n a balmy Saturday afternoon in “Welcome back everybody—you ready to a nationwide circuit.”
Largo, Florida, a southern suburb of start? Neither am I,” he says with a good-
Tampa, 40 people have gathered with natured grin, and the group launches into
G
their ukuleles at a palm tree dotted apartment the Everly Brothers classic “All I Have to Do iven the ukulele’s current wave of
complex inhabited mostly by retirees. Excitedly Is Dream.” global popularity, there’s no doubt that
chattering like high-school kids in a band class, The Largo chapter is just one of many chap- the Boisens picked a good time to
the members of the southern chapter of the ters that meet up for jams across two Florida start a club. Steve notes that while the play-
Tampa Bay Ukulele Society (TBUS) are called counties—together, they compose the Tampa ability factor has helped draw people to the
to order by 49-year-old jam-leader Jay Nunes. Bay Ukulele Society. With nearly 700 members instrument, today’s generation isn’t encum-
14
bered by the instrument’s past baggage. ‘We got together Mungo and other TBUS event leaders set up
“Young people today didn’t grow up with the workshops throughout the year, and the group
stigma of Tiny Tim,” Boisen noted. “Cool with friends and also organizes a concert series that features
bands, like Beirut, feature ukuleles now.” said, ‘Well, let’s artists from across the country. “Recently, we
At the Largo jam session, however, the bulk had Stu Fuchs, and in February we had Flea
of the club’s members are decidedly old
just form a club. Bitten Dawgs with Mike Hind, and in January we
enough to recall Tiny Tim’s antics, but didn’t It wound up had Little Rev!” Mungo exclaims with a broad
seem the least put off. There are a fair number
becoming a smile. “We keep the members very engaged.”
of single men in attendance, strumming TBUS’s three-day Ukulele Getaway festival,
soprano ukes and socializing. Retired couples doorway into which takes place November 7-9, is in its fifth
share a common bond in their enjoyment of a nationwide year, and attracts such national headliners as
playing music at an age when some might Victoria Vox and the Jukes. Boisen says the
assume people can’t learn a new instrument.
circuit. event sells out right away because of the
Occasionally calling out chord changes, club’s “built-in audience.”
—AmandaLynn Boisen
Nunes leads players of all experience levels AmandaLynn and Steve have experienced
through renditions of “Runaway” by Del ukulele mania firsthand, both as club founders
Shannon, “Cecilia” by Simon and Garfunkel, and while performing as the Barnkickers. Still,
and “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash. the recent popularity of the instrument can be
A veteran guitarist who has played in blues months later, she bought him his first ukulele, overwhelming at times.
rock and cover bands, Nunes migrated to the which he took to immediately. “Anytime we play a festival, we’ll just look
ukulele after suffering a frightening mishap. A TBUS event organizer who oversees musi- at each other and say, ‘Who does this?’”
“I was an iron worker and was knocked off a cians with a nurturing, almost maternal AmandaLynn says. “We’re playing ukuleles in
building by a crane swinging a load of steel approach, Norine Mungo hosts beginner ses- Milwaukee, New York. This is so surreal—this
onto the building,” Nunes shares. “I fell 20 sions, and performs with her husband in an is a thing!”
feet and broke my ring finger on my left hand, act called the Mungos. “I teach a method I Thanks, in part, to the Tampa Bay Ukulele
which, in turn, needed a pin to fix.” developed over the years on the guitar,” Mungo Society, this is a very big thing in central
In 2011, after his recovery, Nunes and his says. “I call it, ‘Transitional Chording,’ and I Florida. “One thing that always happens at our
wife, Kelly, were “goofin’ around” in a local basically treat the strings and frets as if it Ukulele Getaway is that the hotel staff see how
music shop, when he picked up a uke, started were a typewriter, not lifting their fingers off the much fun we are having and a few of them
playing, and kept going for 45 minutes. “You frets. Once they get the sliding technique wind up buying ukulele themselves,” Boisen
didn’t complain once!” his wife told him. A few down, they begin to fly through the songs.” says. “It’s that contagious.”
PHOTOS BY DANIEL VEINTIMILLA UkuleleMag.com 15
(uke news)
Ukulele Cover of Slayer’s
‘War Ensemble’ Goes Viral WATCH
Rob Scallon’s
“War Ensemble”
By Whitney Phaneuf video at
UkuleleMag.com
C
hicago musician Rob only uses the lowest three strings
Scallon has been playing on the guitar (other than the solos),
Slayer’s “War Ensemble” that way I could just play the song
on guitar for eight years and exactly how I knew it on guitar on
posting his recordings to YouTube the B, E, and A strings. The solos
for almost as long, but after he certainly took a bit of arranging
added a ukulele to the mix, every- though.”
thing changed. The video is Scallon’s first solo
Scallon’s blistering-fast ukulele project to hit the one-million mark
cover of the legendary thrash-metal and has helped his crowdfunding
band’s song, from 1990’s popular effort on the site Patreon, which
Seasons in the Abyss album, went enables him to create a new
viral within a week after he posted YouTube video each week and
it to YouTube, earning more than make music his full-time job. He
one-million views and praise from has previously posted a version of
critics who didn’t believe a ukulele Slayer’s “Spill the Blood” on cello
could, as the Onion’s A.V. Club put and plans to follow “War
it, “melt faces.” Ensemble” with a cover of Slayer’s
Reached via email, Scallon “Raining Blood” on banjo.
says the song is one of his favor- The multi-instrumentalist also
ites, but he only recently learned to says to stay tuned for more
play it on his Kala KA-15S soprano. ukulele covers.
“I got my ukulele as a gift not too “Kala contacted me after the
long ago and this is my first real video started really getting trac-
work I’ve used it for,” Scallon says. tion to set up an artist
“I changed the tuning to GBEA for relationship,” Scallon says. “I’ll
the cover and essentially ignored be proudly sporting some more
the G string. Since ‘War Ensemble’ of their instruments soon.”
Rob Scallion thrashing on
his Kala KA-15S soprano
Bill to Make Ukulele Hawaii’s Official
Instrument Dies in Legislature
H
awaii has yet to decide on while the ukulele descended from
its official state instrument. Portuguese immigrants who fash-
A February bill proposed ioned the uke from a European
that the uke, which is often associ- instrument known as the machete.
ated with Hawaiian music, repre- (see Birth of the Uke, p.62)
sent the state, but steel-guitar AP reported that Akaka and his
enthusiasts protested. According allies shifted the focus from what
to the Associated Press, music instrument best represented Hawaii
teacher Alan Akaka started an to that which best reflected its cul-
email campaign lobbying the state tural identity and history. Akaka told
Senate and House to choose the AP that when the legislature is back
steel guitar over the ukulele. The in session, he intends to lobby for
steel guitar was invented in Hawaii the steel guitar to become the
by Oahu resident Joseph Kekuku, state’s official instrument. —W.P.
16
Dealer Survey
Reveals Uke Uptick
T
he market for ukuleles con- 35 percent said sales are on par Leif Nelson, manager at behind beginner models. “We sell
tinues to mature, with the previous year. Riverton Music in Salt Lake City, a few of the more expensive ones
according to Musical Some dealers attribute the Utah, said there’s still a sweet ($200 to $300 range), but $50 to
Merchandise Review, which recently revenue to “step up” ukes, pur- spot for ukulele pricing. “Many $100 is still where the action is,”
surveyed more than 1,000 US chases from beginners who are people are more willing to spend Hill said.
retailers about their 2014 sales so advancing to higher quality just a little more to get quality,” Souderton, Pennsylvania’s
far. Though many dealers thought instruments. Nelson said. “Not a lot of people Fretz Music Center owner Bill
the uke craze might subside after “For us, we’ve seen a slow, want to spend over $200.” Sharrow said most sales are “in
its massive growth from 2010 to but steady uptick in higher priced The survey bears out his ob- the $50-$100 ‘better’ entry level”
2012—in which ukulele sales ukuleles,” David St. John of servation, with 52 percent of range, but the store stocks a
jumped from 581,000 to more Gard’s Music in Glendora, dealers reporting that they sell variety of “step up” ukuleles.
than one million according to the California, told MMR. “We’re the most ukuleles in the $50- Overall, retailers are optimis-
National Association of Music selling more of them over the $100 range, while the $100 and tic about the future. More than
Merchants (NAMM)—they report $100 price point now.” over ukes account for just 27 half (64 percent) expect sales to
increased sales in 2014. More Shane Hall of Uptown Music percent of sales. remain steady, while 28 percent
than 50 percent of participants in Keizer, Oregon agreed. “We are For Jim Hill of Senseney anticipate increased sales in the
said sales are up when compared gaining sales in higher end ukes,” Music, Inc. in Wichita, Kansas, coming months.
to the same period in 2013 and Keizer said. “step up” uke sales still lag —W.P.
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EddyFinnUkes.com
Life Is Beachy III.indd 1 12/4/2013 1:32:25 PM
UkuleleMag.com 17
(gods of uke)
Wizard of the Strings
Roy Smeck gave me a ukulele lesson to remember
By Marcy Marxer
A
visionary player on the ‘OK, the first thing
ukulele, guitar, tenor
banjo, and lap-steel gui-
you gotta do is this,’
tar, the vaudeville performer Roy he said, sticking
Smeck certainly earned his nick-
name “Wizard of the Strings.”
his lips out as he
Born in Reading, plucked a string.
Pennsylvania in 1900, Smeck I did my best
gained notoriety in the 1920s
on the vaudeville circuit as well to imitate
as on radio. He was a delightful that comical
player who wrote dozens of
instructional books, and inked
expression.
deals with Gibson and Harmony
to have instruments produced
that bore his signature. Beating
Jimi Hendrix to the punch by is this,” he said, sticking his lips
several decades, Smeck pio- ROY out as he plucked a string. I did
neered the comic style of playing SMECK my best to imitate that comical
stringed instruments behind his expression.
head and with his teeth, much to Next, Smeck lifted his ukulele
the delight of audiences. up to his face and blew across
Globe-trotting acoustic guitarist the sound hole, causing it to
Bob Brozman once said of Smeck I went to a phone booth near They lived in a fourth floor make a low-pitched whistle. I got
that he played as if he’d had his 34th Street and looked up his walk-up on 43rd Street, and when light headed trying to replicate
sense of taste surgically removed. name in the big paper phone I arrived Roy was sitting in a chair the sound, which made him
In 1981, I was playing ukulele, book—there were a couple by a window in a room set up for laugh.
mandolin, and guitar with an old- hundred listings for R. Smeck. I teaching. Sheepishly, I asked if He spent the next half hour
time string band that toured took out my paper lunch sack of he would give me a lesson and showing me tricks, like spinning
extensively. I stopped at as many coins and started calling names he agreed. “So, what do you want the uke in the air and catching it,
thrift stores and yard sales as in order. Finally, on the 19th try, to know?” he inquired. making clock sounds, and playing
possible looking for old records the phone rang three times and “I want to play the ukulele just behind our heads. Then he
and music books. Roy Smeck’s Roy’s wife answered the phone. like you,” I responded. started to play. He moved chord
recordings and books were every- “Hello, is this the home of “Awwww, you could never do positions up and down the finger-
where and I collected them. Soon Roy Smeck, the famous ukulele that! That’s too difficult for you.” board at lightning speed. He
I learned that he was still alive player?” I asked. “Then how about teaching me never slowed down or explained.
and living in New York City. I knew “Yes, it is,” Smeck’s wife your version of ‘Bye Bye Blues?’” He just played until I could
I had to meet him! So, I put all of replied. “Oh, you can’t play that!” he see what he was thinking.
my money into a doubled paper I explained who I was and exclaimed. “You’ll never practice!” We had a great time together.
lunch sack, grabbed my ukulele said I was hoping to meet the After giving it some thought, This was the first of several visits
and my $10 RadioShack tape ukulele legend. Mrs. Smeck gave Roy leaned in and whispered like I paid to his humble apartment
recorder, and took the bus to the me the address and I took off he was letting me in on a secret. before his death in 1994. Those
Big Apple. running down the street. “OK, the first thing you gotta do were lessons I’ll never forget.
18
(uke basics)
B
B
Basic Ukulele Chords Major Chords
B Just need some chords to start playing your favorite songs?
Major Chords
B These major, minor, seventh, and minor seventh chords should get you started.
C C DMajor 1114D
Chords Eb E F
3211 1230 0341 2341 2010
000 3
C C D Major Chords
D E b E F
3211 1230 MAJOR
1114CHORDS
0341 2341 2010
C
000 3
C D D Eb E F
0 0C
03 C
3211
3211
D
1230
1230
D
1114
1114
E
0341b
E
2341
2341
F
2010
2010
000 3 0341
G
0132
G
3121
Ab
3 121
A
21 00
A Bb
3211
B
3211
3121
G
0132
G
3121
Ab
3 121
A
21 00
A 4 fr. 3211
Bb B
3211
3121
G G Ab A A 4 fr. 3211
Bb B
G
0132
0132
G
3121
3121
A
3 121b
3 121
A
21 00
21 00
A 4 fr. 3211
3121
Bb B
3211
3211
3121
4 fr.
Minor Chords
Minor Chords
C m C m MinorDChords
m E m E m
3 1 11 01 1 1 MINOR CHORDS
2310
MinorDChords 0321 3421
C m
3 1 11
C m
01 1 1
m
2310
Em 0321
E m
3421
C m C m D m E m E m
C
3 1 11
m
3 1 11
C
01 1 1
m
01 1 1
D
2310
m
2310
E
0321
m
0321
E
3421
m
3421
Fm
1 0 24
G m
0231
G m
3241
A m
2 000
B m
3111
Fm
1 0 24
G m
0231
G m
3241
A m
2 000
B m
3111
Fm G m G m A m B m
Fm
1 0 24
1 0 24
G
0231
m
0231
G
3241
m
3241
A
2 000
m
2 000
B
3111
m
3111
Seventh Chords
Seventh Chords
C7 D7 7SEVENTH
ESeventh CHORDS
F 7ChordsG7 A7 B7
0001 1112 1203 2310 0 213 0 1 00 1211
C7
0001
D7
1112
ESeventh
7
1203
F 7Chords
2310
G7
0 213
A7
0 1 00
B7
1211
C7 D7 E7 F7 G7 A7 B7
C7
0001
0001
D7
1112
1112
E7
1203
1203
F7
2310
2310
G2137
0 213
A7
0 1 00
0 1 00
B7
1211
1211
0
Minor Seventh Chords
MINOR SEVENTH CHORDS
Minor Seventh Chords
C m7 D m7 E m7 Seventh
Minor F m7 Chords
G m7 A m7 B1111
m7
2314 1324 0000
1111
C m7 D m7 Minor
E m7 Seventh
0102
F m7 Chords
G0211
m7 A m7 B1111
m7
C1111
m7 D2314
m7 E0102
m7 F1324
m7 G0211
m7 A0000
m7 B1111
m7
C1111
m7 D m7
2314
E m7
0102
F m7
1324
G0211
m7 A0000
m7 B1111
m7
1111 2314 0102 1324 0211 0000
20
(uke basics)
How to Finger-pick
on the Ukulele
Add color to your playing with some tasty finger rolls
By Alec Poletsky
T
he last decade has seen complex songs. Here are some This flattened hand approach the G (4th) string with your thumb
ukulele players rise to pointers on two basic rolls that will help keep your thumb and and the A (1st) string with your
heights previously re- cover four strings: fingers from running into each middle finger. Again, repeat the
served for rock stars. This uku- other. It also allows you to use same picking pattern for each
lele renaissance has created a HAND POSITION a minimal amount of movement. measure.
wave of beginners eager to play Flatten your hand with your Take your time with each of
like the modern masters. But thumb (t) in a “hitchhike” posi- NOW TRY IT these finger rolls, soon you will
after learning some basic chords tion using the side of your thumb The first example (Ex. 1) will be able to play them fast and
and strumming patterns many to pick the G (4th) and C (3rd) require you to alternate your with confidence. Try them on
ask: what does one study next? strings (Fig. 1). thumb between the G and C songs you already know and new
The answer: finger-picking Your index (i) and middle (m) strings. The same picking pattern tunes as well.
(often called finger rolls). fingers should be curled in as if will be applied for each measure. Have fun. And remember, hap-
This technique builds dexterity pulling a bowstring. The index The second example (Ex. 2) piness is playing ukulele.
and independence in your fingers. finger assigned to the E (2nd) is a little more advanced and
It also gives you the strong foun- string and middle finger to the requires the use of a “pinch” Alec Poletsky is an educator and
dation needed to play more A (1st) string (Fig. 2). technique. Simultaneously pluck a member of the Kings of Ukulele.
Finger Picking Ex. 1
Score
FIG. 1 FIG. 2
Alec "Cheef" Poletsky
EX. 1
A D E
i m i i m i i m i i m i i m i i m i i m i i m i
T
0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4
B 1 1 2 4
2 2 2 4
t t t t t t t t
22
Finger Picking Ex. 2
Alec "Cheef" Poletsky
C maj7
EX. 2 C
T 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2
A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
C7 F
1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 2 2
Since 1972
New, used & 1100 N. Washington
Lansing, MI 48906
vintage ukes 888-473-5810
An incredible selection Toll-Free (in the USA) • Or 517-372-7890
shipped anywhere in
elderly.com
Stan Werbin, owner
the U.S. & the world!
UkuleleMag.com 23
(uke basics)
F C G
B D
ø Am
Dm Em
Gm Bm
E
ø
Cm F #m
A
A
ø Fm C #m
B øm
E øm
G #m E
D G ø
C#
ø
F# Cø
B
Key to the Songs of Life
Demystifying the Circle of Fifths
By Fred Sokolow
T
he circle of fifths is an than letters. Musicians some- the various intervals (1–4, 2–5)*, memorized: 1, 4, and 5 in the key
indispensable tool that times say, “Go to the 4 chord,” you understand how music of C, for example, is C, F, and G.
can help uke players navi- or “Go to the 2 minor.” The works, and you can play a song
gate their way through the chord numbers refer to the major scale. in any key. RELATIVE MINORS
changes of most songs. Since C is the first note in the C You’re not just memorizing Every major chord has a relative
Often times, however, at- major scale, a C chord is the 1 letter names; you’re feeling the minor, a closely related chord
tempts to explain the concept chord in the key of C. D, or D7 or song’s structure. that is a sixth higher. For
sail right over people’s heads. Dm is the 2 chord; E is the 3 example, D is the sixth note in
I’m going to try to demystify the chord, and so on. In the key of D, THE 1-4-5 CHORD FAMILY the F major scale, so Dm is the
circle of fifths and show how it E is the 2 chord. Regardless of a song’s key, the 1, relative minor of F. If you play an
can help your playing and your No matter which key you’re in, 4, and 5 chords are the “usual F chord and a Dm chord on the
understanding of music. For going from the 1 chord to the 5 suspects”—the chords that are uke (the easy, first-position
starters, you’ll need some basic chord has a certain sound. So most likely to occur. Millions of chords), you’ll see how similar
music theory. does going from 1 to 4. It’s the folk, country, blues, bluegrass, they are. If you strum the F and
spaces between chords—the and classic rock songs consist of the Dm over and over in a
THE NUMBERS SYSTEM intervals—that give a chord pro- just those three chords. They can rhythm, you’ll recognize the famil-
The language of music is often gression its unique sound. Once be in any order imaginable. It’s iar sound of the relative minor in
expressed with numbers rather you can recognize the sounds of helpful to have the chord families context.
24
If a tune has more than just This is a good enough reason THE CIRCLE OF FIFTHS progressions is the “Rhythm
the immediate chord family (1, 4 to get the circle of fifths tattooed HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND Changes,” named after Gershwin’s
and 5), the next chords most likely on your left wrist so you can look CHORD PROGRESSIONS “I Got Rhythm.” It’s 1, 6-, 2-, 5, or,
to occur are the relative minors of down at it while playing the uke. Many chord progressions consist in the key of C: C Am | Dm G7 |
1, 4, or 5. In the key of C, for Because after looking at the circle of (or include) circle of fifths Here’s how that progression
example, C, F and G are the imme- for a while, you’ll start to memo- motion. That means you leave the looks on the circle: You play C (the
diate chord family, and their rize all the chord families, and chord family and return to the 1 1 chord); then jump out of the
relative minors, Am, Dm, and Em know all the relative minors by chord by going up by 4ths. This chord family, three steps clockwise,
make an extended chord family. A heart. Because so many songs happens, for example, in these to A (the 6 chord) and play Am;
song in the key of C is likely to consist of just the immediate typical first eight bars of “Five then come back to C, going up by
include any one, two, or all three chord family, this is valuable info! Foot Two, Eyes of Blue,” “Please fourths: one step counter-clock-
of these minor chords. But, believe it or not, it’s Don’t Talk About Me When I’m wise to Dm (2-), another step
not the main reason the circle Gone” and many other songs: counter clockwise to G7 (57), a last
THE CIRCLE OF FIFTHS exists. step counter clockwise to C (1).
GROUPS CHORDS Play this progression (you can
C | E7 | A7 | A7
IN CHORD FAMILIES THE CIRCLE OF FIFTHS sing “Stand By Me” while strum-
Look at the C at the top of the HELPS YOU TRANSPOSE D7 | G7 | C | C ming the chords) in every key; it’s
circle. F (the note or the chord), a Transposition means changing a a great exercise because this
fourth above C, is one step coun- song’s key. If you find a tune The key here is C. You leave the C sequence of chords will happen in
terclockwise. G a fifth above C, is written out in a songbook in a dif- chord family when you go to E7. so many songs.
one step clockwise. The same ficult key, or a key that doesn’t suit Then you go up a 4th to A7 (A is Notice that when you go two
applies in any key. The chart says your voice, you can change it to the 4th note in the E major steps clockwise (e.g. from C to D),
that if you’re in the key of E, the 4 any key by looking at the distance scale), up a 4th to D7 (D is a 4th you’re going to the 2 chord. Three
chord is A (one step counter-clock- on the circle between the given key above A), and up another 4th to steps clockwise (C to A) takes you
wise) and the 5 chord is B (one and your key. G7 (G is a 4th above D) and up to the 6 chord. Four steps (C to E)
step clockwise). The chords inside For example, if a tune is in Eø still another 4th to C, finally re- takes you to the 3 chord. These
the circle are relative minors, so and you want to play it in C: C is solving the progression (coming intervals are the same in any key.
the chart enables you to view any three clockwise steps away from Eø back to the home base). For example, in the key of F, A (four
extended chord family at a glance. on the circle, so to transpose from Look how this motion looks on steps clockwise) is the 3 chord.
For example, looking at the key of Eø to C you move every chord in the the cirle: You jump from C to E7, Some progressions consist
G: G is the 1 chord, and Em is its tune three clockwise steps. Aø then you go counter clockwise (up solely of circle of fifths movement,
relative minor; C (one step coun- becomes F, Cm becomes Am, Bø by 4ths) until you get back to C. but in some songs, only part of it
ter-clockwise) is the 4 chord, and becomes G, etc. While helpful, this As you ascend by 4ths, the goes up by fourths, and the rest
Am is its relative minor; D (one is still not the main thing about the chords along the way can be of the progression just “randomly”
step clockwise) is the 5 chord, circle . . . minors instead of sevenths. One of combines the chords in the imme-
and its relative minor is Bm. Okay, here it is: the most often-used circle of fifths diate chord family.
HERE ARE A FEW EXERCISES
TO HELP YOU USE AND
UNDERSTAND THE CIRCLE
OF FIFTHS
Take a simple two chord Do the same thing with a As mentioned before, play Find a song you like that’s
1 song like “Jambalaya” or
2 three chord (1, 4, and 5)
3 the “rhythm changes” (1,
4 written in a songbook,
“Down in the Valley,” both of song, like “You Are My Sunshine” 6-, 2-, 5) in lots of keys, while and use the circle of fifths to
which consist of 1 and 5, and or “This Land Is Your Land,” and singing “Stand By Me,” and be change it to a different key.
play it in as many keys as you be aware of which chord you’re aware of the interval of each
can. As you change chords, playing: the 1, 4, or 5. chord as you strum it (“Now I’m
think “Now I’m going to the 5 on the 6-”).
chord” or “Now I’m coming back
to the 1 chord.”
UkuleleMag.com 25
(songbook)
Happy
By Pharrell Williams
Arranged by Alec “Cheef” Poletsky
S
even-time Grammy-winner Pharrell Wil-
liams is no stranger to hit songs and
scored yet another chart-topper with
2013’s “Happy.” The relentlessly upbeat song
originally appeared in the animated movie De-
spicable Me 2, quickly rose to the No. 1 spot
on Billboard’s Hot 100, and was nominated for
Best Original Song at the 2014 Academy
Awards.
Because this song relies mainly on its
strong beat and hand claps, there will be a
few spots where you won’t be strumming at
all. If you like, you can bang out the beat on
your ukulele or just wait until the chords come
around again. Speaking of chords, there are
some great ones in this tune, including,
Dø major 7 and C minor 7. They sound beauti-
ful and are easy to play as well! You’ll also be
using the Bø, C, F, and F minor 7 chords.
The strumming pattern for the verse is
noted rhythmically on the first six measures
and is used for all verses. Also, an example
of the strum pattern on the chorus has been
supplied.
Get ready to be the life of the party or the
star of the show when you perform this guar-
anteed crowd pleaser.
“Happy” is as fun to play as it is to listen
to. Enjoy!
STRUMMING
D maj7 C sus4 F7
PATTERN
26
INTERMEDIATE
FF7 7 FF7 7 N.C.
N.C. FFm7
m7 B C
B C
VERSE
ItIt might
might seem
seemcra
cra -- zy
zywhat
whatI'm
I'm'bout
'bout to
to say
say
TT 11 11 11 11
AA 33 00 00 00 33 33
BB
BB FF7 7 N.C.
N.C. FFm7 B C
m7 B C B
B
5 5
Sun-shine
Sun shine she’s
she'shere
here you
you can
can take
take aa break
break I'm
I'm aa
44 44 44 44 44 11
00 00 33 33
FF7 7 N.C.
N.C. FFm7
m7 BB C
C B FF77 N.C.
B N.C.
1010
hot
hotairairbal
bal- loon
- loon that
thatcould
couldgo
go toto space
space with
with the
the air
air
66 66 66
1 1 1 1 1 1 33 11
33 33 33 33
FFm7 B C
m7 B C D
Ddim
dim
1515
like
likeI Idon't
don't care
care ba
ba- by
- by by
by the
the wa
wa- -aa -- ay
ay be
be--cause
cause I'm
I'm
5 5 6 6 55 33 11 11 4 33 4
44 4 4 11
00 00 33
UkuleleMag.com 27
D maj7 C 7sus
CHORUS
Clap a long if you feel like a room with - out a roof
T 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
A 3 3
B
F7 D maj7 C 7sus
4
Be - cause I'm clap a long if you feel like happ - i - ness is the truth
4
1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1
0 0 3 3 3 3 3 3
F7 D maj7 C 7sus
8
Be - cause I'm clap a - lo - ong if you know what happ i ness is to you
8
3 1 1
4 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 0 3 3
D maj7 C 7sus F7
12
Be - cause I'm clap a - long if you feel like that's what you wan - na do
12
1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1
0 0 3 3 3 3 3 3
© 2013 EMI APRIL MUSIC INC., MORE WATER FROM NAZARETH AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES MUSIC
THIS ARRANGEMENT (C) 2014 EMI APRIL MUSIC INC., MORE WATER FROM NAZARETH AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES MUSIC
ALL RIGHTS FOR MORE WATER FROM NAZARETH CONTROLLED AND ADMINISTERED BY EMI APRIL MUSIC INC.
ALL RIGHTS FOR UNIVERSAL PICTURES MUSIC CONTROLLED AND ADMINISTERED BY UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORP.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT SECURED USED BY PERMISSION
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
28
©
LYRICS
UkuleleMag.com 29
(songbook)
I’m Yours
By Jason Mraz
Arranged by Alec “Cheef” Poletsky
O
ne of the most down- that only part of that riff has been
loaded songs in history, notated, since the next measure
requested at countless would be where the vocals come
weddings for the first dance, and in. Depending on if you’re playing
at one time, a Billboard Hot 100 lead or rhythm, you may choose
record holder for 76 weeks spent to not play that last riff.
on the charts. “I’m Yours” has The chord progression basi-
quickly become a standard for cally stays the same (C G Am
ukulele players and singers of F), with the exception of a D7
all ages (read an interview with chord which appears after the
Mraz on page 40). second verse, also after the
This arrangement has been vocal solo, and is the last chord
transposed to the key of C from played in the song.
the original key of B major. Doing Since the strumming pattern
this will make the song much varies throughout (starting off
easier to play and read. For busy and gradually becoming
those of you who would like to more sparse), I have provided a
play it in the recorded key but pattern that will work great over
still use the same easy chords the whole piece.
shapes, you can tune each string On the second and fourth
down one half step to Gb B Eb Ab beats, strum down then up, rest-
instead of G C E A. ing after each up strum. This can
The last measure of the intro be added to or simplified de-
ends with the same “riff” that pending which section of the
starts the song, you will notice song you are on.
CHORDS Chords used
Chords used
C G Am F D
7
C G Am F D7
rn Strumming
STRUMMING pattern
PATTERN
Down Up Down Up Down Up Down Up
own Up Down Up Down Up Down Up
30
INTERMEDIATE
C G
INTRO
T 3 5 3 3 5 2
A 3 5 3 3 5 3 3 5
B 2 4
Am F
5
3 5
0 0 0 1 3 5
0 0 0 0
C G
VERSE
COPYRIGHT © 2008 GOO EYED MUSIC (ASCAP) INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT SECURED ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Well a you done done me you bet I felt it tried to be chill but you're so
T 7 7 7 5 7 7
A 8 8 8 5 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7
B
Am F
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CHERRY LANE MUSIC COMPANY
hot that I melt-ed I fell right through the cracks now I'm Tryin' to get ba - ack Be - fore the
5 7 8 7 5 7 7 7
7 7 7 8 5 8 8 7 5
5 7 5 5
C G
UkuleleMag.com 31
©
hot that I melt-ed I fell right through the cracks now I'm Tryin' to get ba - ack Be - fore the
5 7 8 7 5 7 7 7
7 7 7 8 5 8 8 7 5
5 7 5 5
C G
cool done run out I'll be gi - vin' it my best - est and no - thin's gon - na stop me but di -
7 5 7 7 7
8 8 8 8 5 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
Am F
vine in - ter - ven - tion I reck - on it's ag - ain my turn to win some or learn some but
5 7 8 7 7
7 7 7 8 5 8 8 8 8 7 5
7 5 7 5
32
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WIN A LULU UKULELE.
Submit a video of yourself playing one of the songs The first prize winner will
from the Fall 2014 issue of Ukulele magazine— receive a LuLu Model T1A tenor
“Happy,” “I’m Yours,” “Three Little Birds,” or “Rock ukulele. Second prize is a five-
Island Line”—for a chance to win a Lulu T1A tenor pack of GHS ukulele strings,
ukulele with an manufacturer’s suggested retail price and the first 20 people to enter
of $725! Readers will be invited to vote on their the contest will receive a pack
favorite videos at UkuleleMag.com. of GHS strings.
GHS Ukulele Strings
LuLu Model T1A tenor ukulele
HERE’S HOW
1. 2. 3.
TO ENTER:
Record a video of Upload the video to Send us the link:
yourself playing one YouTube or Vimeo UkuleleMag.com/
of the songs from PlayFall2014
the fall issue
All entries must be received by Sept. 15, 2014, and the
winners will be announced in the Spring 2015 issue.
Ukulele
For more information and to enter, Restrictions: Employees of GHS, Lulu Ukuleles, Ukulele
magazine, and its parent company, Stringletter Publishing Inc.
visit UkuleleMag.com/PlayFall2014.
are not eligible to enter.
(songbook)
Three Little Birds
By Bob Marley
Arranged by Alec “Cheef” Poletsky
W
hen it comes to feel-good vibes, few
songs can match Bob Marley’s up-
beat tune “Three Little Birds.” A
lighthearted lullaby about walking to the ser-
enade of three feathered visitors, “Three Lit-
tle Birds” was written by the Jamaican reggae
legend and first appeared on his classic
1977 album Exodus. Released as a single in
1980, the song went on to be covered by
such varied artists as Jason Mraz (see The
Heart of an Instant Uke Classic, p. 40), Kacey
Musgraves, Tracy Chapman, and even the
Chipmunks.
As with most reggae music, the guitar (or,
in this case, the ukulele) is used more as a
percussion instrument than a melodic one.
On the up beats or (beats 2 and 4), strum
all the strings and then quickly mute them
with your hand or palm. This technique will
give you that tight sound and feel typically
found in reggae.
You can apply this basic strumming pat-
tern to almost all songs of that genre. Keep
in mind that less is more, and sometimes the
simplest approach produces the best results.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MAGNOLIA PICTURES
This arrangement is in the key of A major,
which is the same key as the studio version.
Since some of the notes are too low for stan-
dard ukulele tuning (G,C,E,A), the music and
tab for the ukulele is written one octave
higher than what would be sung.
LYRICS
34
INTERMEDIATE
INTRO &
STRUMMING
A
PATTERN
CHORUS
Don't wor - ry a - bout a thing 'cause
T 4 2 0 0 4 7 4 0
A
B
D G D A
ODNIL MUSIC LTD. ALL RIGHTS IN NORTH AMERICA ADMINISTERED BY BLUE MOUNTAIN MUSIC LTD./IRISH TOWN SONGS (ASCAP) AND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD BY BLUE
COPYRIGHT (C) 1977 FIFTY-SIX HOPE ROAD MUSIC LTD. AND ODNIL MUSIC LTD. COPYRIGHT RENEWED. THIS ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGHT (C) 2014 FIFTY-SIX HOPE ROAD MUSIC LTD. AND
5 1. 2.
eve - ry li - ttle thing is gon - na be al - right say - in don't rise up this
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 9 7 4 7 4 0 2 0
A E
MOUNTAIN MUSIC LTD. (PRS). ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
VERSE
Morn - in smile with the rise - ing sun three litt - le birds
T 4 4 4 5 4 4 2 2 9 9 7 9
A
B
A D
5
pitch by my door step sing - in sweet
9 9 7 9 5 9 12 9
A E
UkuleleMag.com 35
9
pitch by my door step sing - in sweet
9 9 7 9 5 9 12 9
A E
9
songs of mel - o - dies pure and true say - in
7 4 4 5 7 7 5 2 4 7
D A
this is my mess - age to you - oo - oo
0 0 0 0 2 0 4 2 0
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36
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The Ukulele Play-Along Series will help you play your favorite songs quickly
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Just follow the written music, listen to the CD to hear how the ukulele
should sound, and then play along with the separate backing tracks.
The CD is enhanced with Amazing Slow Downer technology
so you can change the tempo without changing the pitch!
Each Ukulele Play-Along pack features eight superb songs.
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AmericanWords and
Music by
Don McLe
an
00702599 $12.99 00116358 $12.99 First note
C
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Intro
Freely Em
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I can still
go
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A long, long
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smile.
make me
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CO., INC.
Y BIRD
1972 BENN , INC.
Please mention ad code UKPLY.
© 1971, ight Renewed S OF UNIVERSAL
Copyright Copyr SONG
istered by Permission
and Admin ved Used by
Controlled Reser
All Rights All Rights
Disney characters and artwork © Disney Enterprises,Inc.
(songbook)
Rock Island Line
Traditional
Arranged by Alec “Cheef” Poletsky Lead Belly
I
n 1934, folk-music archivist John operator that his cargo is only livestock, so singing them). While the lyrics are recited,
Lomax recorded prison inmates in he won’t have to pay a toll for hauling pig the strumming pattern and chords stay the
Little Rock and at the Cumins State iron. As he pulls away from the weigh station, same. When the chorus arrives, so do the
Prison farm in Gould, Arkansas, singing he brags about his deception and pushes the vocal melody and chord changes.
“Rock Island Line.” The work song would throttle full forward. Unfortunately, he crashes Since this song is written in 2/4 time,
go on to become an American classic. into a passenger train a few miles down the there will be only two strums per measure.
The tune has been performed and re- track. On the down beat (beat 1) strum the
corded by dozens of artists, including Huddie Because the delivery of this lyric varies strings lightly, and on the up beat (beat 2)
“Lead Belly” Ledbetter, Pete Seeger, Lonnie depending on the performer, I have ar- strum a little louder.
Donegan, Johnny Cash, and, more recently, ranged it in a straightforward and even way. This will produce a locomotive type ef-
Paul McCartney. The up-tempo song tells the The verses are sung in recitative style (ba- fect and can be done at various speeds to
story of a train engineer who convinces a toll sically, talking the lyrics as opposed to simulate the speed of the train.
C
C C
Yeah
Yeah the
the Rock Is--land
Rock is and Line
line is aa mi
is mi--ghty
ghty fine
fine road,
road,
Yeah the Rock
Rockis
Rock Is
Is--land
-and
landline
Line
Line is
isisthe
athe mi-ghty fine road
TT 7
7 7
7 7
7 3
3 0
0 33 33 33 T33 33 7 7 373 333 303 333 33 33 3 3 3 3
AA 33 55 A 3 5
BB B
G
G C
C G C FF
77 7
road
road to Yeah the
to ride.
ride. Rock is
Rock
Rock Is---land
Is and road
land Line
Line is
is aaa mi
is mi--road
mi -ghty
ghty fine
ghty to
fine
fine road,
ride.
road.
road. Rock
IfIfRock Is--land
you want
you Is
want land
totoLine
Line is
rideititgot
ride gotthe
is-ta
-ata mi-ghty fine roa
55 T 7 7 77
7 33 000 333
3 333 53
33 3
33 3
33 73 3333 03 33 33 33 3 3 3 3 3 3
A5
5 33 355 533 5 3 33 55 55 353 535
B
G
C
C C F
F C GC
G FCC F
715
15 15
road
ride to
ride ride.
itit like
like you find Rock
you find Is-your
it, get
it, get land Line
your tick--et
tick atisthe
et at a sta
the mi
staridetionYeah
---ghty
tion fine
iton
onlikethe
road.
the
the you Rock
Rock isis-IfIs
find
Rock -you
-landand
land
it, Line
getwant
your
line. is-eta itatmi
line. totickride -ghty
got
the fine
-ta sta road,
-tion on the
5
33 33 3 3 7 33 50 3 33 33 33 3 73 37
3T3 33 7 3 0 33 3 3 3 3 3 3
55 533 3 55 3333 3 5 3 5 5 3 3 35 5 3 3 5 3 3
3 3 3
5 355 3
3 3 5 55 5 333 A 5 3
B 44 00
C F G G GC
G C G
38
15
22
22 7 22
15
BEGINNER
ride it like you find it, get your tick -et at the sta-tion on the Rock is -land line.
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
5 3 3 5 5 3 5 3 5 3
4 0
22
I may be right I may
be wrong, you're gon-na miss me when I'm gone.
Verse
C
5 7 3 3 0 3 3 3 Now this here is3the story
3 about
3 5the Rock
3 Island
5 Line,
3
well the Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleans.
0
There's a big toll gate down there and you know when
you got certain things on board when you go through the gate,
you don’t have to pay no toll.
C
Well a train driver, he pulled up to the toll gate and the man
hollered nicely what all did he have on board.
31 And he said "I got livestock, I got livestock, I got cows,
I got pigs, I got sheep, I got all livestock." "Well" they said,
"you're alright boy, you don't have to pay no toll,
you go right on through."
And as he went throught the toll gateYeah he startedthe
© pickin' up a little bit of speed, pickin' up a little bit
of steam. He got on though and he turned 7 to look7
back at the man and he said "I fooled you, I fooled
you, I got pig iron, I got pig iron, I got all pig iron."
Verse Chorus
C C
Now this here is the story about the Rock Island Line, Yeah the Rock Island Line is a mighty fine road
well the Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleans. G
There's a big toll gate down there and you know when Rock Island Line is the road to ride
you got certain things on board when you go through the gate, C
you don’t have to pay no toll. Rock Island Line is a mighty fine road, if you
F C
Well a train driver, he pulled up to the toll gate and the man want to ride it, gotta ride it like you find it, get your
hollered nicely what all did he have on board. F G C
And he said "I got livestock, I got livestock, I got cows, ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line
I got pigs, I got sheep, I got all livestock." "Well" they said, C
"you're alright boy, you don't have to pay no toll, I may be right, I may be wrong,
you go right on through." G C
you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
And as he went throught the toll gate he started C
pickin' up a little bit of speed, pickin' up a little bit Cloudy in the West and it looks like rain,
of steam. He got on though and he turned to look G C
back at the man and he said "I fooled you, I fooled around the curve comes a passenger train
you, I got pig iron, I got pig iron, I got all pig iron."
Northbound train on a Southbound track,
G C
he's alright leaving but he won't be back
Chorus
C
Yeah the Rock Island Line is a mighty fine road
G
Rock Island Line is the road to ride
C UkuleleMag.com 39
Rock Island Line is a mighty fine road, if you
F C
AN
E
F
O
R T
K
E A
H
H E
U
T
40
Jason Mraz’s 2008
hit ‘I’m Yours’ has
enjoyed real staying
power thanks to
ukulele players
By David Knowles
I
t’s hard to know exactly how many teens
have learned Jason Mraz’s smash hit “I’m
Yours” on the ukulele over the past de-
cade, but the number is surely in the millions.
Judging from the rash of “I’m Yours” You-
Tube covers, tweets, and unauthorized tabs
that continue to eat up sizeable Internet band-
width, the song, which Mraz released on his
third album, 2008’s We Sing. We Dance. We
Steal Things, has become a favorite among
beginner uke players. That was confirmed by
my own teenage son, who last year wandered
downstairs strumming through the song’s
chord changes while singing the upbeat lyrics,
even though I’d never known him to have
picked up my 1960’s Kamaka uke for longer
than a few seconds.
The irony that “I’m Yours,” originally written
and recorded on the guitar, has enjoyed such a
robust second life on the ukulele is not lost on
Mraz, who grew up in Virginia and has since
moved to San Diego, California. On his brand
new album, Yes! (Atlantic), he delivers new
material on his baritone uke.
The night after he appeared on the 2014
season of “American Idol” as a guest mentor, I
spoke to Mraz on the phone about his newfound
appreciation of the humble four-string instru-
ment, as well as the incredible reception “I’m
Yours” continues to receive in the ukulele world.
UkuleleMag.com 41
WHAT
KIND OF
UKULELES
DO YOU
PLAY?
Mraz: I have the pleasure
of using an Andy Powers
ukulele. The company
doesn’t really exist anymore.
Andy was tapped by Taylor
[Guitars] and now builds
guitars [for that company].
Andy Powers
‘I’m Yours’ is probably the most tabbed Did it surprise you that ‘I’m Yours’ has Before that gig, he was
ukulele song in history at this point. had this second life on the ukulele? making instruments out of
How did it become such a uke sensation? It does. Maybe it’s only a matter of time be- his garage. I was turned on
The song was kind of inspired by ukulele fore something else comes along, or another to him when I moved out to
music. I wrote it in 2004, after spending song is rediscovered. The lyrics are affirming. San Diego. I have two of his
a lot of time in Hawaii and in Jamaica, which If you sing along, you give credit to love, and ukuleles: a little soprano
brought in whatever reggae influences the if you play along, it’s four simple chords that and a baritone.
song has. Hawaii brought forth the ukulele keep you rolling along. There’s a little half
influences—even though I didn’t write it on step diminished chord that may challenge you When I bring the baritone out
ukulele, that’s definitely where my head was. as a player, and give you a little excitement on stage, every sound man
I actually wrote the song on an electric guitar, and is a break from the repetition. It’s a fun and every band member says,
funny enough, but it wasn’t really about the song to play. For me, I’ve been playing it for that is the best-sounding
tools—it was the need to get the song out of ten years and I’m still not bored with it. instrument that you have. It’s
my head. In my head was a ukulele rhythm, true. It sounds so clear and
this lightness that the ukulele brings. authentic. That’s difficult
to achieve when you plug in
Have you checked out any of the thousands ‘I’m always touched an instrument. It just cuts
of YouTube videos of people playing ‘I’m through and is so beautiful.
Yours’ on ukulele that are out there?
that yet another person
I have checked some out, not thousands, but I has chosen to do “I’m Yours” Any guitar player should
have checked out quite a few over the years.
and to make the song have a ukulele because it’s
I’m always surprised, usually impressed, and easy to dive right in and
always touched that yet another person has their own.’ discover something new.
chosen to make the song their own. That’s the JASON MRAZ When you do that, you’re
highest honor as a songwriter. excited about music again.
42
That’s a good thing because your fans may I play the baritone, I still feel like I’ve got my CHECK OUT A FEW
demand that you play it for the rest of your life. nylon with me, but it’s simplified, and because
OF OUR FAVORITE
And I’m OK with that, because, you know it’s simplified I can almost make prettier voicings
what? People sing along when I sing it. I’m not or simplify my rhythm. With the six-string, I always ‘I’M YOURS’
alone. It’s like we’re all celebrating something have to worry about those two extra strings, am I COVERS
together. It’s been around long enough and muting those or letting them ring? With the bari,
AT UKULELEMAG.COM!
people have been playing it their own way. I’m getting a pretty warm and almost low tone
Everyone has their own reason for liking it, I and I pay attention to each string. There was a
suppose. They’ve connected it to their own short period of time when I was transferring all
life, their own friendships, their own weddings, my songs onto the baritone, and even though I
whatever it is. It’s not about me anymore. I had my ten-piece band, I was still rocking some
guess it never really was. It’s about the song. of the big pop tunes with this ukulele. I could still
I’m just lucky to have been a part of it. get a lot of funk, a lot of skank out of it, and the
tone and clarity that I would with my nylon. There
Did you grow up playing the ukulele? was something so simple and quite liberating
It’s something that came later in life. Usually about the whole thing.
when I take the stage, I cheat and play a bari-
tone ukulele. I say cheat because I can play the Would you ever be tempted to write a sad
guitar shapes. Occasionally I’ll have a homework song on the ukulele, or is that just a contra-
assignment or a studio piece that requires me diction in terms?
to remember the shapes on a soprano ukulele. Oh, totally! Unfortunately, sad songs don’t usu-
ally make it onto my albums, but eventually they
Baritone ukulele has a very distinctive, evoc- will. Maybe I’ll put out a sad record one day, but
ative sound. What do you like about playing I’ve written a couple of sad songs and the uku-
that instrument as opposed to the guitar? lele has been a part of those. In fact, one of the
Having played nylon-string acoustic for years, first songs I ever wrote, “The Actress,” was writ-
there’s a familiarity to the baritone ukulele. When ten on ukulele. Very minor key.
Now there’s a Kyser® Quick-Change™
that’s specifically made for the necks
of smaller instruments like the ukulele.
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www.kysermusical.com
UkuleleMag.com 43
44
R E D E M P T I ON
SONGS
SINGER-SONGWRITER
LP CREDITS THE UKE
WITH HER RETURN
TO THE PERFORMANCE
SPOTLIGHT
By David Knowles
For the incomparable singer known as LP, likely ever heard. While songs such as the
redemption comes with four strings. title track and “Leviator” start out simply,
with ukulele and LP’s soaring vocals, a lush
After disappointing record sales sent her symphony of sound quickly joins the fun,
into a decade-long hiatus, during which she elevating the compositions to an almost
penned hit songs for Rihanna, Christina operatic, triumphal level.
Aguilera, and Backstreet Boys, LP (born Laura
Pergolizzi) has returned with her first full-length “I don’t really consider this record pop, to be
album since 2004’s Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol. honest with you,” LP says. “But, yes, if pop
This time around, however, LP, is packing means, ‘catchy,’ then I’m down with it.”
a ukulele and a more upbeat attitude.
With a national tour on the horizon and media
Produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Dave buzz steadily building on the new record, I
Matthews Band, My Chemical Romance), reached LP by phone in Colorado, where she’d
Forever for Now (Warner Bros.) is, at its gone for “a few days to decompress before
essence, a ukulele record unlike any you’ve there won’t be time to do that for a while.”
PHOTOS BY AMANDA DEMME UkuleleMag.com 45
Did you write the songs on Forever for Now I still play guitar but I just take the uke every-
on ukulele? where. It’s sitting next to me right now, in fact.
Eight of the 12 songs. Even if I didn’t start a
song on ukulele, we’d find ways to start How did writing on ukulele change
putting it on there. the character of your songs?
The uke has an uplifting quality. It got me into
I often hear people say it’s impossible to that place. I know we said you can use it for
write sad songs on a ukulele, but you do that finding dark chords, too, but it is somewhat of
on the record’s title track. a happy instrument, and I think that the joy of
It’s just how you play the instrument, the playing it works its way into the new songs.
chords you choose. Ukulele kind of gets a bad
rap. When people tell me, “Oh, I just think of You’re the first female ambassador for Martin
Hawaii when hear the ukulele,” I say, well, it Guitars, and, ironically, you’re a uke player.
depends. You can play it like that, or not. The How does one get that gig?
challenge is finding those places where you They came to me. It was right about the time
can do something else, and that’s kind of that my song “Into the Wild” was used in a
what I look for. commercial, and Martin’s vice president of
brand marketing [Amani Duncan] saw a picture
Are you a self-taught player? of me and liked it, and followed up. I was sur-
I went to a Beatles website and learned about prised, and I’m honored.
seven songs, and there were all sorts of differ-
ent chords. Your brain hurts at first, but now Were you playing a Martin uke at the time?
my brain hurts when I go back to guitar. If you I had an antique Martin from the 1940s.
play guitar, or even if you don’t, the ukulele I loved it. And then I helped design a new one,
is easier to be self-taught. But when you see giving them the specs. I made the neck fatter,
someone play who is amazing, like Jake added friction tuners that came out the back,
Shimabukuro, you have new respect for the and they put a lightning bolt [LP’s signature
instrument. In a way, it seems like it might be symbol] on the fret board. I have three ukule-
‘I feel like the harder to become a virtuoso on ukulele than les that they’ve made for me so far, and they
ukulele helped on other things. sound amazing. They’ve put Fishman pickups
in them, and people are always amazed in the
me rediscover the When did you start playing uke? studio at how good they sound. Eventually,
enjoyment of writing 2009. I took it up with no intention of becom- they’ll be made available to buy.
for myself. Now, ing a ukulele artist, but just to write. I had just
signed a new publishing deal and was commit- The ukulele isn’t well known as a studio
it’s my instrument ted to writing for other people. But I didn’t use instrument. Do you find that recording
of choice.’ it in a lot of my other sessions. I didn’t go in engineers take it seriously?
thinking “Oh, I’m going to make a Rihanna There aren’t many people who have lots of expe-
song for ukulele,” but I did bring it with me, rience recording ukulele, especially in rock or pop
and used it. When I got to the lyric part of the settings. I hope that the instrument is working
song, instead of listening to the track, I’d just its way out of the gimmicky area, because I think
go in a room with the uke and just play it. enough people are starting to use them.
You used it as a songwriting tool. It’s interesting to hear the uke in such
Exactly. Then I started making up these a richly produced, big-sounding context.
whistle melodies for it and they started Was that something you had to pay
turning into songs. A lot of things were in attention to in the studio?
flux. I got new management and people were Rob [Cavallo] and I talked about how we
encouraging me to do the artist thing again. wanted the ukulele running through the whole
I was a little reluctant because I’d been record. That was part of the thing, but he also
LP through it, you know? I feel like the ukulele wanted the recordings to sound massive, so
Forever for Now helped me rediscover the enjoyment of writing we tried to balance that. It’s not a stripped
Warner Brothers for myself. Now, it’s my instrument of choice. down album. We went full on.
46
MUSIC DISPATCH IS YOUR
UKULELE BOOK HEADQUARTERS
( TONS MORE TITLES ONLINE! ^ MUSICDISPATCH.COM )
FREE SHIPPING 1-800-637-2852
with any order of $25 or more! www.musicdispatch.com
Please mention ad code MDUKE.
UkuleleMag.com 47
U.S. orders only. Pre-tax. Least expensive shipping method applies.
YESTERDAY
& TODAY
ENGLISH UKE CHANTEUSES
THE MERSEY BELLES CHANNEL
A RETRO VIBE IN PURSUIT
OF MODERN-DAY FUN
BY AMBER VON NAGEL
T
his may be the digital age, Of course, the retro influence There’s something magical songs from the first half of the
but the Liverpool ukulele among ukulele players is in and of about those old, time-worn photos 20th-century.
duo the Mersey Belles still itself nothing new. Today’s uke of original Hawaiian ukulele mas- Although these musicians have
have one foot firmly planted in the scene is, one can argue, a tad ters in their cross-cultural attire of only been active for a little over a
stylish past. preoccupied with bringing back the leis and western suits, flappers year, they’ve already grown a dedi-
In fact, connecting with the two fashions and attitudes of past playing ukuleles in ethereal lace cated fan base in the United King-
women—Danielle “Nancy” Perkins generations. dresses, or 1960s surfer guys dom, and begun writing their own
and Lindsey “Pearl” Stainthorpe— With a penchant for jazz stan- plucking away in barkcloth Hawai- material for their upcoming debut
via Skype is like opening a window dards and fondness for tiki culture, ian shirts. album.
to 1940s England. Both are wear- uke players love to pay tribute to That affinity for nostalgia is not Finishing each others’ sen-
ing navy-blue sailorette frocks, bygone eras. lost on the Mersey Belles and— tences as they discuss their de-
their hair done up in flawless vic- And why wouldn’t they, consid- fortunately—it goes beyond retro sire to make their way to America,
tory rolls reminiscent of those ering the instrument’s many waves fashion. Musically, the duo is best these graceful, talented women
once worn by actresses Ingrid of popularity over the past hun- known for its beautifully harmo- display an enthusiasm for music
Bergman and Mary Beth Hughes. dred years? nized renditions of jazz and pop that is positively infectious.
48
How long have you played music lele? So that was my brainchild
together? about 18 months ago.
Nancy A year and two months.
Along with the ukulele and your
So then this is your first project beautiful vocals, aesthetic is a
together. huge part of the Mersey Belles.
Nancy We had a couple of mutual Pearl Yes, definitely. This [gestures
friends here in Liverpool because to her hair] takes an hour to do.
we both worked in music for quite
a long time. We did run into each Nancy It takes her longer. It takes
other on one job before this one, me a half an hour. Above, Nancy, left, and Pearl perform at Oh Me Oh My in
but we didn’t know each other. Liverpool for the Liverpool iChoir event in January 2014.
Pearl It’s worth it, and the getting Below, The Mersey Belles at home in Wirral.
What job was that? ready is as enjoyable as the per-
Nancy We worked for Asda…is forming!
that Wal-Mart over where you are?
It was like an advert promotion For each of you, what attracted
that we did together. you to the ukulele and how long
had you been playing it before
Pearl We sang in a choir. you became a duo?
Pearl I started on the guitar, and
You met each other more through obviously it’s a transferable skill,
your vocal work than the ukulele? so then I picked up a ukulele
Nancy No, it was totally ukulele, back in December 2012, and just
actually, because, well, we didn’t loved it from then on.
really meet then, but we found
each other, we’d realized that we’d Nancy As I briefly mentioned be-
both done that gig but we’d not fore, I sang on an album here in
really talked to each other. Liverpool for a local artist and to
thank me for doing such a good job
Pearl Because there were quite a on the album, he actually gave me
few people in the choir. this beautiful Kala ukulele. It’s my
favorite one. And I just started from
Nancy But it was ukulele that there. The thing I really like about
brought us together. the ukulele is it feels really nice to
play and it doesn’t feel too compli-
So you both already had a cated or…I mean, we don’t claim to
passion for ukulele and for mid- be amazing ukulele players, but we
century popular music by the just really enjoy what we do.
WHAT THE MERSEY BELLES PLAY
time you met?
Nancy Yeah, I mean, I had this And being technically proficient
idea about a year and a half ago. singers, the ukulele is a really
NANCY PEARL
I was working for a tea dance good accompaniment for both
Kala KA FMS 904, Kala soprano with
company over here in the UK. So of you.
Epiphone Les Paul redwood back
my idea with that, because I was Nancy We spend a lot of time on
Ukulele Cherry, Kala and sides, Clearwater
serving tea and cake to people arranging our songs vocally. Be-
KA-JTE/2TS acoustic- acoustic-electric
dressed with victory rolls and cause we know we’re not going to
electric archtop, concert, Stagg soprano
pinafores—and I was given a uku- break into any, like, ukulele solos
Stagg USX-SPA-SE, with rosewood back
lele because I sang on some- or anything like that.
iUke mini ukulele. and sides.
body’s album over here in the
UK—basically I was thinking, Pearl We prefer to do more on the
wouldn’t it be great if you had two vocals and just use this as a tool
girls dressed in the same outfit to make a nice little plinky-plonk, Both use various types of Aquila strings,
with victory rolls playing the uku- you know, in the background. and favor Aquila Nylguts on their sopranos.
UkuleleMag.com 49
the minute. The right person, or over the world, but there’s no
people. From the beginning of this, duos who do what we do.
what we both said is that we’re
doing this to enjoy ourselves. Pearl Fingers crossed, touch
We’re not taking ourselves too wood. One thing to mention, actu-
seriously, and we’re not divas. We ally, that’s really important that’s
really are in this genuinely for it, come out in the last couple of
and the minute we start taking years: In school, when you were
ourselves too seriously, I think… little, you would learn how to play
well, we’ll just never do that. a recorder. Today, they’ve all got
ukuleles. They all start on ukulele.
Pearl I completely agree. I think, And we just think that’s fantastic.
you know, when you stop loving it
because it gets too much, then Nancy It’s a ukulele boom.
you’ve got to question, really. And
we really genuinely are in it for it, When it comes to songwriting,
and we had such an amazing how does that process work for
year last year in our first year, you as a duo?
and this year has just gone crazy. Nancy I think one of us has an
idea like a melody or a strumming
Nancy Oh, it’s mental! pattern or chord progression, and
then we’ll come together with that.
How would you describe the We’re basically considering writing
current ukulele scene in the UK? with other people over here in
Nancy There’s a big thing hap- Liverpool. We’re currently writing
pening here in Liverpool. There an album and we want the album
are so many ukulele bands here, to be amazing, to get us over to
What attracted you to doing I understand you also recently and we know so many people the States hopefully to promote it,
mostly mid-century popular played a christening. down south. But we know all dif- you know what I mean? So we
music? Was there anything in Nancy Oh yeah, we do hen nights, ferent types of ukulele bands, like want to make sure that it’s really
particular that you identified christenings, twenty-firsts, bar- the Ukuleighties, which is an ’80s good, so, you know, we can get a
with in that style of music? mitzvahs, everything. covers band. And we have more record deal.
Pearl I think for me, I liked the traditional friends who do the
simplicity of it, you know. I liked Pearl We’ve been known to sign ’20s stuff. Pearl I think it’s all good and well
the beautiful sound that was cre- up to just do a little set in some- singing other people’s songs and
ated. I also liked the chord pro- body’s living room. Pearl There’s loads of them, but putting our own spin on them, but
gressions as well, and a lot of the they’re not purely ukulele. There’s when you write your own song,
’20s and the ’30s and the ’40s Do you have any plans to tour a lot of clubs, there’s the Wirral you can just do what you want
music used sevenths. I think they other parts of Europe anytime Ukulele Orchestra, who are amaz- with it. That’s yours. You have full
just make an awesome sound, soon, or maybe even the US? ing. The Wirral area is just boom- ownership on that song. And you
and I think with our vocals, it’s Nancy Because things are getting ing. Liverpool itself is just can perform that to whatever
pretty special, really. And that’s quite busy for us over here, we are amazing. People tend to be quite degree you want. I think it’s step-
really why I really enjoy it. Plus, I actually currently in talks with a stylized with it, I feel, because ping up the game as well a little
love the look. couple of management compa- obviously with the George Formby bit for us. We’re hitting a different
nies, and then the progression thing. You know, he was from target audience. We’re looking at
This style of music is popular from there would be obviously to Blackpool, and we’re not far from expanding our knowledge for what
for weddings, and I know you kind of start looking at Europe and Blackpool, so people have picked we can do as musicians.
play a lot of weddings and the US, but we can’t really do that up on that and do play his style.
similar events. You’ve definitely on our own. We have people inter- Or, there’s a couple who do Roy Nancy I was just about to say, it
found a niche there. ested in managing us, and we’re Smeck. So people do lots of dif- gives you a lot more credibility, I
Nancy Definitely, and we find a just trying to find the right person ferent things with the ukulele over think, if you can stand up and say
lot of brides these days are wear- for us. Because it’s a big deal, here. But I think at the minute, “this is and album that we wrote
ing vintage wedding dresses. And isn’t it, to go in partnership? we’re the only girls doing the duo. between us.” And as we say, hope-
we played this amazing wedding We go in partnership with each fully it will get us a nice, lovely
last year that was in the middle other, but it’s almost like you need Nancy We’ve researched all over tour in Europe and the States.
of a forest, and that was just to trust that person, so we’re on and there are lots of trios, quar-
absolutely magical. the lookout for representation at tets, and quintets out there all Pearl Oh, we hope!
50
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UkuleleMag.com 51
52
LONG LIVE
the
REPUBLIC
Mike McQueen, the owner of Georgia’s Uke Republic,
gave rise to a one-man ukulele empire
BY A.A. MACQUEEN
UkuleleMag.com 53
T
wenty-five miles from downtown Atlanta,
in the sleepy little town of Austell, Geor-
gia, one finds the South’s go-to spot for
all things ukulele. Housed in a brick former
textile factory called the Threadmill, Uke Repub-
lic is part instrument shop, part performance
and workshop space. It has become the pre-
miere destination for the region’s uke culture.
On a recent Saturday night, for example, Cali-
fornia-based ukulele performers Sarah Maisel
and Craig Chee drew an enthusiastic audience
of over a hundred people—some of whom had
traveled from as far away as Tallahassee and
Nashville—to listen to them play in the con-
verted mill’s open-beam atrium.
54
“I’m passionate about the ukulele,” says that he was felled by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Yeah, the first thing you do is sell to all of
Mike McQueen, who owns the store with his haunting version of “Somewhere Over the your friends and relatives,” he laughs. “We
wife, Donna. “The Uke Republic is who I am. Rainbow.” were selling out of our ‘showroom,’ better
It’s me.” “I remember Donna and I were in this known to most as a dining room. I even sold
Dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, casual slacks, little pub and heard that beautiful, mellow them out of the trunk of my car.”
and flip-flops, you might mistake McQueen for sound with the playful island strum,” McQueen Most of the couple’s initial sales came by
a lifelong ukulele devotee, but his steadfast says. “I immediately thought, ‘I’ve got to learn word of mouth. Then Donna built Uke Repub-
identification with the four-stringed instrument to play that.’” lic’s first website and the fledgling enterprise
is relatively new. Though he owned a toy uke After returning to the States, McQueen, was suddenly open for business 24/7 to a
as a child, McQueen switched over to classi- who then owned a company that rebuilt water- national and international clientele. Still, de-
cal guitar at the age of six before giving that damaged homes, began researching the uku- spite the new online orders, it was hard to tell
up for an electric and punk-rock power chords. lele. It wasn’t until 2001, however, that he how well Uke Republic would ultimately fare.
In high school, he met and fell in love with finally bought a small, inexpensive soprano Then, in 2008, the McQueens attended a con-
Donna, whom he married in 1991. It was on and started learning how to play it. cert one evening at the Red Light Café in At-
the couple’s trip to Ireland shortly thereafter “I was smitten,” he says, and a few weeks lanta’s trendy Virginia-Highlands neighborhood.
later he ordered a concert uke. The star of the show was uke virtuoso Jake
While he was able to learn a lot from what Shimabukuro.
he found on the Internet and from the as- “The place was packed,” McQueen remem-
sorted books he purchased from local music bers. “I took a bunch of ukes with me and
stores, McQueen couldn’t help but notice that sold a lot of them out of my car. I was
quality instructional materials were in short shocked at how many people knew about me
supply. “This was before what I call the ‘third and about Uke Republic.”
wave’ of ukulele popularity took off. Uke stuff Bolstered by the growing uke movement,
was kind of hard to find,” he says. McQueen and several other Atlanta residents
Despite the fact that helping people re- formed the Southeast Ukers, a group of uku-
build their flooded homes gave him a great lele enthusiasts who began meeting on a reg-
deal of personal satisfaction, McQueen felt ular basis. The club quickly grew, spawning
something was missing in his life. “Though it other splinter groups in the area. All told, Mc-
was a good, rewarding business,” he says, “by Queen estimates that Southeast Ukers has
then I was hooked on the ukulele and wanted
to make a livelihood of it.”
After conducting market research and Top left, Big Jim Allen performs
reaching agreements with several manufactur- with Barry Sholder at Uke Republic.
ers, McQueen sold his first ukulele in Septem- Below, Mike, left, and Donna McQueen.
ber of 2007. ALL PHOTOS BY JOANN VITELLI
UkuleleMag.com 55
counted more than 300 members since its ments. It also serves as a place for lessons. A
inception. local music teacher comes in every Saturday
Sensing an opportunity to expand his busi- morning and holds drop-in classes for beginner
ness, McQueen created the Sailor Brand Uku- and intermediate players.
lele Co., an instrument line sold exclusively There is no shortage of takers.
through Uke Republic. “I wanted to reflect the “I believe the first wave of popularity was in
spirit of the early ukulele builders by making a the ’30s and ’40s, both in Hawaii and in Eu-
hand-crafted, quality instrument that I could rope,” McQueen says. “Then, in the 1950s, we
offer at an affordable price,” McQueen says. “I had Arthur Godfrey playing it on national TV. I
sold the first one to an old customer and word think the third wave came about as a result of
began to spread. Since then, we’ve gained better-quality instruments and some very good
customers all over the world. Our Sailors are performers using them. YouTube has been a
being played in places like the U.K., Australia, tremendous boost. You can watch a fantastic
the Bahamas, France, Norway, Canada, and of performance by Jake [Shimabukuro] and oth-
course, here in the US.” ers, then click on a free video lesson. Because
As sales of Sailor Brand models grew, it of that, it is no longer viewed as a toy and the
became clear that the McQueens were ready to average Joe is encouraged to pick it up.
take the business out of their home and the “It’s a ‘social instrument’ and groups now
trunk of their Chevy. “Donna wanted her dining gather to learn and enjoy playing it.”
room back,” Mike laughs. Seated casually at one of the oak tables
In April of 2012, the McQueens officially outside the store, McQueen leans back and
opened shop at the Threadmill. And while on- looks blissfully at the ukuleles hanging on the
A Sailor Brand Blue Label line sales continue to account for 75 percent wall inside. Nodding his head, he says, “The
with (solid) spruce top and of their business, the showroom gave Uke Re- Uke Republic has been a lot of fun, like the
spalted-tamarind back and sides public a much-needed place where people ukulele itself. After selling that first one seven
could come and touch—and play—the instru- years ago, we’ve never looked back.”
56
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UkuleleMag.com 57
FOUR-
STRING
THERAPY
58
UKE2HEAL BRINGS
THE HEALING POWER
OF THE UKULELE
INTO HOSPITALS
& SENIOR CENTERS
By David Knowles
S
ometimes, a ukulele is the best medi- like this on their own, and get them together
cine. Just ask Kevin Wolfe, the founder with, say, ten other people and just have a
of Uke2Heal, a Cincinnati, Ohio, group good time and let the music that comes out of
that encourages players to perform at hospi- their ukes be an uplifting thing for the people
tals and senior centers around the world. who need it.”
A charter member of the Cin City Ukes There is no shortage of scientific literature
club, Wolfe got the idea to form Uke2Heal two documenting the therapeutic benefits of music.
years ago. “One of the Cin City Ukers said he In his 2006 book Musicophilia: Tales of Music
was going to go play for his mom at a senior and the Brain, neurologist Oliver Sacks chroni-
center, and wanted to get the whole group cles the transformative power of music for
together to go join him,” Wolfe recalls. “We people suffering a variety of maladies. Mean-
thought, well, that sounds like a really neat while, the University of California San Fran-
idea. I started to realize that ukuleles had cisco recently embarked on a four-year study
been downtrodden for so many years and I of how choirs at senior centers impact the
wanted to make sure everybody could see health of residents. And the school notes that
them in their true light. After talking to some “scientists have learned that music activates
people who had performed at senior centers certain regions in the brain and can
and hospitals, I thought it would be nice to strengthen neural connections.”
see more people do this all around the world.” The effects of ukulele music at rehab cen-
Using Twitter and a bare bones website, ters and senior-care homes has been wit-
Uke2Heal began putting together a social net- nessed firsthand by other players that have
work of players from all over the world who been influenced by Uke2Heal. “It is amazing,”
had expressed an interest in strumming for says Jennifer Lowe, a Yoga instructor in Syd-
those in need, but were unsure how to pro- ney, Australia, who also teaches ukulele
ceed. “The intent of starting this was to make classes. “Right there in front of you, you per-
it a catalyst between venues like hospitals, ceive the impact of music. You see signs of
senior centers, and players,” Wolfe says. “To life, a foot tapping, a smile, a light returning to
Kevin Wolfe get players who might be shy to do something the eyes.”
UkuleleMag.com 59
Lowe, who met Wolfe at the World Ukulele you get older, you tend to lose everything.
Congress in Needmore, Indiana, has since You lose your ability to drive, you lose your
‘Right there
performed numerous times at senior centers sight, you lose your ability to do things in gen- in front of you,
with the Blue Mountains Ukulele Group. But it eral. Sometimes all these people have left is
you perceive
was her mother’s own battle with Alzheimer’s what is etched in their minds from when they
disease that first brought home how ukulele were younger.” the impact of
music could make a difference. “She passed Perhaps the most endearing aspect of music. You see
away in 1998, and lost the capacity to com- Uke2Heal is that it remains an all-volunteer
municate verbally, but we could still sing to- networking operation devoid of financial deal-
signs of life,
gether,” Lowe recalls. “Her favorite was ‘Oh, ings of any sort. a foot tapping,
give me a home where the buffalo roam’
[from “Home on the Range”].”
“My goal in doing this was to try and not
make it a big charity project and raise money,
a smile, a light
Like Lowe, Jeff Tucker, a commercial carpen- but to keep it real grassroots,” Wolfe says. returning
ter from Minneapolis, Minnesota, shared his “That’s one of the reasons I use Twitter with it, to the eyes.’
own positive experiences with Wolfe about per- because it’s a logical thing to get moving.
forming ukulele music for the elderly. Working We’ve had people in New York say, ‘Wow, I love JENNIFER LOWE
on a long term construction project at a local this, but I don’t know who to get together
senior center, Tucker decided the time had with.’ So then we put out the plea and we help
come to share his love of the uke. “One day, get people together. Really, it’s pretty informal.
I figured I might as well just take it out and “We don’t want to take money, and we
surprise these folks with a little impromptu don’t want to be paid—it’s just something that
show. They ate it right up,” Tucker says. everyone who’s involved, including me, is
“Once, I came onto a wing that was short- doing without any monetary compensation.
term rehab, and they were all very alert, heads We wanted to make it a fun thing.”
up and full of spunk, and I played them a cou-
ple of numbers and started having some fun
with them and they were clapping too much,
actually, to the point where it was downright
embarrassing and I couldn’t hardly settle them
down,” Tucker says.
“About three songs into it I said, ‘Alright
folks, this next song is from 1965, it’s the
Mamas and the Papas’ ‘Creek Alley,’ and it
went all the way to No. 6 on the UK charts,
and here we go. So I started into this song
and then from the far end of the table I see
this guy named Bob. He’s lost a leg right at
the hip, and he’s sitting in a wheelchair all
slouched over with his head propped up, tak-
ing it all in. And then he starts singing almost
immediately and I give him a nod like, ‘OK,
bub, you and I will get through this together.’
So he’s going word for word, and the nurses
stop and take a look and snap their heads
around and realize that Bob’s hardly ever said
a word, let alone sang before, and here he is
singing this song. Now he’s belting it out!”
W
olfe, who was inspired to pick up
the ukulele after watching Julia
Nunes videos online, has heard
many similar stories since starting Uke2Heal.
He believes that ukulele music offers some-
thing tangible for the elderly. “I think it’s really
good for seniors especially,” Wolfe says. “As
60
Play Like
the
Original
It’s not that Wolfe has anything against non- exchanges, he realized that 65 percent of
profit fundraising. In fact, at his day job, he helps them have been with people who live outside
Ukers.
raise money that buys software for nonprofits. the United States.
“We help organizations raise millions of “I’m getting a lot of notes from people say-
dollars each year and while I see the benefit of ing, ‘Hey, we went out and did this or that per-
that, I just think that there’s something to giving formance,’ and a lot of times it’s people who
of yourself as opposed to worrying about the had already been doing this, and now they real-
money aspect of this,” Wolfe says. “One of the ize that there are others out there who are
things I say on the website is, if you want to doing it, too. It’s nice to feel that you’re a part
give money, go out and buy a ukulele and take of a bigger community.”
it to the teacher at your local elementary school Lowe echoes that sentiment, and marvels
and see if you can get students interested in at the way that the ukulele has transformed
playing as opposed to sending money to me her life. “The result is a time of making music
or anybody else, because that’s probably what’s together, sharing the good feelings that come
going to do the most good. If somebody was with being involved, being connected, being
to come around and say ‘Hey, I want to donate with others, not alone,” Lowe says. “It’s heart-
a thousand bucks,’ my first response would be ening to see the responses. You might start
to say, ‘Well, let me find a school somewhere singing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ and you hear a
where there’s a teacher whose music class gasp or see a nod of recognition, eyes light up.
would benefit from getting 20 ukuleles.’ Music touches hearts.”
That kind of thing.”
Through the use of Twitter and Uke2Heal’s For more information on Uke2Heal, check it
website, Wolfe has made contact with hun- out on Twitter (@Ukes2Heal) or at its website
dreds of ukulele players. After mapping those (uke2heal.com).
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UkuleleMag.com 61
BIRTH OF
HAWAII OFTEN GETS CREDIT FOR GIVING THE WORLD THE UKULELE,
62
“When did the Hawaiians invent the ukulele?” a friend of Not unlike the Hawaiian Islands, Madeira has a tropical
mine asked as I was giving her a tour of my collection of climate and is part of a volcanic archipelago. The heavily for-
430-plus vintage ukes. ested island (Madeira means “wood” in Portuguese) once
The belief that Hawaii lays sole claim to the ukulele— had a thriving timber industry and a long history of furniture
the instrument that would seem to have grown up over making. But it’s probably best known for Madeira wine, the
centuries in relative obscurity among the descendants of fortified, sherry-like beverage that became popular because it
the Polynesians—is a widely held misconception, and one didn’t spoil on long sea voyages. Grape growing and winemak-
that I’ve often been obliged to dispel. In fact, I informed ing have been a staple industry there since the 16th century.
her, the earliest ukes only date back to the mid-1880s. Two centuries ago, Madeira was also a popular tourist
Then, pausing for effect, I added: “And they weren’t spot for European visitors who were drawn to its picturesque
invented by the Hawaiians.” landscapes and exotic flora. Visitors were often entertained
Looking like a six year old who has learned that Santa by music played in the streets of Funchal, the island’s bus-
Claus doesn’t exist, my confused friend furrowed her brow tling port city. Because there were no encased windows on
and considered the ukuleles hanging on my wall anew. the houses in this hot climate, it must have been difficult to
True, the actual history of the ukulele begins on an not hear strains of music, both day and night.
island, but not one in the Hawaiian chain, nor one in the Local musicians strummed waltzes, mazurkas, and folk
Pacific Ocean, for that matter. Madeira, a small mountain- tunes on the Spanish guitar and a small, guitar-like, four-string
ous speck of land in the Atlantic southeast of Portugal, instrument called the machête (pronounced “ma-CHET”),
about a 350-mile swim from the coast of North Africa, is also known as the braguinha or the “machéte de Braga” after
the actual birthplace of the beloved uke. the city in northern Portugal where the instrument originated.
THE UKE
BUT PORTUGAL DESERVES ITS DUE BY SANDOR NAGYSZALANCZY
UkuleleMag.com 63
U
nfortunately, by the mid 1800s,
Madeira wasn’t such a great place to
be. Poverty, famine, and a series of
natural disasters that led to the collapse of
the wine industry made the island a better
place to escape from than to. Scores of
unemployed Madeirans sought to leave their
overcrowded homeland and launch a new life
elsewhere. It just so happened that as things
were going wrong in Madeira, life was flourish-
ing half a world away, in the Sandwich
Islands—as the Hawaiian Islands were com-
monly known then—where the sugar industry
was booming.
In 1874, Hawaiian planters shipped 25 tons
of sugar to the mainland alone. But there was a
problem: After decades of European coloniza-
tion and introduced diseases, the native
population was in decline, so there weren’t
enough workers to man the plantations and
factories. Desperation led planters to a world-
wide search for labor, a search that eventually
reached the Portuguese islands. Madeiran of-
ficials had no trouble finding men and women
who were willing to sign three-year contracts to
labor in the fields. In addition to wages of $6 to
$10 a month, indentured emigrants would be
provided room and board, as well as sailing
passage to their new Pacific promised land.
Among the more than 25,000 Madeirans
who came to Hawaii in the late 1800s, there
were three woodworkers from Funchal:
40-year-old Manuel Nunes, 37-year-old
Augusto Dias, and 28-year-old Jose do Espirito
Santo. Joined by their families, the men
packed aboard the 220-foot-long British
clipper ship SS Ravenscrag, and embarked on
the arduous four-month-long, 12,000 mile
ocean journey to
T
Oahu. Little did he poor, sea-weary immigrants finally arrived Samuel K. Kamaka,
they know that this in Honolulu Harbor on a quiet Saturday in holding one of his
new adventure August of 1879. No sooner had they docked, painted pineapple
would not only when one of the passengers, an accomplished mu- ukuleles.
bring them pros- sician named Joao Fernandes, launched into a
perity, but would joyous song and dance to celebrate the ship’s safe
lead to the cre- arrival. Fernandes, a talented player who could reel
ation of a new off any song he’d heard only once, performed on a
instrument. machête borrowed from a fellow passenger. He had
also entertained the passengers during the long
sea voyage, plucking out each song’s melody while
the strumming the chords. Evidently, he wasn’t
Manuel Nunes, Maderian the only one who could play the instrument. Just
woodworker and one a couple of weeks after the Ravenscrag’s arrival,
of the pioneers of the the following item ran in the Hawaiian Gazette on
Hawaiian ukulele. September 3, 1879: “…Madeira Islanders recently
arrived here have been delighting the people with
64
up his own small woodworking shop in 1884, as well as its 17-fret fingerboard provided the
settling in Honolulu’s seedy, low-rent basis for the ukuleles’ overall shape and con-
Chinatown district. He made not only furniture, figuration. But the machete’s D-G-B-D tuning
but also musical instruments. wasn’t used. Instead, the ukulele employed
Within a year, Nunes had opened his own the tuning of the rajão’s top four strings:
shop just three blocks away and both Diaz G-C-E-A, minus its fifth string (a low D).
and Nunes were advertising their businesses Why use this tuning?
in the local newspapers. Dias described “When and why [the tuning] was changed
himself as a “maker of guitars, machêtes, and to my-dog-has-fleas is one of those little
all stringed instruments.” Nunes announced
his business as a “cabinetmaker’s shop of
stringed instruments, guitars and machêtes.”
Santo soon followed suit, opening his
shop just a few doors down from Nunes.
In addition to building instruments, all three
eked out a living by reselling commercially-
made instruments, doing repair work, selling
strings, and so on. Dias even gave music
lessons.
How did these three simple Madeiran
woodworkers suddenly become luthiers? It’s
unclear whether any of them had ever even
built an instrument before coming to Hawaii.
There’s some speculation (but no evidence)
that Nunes may have been related to
Octavianno Joao Nunes da Paixao
(1812–1874), one of Madeira’s most A machete made on
accomplished instrument makers. The the island of Madeira
most likely explanation is that Nunes, by Octavianno Joao
Dias, and Santo all started building Nunes da Paixao
instruments while still pursuing (1812–1874), one
general woodworking jobs, probably as of Madeira’s most
a side business to earn extra money. accomplished
Despite their lack of formal lutherie instrument makers.
training, it’s clear from the quality of
the instruments they built that these
Madeirans knew what they were doing.
T
he first printed mention of an instru-
nightly street concerts. The [m]usicians are ment clearly identified as a ukulele
fine performers on their strange instruments, came just a decade after the
which are a kind of cross between a guitar and Ravenscrag came to Oahu. So who actually
a banjo, but which produce very sweet music in built the first one? The honest answer is no
the hands of the Portuguese minstrels.” one really knows! All three woodworkers built
Nunes, Dias, and Santo went to work on machêtes that looked a lot like ukuleles, and
sugar plantations on Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai. Santo advertised that he could “make guitars
After they’d fulfilled their contractual obliga- of all sizes.” Nunes claimed that he had in-
tions, all three headed straight for Honolulu, vented the ukulele, boldly announcing this in
the kingdom’s capital and center of commerce, newspaper ads and on his instrument labels.
with the ambition of returning to their former Whatever part Nunes or Dias or Santo may
professions in woodworking. Fortunately for have had on the creation of the uke, it’s most
them, Honolulu had a flourishing furniture likely that the first true ukuleles were hybrid
trade at the time, with more than a dozen instruments: a mash up of the machête and
local woodworking businesses. Nunes and another smallish Portuguese instrument, the
Santo got jobs at Hawaii’s largest furniture five-string rajão (pronounced rah-ZHOW). The
store, the Pioneer Furniture House. Dias set petite size and body outline of the machête,
UkuleleMag.com 65
mysteries that always leads to more questions
than answers,” the late-great musical historian
John King wrote in his 2012 book The Ukulele:
A History (University of Hawaii Press).
Another important element that distin-
guishes Hawaiian ukuleles from their
Portuguese brethren is the material they’re
made from. Machétes and rajãos are typically
built with spruce tops and bodies made of
juniper and other light woods. Virtually all
early ukuleles were made entirely from koa, a
golden honey-brown wood prized by the
Hawaiians and traditionally used for furniture
and all manner of quality goods. Ukuleles,
such as the one made by Jose do Espirito
Santo, were, by and large, crafted from highly
figured koa, and often had the same kinds of ‘”We would go to the King’s bungalow,”
ornate decorations found on machêtes. Their musician Joao Fernandes told Paradise of
tops and bodies are so eggshell-thin that the Pacific magazine in 1922, recounting
these ukes are incredibly light and produce a Kalakaua’s parties, “Lots of people came.
great deal of sound for their diminutive size. Plenty kanakas (native Hawaiians). Much
Having a unique name is something else music, much hula, much kaukau [slang for
that helps distinguish early ukuleles from “food”], much drink. All time plenty drink. And
other instruments, but exactly how the uke got King Kalakaua, he pay for all!’’
its name is another mystery. There are many Clearly, King David earned the nickname
stories out there, but here’s one sensible ex- by which he’s still celebrated today: “The
planation: Hawaii actually had the word Merrie Monarch.”
“ukulele” before they had the instrument. An
A
1865 dictionary defined the word as “a cat s a new generation of Hawaiian ukulele
flea,” a pest that had found its way to the makers set up shop—including Jonas
islands decades earlier. Kumulae, who would bring the uke to
Around 1900, novelist Jack London wrote the attention of mainlanders at San Francisco’s
that the ukulele was “the Hawaiian (word) for 1915 Pan Pacific International Exhibition and
‘jumping flea’ as it is also a certain musical spark the world’s first uke craze—the original
instrument that may be likened to a young luthiers slowly faded into obscurity. By 1900,
guitar.” Santo had closed his shop, but continued to
Six years later, the virtuoso uke player and work at home for a few more years before he
teacher Ernest Kaai wrote in his ukulele in- died. Dias lost his shop in a devastating fire
struction book that “the Hawaiians have a way that destroyed much of Honolulu’s Chinatown
of playing all over the strings . . . hence the that same year. Nunes, the most prolific luthier
name ukulele.” of the three, continued building instruments for
Whatever the exact etymology of the word, many years. He taught the art of ukulele
the appeal for the instrument spread quickly, making to numerous craftsmen, including his
thanks, in part, to one of its earliest champi- son Leonardo, who ran the Nunes factory in
ons: David Kalakaua, Hawaii’s last king. Los Angeles until 1930. Another of Manuel’s
Kalakaua, his Queen Emma, and the future apprentices, Samuel Kamaka, started his own
queen Lili’uokalani (who composed “Aloha Oe,” Above, an ornate koa- one-man shop in 1916.
that most sacred of Hawaiian songs) were all wood ukulele made by Now, nearly 100 years later, the Kamaka
accomplished musicians and patrons of the Jose do Espirito Santo. Ukulele and Guitar Works on South Street in
arts. Their support and promotion of the Honolulu carries on the legacy of three
ukulele encouraged other Hawaiians to take Right, David Kalakaua, Portuguese emigrants who forever changed
up the instrument and develop their own the last King of Hawaii Hawaiian music and gave the world the gift of
music and styles. In addition to featuring the and early champion of the “jumping flea.”
ukulele at royal events, Kalakaua learned to the ukulele.
play the uke himself and often included Sandor Nagyszalanczy is an avid ukulele
ukulele performances at his own informal collector and woodworking expert residing
gatherings. in Santa Cruz, California.
66
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Reviewed
Kala KA-ASOU-T
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Collings UC1
Collings UT2 K
Lulu C2A
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(mixed media)
Tent Show Troubadour
Southern string-band music unlike anything else you’ll hear
By Greg Olwell
T
he story behind this new time on the wood floor and you
CD from the vintage-reissue can almost see the room he’s
heroes at Arhoolie Records playing in. Several interview
in the San Francisco Bay Area is tracks with Nash run in-between
almost too good to be true: A songs and have him describing
series of recordings made be- his past and what life was like.
tween 1959 and 1961 of a uku- In some ways, hearing these
lele-player from New Orleans who recordings is like listening to his-
made a life playing for medicine tory, but the real treat is his play-
shows, circuses, and hustling for ing—it’s vivacious and filled with
tips in the French Quarter. Such is rhythmically-rich strums that are
the story of Lemon Nash, who worth stealing for your own play-
was born outside Baton Rouge, ing. Nash’s playing is incredibly
Louisiana, in 1898 and raised in hip and has a dragging-the-beat
New Orleans at the birth of jazz. blues swing unlike anything else
He picked up ukulele in 1915 and you’ll hear.
hit the road with a medicine show There’s a huge gap in the
in the early 1920s, spending the knowledge and appreciation of
rest of his life supporting himself African-American string-band
playing blues, pop, and anything music and, in a historical sense,
else that could please a crowd. Papa Lemon helps to fill in the
These historic recordings—27 blanks. But, even more than that,
tracks in all—are so intimate that it’s a whole lot of fun and inspira-
Lemon Nash
you can hear Nash’s foot tapping tion. Highly, highly recommended.
Papa Lemon
Arhoolie
Sweet Hollywaiians sweethollywaiians.com
Magic Ukulele Waltz
Sweet Strings Records
Sweet Hollywaiians
You may not realize it, but one of On Magic Ukulele Waltz, the
the greatest bands performing quartet of multi-instrumentalists
vintage Hawaiian music hails from does a lot of uk’ing, never more on
Osaka, Japan. the title track, a vibrant and bright
More than just fans trying to uke anthem, but it’s the group’s
imitate the playful and sweet sympathetic playing and balance of
sounds of the island, the Sweet steel guitar, upright bass, and uku-
Hollywaiians nail the vibe of the leles on every song that makes
golden era of ’20s and ’30s this a truly magical disc.
acoustic Hawaiian music. Fun, gorgeous, and worth lots
The Hollywaiins are a great of repeated listening.
reminder that as much fun as the They occasionally make it state-
ukulele is for self-made music, it’s side, so catch them if you can.
even better when it’s with a group. —G.O.
68
Uke-Hunt
This quirky, debut full-length album by San crooning have only traces of punk attitude, de-
Francisco vocalist and uke player Spike Slaw- spite the collection being released on the
son’s band is chalk full of sing-along classics. thrash-heavy label Fat Wreck Chords. In fact, the
From the Carpenters’ “Rainy Days and Mon- collection largely defies categorization and, in
days” to the Kinks’ “Animal Farm,” Slawson the end, you find yourself singing along with the
has a knack for infusing cover tunes with just Barry Manilow chestnut “Ready to Take a
the right balance of kitsch and sincerity. Chance Again,” despite your initial reservations.
With backing instrumentation ranging from —David Knowles
saw to glockenspiel, Slawson’s uke playing and fatwreck.com
Uke-Hunt
Uke-Hunt
Fat Wreck Chords
Blue Horizon Zee Avi Kevin Carroll
Sid Hausman & Washtub Jerry Zee Avi Kevin Carroll
Blue Horizon Nightlight resoUKEtion
Western Art Production Little Monster Records
For definitive proof that the ukulele is a Born on the Indonesian island of Borneo, The title might give it away, but Austin,
versatile instrument, look no further than Zee Avi moved to Malaysia at the age of Texas-based uke educator Kevin Carroll
Sid Hausman & Washtub Jerry’s latest 12 before heading to college in London, does, indeed, lean heavily on resonator-ukes
collection of Western swing, Blue Horizon. England, and finally settling in the United for his latest CD. It’s a solo instrumental
Not only does Hausman perfectly States. In 2007, she began posting uku- work, just Carroll in front of a mic playing
blend his ukulele with Dobro, washtub lele and guitar covers on YouTube that a dozen songs with his trio of ukes: a Mya-
bass, guitars, fiddle, trombone, and piano showcased her gorgeous voice and quickly Moe Resonator, a Mya-Moe Tradition, and
on a great selection of toe-tapping cowboy went viral, landing her a record deal with a pineapple-shaped Iriguichi Keystone.
tunes, he proves that the uke works on Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records. The mood throughout is contemplative.
jazz standards like guitarist Django Rein- Two albums and a few million YouTube The mostly slow- to mid-tempo instrumen-
hardt’s “A Minor Swing.” This is a collec- views later, Avi has returned with Nightlight, tals, broken evenly between covers and
tion that oozes Western credentials, which is billed as her first foray into the originals, like “Cork to Kauai,” which
perhaps in spite the use of uke. Haus- “family music genre.” The truth is, however, slowly builds in intensity as a Celtic
man, who handles lead vocal duties and that while this record, like her previous theme reveals itself, bringing the energy
chips in on harmonica, Dobro, and work, is inherently kid-friendly, there’s noth- back down to a mellower, tropical theme.
“bones,” wrote three of the album’s ing juvenile about it. On such familiar tunes Carroll ventures outside the norm on
tracks: “Blue Horizon,” “Only in Texas,” as “Rainbow Connection” to “Ben” to his medley of the Staples Singers’ “I’ll
and “Continental Divide Waltz.” Those “Dream a Little Dream,” Avi’s talent as a Take You There” and jazz-fusion great Joe
songs more than hold their own alongside singer and a strummer shine through. Zawinul’s “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” using the
Jack and Woody Guthrie’s “Oklahoma An intimate and well-produced, ukulele- resonator uke through a slightly gritty amp
Hills,” or a classic from Bob Wills’ steel heavy collection, Nightlight confirms Avi’s with gently pulsating tremolo and again on
guitarist Leon McAuliffe, “Panhandle Rag.” place on the global stage, and shows that slide reso-uke for the “Suite for George,”
Anchoring the no-frills, warm-as-a-Texas- she’s just as comfortable delivering Joni a beautiful mash-up of George Harrison’s
campfire recording is Washtub Jerry’s Mitchell’s “The Circle Game” as she is on a “Within You, Without You” and “Isn’t It A
pitch-perfect bass. —D.K. medley of Malaysian lullabies. —D.K. Pity.” —G.O.
sidhausman.com zeeavi.com kevincarroll.net
UkuleleMag.com 69
(gear reviews)
Tenors of Our Times
Kala ovangkol and resonator models
show off exotic wood and classic style
By Breeze Kinsey
T
he word kala has a handful of meanings in Hawai-
ian. According to Mike Upton, the founder of Kala
Kala KA-ASOU-T
Tenor ukulele with solid spruce top
Brand ukuleles, the connotations range from “a
and solid ovangkol back and sides
unicorn fish” to “slang for money” to something more pro-
found. “Tribes of the various islands would fight, but when
Padauk trim
they came to a truce, they would have something called the
kala where they would forgive each other, make peace and
Gloss finish
move on,” Upton says.
In California, Kala, the esteemed ukulele manufacturer,
NUBone XB Nut & Saddle
has become a defining force in the instrument market, with
a product line more varied than the shades of meaning
2 1/2” to 3 1/8” deep
behind its name. In less than ten years, the company has
grown to produce a rainbow of ukuleles, covering the spec-
Mother of Pearl artichoke
trum from ukulele basses to ukulele banjos. Among the
headstock inlay
company’s latest offerings are two new tenors: a recently
redesigned wood-bodied resonator and an exotic wood-
Grover tuners
bodied uke from a new line.
$499.99 (MSRP);
EXOTIC WOODS
$350 (street)
The KA-ASOU-T is a unique ukulele (say that ten times
fast!) whose simple appearance belies its complexity.
kalabrand.com
Its spare spruce top is adorned with a no-frills rosette
around the soundhole. Behind that hides ovangkol back
and sides, trimmed with a nice reddish-brown wood called
padauk (pronounced “pad-DUKE”). Both are attractive
West African woods that are used instead of the more
common rosewood, to which they are distantly related.
The distinctive woods are matched by an unusual design.
There is a strong taper across the body, from the neck joint
to the tail end, which varies over half-an-inch in depth. The
back was subtly saddle-shaped—the opposite of an arched
back design. According to Kala, “The radius on the back is
mainly to provide structural strength to the back of the in-
strument.” The headstock was topped off with a mother of
pearl artichoke vine inlay. The artichoke design is a throw-
back to the art deco era of the 1920s and 30s. Upton says,
“The artichoke was commonly used in art deco art, décor
and furniture. Plus I just like the way it looks.”
Indeed the KA-ASOU-T is a ukulele that grows on you the
more you play it. There is a lot to appreciate about its
smooth tone and comfortable feel. The spruce top,
U-shaped neck, and swooping curves on the body give the
instrument a very guitar-like look and feel, and the sound
is closer to that of a classical guitar than a traditional koa
ukulele. The combination of woods produces a sound as
bright and clear as it looks, and the size and tone of the
KA-ASOU-T make it a good instrument for strumming or
fingerpicking. This style is also available in soprano and
concert size.
70
See video review at UkuleleMag.com
WALLFLOWERS NEED NOT APPLY
The KA-RES-BRS resonator is for the atten-
tion-seekers out there. Its mahogany body is
outlined with gleaming pearloid trim and an
antiqued-brass coverplate in the center of its
subtle, vintage-inspired sunburst finish. The
body is rounded out with a gently figured
back and classic f-holes on the treble bouts.
It’s enough to give you a reason to sing the
blues with a smile.
This model has the “biscuit-style” resona- Kala KA-RES-BRS
tor pioneered by National Reso-Phonic Guitars Tenor-sized resonator ukulele with
in the 1920s. The string vibrations are chan- pearloid-bound mahogany body
neled through a bridge piece called a biscuit,
which drives a speaker-like metal cone, rather Spun aluminum resonator cone
than simply causing the top to vibrate. and antiqued brass coverplate
You’ll really be able to belt it out with this
ukulele backing you up as the resonator cone NUBone XB Nut & Maple Saddle
adds some serious kick to the volume, and
the wood body nicely balances out the Rosewood fingerboard
harsher attack found in some resonators.
Overall, the sound of the aluminum cone $429.99 (MSRP);
really comes through, while still retaining that $300 (street)
bouncy sound from the nylon strings and the
body’s rich, warm mahogany character. kalabrand.com
On the down side, I found the Kala’s A
string jumping out of the bridge notch occa-
sionally when picking too forcefully near the
bridge. The A string’s slot on the biscuit
seemed to be too shallow. I remedied this
problem by playing closer to the neck, but
that workaround could be better addressed by
having a professional repairer adjust the
bridge with a file.
Still, the KA-RES-BRS is a blast. With the
wicked combination of good looks and a great
voice, this instrument turns heads wherever it
goes. It’s the perfect thing to bring to the
stage, or take to the streets for a few extra
decibels of fun!
UkuleleMag.com 71
(gear reviews)
Texas Style
Basic or deluxe, Collings’ high-end ukes look and feel the part
By Adam Perlmutter
I
n its four-decade history, Collings Guitars has made
smart, modern interpretations of the widest range of
Collings UC1
Concert-sized ukulele with
golden-era guitar designs—acoustic and electric, flat-
solid mahogany top, back, and sides
top and archtop—not to mention a selection of mandolins
and mandolas. It wasn’t until 2009 that Collings started
Mahogany neck with 18-fret rosewood
giving the ukulele some love.
fretboard (12-inch radius) and bridge
The Austin, Texas-based company is presided over by
Bill Collings, the luthier who in the mid-1970s skipped out
Satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish
on medical school to build guitars inspired by prewar
Martin and Gibson flattops. What started off as a one-man
Aquila Nylgut strings
operation is now an 80-employee company using a combi-
nation of computerized machinery and traditional hand
Collings deluxe hardshell case
tools to produce up to 3,000 instruments each year—250
by Ameritage included
to 300 of them ukuleles.
In its standard ukulele line, Collings offers both concert
$1,600 (MSRP); $1,440 (street)
and tenor models, in three different levels of ornamenta-
tion. (The company has also been known to offer
collingsguitars.com
limited-edition variations, like a maple archtop version.)
The least fancy, those designated with the suffix 1, have a
satin nitrocellulose finish and a minimum of cosmetic em-
bellishment. The fanciest, labeled 3, have a high-gloss
nitro finish, lots of binding, and an abalone rosette, among
other flourishes.
Having recently been enticed by a row of Collings ukes
hanging high on a wall at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, the Los
Angeles–area instrument institution, I was thrilled to
receive two of these instruments for review: a UC1 (which
stands for ukulele concert 1) and a UT2 K (ukulele tenor 2
with koa).
SOLID ALL-ROUND
Though the UT2 K is nearly 70 percent costlier than the
UC1, the two ukes share common features: they’re made
from all-solid woods; feature mahogany back, sides, and
top on the UC1; and figured koa on the UT2 K. Both have
a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard, headstock
overlay, and bridge. They also come equipped with
Pegheds planetary tuners with ebony buttons, which look
like vintage friction tuning pegs, but make tuning a breeze
with 4:1 gearing inside.
Both instruments are nice to look at, and aesthetically
speaking, form a nicely contrasting duo.
With its rich dark stain, the UC1 has an appearance rem-
iniscent of an old Martin, an effect helped out by the tuners
and a headstock whose sides meet at a single central point.
Though the instrument is on the plain side, all of its woods
are beautifully grained; the mahogany has a nice, even
pattern with a hint of figuring and all of the rosewood com-
ponents have attractive striations of varying shades of
72
See video review at UkuleleMag.com
brown. Rather than seeming cheap, this lower-
priced option feels elegantly streamlined.
The UT2 K, in contrast, is a bit more luxu-
rious. Its koa, with a lovely wavy figuring and
overall luminous appearance, adds a bit of
eye candy to the proceedings, as do the
ivoroid body binding with black-and-white
purfling and the abalone rosette. This uke
also sports Collings’ trademark asymmetric
“haircut” headstock, a smart modern flourish.
Collings UT2 K
Tenor-sized ukulele with solid figured
Collings’ guitars are known for their impec-
koa top, back, and sides
cable craftsmanship, and so it comes as no
surprise that both ukuleles are flawlessly
Mahogany neck with 19-fret rosewood
built. The frets are perfectly crowned and pol-
fretboard (12-inch radius) and bridge
ished, the bone nuts and saddles carefully
notched. On the UT2 K, the finish is rubbed
Ivoroid top/back binding
to a sumptuous, even gloss, and a peek
and black/white purfling
inside each uke finds that everything has
been meticulously joined, without a hint of
High-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish
excess glue to be found.
Aquila Nylgut strings
SUPERB PLAYABILITY & SOUND
Weighing 14 ounces, and one pound, three
Collings deluxe hardshell
ounces, respectively, the UC1 and the UT2 K
case by Ameritage included
are lightweight and comfortable to hold. It’s
deeply satisfying to play both instruments.
$2,700 (MSRP); $2,430 (street)
The neck profile on each is an easy C shape.
The fretboards have a 12-inch radius and a
collingsguitars.com
perfect low action—the notes do not distort
when the instruments are played heavy-hand-
edly. The intonation on both is accurate,
thanks to the compensated saddles, and the
notes at the highest frets ring true and clear.
Both the UC1 and the UT2 K sound out-
standing, with sweet and complex voices that
lend themselves to all styles, from the most
basic triadic accompaniment to solo classical
fare. But, obviously due to the size and wood
choice, each has its own personality. Broadly
speaking, the UC1 sounds a tad darker, a bit
more mysterious when played gently. The in-
strument really seems to hit its stride when
heartily strummed. The brighter-sounding
UT2 K feels slightly more touch-sensitive,
which gives it an advantage when it comes to
fingerpicking and a hint brasher for strumming.
FINELY CRAFTED
If the UC1 and the UT2 K are any indication,
Collings is making top-shelf ukuleles.
Unimpeachably crafted from stem to stern,
the instruments boast excellent sound and
playability, and smart looks to boot—a treat
for Collings fans looking for a uke. At $1,600
and $2,700 (MSRP), these ukes aren’t
cheap, but for professional-level instruments
they’re certainly sound investments.
UkuleleMag.com 73
(gear reviews)
These LuLus Are
Real Head Turners
LuLu’s handcrafted ukuleles are masterpieces you can play
By Breeze Kinsey
I
t can be hard being the guy that brings a ukulele to a
jam session. Though true lovers of the jumping flea
LuLu C2A
Concert ukulele with
know what joy the instrument can bring, they also know
solid spruce top, solid
the pain of the groans and guffaws it can elicit from fellow
rosewood back and sides,
musicians. With its handcrafted instruments, LuLu Ukuleles
and neck with a rosewood
aims to turn that situation around with a line of ukes that
fretboard
are as wonderful to behold as they are to hear in action.
The LuLu ukulele company has made it their mission to
$680 (MSRP); $480 (street)
bring high-end, handcrafted ukuleles into an affordable
price range. I had an opportunity to take a close look at a
luluukuleles.com
pair of their abalone-festooned, top-of-the-line models, the
C2A concert and T3A tenor, and I was impressed by both.
Though the price may not make them an impulse buy for
some, these ukes are far less expensive than most compa-
rably-equipped instruments. LuLu has put care, creativity,
and craftsmanship into every element of the experience
from the construction to the case.
The LuLu C2A concert size ukulele has a solid spruce
top with boldly contrasting, streaked rosewood side wood
offset by a light-colored stripe of wood binding and comple-
mented by a sleek glossy finish. Its sound is like a cool
glass of lemonade on a hot day—a refreshing blast of
bright, clear tone with plenty of powerful volume.
The T3A tenor goes in a different direction. Made en-
tirely of solid koa, this matte-finished model has a richer,
warmer tone, more akin to a rich chocolate cake than its
tangy sibling. Both have good volume, smooth playability,
and are simply a pleasure to play.
A slew of subtle touches take these instruments from
the realm of mere novelty to sheer artistry. From the
abalone used on the purfling and inlays to the subtle
groove outlining the headstock, these instruments exude
refinement. They aren’t just about looks though—that
same level of quality carries over to the sound as well.
Through a combination of high-quality materials and careful
craftsmanship, LuLu has created a pair of ukuleles that
really sing.
The nut and compensated saddle are made of Tusq, a
synthetic replacement for ivory that seems to offer both
ukes a full and lively quality to the tone. To facilitate good
tone and intonation, the saddles also are compensated, so
each string sits at a slightly different length to correct for
differences in string thickness and tension.
The luxury experience doesn’t end with the ukes them-
selves. These models, like many of LuLu’s ukuleles, arrive
74
See video review at UkuleleMag.com
BOTH MODELS
Graph Tech Tusq
FEATURE
nut and compensated
Abalone rosette, saddle
bound body, and
fingerboard markers Ten-year
limited warranty
Grover tuners
Woven leather-covered
D’Addario hardshell case, with
Nyltech Strings hygrometer and
humidifier
LuLu T3A
‘ LuLu has put care, creativity, Tenor ukulele with
solid koa body,
and craftsmanship into every and rosewood fretboard
element of the experience from $815 (MSRP); $575 (street)
the construction to the case.’
luluukuleles.com
with a deluxe hard case thrown in to sweeten the deal. The cases are
coated in woven black leather and are padded with plush burnt-orange
velvet. These lockable cases even have ukulele shaped leather tabs for
opening the inner storage compartment and a hygrometer mounted on
the compartment door to monitor the humidity, so you can keep your
instrument in good condition and do it in style.
If these two ukes from LuLu are any indication, the company is
hitting its mark when it comes to making aficionado-ready instruments
at as affordable price. These ukuleles would be a great gift for a player
who’s graduating to a higher-level instrument, or if you’re up for treating
yourself to something that makes you look and sound great on stage. If
the standard models aren’t quite what you’re after, the company will
soon begin production of custom ukuleles. Whatever you’re after in your
next uke, LuLus are worth a look.
UkuleleMag.com 75
Try
Something
Different
35 Years of
Custom Ukuleles
grazianoukuleles.com
Tenor Moderne 831-479-3590
Advertiser Index
Amati’s Ukuleles, amatis.org ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 5
Aquila Strings, aquilacorde.com ������������������������������������������������������������������ 61
Cordoba Music Group, cordobamusicgroup.com�������������������������������������������� 13
D’Addario & Company, daddario.com ����������������������������������������������������������� 21
D�L� Noble Guitars, dlnobleguitars.com �������������������������������������������������������� 52
Elderly Instruments, elderly.com ����������������������������������������������������������������� 23
Fat Wreck Chords, fatwreck.com����������������������������������������������������������������� 76
Full Heart Productions, fullheartproductions.com ����������������������������������������� 57
GHS Strings, ghsstrings.com ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 56
Graph Tech Guitar Labs, graphtech.com������������������������������������������������������� 51
Tony Graziano, grazianoukuleles.com ����������������������������������������������������������� 76
Hal Leonard Corporation, halleonard.com ���������������������������������������������������� 37
Hohner, Inc�, hohnerusa.com ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 2
Homespun, homespun.com ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 57
Just Strings, juststrings.com ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 36
Kala Brand Music Company, kalabrand.com ������������������������������������������������� 80
Kyser Musical Products, kysermusical.com �������������������������������������������������� 43
La Bella, labella.com���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 51
LuLu Ukuleles, luluukuleles.com ����������������������������������������������������������������� 19
C�F� Martin & Co�, Inc�, martinguitar.com ������������������������������������������������������� 7
Music Dispatch, musicdispatch.com ���������������������������������������������������������� 47
Mahalo Ukulele, mahalo-ukulele.com ������������������������������������������������������������� 8
SHS International, morganmonroe.com �������������������������������������������������������� 17
Saga Musical Instruments, sagamusic.com ����������������������������������������������3, 79
Ukulele Magazine, ukulelemag.com �������������������������������������������������������33, 67
Stewart-MacDonald’s Guitar Supply, stewmac.com �������������������������������������� 29
The Loog Guitar, loogguitars.com ���������������������������������������������������������������� 52
The Magic Fluke, magicfluke.com ��������������������������������������������������������������� 76
Gary Zimnicki, zimnicki.com ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 57
76
(great ukes)
A Silver Screen Star
This banjo uke was actor George Formby’s favorite prop for leaning on lampposts
By Simon Brown
the plainer “Wendell Hall” model, which had
the simpler oval-shaped cut outs.
Introduced in 1925, the Ludwig design was
1925–1930 different from most other available banjo-ukes
Ludwig Wendell Hall and included features that make the instru-
Banjo-Ukulele ment come alive, including a strong two-piece
walnut neck and a thick wooden pot made
from walnut.
But, the genius of the design—what really
set the Ludwig range apart from other manu-
facturers—is that the vellum doesn’t just sit
across the wooden pot, it sits on a heavy
bronze flange-ring that attaches to the resona-
T
he Ludwig Wendell Hall banjo ukulele tor and is held down by 16 tension screws,
was one of the favorites of the British allowing plenty of tension to be placed on the
movie and ukulele superstar George vellum while also reducing the stress on the
Formby. Today, it’s the choice of many mem- neck and wooden pot. Cut outs in the metal
bers of the George Formby Society, a group flange allow the uke to “breathe” and the vol-
founded in the UK that celebrates the cheeky ume and tone sing out, no matter how the
star who had such hits as “When I’m Cleaning instrument is held.
Windows” and “Leaning on a Lamppost.” Weighing in at around three pound, eight
It’s one of my own personal favorites be- ounces, it’s a lot heavier than a wood uke, but
cause it has a tone like no other and is so Ludwig’s design also allows the Wendell Hall
easy to hold it almost plays itself. to be played with ease, sitting or standing,
Hall was an American vaudeville enter- and without a shoulder strap.
tainer who had a huge hit with his 1923 uku- These models originally sold for $37.50,
lele-driven song “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’.” plus $12.50 for the case—a large sum of
His appeal was so big, that he landed an en- money in the 1920s. The fact that they were
dorsement deal with the Ludwig Banjo Co. only produced from 1925–30 makes them
About ten years after the Ludwig’s debut, rare and expensive today. These days, a clas-
Formby struck up his own deal with the Eng- sic Ludwig in good condition can sell for any-
lish manufacturer Dallas to endorse its range where between $1,200 and $2,700, in part
of banjo-ukuleles and use them in his movies. because the instruments are true classics
Ludwig produced quite a few variations of when it comes to sound as well as design.
the instrument, including gold-plated instru-
ments, highly-decorated models, and the rarer Simon Brown is a ukulele player and restorer
“crown cut” model, which had the crown cut and repairer of vintage banjo-ukuleles.
shapes in the resonator flange as opposed to ukulelerestorationbarn.blogspot.com
Ukulele (ISSN 2333-3790 (print), ISSN 2333-3820 (online), USPS# - TBD, Pending Periodical # - 7) is published quarterly by String Letter Publishing, Inc., 501 Canal Blvd., Suite J,
Richmond, CA 94804. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is pending at Richmond, CA 94804 and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. Canada Post: Publications mail
Agreement #40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Imex Global Solutions, PO Box 32229, Hartford, CT 06150-2229. Postmaster: Please make changes online at UkuleleMag.com or
send to Ukulele, String Letter Publishing, Inc., PO Box 8525, Big Sandy, TX 75755.
UkuleleMag.com 77
(uke were there)
T
hink of our new section, ABOVE
Uke Were There, as the Among those who
attended the Reno
society pages for the ukulele
Ukulele Festival
world. If you have photos you’ve on April 25 were
taken at ukulele concerts, workshops, Lontra Diabolica,
or gatherings, please send them our Deborah Haight,
way. Try to identify as many of the Chad Mayer,
Gordon Mayer,
people who appear in the photo
Ivan Olarte, and
as possible, and let us know where performers Heidi
and when the picture was taken. Swedberg and
Daniel Ward.
Email your pics to:
ukulele@stringletter.com RIGHT
Ukulele School
on January 25 in
Glasgow, Scotland
led by Finlay Allison.
LEFT
Members of the
Tennessee Valley
Ukulele Club
playing at Valley
Fest on May 17,
2014. From Left
to Right: Keith
Fukumitsu, David
Johnson, Leslie,
Deb Sahley, and
Gregory Aweau.
78
Ukuleles
A Sure Cure for
Island Fever!
Wthing
hen you’ve been in the Islands too long, a Mahalo Ukulele is just the
to snap you out of the doldrums. Whether you are a beginner or
seasoned pro, there are over 11 models and a palette of color choices and
graphic designs to suit your every mood.
It is so easy to get started and Mahalo Ukes won’t pile your budget onto a
surf’s up!
surf’
reef either. Just follow Miss Hawaii into your local music store…surf’s
Exclusively distributed by
P.O. Box 2841 • So. San Francisco, California
Connect with us on
U-200 Ukulele with Bag To learn more about Saga’s Mahalo Ukes, visit www.sagamusic.com/UM
Your Uke,
U , Your
Y Choice.
www.kalaukulele.com
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