L3F1 MUSIC

Uke Ukulele

Holding a Ukulele: the Best Way to Do it

Holding the ukulele is something that most players never give a second thought to (they just hold it in whatever way comes natural). However, holding the ukulele correctly is vital for your playing. Holding it in the wrong way could mean it slipping and ruining your performance. Imagine standing in front of a room full of people, playing a song and having it slip out of your hands. That's the sort of embarrassment that your certainly want to avoid.

Less dramatically, how you hold the ukulele will influence the sound that the ukulele makes. If you want to get a good tone out of your ukulele, it is vital that you get into good habits in how you hold your uke.

Furthermore, holding your ukulele in the wrong way will restrict your movement. You want to make sure that the way you hold your ukulele does not unnecessarily restrict what you are able to play.

Hold Your Ukulele Loosely

The ukulele is a very small instrument. Because of this, it is very easy for the sound it makes to be strangled if you hold it too tightly. You can test this for yourself. Stand close to a wall (facing it), hold your uke as tightly as possible against your body and strum it. Then move it away from your body completely so it's just being held by your fretting hand. Strum it. Compare the sounds and you'll be able to hear what a difference this makes.

Holding a Ukulele When You Are Sitting

Watch the all time great players such as Roy Smeck and Jake Shimabukuro and take note of how they hold the ukulele. They tend to hold it diagonally so that only a small portion of the ukulele is touching their body. They also rest it gently on their thigh to make sure it doesn't slip (rather than holding it with their arm).

Holding a Ukulele When You Are Standing

This is a much trickier proposition. When you stand up, you have to compromise a little more on sound by holding it tighter to ensure it doesn't slip. You should have the back end of the ukulele between the inside of your forearm and your body. From there it should be angled away from you so that you can see some of the back of the ukulele when you look down. This means it can vibrate freely resulting in a louder sound.

About the Author

Al Wood writes at Ukulele Hunt about the Kanilea ukulele, KoAloha ukulele and Applause ukulele.

UKE EXPERTS! what ukulele should i get?

i'm going to purchase my FIRST ever ukulele, and i know NOTHING about ukulele's... so which one would you suggest from your experience? price isn't that big of an issue i've been saving

what would be the ultimate uke to get for me?

also i do have some experience with the acoustic guitar

The best ukulele for beginners is the Lanikai LU-21. It's affordable, but it has a decent sound. The price is usually around $60, plus extra for a case. Or, if you have bigger hands, go with the LU-21C.

One other good option would be the Kala K-S or K-C.

Uke Ukulele
Ukulele lesson #1 Anatomy of the uke, right & left hand technique - Uke Lessons for Beginners

Martin Ukulele 5K Uke $4199 Martin Ukulele 5K Uke Features: MODEL 5K Uke CONSTRUCTION: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint BODY SIZE: Soprano Uke TOP: Solid Highly Flamed Koa ROSETTE: Single Ring TOP BRACING PATTERN: O-Uke TOP BRACES: Solid Sitka Spruce BACK MATERIAL: Solid Highly Flamed Koa BACK PURFLING: none SIDE MATERIAL: Solid Highly Flamed Koa ENDPIECE: none ENDPIECE INLAY: Black/White Boltaron BINDING: Grained Ivoroid TOP INLAY STYLE: Style 41 with Black/White/Black Boltaron SIDE INLAY: Black/White/Black Boltaron BACK INLAY: Select Abalone with Black/White Boltaron NECK MATERIAL: Select Hardwood NECK SHAPE: 5K Uke NUT MATERIAL: Bone HEADSTOCK: Solid/Square Taper HEADPLATE: Solid Highly Flamed Koa /Uke Style Flower Pot - Abalone HEELCAP: Grained Ivoroid FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony w/ Point On End SCALE LENGTH: 13.614'' Uke Pattern OF FRETS CLEAR: 12 OF FRETS TOTAL: 17 FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1-13/32'' FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 1-13/16'' FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: Unique 5K Inlay Design-Long Pattern - Abalone FINGERBOARD BINDING: Grained Ivoroid FINISH BACK & SIDES: Polished Gloss FINISH TOP: Polished Gloss FINISH NECK: Polished Gloss BRIDGE MATERIAL: Solid Highly Flamed Koa BRIDGE STYLE: O-Uke Style "BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 1-41/64"" " SADDLE: Long Bone TUNING MACHINES: Gotoh Gold Uke w/Ivoroid Buttons RECOMMENDED STRINGS: Martin M-600 Nylon - Clear BRIDGE & END PINS: none PICKGUARD: none CASE: 505 Geib style INTERIOR LABEL: none ELECTRONICS: not an option OTHER OPTIONS: Available left-handed at no additional charge Get Your Martin Ukulele 5K Uke Today!

Martin 0XK Uke $279 Martin 0XK Uke The Martin OXK Uke Ukulele is fashioned from HPL (high pressure wood laminate) in a koa-like finish with a matching 1-piece top. The Martin OXK Uke is crafted with Sitka spruce bracing, mahogany end-blocks, cedar ribbons, a morado fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, Grover tuning machines and a dovetail joint similar to that used in traditional Martin ukulele construction. With its strong Stratabond neck and durable HPL body, the Martin 0XK Uke is perfect for moonlight ukulele serenades on the beach. Martin accompanies the OXK Uke with a handy carrying bag too. Features: Body size: Soprano Uke Top: Koa pattern high pressure laminate with textured finish Back: Koa pattern high pressure laminate with textured finish Side: Koa pattern high pressure laminate with textured finish Neck shape: Soprano Headstock: Solid Scale length: 13.614'' Fingerboard width at nut: 1-13/32'' Fingerboard position inlays: One at the 5th, two at 7th, one at 10th Bridge: Solid morado Tuning machines: Grover nickel with white buttons Case: Padded combo bag Interior label: Gold foil label Martin 0XK Uke Ukulele Includes: Martin padded gig bag Get Your Martin 0XK Uke Today!

Lanikai Ukulele Hardshell Case $34.95 Made out of dense FoamCore material the Lanikai Ukulele hardshell case provides perfect protection for your uke!

Martin 3 Cherry Uke $1499 Martin 3 Cherry Uke The Martin Special Edition 3 style cherry ukulele is constructed from 100% environmentally sustainable, certified wood that includes cherry top, back, sides, neck and blocks, basswood linings and braces, a katalox fingerboard and bridge and a maple bridge plate. Other Style 3 appointments include a pointed fingerboard inlaid with black/white marquetry and a pointed ivoroid tail inlay. The Martin 3 Ukulele is beautifully crafted and a pleasure to play. Features: Model: 3 Cherry Uke Construction: Environmentally sustainable, certified Cherry blocks/dovetail neck joint Body size: Soprano (standard) Top: Solid certified cherry Rosette: Single ring Top bracing pattern: O-Ukulele Top braces: Solid Sitka spruce - hand-shaped Back: Solid sustainable cherry Back purfling: None Side: Solid certified cherry Endpiece: Black Boltaron Endpiece inlay: None Binding: Grained ivoroid Top inlay style: Multiple black/white boltaron Side inlay: None Back inlay: black/white/black Boltaron Neck: Certified cherry Neck shape: Soprano Nut material: Corian Headstock: Solid/square taper Headplate: Solid certified katalox Heelcap: None Fingerboard: Solid black ebony with pointed end Scale length: 13.614'' ukulele pattern of frets clear: 12 of frets total: 17 Fingerboard width at nut: 1-13/32'' Fingerboard width at 12th Fret: 1-13/16'' Fingerboard position inlays: Ivoroid style 3 uke diamond & squares Fingerboard binding: None Finish back & sides: Satin Finish top: Satin Finish neck: Satin Bridge: Solid certified katalox Bridge style: O-Uke style Bridge string spacing: 1-41/64'' Saddle: Long bone Tuning machines: Grover nickel with white buttons Recommended strings: Martin Crystal Nylon (M600) Bridge & end pins: None Pickguard: None Case: Molded hardshell interior label: Sustainable wood series Get Your Martin 3 Cherry Uke Today!

Martin 3K Uke $1899 Martin 3K Uke The Martin 3K Ukulele is crafted with Hawaiian flamed koa top, back and sides — the traditional tonewood used for Hawaiian ukuleles — and a mahogany neck. Style 3 appointments, include a pointed fingerboard inlaid with black/white marquetry and a pointed ivoroid tail inlay. Loads of fun to play, the ukulele is traditionally tuned G-C-E-A. Features: Model: 3K Ukulele Construction: Mahogany blocks/dovetail neck joint Body size: Soprano (standard) Top: Solid highly flamed Hawaiian koa Rosette: Single ring Top bracing pattern: O-Uke Top braces: Solid Sitka spruce — hand-shaped Back: Solid highly flamed Hawaiian koa Back purfling: None Side: Solid highly flamed Hawaiian koa Endpiece: Black Boltaron Endpiece inlay: None Binding: Grained ivoroid Top inlay style: Multiple black/white Boltaron Side inlay: None Back nlay: black/white/black Boltaron Neck: Select hardwood Neck shape: Soprano Nut material: Bone Headstock: Solid/square taper Headplate: Solid highly flamed Hawaiian koa Heelcap: None Fingerboard: Solid black ebony with pointed end Scale length: 13.614'' uke pattern of frets clear: 12 of frets total: 17 Fingerboard width at nut: 1-13/32'' Fingerboard width at 12th fret: 1-13/16'' Fingerboard position inlays: Abalone diamond & squares Fingerboard binding: None Finish back & sides: Satin Finish top: Satin Finish neck: Satin Bridge: Solid highly flamed Hawaiian koa Bridge style: O-Uke Style Bridge string spacing: 1-41/64'' Saddle: Long bone Tuning machines: Grover nickel with white buttons Recommended strings: Martin Crystal Nylon (M600) Bridge & end pins: None Pickguard: None Case: Molded hardshell Get Your Martin 3K Uke Today!

Famous Ukulele Songs

The great thing about the ukulele these days is that a lot of popular songs that we're originally played on this great instrument are being covered on it--you can find uke videos all over the internet for most popular songs today. But for those interested, here is a list of famous ukulele songs that are well known for being played on a uke, and ones that a lot of people will probably be asking you to play once they find out you have the instrument.

 

Tonight You Belong To Me is probably going to be on every list you find. This song was written by Billy Rose and Lee David in 1926, but that's not how most people know it. It became popular in the movie "The Jerk" where Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters sing along. Since that time there have of course been many covers.

 

Another older song that keeps getting covered today is Ukulele Lady, originally by Gus Kahn and Richard Whiting in 1925. You can find popular covers by Kermit the Frog, or Better Middler.

 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow is one of my favorite famous ukulele songs. It was originally done by Harold Arlen and Yip Harbury in 1939, but the version that really made is a uke song is by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. If you don't think you're familiar with the uke version, you probably heard it in the movie 50 First Dates.

 

There is no uke played in Jason Mraz's song "I'm Yours", but people cover this song on the uke constantly, making this a popular uke tune. This is a great example of how a song that's more popular today is helping making the uke a more common instrument.

 

Hey, Soul Sister by Train is another more current popular option. This is one of the very popular, current famous ukulele songs that gets covered a great deal online and that your friends will probably ask you to play shortly after finding out you have the instrument, so it's worth learning now.

 

About the Author

Once you decide to learn to play the ukulele it's pretty easy to get started! You can pick up the pace by learning songs you already know and love, like with Lady Gaga ukulele covers.

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Peace Love Ukulele $8.41 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed....

Gently Weeps $10.81 You'll forget all the Tiny Tim, Don Ho, and Hawaiian-music jokes about the ukulele when you hear Gently Weeps, which leaves behind the Roaring Twenties strum and plinky-dink sound of most such music. Jake Shimabukuro sets the tone with the lead-off track from which he takes the album's title, George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," unfolding the vulnerable undertow of Harrison's epic lam...

Ukulele for Kids, Vol. 1 [VHS] $10.92 This lively, fun-filled lesson shows kids everything they need to start making music on the ukulele. With its small body and fingerboard, the uke is a perfect starter instrument for young people. Marcy Marxer teaches the parts of the instrument and how to hold it and tune it up -- then it's right into the first song! Ginger (a large, lovable dog puppet) plays a prominent role in these child-frie...

The Joy of Uke 2 [VHS] $18.62 In this long-awaited follow-up to Volume 1, Jim teaches chord shapes and progressions, complex strums and accompaniments to some of the most beloved songs in popular music history. With his usual warmth and good humor, Jim guides you through each song, slowing down the tricky parts and sprinkling the lesson with wisdom gleaned from his deep knowledge of the instrument. Before long, he'll have you ...

Uke Ukulele