DU ukulele players and other knowledgeable folks!

[Heidi]

What would be a good starter ukulele? (I'm asking for someone else. Yeah. That's it. I'm asking for someone you absolutely don't know.)

Also, is a person who gives guitar lessons also qualified to teach ukulele?

[Call Me Wesley]

1. :eyes: (nt)

[Heidi]

2. You're just jealous.

:eyes:

[Richardo]

3. In Switzerland, the :eyes: smilie means "I can't wait until sweet ukelele music fills my home."

Right?

:pals:

[Call Me Wesley]

4. Not really ...

:eyes:

[Heidi]

5. Hater.

:thumbsdown:

[Call Me Wesley]

12. I'm asking for a friend:

He thinks that would be cool to have and perform:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4VWTWo_qo

[Heidi]

13. I don't understand why you're so intent on crushing my friend's dream.

Have I ever said a WORD about your "friend" with "his" endless iPad applications or RC X-wing fighter crashing all over our downstairs? :yoiks:

[Richardo]

15. You and CMW's friends are killing me

:rofl:

[Heidi]

16. I hope you're not also trying to extinguish my friend's dream.

She just spoke on the phone with her friend who has not yet met the woman of his dreams, but he is in full agreement that this mutual friend of ours should play "Under My Thumb" at his wedding.

[charlie and algernon]

6. Get a Ukelin!

It's both a Ukulele and a Violin. :bounce:

[Heidi]

7. Does that instrument demand a higher degree of manual dexterity

than a ukulele requires? I'm asking this because the person I'm asking for--while a very focused young woman--sometimes has difficulty multitasking during her mastery of new skills.

[charlie and algernon]

8. it's supposed to be very easy to play, in theory

You don't need to finger the cords to play the Ukulele part. I saw a video on youtube of a guy playing it. He was able to strum the Ukulele part while playing the violin part with the bow. it was created as an instrument for dummies, lol.

[Heidi]

9. This person would also like to learn to play the theremin,

but she does not have the technical skills to build one from a kit. (As she understands it, there is electricity involved. :shocking possibilities: )

[charlie and algernon]

10. I bought a bowed Psaltery last night off Ebay

it's basically a violin for dummies, you don't need to finger cords and each note has it's own stub on the instrument. If she's looking for a good beginner folk instrument, that would be the one to get.

[Heidi]

11. Oh, THAT'S cool!

Unfortunately, this person has her heart set on the ukelele. She would very much like to play the Stones' "Under My Thumb" at a friend's wedding sometime in the future. Her friend has not yet met the woman of his dreams, but with this woman's lack of motor skills, it could take a very long time for her to master this particular ode to loooooooove. :D

[dannofoot]

14. Lanikai makes a great starter

I first purchased a Lanikai soprano uke and like it so much that I bought a Lanikai tenor, which I like even better. A tenor uke has a longer fretboard and a sound that lends itself better, in my opinion, to more musical genres. I love playing blues on my tenor and Hawaiian music on the soprano.

I paid around $80 for the soprano and $120 for the tenor. Don't buy anything too cheap - you'll be disappointed with the sound, and cheap ukes don't stay tuned very well. Over the years, I've tried out more expensive ukes ($500 range) and the while they had a better sound, it wasn't $400 worth of better.

Go to Youtube for uke lessons - there are a number of good tutorials. Have fun! Uke can change the world!

P.S. Here's just one site - shop around.

http://docsukuleles.com/index1.html?c50.html&1

[Heidi]

17. FINALLY! A serious answer!

My friend will most likely buy the tenor ukulele, and will check out Lanikai. THANK YOU!!!

My "friend" just found www.ukuleleunderground.com ... She is pleased, to say the least!

Here's a free hug just for you! :hug:

[Brother Buzz]

18. Flea (soprano) and Flukes (concert and tenor) by The Magic Fluke Company

composite - half plastic half wood. These are not toys but real instruments that offer big bang for the buck.

http://www.gryphonstrings.com/inventory/instrument_page.php?Instrument=Ukulele&Query=Ukuleles

[hippywife]

19. You are not going to fucking believe this, sistah!

I am sitting here reading about you, uh...your friend wanting a uke and as I get almost to the end of the thread NPR plays a promo by Susan Stamberg about doing a story on tomorrow's Morning Edition about a documentary about the ukulele. Is that just freaky or what?

You'll like this: Folk Uke: Willy Nelson's daughter, Amy, and Arlo's daughter Cathy. Saw them at WoodyFest a few years back. Very funny.

http://www.folkuke.com/

Shit Makes the Flowers Grow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqrHkzXyhUc


:rofl:

[Blue-Jay]

20. Just get a kazoo.

[conscious evolution]

21. The ultimate ukulele song

that is perfect for a wedding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skU-jBFzXl0

Here is another version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ