Instruments part 2

Blue Moon F-hole tenor Ukulele

Once I'd got the fundamentals of the banjo down I started to realise that the skills you learn on one instrument can transfer to others, especially if you combine that with a bit of basic music theory. Once you know why you do what you do with chords and scales etc it becomes easier to work out how you can do those things on others stringed instruments.

 I loved the pear shaped body and the slightly chunkier feel of this tenor ukulele and it means that you don't feel like a giant playing a kiddies instrument. It has a great sound and felt really easy to play. It's size means that it can be restrung as a baritone and its possible to tune it the same way as a banjo.

This became my holiday instrument and it went away with me lots of times.

Alas it too has also moved on.

Back in the Shack

The Last Post (for this month)

I've had a mad month, what with the August Jam, a weeks holiday spent with the uke(and friends and family), and a visit from the Uke of Cornwall (aka Bruce Fisher). So after assuming this might be a quiet period blogwise, I've ended up posting a record number of times(for me).

So, to round off the month and put the Uke of Cornwall centre stage after he spent the August Jam in a corner with the Ju-ju stick here's a mellow uke blues in A7.

Summerhouse Blues

Whiskey on the Uke

Been trying out a few of the songs I've been doing on the banjo for the Ukulele and really enjoying it. It's quite a relief to be freed from the tyranny of the bump-ditty and to just strum.

Whiskey in the Jar

Blue Uke in technocolour

Been playing the Uke in a frailing or clawhammer style which works quite well, except I've go the stop banging the body of the Uke with my thumb as it's more distracting on the Uke than on the banjo.

Blue Moon F-hole tenor Ukulele

I loved playing the Uke Of Cornwall's Tenor Uke when he visited recently, so I think I might invest in one myself. They retail through Hobgoblin Music at £55.00 which is a bargain. I loved the pear shaped body and the slightly chunkier feel of the tenor means you don't feel like a giant playing a kiddies instrument. It has a great sound and felt really easy to play. I think the Uke had restrung the original nylon strings with something a touch more expensive (£5), but even with this included its a nice reasonably priced instrument.