Ever wondered what ukulele James Bond would play? No, me neither. But earlier today I was browsing the Kamoa Ukulele website (I can dream) and this advert flashed across the top of their slickly designed homepage:
Ex-Bond actor Pierce Brosnan with his new 700-Series tenor. Oh and just in case you’re interested these models will leave you little change from US$1000.
Filed under Music
Here’s 10 fairly recognisable guitar riffs I recorded for ukulele. You should always have a couple of well-known rock riffs up your sleeve to play for people when they inevitably ask, “play something I know!”
Pearl Jam – Alive
The Rolling Stones – Satisfaction
Nirvana – Come As You Are
White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
Smashing Pumpkins – Today
Aerosmith – Walk This Way
AC/DC – Highway To Hell
Mumford & Sons – The Cave
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue
Cream – Sunshine Of You Love
There’s bound to be at least one from these ten that you will recognise! I’ve got another bunch that I will record at a later date too. Most of these I’ve found the tabs for somewhere on the net, ukelelehunt.com springs to mind as well as a couple from Youtube tutorial videos. Enjoy!
Filed under Uke Videos
On Monday night I made the trip to Marlow to check out the newest ukulele workshop in town. The Marlow Ukulele Group, set up by Brian Ward, aims to provide place for “beginners and improvers” to meet regularly and build on their skills in a friendly group environment.
The first meeting saw a turnout of around 30 ukesters, with experience levels ranging from many complete beginners holding a uke for amost the first time through to the more seasoned guitar-to-ukulele converts.
Brian – a natural born teacher – started the workshop by going through some ukulele basics such as tuning, holding the uke and strumming patterns, before introducing some chords. Each time a new chord was introduced, it was backed up with a song, with each new song building on the previous one.
Although presently more suited to beginners with an interest in strumming their first few chord progressions, it was still great fun. Future workshops will be held on the 2nd and 4th Monday evenings of each month from 7:30pm at the Cross Keys Pub in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
For more details, head to http://www.marlowuke.co.uk
Filed under General Uke
I know, it’s not for a couple of days yet… I’m not going to get into the whole overblown Hallmark holiday argument, but if you’re still hunting after a unique gift for that special uke player in your life, look no further than the Valentine’s Uke Heart Box over on PizzaByTheSlice. Print out the template, spend some time assembling it and then fill it with something chocolate!
Snow! Finally after a very mild English winter we’ve been hit with a cold snap and a coating of snow! I took the opportunity (after building a snowman) to go for a wander around the village. As I was heading for the door I looked at my ukulele and thought, why not take it with me!
Everybody is so friendly when it snows – and even friendlier when you’re strumming away on a ukulele. It just makes everyone smile! On my walk I met this guy, Arthur, who came up to me to have a chat and spin a yarn or two about ukulele playing.
He said he’s been playing the ukulele for many, many years. He told me of a local group I didn’t know about and where I could meet him for a jam. We had a good chat and then I continued on, content in the knowledge that the ever humble ukulele had spread some good vibes today.
Filed under Unrelated
Around this time last year the great ukulele guru, Mike Lynch declared the world’s first “Ukulele Day.” Well that time has rolled around again and this year he has announced that the 2nd of February 2012 is once again…
World Ukulele Day!
Now, let’s step back for just a moment. This time last year I hadn’t even started playing the ukulele! Woah, just imagine that! I wasn’t even aware of this whole other highly addictive world of uke madness. I am coming up to my first year anniversary soon, but more on that later down the line. So 2012 is actually my first World Ukulele Day as an actual ukulele player!
Click for Ukulele Mike’s YouTube channel or here for his BLOG page.
Filed under General Uke
I lol’d at “How about some Dragonforce?”
Filed under Ukulele Tips
A massive HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY and shout out to all the Aussie folk out there in ukulele land! I’ve been living abroad for around six years now (time certainly flies) and it’s celebratory days like this that make me miss the sunshine, sand and surf of home. Australia will always be “home” for me.
Keeping this uke related, the guys over at UkeMullum are holding an Australia Day uke night down at the Courthouse Hotel, Corner of Dally and Burringbar Streets, Mullumbimby (New South Wales).
Make sure you download their special Australia Day Songbook and bang out a few good old Aussie tunes for yourself too!
Filed under Uncategorized
Just as I’ve bought myself an Eleuke, Tim from Ukeeku dot com goes and throws up an acoustic video challenge! The criteria being that you take a typically ”electric” song and do an acoustic version. That’s it! Simple right? You’d think so, but a quick trip to YouTube reveals that all the great songs have been covered acoustically, many on a ukulele also!
There have been MANY great entries so far. This is my very first and very humble entry. After a lot of mulling over the idea, I chose to do a slightly edited (to clean up the lyrics) version of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems.” So here goes:
In case you’re tempted, entries close on Feb 14th!
Filed under Uke Videos
