About the `Ukulele:

There are many different types of ukuleles, aside from the well known soprano standard. These others vary in size and construction, the most common difference being simply larger versions, that step up about 3 inches in length each step. In order of size they are the concert, tenor, and baritone. Some of these have more than 4 strings, but the added strings double up the existing strings by simply tuning an octave higher, as with a 12 string guitar. There are other constructions, the most common, and at one time extremely popular is the banjo uke which, as you might expect, has a banjo body. Less popular was the Harp Uke, made by Christopher Knutsen, which incorporated a whole new set of strings over an odd extension of the sound chamber parallel to the neck that looks like a freakish growth. Keeping in mind that the ukulele has enjoyed two previous eras of extremely high popularity, it is no surprise that makers were experimenting, somtimes radically, to distinguish their instruments in a very competitive market.

Opinions differ on the original tuning of the ukulele, but most agree that it was tuned mostly in C or D. Today C tuning is by far the most popular, and our virtual ukulele is also tuned that way. Our virtual uke is in "re-entrant" tuning where the top G string is tuned higher than the following C string. This is the usual tuning for soprano and concert ukes, and many tenor players tune that way, but baritone is never (ok, usually never) tuned re-entrant, rather non-re-entrant and to the key of "G", the same as the 4 high strings of a guitar. Re-entrant tuning is written like this: gCEA, where the lower case "g" indicates that it is out of order for the normal ascending progression of open string notes. The strings on an ukulele are never metal, except for the C string which is often wire wound. Strings are usually nylon but there is huge variation in both composition and gauge from the different manufacturers. Uke strings usually follow as variations on commercially available fishing line (really) and now have continued that tradition with the new fluorocarbon strings popular with many anglers

Our Virtual uke is a Martin tenor circa 1963. This very popular type of uke is two sizes up from the standard soprano uke. Ukulele playing has enjoyed a popular comeback in the Hawaiian islands and you will get many friendly inquiries from interested Hawaiians when you travel with one - a real wood one, that is!

The weather in my favorite place, Kauai, Hawaii:

The Jumbo Lahaina Cam:

I used to have the Jumbo Lahaina Cam here and you could update it to see what was happening on Front Street in Lahaina but the turds changed it so I can't steal it anymore. If anyone figures out how to get the feed let me know.

My Uke Story

The Acquisition Two years later, when I was substantially better equipped financially, Tracey and I were on Maui and went on a uke search. I wanted to experiment with my own ukulele and hopefully to one day be able to project the enthusiasm I heard from that little fellow in Waikaloa. I ended up with a half-price factory second tenor from Mele Ukulele in Wailuku. I enthusiastically took it home and left it in a closet for two years.

The Cable Guy I was rearranging my office and had somehow gotten moved the uke into view enough for the cable guy to see it when he came to hook up my DSL. Turns out he was Hawaiian; he had Pure Heart playing in his van out in my driveway. We talked about Hawaiian music and he gave me a few suggestions on what music to buy. He asked me if I would sell him my uke and I said, no, I'm, er, I'm learning to play it.

Shamed Into Action OK, so I'm a jerk who denied this guy his Hawaiian heritage. I figured if I'm going to do that, I better make good on what I said and turn my lie retroactively into the truth (can you do that?) by actually learning to play! I bought up a bunch of Hawaiian music, and started cruising the internet for info. I found Hiram Bell, a local uku wizard, and took a lesson from him, but time and geography didn't cooperate so, unfortunately, I only had that one lesson. I sat in on a workshop with Moe Keale, and then Jake Shimabukuro, and Keoki Kahumoku, and finally found a great local ukulele player to learn from once a week. And I did learn - I learned that I have no musical aptitude whatsoever!

UAS I then contracted a disease known as UAS (Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome). The initial infection caused me to upgrade my rather second rate Mele uke to a 1953 Gibson TU1 tenor. UAS is like malaria, you get it, get over it, but then it flares up again. Later bouts with the UAS resulted in a post-'63 Martin tenor, then a Kamaka soprano, then a Martin soprano, then a Kamaka tenor, then another Kamaka tenor, then a Martin concert, another Gibson tenor, a couple more Martins. And now I'm cured!

Sorry, gotta go. Need to check something on eBay real quick...

More Uke Stuff:

• Terry gave himself a present - A Custom Made Uke!

• Terry needs some elbow room - The Murphy Shop!

• Terry gets out of the house - Uke Players and Uke Events

More Uke Photos:

Click any of the photos below to go to open the Uke Photos Page. Lyle Ritz, Jake Shimabukuro, Moe Keale, me, of course, The Uke Fest West, and more!

I have only a few links here. These are links that I actually use so it's not that comprehensive. For a more comprehensive listing, check out Tiki King, or Brudda Bu under the Ukulele Focused Web Sites header. No sense in relisting those very good resources.