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| Should i get a uke? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 02:02 am |
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1st Post |
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MusicMoots0210 Approved 
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Ummm, i probably sound stupid but about a month ago i asked my grandpa to get me a guitar and i was blessed that he gave me his old Martin D28 as a starting guitar. I tried to play it and i kept practicing for about three weeks and i got frustrated because the neck and fret board are very wide and being undersized for my age i have very small fingers(the reason i decided to try to learn a musical instrument is because i am to small to play most sports) and just couldn't get it right. So my friend said i should get a ukeulele. Assuming she didn't know anything about it and only suggested it because she thought it was a small guitar i did some research and found ukes very amusing and i really wanted to get one. So i did a little more research before to make sure it was what i wanted before i asked my mom and she said if its under $100 then she would think about it. So here is my question, 1. should i keep trying to play my guitar which i really don't wanna dissapoint my grandpa but i seem to have no passion or drive to learn it. OR 2. Get a ukulele which when i played my friends mother's became addicted to and didn't want to put it down. Responses and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you
____________________ A good man once told me- play with reckless abandon. |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 04:21 am |
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2nd Post |
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HowlinHobbit Approved 
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Uke for sure, but for under $100 you'll have to choose very carefully. I'd suggest getting in touch with MusicGuyMic. He'll have the best choices and won't steer you wrong just to make a sale.
____________________ Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke? MySpace ezFolk UkeLand |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 04:42 am |
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3rd Post |
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Will Approved 
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MusicMoots0210 wrote: Ummm, i probably sound stupid but about a month ago i asked my grandpa to get me a guitar and i was blessed that he gave me his old Martin D28 as a starting guitar. I tried to play it and i kept practicing for about three weeks and i got frustrated because the neck and fret board are very wide and being undersized for my age i have very small fingers(the reason i decided to try to learn a musical instrument is because i am to small to play most sports) and just couldn't get it right. So my friend said i should get a ukeulele. Assuming she didn't know anything about it and only suggested it because she thought it was a small guitar i did some research and found ukes very amusing and i really wanted to get one. So i did a little more research before to make sure it was what i wanted before i asked my mom and she said if its under $100 then she would think about it. So here is my question, 1. should i keep trying to play my guitar which i really don't wanna dissapoint my grandpa but i seem to have no passion or drive to learn it. OR 2. Get a ukulele which when i played my friends mother's became addicted to and didn't want to put it down. Responses and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you You have a very nice kind grandpa to receive a Martin D28 as a "starter" guitar. Assuming that you will want to someday soon play your heirloom guitar, you may be interested to know that the baritone ukulele is tuned DGBE, like the highest 4 strings of your guitar, and you can make your transition to guitar easier by playing the baritone uke. I had trouble teaching myself to play the guitar, and I played the baritone ukulele first for a while and got comfortable with playing and changing chords before I was able to play my guitar. The other smaller sizes of ukulele (soprano, concert, and tenor) are more common but they are tuned higher (GCEA), but they may be played using similar fingerings (chord shapes). 
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 08:12 am |
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4th Post |
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Urmilla Approved
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Won't a baritone be to big for MusicMoots? I have big enough hands, but still I have problems with some chords on my concert size Sumick. My 4 years old niece has a soprano, and I play much easier on her uke. An example is the advanced C chord 7 3 4 5 that appears in Silent Night here http://dominator.ukeland.com/Images/silent_night.txt
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 09:20 am |
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5th Post |
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Urmilla Approved
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This http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gaQgRRLKkU is a small guitar called guitalele (hybrid of guitar and tenor ukulele) tuned up to ADGCEA. It's easier to play than the guitar, and it's cheap: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/16654 I don't know if it is available in the US. (I have it and I love it, but I'm not a guitar player. I used to play the violin, and this is a "violin-size" guitar....)
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 10:47 am |
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6th Post |
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Neal Approved 
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Answer to your question: Sure, why not? A uke, any size, will give you a feel for music, which everyone needs. If you get a sop, it's a little easier size-wise, if you get a baritone, a little easier transitioning to guitar. Either way, the chord shapes are the same, it's music, and you'll always have that fine guitar. If it ever calls your name, and it probably will, you'll have it. And in the meantime, you'll be learning and playing and enjoying music. Ditto Hobbits recommendation. Play with reckless abandon.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 05:13 pm |
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7th Post |
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HowlinHobbit Approved
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Neal wrote: Play with reckless abandon. Sage advice. I think it'll go into my "book of life rules."
____________________ Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke? MySpace ezFolk UkeLand |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 09:21 pm |
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8th Post |
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MusicMoots0210 Approved
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Thank you guys so much for you words of wisdom so far, if this will help narrow down the search for the right sized uke i am 13 years old, 4 foot 8 inches,from the bottom of my palm to my middle finger is approximately 4.5 inches, if you need any further information to help you help me with my search for my ukulele, feel free to ask. Thank you
____________________ A good man once told me- play with reckless abandon. |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 10:11 pm |
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9th Post |
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Will Approved
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MusicMoots0210 wrote: Thank you guys so much for you words of wisdom so far, if this will help narrow down the search for the right sized uke i am 13 years old, 4 foot 8 inches,from the bottom of my palm to my middle finger is approximately 4.5 inches, if you need any further information to help you help me with my search for my ukulele, feel free to ask. Thank you My son's hands are about that size. Hand size is less of an issue when playing the smaller neck of a uke vs. a guitar. Beginners playing first position chords near the bottom of the neck will not be fretting many chords that span more than 3 frets. Some factors to consider when choosing which size of uke: 1. Baritone vs. standard (soprano, concert, or tenor): There is more music, tabulature, and books available for the standard uke than the baritone. On the other hand, the baritone uke can be played using music, tabs, and books made for guitar. 2. Price: what range can you afford to spend? Decent starter ukes are available for $100, but this is often fiercely debated  here at this forum. Your choices are better in the $100+ to $200 range, but it's understandable to have to work within a budget (adults like me, included  ).3. Where to shop: local music store vs. mail order. Generally, it is preferable, when possible, to be able to actually play the instrument you are considering to purchase, so that you can decide first hand whether the instrument feels and sounds right to you. However, ukuleles are not common at most local music stores, and of the few shops that carry them, there usually aren't many to choose from. Often, the ukes on display are not tuned, and thus, are difficult to judge because you can't play them properly if they're not in tune. Your grandfather's gift to you, the Martin D-28 guitar, now costs about $2,200 for a new one. Your heirloom is waiting to be played by you, someday, as your reward. May your musical journey begin pleasantly. Last edited on Mon Jun 9th, 2008 10:54 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 10:13 pm |
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10th Post |
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hrlarson Approved 
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I'd say get a soprano uke, and play it along with the guitar. I have uned both my guitars and my ukes to open D (DADF#AD and aDF#A) and can therefor use the same fingerings. This is not what most people would suggest, but it works fine for me.
____________________ I'm not addicted. I can stop playing anytime I want. |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 9th, 2008 10:29 pm |
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11th Post |
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hrlarson Approved
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Will wrote:Decent starter ukes are available for $100, but this is topic of often fierce debate at this forum. I'd say you can find decent and good ukuleles for next to nothing pricewise. And you can find expensive and crappy ones as well. More important than pricing is to get the opportunity to try the uke before you buy it. If you like it: go for it. Check intonation, that is: does it play in tune even high up the neck? Look at the ukulele I'm holding in my avatar. It's my first one, the "aqualele", a Mahalo that cost me about 50 bucks. Today the same kind uke costs somewhere in the region of 30 bucks (at least where I live). It intonates very well, it has a nice sound and it is nearly indestructable. And it's cheap. Here's the trick. Buy a low end uke that you like, change the strings that came with the ukulele for a set of quality strings. That way the strings may cost nearly as much as (or more than) the instrument, but it will be worth it. About your guitar. If you have a hard time learning it the "proper" way, just play around with it. Make sounds. One day it will be a lot easier to play, you'll be surprised. Last edited on Mon Jun 9th, 2008 10:31 pm by hrlarson ____________________ I'm not addicted. I can stop playing anytime I want. |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10th, 2008 09:53 pm |
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12th Post |
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MusicMoots0210 Approved
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Would this be the uke you were recomending hrlarson? http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/images/thumbs/U-30YW.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/products.asp%3FCategoryID%3D2%26FamilyID%3D4%26BrandID%3D22&h=192&w=144&sz=8&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=e3xalsQaar2OTM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=77&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMahalo%2Bukuleles%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG if so i really like it and i think i might get it. but do i need to buy i new set of strings or anything?
____________________ A good man once told me- play with reckless abandon. |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10th, 2008 10:52 pm |
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13th Post |
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ichadwick Approved 
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Are ye daft? OF COURSE you should get a ukulele. There isn't any hint of a whisper of a glimmer of a doubt here. Of course, it's a highly addictive habit and it's almost sad to see someone so young get hooked. Don't listen to these old codgers about sopranos. Choose any size that appeals to you. Simply because the cream of the crop play tenors and there are some pretty respectable folk playing concert-sized ukes as well shouldn't deter you from giving the soprano your consideration. But if you eat a chocolate bar when the mood to consider one hits you, the urge will likely pass. Consider your $100 an investment in your own future. And just hope you don't fall to petty crime like street busking to pay for your habit...
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10th, 2008 11:37 pm |
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14th Post |
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Neal Approved
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Buy a soprano, and if you've never busked, you must. But only if you have some material. Busking is performing on the street with an open case for tips. Or not.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11th, 2008 09:15 am |
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15th Post |
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hrlarson Approved
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MusicMoots0210 wrote:Would this be the uke you were recomending hrlarson? http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/images/thumbs/U-30YW.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/products.asp%3FCategoryID%3D2%26FamilyID%3D4%26BrandID%3D22&h=192&w=144&sz=8&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=e3xalsQaar2OTM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=77&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMahalo%2Bukuleles%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG Mahalos are great starter ukes and well worth the money. As a matter of fact I think they outperform quite a few more expensive ukes. Buy new strings, I would suggest Aquila, but any set of strings will no doubt improve the instrument a great deal. The strings that come with the instrument are really crappy, just throw them in the trash. Get the store to put the new strings on and adjust action. The strings will get out of tune a lot in the beginning, but after a while they settle and you got an instrument that stays in tune. Good luck!
____________________ I'm not addicted. I can stop playing anytime I want. |
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11th, 2008 07:07 pm |
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16th Post |
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paulyus Approved
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i was in a similar situation. wanted to learn the guitar, but my hands are pretty small for a 20 year old white boi, lol. so i found me a ukulele. it was from an elementary school that was throwing them away, so i ask to have one. anyways, i've since looked around locally for a good new uke, and ive noticed that u can get a proper uke for around 50$, but with instruments u usually get what u pay for. cheap ukes may be annoying to keep tuned, and the sound isnt going to be great, but they work if thats all u can get. hell, im still using the uke that was in the trash, its dinged up and the pegs are loose, kids even craved lines into it. but hell, i still luv playing my olde uke, and still have an electric guitar im slowly getting the hang of. so all in all, i say start with the uke, just becuz it sounds like it wood suit ur needs rite now, but dont rule out the guitar either becuz having small hands is something that u can learn to work around with practice.
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 03:58 am |
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17th Post |
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HowlinHobbit Approved
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Neal wrote: Busking is performing on the street with an open case for tips. Or not. Busking has been pretty damn good so far this year. It's almost like the return of the buffalo. But you don't quite have the definition right. Busking is performing for tips. Period. You can have your case open or pass the hat or have a "tip bucket" and you can do it outside or in a bar/restaurant/whatever.
____________________ Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke? MySpace ezFolk UkeLand |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 02:43 pm |
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18th Post |
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ichadwick Approved
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From Wikipedia: Busking is the practice of performing music, dance, juggling, magic, and similar activities in public places to entertain passersby and solicit tips. People engaging in this practice are called buskers. Busking is a British term used in many areas of the English-speaking world and in former British territories, such as Canada. In the United States, buskers are more often called street performers or street musicians. Some buskers only work part time, while others make a full time living performing on the streets.
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 08:33 pm |
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19th Post |
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Neal Approved
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I think Hobbit's meaning is more American. Here in the US, you don't consider street mimes "buskers", but a guy playing a music would be a busker. Now, keep in mind, I could be wrong about that, too. 
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 10:20 pm |
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20th Post |
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hrlarson Approved
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As a young man I used to play mandolin and sing in the streets of Stockholm. It paid ok. I still don't know if people payed me because they liked what they heard or if they payed me to stop.
____________________ I'm not addicted. I can stop playing anytime I want. |
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