Hi there. I've been lurking for weeks and really enjoying this forum. I've learned an incredible amount from you people. Thank you!
I'm fairly new to the ukulele. I'm 51 and have played bass guitar since middle school. I've been in at least one band more or less since then. I bought an acoustic guitar about ten years ago but never really got beyond basic chords and strumming. Those little strings are just too close together. But I got really into bass guitar last year and pretty much built my ultimate P bass using various parts I researched on the Internet. It's now my only electric bass. I do have an upright bass I got for a steal, but I haven't done much with it yet. I need to find a teacher for that, I think.
About three years ago, on a whim I bought my dad a ukulele for his birthday (a $100 Mitchell concert, which I carefully set up so that it actually plays pretty nice). He's the kind of guy who always has a new hobby or project, so I thought it would be cool if he learned an instrument and could play with his sons (my brother is a guitar player). Next time I was at his house I saw the uke and asked how it was going. He told me he was gonna be honest -- he had no interest and no talent and knew he would never learn it. He told me to take it with me.
I did and for a few weeks played around with it. Then I put it away and pretty much forgot about it. Then a few months ago I found it and picked it up again. Something clicked. I started really learning chords, even complex, jazzy ones. I started practicing finger picking. I started to polish my strumming techniques. It's so easy to just have on the couch or in bed or by my desk while I'm working (I work at home, a freelance book editor), that I started making real progress. This was right before Christmas. My fiance saw how into it I was and bought me a really nice Kala SMHT, solid mohogany tenor, for Christmas. It is a joy to play. I've got the action down the absolute perfect place and found a string combination I love.
I've become sort of obsessed with everything ukulele. I've been using it to study music theory and pick out favorite songs from throughout my life. I've stopped following TV shows and pretty much just watch uke stuff on YouTube. UU is a wonderful resource. I'm working my way through reading the entire Uke Talk forum backward in time. Currently I'm in late 2015. I'm also enjoying the UU podcast.
I've got UAS really bad right now. I really want to get a nice soprano to round out my collection, but we're tight on money at the moment, planning our wedding in June, etc. My birthday is coming up in March, though, so that's what I will be asking for or putting any birthday money toward. I would like to buy it from Mim's Ukes. Recommendations welcome -- I plan on about a $250 budget. I'm experienced enough with instruments to know I'll eventually want to get a decent one, so it's actually cheaper to just do that off the bat.
I haven't played uke on stage yet, but I imagine that's coming up, perhaps this summer. I'll need to install a pickup on the Kala (recs welcome -- I want a passive pickup) or get a new soprano that has one on it. I know a lot of local musicians and look forward to participating as something besides the bass player for a change. We'll see how that goes. I may also play a song at my mom's memorial service coming up in May.
I really encourage other bass players to try out the ukulele. It's a natural fit. Four strings spaced fairly far apart, played with the fingers? What's not to like? It just makes sense to me -- more sense than a guitar does, anyway.
I figured it was time to say hi and thanks for being such a great community.
I'm fairly new to the ukulele. I'm 51 and have played bass guitar since middle school. I've been in at least one band more or less since then. I bought an acoustic guitar about ten years ago but never really got beyond basic chords and strumming. Those little strings are just too close together. But I got really into bass guitar last year and pretty much built my ultimate P bass using various parts I researched on the Internet. It's now my only electric bass. I do have an upright bass I got for a steal, but I haven't done much with it yet. I need to find a teacher for that, I think.
About three years ago, on a whim I bought my dad a ukulele for his birthday (a $100 Mitchell concert, which I carefully set up so that it actually plays pretty nice). He's the kind of guy who always has a new hobby or project, so I thought it would be cool if he learned an instrument and could play with his sons (my brother is a guitar player). Next time I was at his house I saw the uke and asked how it was going. He told me he was gonna be honest -- he had no interest and no talent and knew he would never learn it. He told me to take it with me.
I did and for a few weeks played around with it. Then I put it away and pretty much forgot about it. Then a few months ago I found it and picked it up again. Something clicked. I started really learning chords, even complex, jazzy ones. I started practicing finger picking. I started to polish my strumming techniques. It's so easy to just have on the couch or in bed or by my desk while I'm working (I work at home, a freelance book editor), that I started making real progress. This was right before Christmas. My fiance saw how into it I was and bought me a really nice Kala SMHT, solid mohogany tenor, for Christmas. It is a joy to play. I've got the action down the absolute perfect place and found a string combination I love.
I've become sort of obsessed with everything ukulele. I've been using it to study music theory and pick out favorite songs from throughout my life. I've stopped following TV shows and pretty much just watch uke stuff on YouTube. UU is a wonderful resource. I'm working my way through reading the entire Uke Talk forum backward in time. Currently I'm in late 2015. I'm also enjoying the UU podcast.
I've got UAS really bad right now. I really want to get a nice soprano to round out my collection, but we're tight on money at the moment, planning our wedding in June, etc. My birthday is coming up in March, though, so that's what I will be asking for or putting any birthday money toward. I would like to buy it from Mim's Ukes. Recommendations welcome -- I plan on about a $250 budget. I'm experienced enough with instruments to know I'll eventually want to get a decent one, so it's actually cheaper to just do that off the bat.
I haven't played uke on stage yet, but I imagine that's coming up, perhaps this summer. I'll need to install a pickup on the Kala (recs welcome -- I want a passive pickup) or get a new soprano that has one on it. I know a lot of local musicians and look forward to participating as something besides the bass player for a change. We'll see how that goes. I may also play a song at my mom's memorial service coming up in May.
I really encourage other bass players to try out the ukulele. It's a natural fit. Four strings spaced fairly far apart, played with the fingers? What's not to like? It just makes sense to me -- more sense than a guitar does, anyway.
I figured it was time to say hi and thanks for being such a great community.
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