Good evening everyone!
I just moved to Oahu a few months ago (I work for a software company out here) and fell in love with the Uke the more I saw and heard them around. I work above a nice little music shop with a decent Ukulele selection and after picking the brain of one of the employees yesterday, and I went back today and picked up my first Ukulele.
I was initially looking at a Kala Concert but ended up going to a slightly cheaper non-branded Ukulele. It had a lighter wood and a much better sound. The employee played each Uke for me to really show them each off and the more he played the non-branded Uke (there's no sticker or brand anywhere inside or out), the more he played it the more he liked it and so was I. It had more wood to it so there was a little more heft and the a deeper/louder sound. The other sounded a little twangy. The non-branded also had a wider neck which I felt more comfortable with.
I worked out a nice little deal and got it for $79. It had been re-strung with nicer white (Italian?) strings and the tuning pegs are geared, exposed and have a tightening screw.
I brought it home and immediately picked up GuitarToolkit for my iPhone which has some nice Ukulele settings. It was already pretty well tuned, just needed a few adjustments and it sounds beautiful.
I'll be scouring the boards over the next few days looking for tabs and various introduction threads. I definitely need to do some reading on strumming techniques and some exercises.
Can anyone recommend any songs good for practicing? I've been on a huge Beatles kick right now, any simple tabs to give my fingers a workout?
Looking forward to joining the community!
A quick shot of me and the Uke.
Mahalo!
-Matt
I just moved to Oahu a few months ago (I work for a software company out here) and fell in love with the Uke the more I saw and heard them around. I work above a nice little music shop with a decent Ukulele selection and after picking the brain of one of the employees yesterday, and I went back today and picked up my first Ukulele.
I was initially looking at a Kala Concert but ended up going to a slightly cheaper non-branded Ukulele. It had a lighter wood and a much better sound. The employee played each Uke for me to really show them each off and the more he played the non-branded Uke (there's no sticker or brand anywhere inside or out), the more he played it the more he liked it and so was I. It had more wood to it so there was a little more heft and the a deeper/louder sound. The other sounded a little twangy. The non-branded also had a wider neck which I felt more comfortable with.
I worked out a nice little deal and got it for $79. It had been re-strung with nicer white (Italian?) strings and the tuning pegs are geared, exposed and have a tightening screw.
I brought it home and immediately picked up GuitarToolkit for my iPhone which has some nice Ukulele settings. It was already pretty well tuned, just needed a few adjustments and it sounds beautiful.
I'll be scouring the boards over the next few days looking for tabs and various introduction threads. I definitely need to do some reading on strumming techniques and some exercises.
Can anyone recommend any songs good for practicing? I've been on a huge Beatles kick right now, any simple tabs to give my fingers a workout?
Looking forward to joining the community!
A quick shot of me and the Uke.
Mahalo!
-Matt
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