answersLogoWhite

0

Ukulele

This small 4-stringed instrument originated in Hawaii and was based on Portuguese instruments. The instrument has seen a recent resurgence in popularity as more mainstream musicians have incorporated it into their repertoire.

500 Questions

What are the ukulele chords for 'Alice's Restaurant?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The chords are:

C-A7-D7-G7-C

C-A7-D7-G7

C-F-D7

C-A7-D7-G7-C

What is a good ukulele?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

It depends greatly on what you are looking for. There are dozens of brands that make a nice starter Ukulele for under $30 for students and beginners. Rogue is one brand that sells student kits. Horner also has good ones. Mahalo, Makala and Diamond Head are others.

Do you need a pick for an ukulele?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

No you certainly do not need one. Most of the really good players do not use a pick. You can use a felt pick, I do occasionally use one if I have a problem with a finger, such as a really bad hangnail or a broken nail.

Would a tuba and ukulele duet sound good?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

It would depend entirely on the composition. The biggest danger is that the trumpet is going to overwhelm the clarinet and both of them are going to over power the ukulele. You would have to amplify the ukulele, but they are all musical instruments and they can be blended. It won't be easy, but it can be done.

What kind of ukulele does Tom Fletcher play?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

He is known for playing the guitar and the piano but he can also play bass and drums.

What is the hole in an ukulele called?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Sound holes are the openings in the body of the stringed instrument. They allow the sound being created by the reverberations of the strings in the wood or plastic body to be emitted into the air so others can hear them better. Typically there is a single round hole in near the middle, but they can be shaped in various ways. Some makers have been adding small hole on the side, allowing the player to hear the instrument they are playing better. Sometimes there is a 'reverb' device, a metal plate with ornate designs, on the front that bounces the sound and increases the volume.

Is japanesse hard to learn?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Yes. This is a simple question, as English has become the internationally spoken language and is/approaching mandatory in several countries. However, the main issue is with the sounds emitted in the English alphabet, which the Japanese alphabet lacks several. Therefore, English can be considered difficult for most native Japanese speakers.

What are ukuleles used for?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

A ukelele is a musical instrument of the guitar family. I originated in Hawaii in the 1800s and from there spread to the US and eventually elswhere in the world. It looks like a small acoustic guitar and has four strings, or four pairs of strings tuned together.

Where did the ukulele originate?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The ukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian interpretation of a small guitar-like instrument called a machete or braguinha brought to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants from the islands of Madeira. They were coming to work in the sugar cane fields and the group included 3 individuals that became instrument makers.

The first ukuleles were made in Hawaii. They were made by Portuguese immigrants as early as 1879. They were based on similar instruments that were found in Portugal.

Can an ukulele have a metal string without breaking it?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Maybe, depending on the ukulele. The uke is designed to be strung with gut or nylon strings. Metal is very likely to over stress the instrument. The larger ukuleles are more likely to have a metal string.

Note that some strings, such as those for a banjolele or a bass ukulele, are wound with very thin wire to make it vibrate in the correct areas.

What does an electric ukulele look like?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

A stringed instrument that runs 20 to 28 inches long. It can be shaped into multiple shapes but is most commonly found in the figure 8 guitar shape. They are usually made of very thin wood, but plastics and metal can be used.

What is Christopher Drew of Nevershoutnever's ukulele named?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Frederick, I read it on a warped tour review on nevershoutnever.com

The other one that he used in the video to "Cheatercheaterbestfriendeater" I haven't seen much of.

Are the lyre and ukulele similar instruments?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The lyre is more like a small harp, while the ukulele is more like a small guitar. The only similarity is they are both stringed instruments.

What do you need to play the ukulele?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Knives to carve and shape the wood. Bending and steaming equipment to form the woods. Clamps to hold the wood in shape as the glue dries. A drill would be useful. Small saws for the rough shaping would be useful. There are many other specialized tools that can make the work easier, such as a special router for putting binding on the edges, but they aren't required.

What kind of wood is a wooden ukulele made of?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Ukuleles are versatile instruments that can be made from many materials. It can be made from just about any type of wood, solid or laminate, or even plastics. The original instruments were made with native Hawaiian woods. It needs to be strong and light. Mahogany, spruce, maple, and mango are common. The prime wood that is sought after is the Koa wood.

Many ukuleles are made from plastic and some quality instruments are available (Flea and Fluke are examples). Inexpensive 'toy' ukuleles are available as well.

Ukuleles are also made from existing items. An example is the cigar box ukulele or the lunch box ukulele, where the sound box is built from an existing structure and a neck is added to the box. Some makers even use metal cans for the body of their ukuleles. Wood is the primary material for a traditional ukulele. Koa wood is traditional, but pretty much any wood can be used. Popular types are mango, mahogany, spruce, and cedar. Fret boards are often made of rosewood or even ebony.

There is metal in the frets and the tuners.

Inlays are made from plastic, ivory or mother-of-pearl.

How much is a 1950 Marx violin-uke worth?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

These were produced in the early 1900's. They were sold door to door and it was a combination of something that could be plucked like an ukulele, or bowed like a violin. It was set up with a number system that made it easy to play.

Value is minimal, you can purchase them on eBay for anywhere from $20 to $100 depending on condition.

What song has the ukulele and goes sha na na na na na na na nananana?

User Avatar

Asked by Yasai6500

Is This the Way to Amarillo written by Neil Sedaka, originally released in UK by Tony Christie (1971) & later by Peter Kay (2005) where it became UK #1 & the biggest selling single of that year

How do you string an ukulele?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The related question below talks about the various tunings and strings for an ukulele.

The mechanical process is pretty straightforward for those that can be done with a simple knot at the bridge end. Those that have a more complex method are still pretty easy. There are a couple of videos on youtube that show the method of tying the knots.

And remember that it will take several days for the strings to stretch and settle to the point where they will hold the tuning for more than a few minutes.

How can you make a guitar sound like an ukulele?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Volume swells. you can either use a volume pedal, or just the volume knob of your guitar. check Yngwie Malmsteens Echo Etude on youtube for a good example of using the volume knob of your guitar.

Are the notes for the violin the same on the ukulele?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The notes are going to be the same, but getting them will be different! The strings are different notes then a guitar. If you play the baritone guitar, the strings are normally tuned to the same as the bottom 4 strings of the guitar, so that could be played the same way.


There are 4 strings on the ukelele and six on the guitar so it would be different.

How do you play D on the ukulele?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

One way on the standard G'CEA tuning, the D chord is created by barring the top three strings at the second fret. The tab would look like this:

0000

XXX0

0000

0000

Others find it easier to play by stopping all strings at the second fret (with index finger) then also stopping first string at the fifth fret with little finger. The tab would look like this:

0000

XXX0 (only higher stopping of first string is shown - later)

0000

0000

000X

Several advantages to this second way.

1: Some people feel that it is easier.

2: The root note (D) is played twice (1st and 3rd string) and is also LAST note played on downward stroke - and first on upstroke.

3: If D7 is then required - second finger at third fret on first string - replaces little finger at fifth fret, which retains the root note which is still on third string.

4: Fretting all of the stings allows one to control the length of the notes using the 'squeeze' method of damping the strings by pulling the fingers off the fret board.

One of the disadvantages of the second method is that it can make it more difficult to transition to some of the other chord fingerings commonly used. This can be mitigated to some extent by learning alternative methods for other chords.

You'll find the one that works best for you and the music you are playing!

When did Taylor Swift start playing the ukulele?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Taylor Swift does play the ukulele, as well as the guitar, banjo and piano.

What does ukulele mean in Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

A ukulele is a small guitar like instrument

Is the solid mahogany koloa baritone ukulele a good ukulele?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Harmony made some the of finest Ukes since the 1920s. Purchase price at the time was reasonable. Since, however, many of these, especially those built in the 1940s and 50s are very collectible.

The vintage Ukuleles often have some really good tones. The wood has had decades to 'relax' allowing them to really reverberate. I have two that are over 40 years old and they make some big sound!

In a Christmas episode of "Happy Days" (titled "White Christmas"), Big Al (played by Al Molinaro) brings a Harmony baritone uke to the Cunninghams' house party.

Should you buy an ukulele or a guitar?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

There is no right or wrong answer to this.

The ukelele is generally considered much easier to play. There are only four strings (rather than six on a guitar) and just strumming the open strings on a ukelele using standard tuning almost produces a C major chord (it requires a single finger press to turn it into a C major chord, vs. the guitar, where producing a C major chord from the standard tuning involves pressing three strings and only strumming five strings rather than all six). The fact that the standard tuning is so close to a major chord (any major chord) means that it's easy to play other major chords as well, using one finger as a "bar" to press all the strings at the same fret.

The other aspect is that learning to play the ukulele will make transition to another stringed instrument such as a guitar relatively straight forward. Once you get the chord shapes down, they can be used on several instruments, the shape will create another chord, but the fingering is close. With the variety of instruments and sizes, the ukulele can play any type of music. Look for Jake Shimabukuro on YouTube and see some of the boundries he's pushing!

If your goal is just to be able to play a stringed instrument ... any stringed instrument ... the ukelele will work for you. If you want to play rock, get a guitar (unless you want the main part of Train's "Hey Soul Sister" in which case get an ukulele).

If you're playing folk music, you might consider an Appalachian dulcimer, which is usually tuned in either the Ionian or Aoelian modes for playing music in major and minor keys respectively, has three (or four) strings, and you "note" only on one string (two, on the four-string version, but they're tuned identically so it's still a single press), with the other two strings playing a "drone" note (this is similar to how bagpipes work, so a dulcimer actually works pretty well for Celtic/Scots music also). At the same time James Hill won Canadian Folk Album of the Year playing ukulele.