Look what I just bought

[JeffH]

Saw in on Facebook from a local seller, as new but at half the new price. Could not help myself. [It's tenor size.]



It has a pickup (basically piezo microphone element under bridge) and a preamplifier. So I grabbed a lead and plugged it into my little utility amp I use from my soundcard.
Result; incredibly loud feedback!
So I learnt two things;
•Don't lay a ukulele down right in front of one of the speakers,
•Turn the volume control to low before plugging it in.

[Unicorn]

:laugh2: ..... Never too old to learn something eh Jeff! So would you call that positive or negative feedback :mocking:

We'll have to call you Jeff Herbert Buckingham Khuary from now on!

[JeffH]

Definitely positive feedback in the technical sense. I very quickly inserted my finger into that feedback loop to reduce the gain.


Do you mean "Herbert Buckingham Khaury"?
Tiptoe Through the Tulips is not on my proposed agenda.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow seems to be a favourite with ukulele players;
•Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
•Jake Shimabukuro
•Sydney Uke
•Train passengers seem to like it too.

[Unicorn]

Yes, the Somewhere Over The Rainbow is a beauty.

Perhaps Tiptoe Through The Tulips ...... is not The Greatest Ukulele Song in the World, no.

This is just a tribute.  :winkextra:

[Unicorn]

Perhaps this one is more your style ......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSG32K8Z1sQ

[Pedro]

:fie:

Pedro

[JeffH]

Perhaps this one is more your style ......

Tiny Tim had a thing for AC/DC songs but I am firmly of the opinion that ukulele and those songs are not complementary.

[interest]

The best advice I can give is buy a new set of good strings.

The first song I learnt to play on my UKE was Camptown Races,
now I see it is being used for an ad on TV, god is nothing sacred?

Camptown Races

    C           
The Camptown ladies sing this song,
G
Doo-da, Doo-da
    C
The Camptown racetrack's five miles long
G             C
Oh, de doo-da day

C
Goin' to run all night
F                C
Goin' to run all day
  C
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
G                   C
Somebody bet on the gray

[JeffH]

I was told it has new strings and will need frequent tuning until they settle down.
I have printed out a sheet of blank chord grids and working out chords. Then compare with published chord chart to make sure I haven't stuffed any up. Also playing scales (major and minor) for different keys. I figure that might be the quickest way to get both my brain and fingers conditioned to the instrument.
Then I will try some simple, starter songs. Jambalaya is one that comes to mind -only requires two chords. Boy that Hank sure knew how to write some subtle songs. :taunt:

And a quick question, if I might. Do you use the high G or low G tuning? My musical background starts with piano and later guitar so the low G seems to make more sense -same as top 4 strings of a guitar but a fourth (5 frets) higher. I will stick with the re-entrant tuning to start as that is what it is strung for and maybe, when I get familiar with it, I  will like that more standard setup.

[interest]

High G

If it's in tune it will sound like

My dog has fleas,

buy a uke tuner keep it on the head they are great.

I found out if they don't stay in tune, they are cheap strings, so best replace them to save angst, good strings stay in tune.


don't laugh, I love my uke.

[JeffH]

Lesson 3. Cut fingernails on fingering hand -Uke is small and need to use the tips of your fingers. Strumming hand doesn't matter; in fact long fingernails might even be an advantage.
Lesson 4. Probably they are new strings as they are going flat quickly (need to be stretched to final setting, but getting better). This lesson is not to make assumptions; when I had a close look at the strings the G string is quite fat -this one is set up for a low G. I can live with that and that is apparently reasonably common with a tenor ukulele.
And yes interest, a tuner makes it so much easier. I have downloaded Instrument Tuner, found an old headset with a microphone and plugged into my sound card and able to get tuning accurate (until it drifts again, but that is slowing down now). I am getting better at homing in on the note with a little bit of practice for my old ears that have not done that for some years.

Progress report.
Have managed to play several chords that do sound musical (sort of). Even a 12 bars blues progression (but slow).
Played a riff on maj/6th/dom7/6th/maj that is recognisable.
Played a couple of major scales based on the two lower strings.

I will keep plugging on those for now and intend to also try some arpeggios. House of the Rising Sun suggest a good exercise to me. Familiar with playing the song from the past but will transpose it to a more suitable key for this instrument. So what if it is nearly an octave too high -the aim is to get the hang of the instrument and have fun anyway while doing that.

Question.
What is the best way to record my efforts and play back so I  can hear how awful I really sound?