Does anyone here play the ukulele? I was watching videos last night and thought I would give it a try. I went on eBay and purchased a soprano and a concert. If I find I enjoy playing them, I might buy a tenor.
I sort of play ukulele. I'm not good in other words but I enjoy all kinds of stringed instruments. I do enjoy it due to the size, string type and convenience. I have a soprano and a tenor. They are fairly easy to play as far a learning simple chords. Many can be played as 2 finger chords. By the way, the tenor is easier on the finger (more room) although I end up picking up the soprano more often because it's so small and I have it just laying out.
What is your take on the tenor? Does it start sounding more like a classical than a uk. I understand the tone is deeper than that of a soprano.
It's a deep tone but it still sounds like a ukulele. A lot of people (including me) change out the "G" string for a lower octave "G" so that you can play more songs. The way it is currently tuned is called reentrant tuning. The G is higher than the string that proceeds it. If you are thinking of the high pitched classical "Hawaiian" songs the soprano does that. If you use it for playing a greater variety of songs that the tenor with the lower "G" string does that better. I'm 6'1" and my fingers get pretty cramped together near the neck of a soprano. The tenor just feels more comfortable in that regard. I have guitars, including a classical guitar and I don't think the tenor really sounds like that. Different scale, different tuning, etc. I think a tenor is a good all around instrument to have around the house however. All ukulele's are fun however. They are easy on the fingers (nylon strings) and with 4 strings instead of 6 on the guitar there is less to learn. Some of the basic chords are pretty easy to learn as well in a short period of time. Look at the finger positions for an A major, A minor, A 7th, C major and C 7th. Some are one finger some are similar to the others just on different strings, etc.
I took up fiddle for three years. (Q: What's the difference between a fiddle and a violin? A: The player.) Turns out that - despite being an artist myself, and having several art AND musically-inclined siblings, as well as a father who is also an artist - I completely suck at music.
I'm not particularly good at it either. I'm lazy musically. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I also just don't care about it as much as I do other things. I feel more like an owner of musical instruments sometimes than a player. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I have 3 electric guitars and 2 acoustic guitars. Two mandolins, one banjo, two ukuleles and two chrangos. I know the basic chords for all of them and can play a song or two on each of them but that's about it. It's more of a way to relax for me than it is about being good or working too hard at it.
Many people become collectors of musical instruments. I've had to fight the urge myself. I own one acoustic guitar and several CBGs for which I just haven't found homes yet. Instruments are so inexpensive right now, it's really easy to just buy one on impulse. I suppose my recent purchase of the ukuleles was an impulse buy, but i do intend to spend some time with them.
I don't personally like collecting anything. I like to use whatever I have even though I may have too many. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! What is a CBG?
Cigar box guitar. I make them as a hobby. I have two waiting for a new home. We're having a White Elephant gift exchange this Christmas, so I thought I might throw one into a bag and tie a ribbon on it.
Would you consider posting to Australia I have one but have been thinking of getting another as I am not sure the example I have is all that good, its the only one I have played or seen. These days besides yapping here playing it is my only pastime. Alex
Here's one I made and shipped to Afghanistan. Just the basics. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
thanx. Many people take their builds much more seriously. Mine are much more like a production line--i make several at the same time.
Interesting. So that's open E with the 3rd left out so that it doesn't sound like a major or a minor chord and you repeat the E an octave higher? Is that the logic? I would have guessed something like open G (G,B,D) but I guess you would do it as G,D,G to get that octave sound.
Yes a power chord really. GDG is popular. I some times tune it strangly to get a weird sound but never find it again. D is not bad I think they used that in a song in Crossroads. Alex