Links

Ukulele Links and Resources

There is a lot of support online for ukulele learners. From videos to songbooks to chord charts, if you have the time to learn, you will find them helpful. Here is a list of a few of the vast resources provided by generous ukulele players and teachers from around the world. Let’s start with a mnemonic for the string order as illustrated in a cartoon by Rich Tennant of The 5th Wave. Here are some statistics on ukulele trends.

Ukulele Techniques and Stories

How to Play Ukulele by Jake Shimabukuro

(plus lessons on Triple Strum, and Three-finger Tremolo)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow (IZ)–Ukulele Tutorial

Manitoba Hal’s Blog

Ukulele in the Dark with Guido Heistek and the Alexander Technique

James Hill’s Ukulele in the Classroom

Kimo Hussey’s Video Blog

Ralph Shaw’s Blog: The Ukulele Entertainer

Curt Sheller’s “All Things ‘Ukulele'”

Ukulele Go!’s Great Ukulele Chord Progressions

UkeBuddy’s Chord Namer

Ukulele Technique at a Peek on Ukulele Central

How to Hold Your Ukulele (Beginner Video)

David Chen’s 24 Beginners’ Ukulele Lessons (in Mandarin Chinese) (Link to lessons’ index page)

So You Got Your First Ukulele (a beginner’s guide to ukulele by Al Wood from the Ukulele Hunt website) and some Beginner Ukulele Lessons

Things to Consider When Shopping for Your “Forever Ukulele”

Gloss, Satin or UV Cured Finish?

In this short video, Kaimana Souza of Kanileʻa talks about UV Cured finishes and how they compare to regular finishes.

Other Features to Consider

Bevelled Armrest and Cutaway
Radius Fretboard
Arch Back
Strap Button(s) [or use button-free straps]
Equalizer, Tuner, Pickup
Slotted Headstock
Side Ports
Pin Bridge, Double Hole Bridge
Solid vs Laminate
Natural vs Synthetic (including linen-composite, carbon fibre) Soundboard
Thin-Body Travel Size
Inlays
Edgeless Heel

Cool “Must-Watch” Clips and Documentary Trailers

A Documentary About Ukulele In China (in 4 parts)

This is a very moving series of documentary films that touched on almost every aspect of ukulele life and is well worth watching. From teaching blind children to play, to a major tour of the Kala ukulele factory, to the origin of ukulele in Hawaii and in China, to a marriage proposal on stage at a ukulele festival and more, you will find something that resonates with your ukulele journey. Many of the who’s whos in the ukulele world appeared in passing in the film, too. The documentary shows the ukulele’s popularity in China (where most of the world’s low-end to medium-end ukes are made. (The film is in Chinese with English subtitles.)

Episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiFGCRlkjPE

Episode 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04mn2XFfq6s

Episode 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvcdosBx7b4

Episode 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8Uy3wRb82w

A Word from Chris “Ukuleles”

This is a short video of Chris Martin, of the Martin Guitar fame, talking about the development of ukuleles over the years with interesting historical facts and tales from the perspective of his family-owned company.

“Bill Sevesi’s Dream” (Documentary)

History of the Ukulele – ‘Apanhei-te Cavaquinho” (Documentary)

Heart Strings: The Story of the Kamaka ‘Ukulele (Documentary)

100 Years of the Ukulele in 6 Minutes (Documentary)

Frank Skinner on George Formby (Documentary)

Sione Aleki (The Jimi Hendrix of the Ukulele and recognized as the world’s number one ukulele entertainer), How to Play Ukulele Like a Legend

Ukulele Sessions Presents Azo Bell

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Performs “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”

“Ukulele… I Love You” by Singto Numchok

Tom Saunder’s “You Are My Sunshine” Leonard Cohen Style

The Mighty Uke trailer

Four Strings and the Truth trailer

Music Resources

Dr. Toby Rush’s Braille Music Education Resources
Other music resources by Dr. Rush: https://www.tobyrush.com/

Music Theory for Musicians and Normal People (US version): https://tobyrush.com/theorypages/index.html

Music Theory for Musicians and Normal People (UK / AUS version): https://tobyrush.com/theorypages/EN-uk/index.html

Music Theory and Transposing Folder
https://www.castaliapub.com/music-theory-folder/

A Holiday Music Corpus
https://tobyrush.com/holiday/

Song Books

Jim’s Ukulele Songs (includes special versions to accommodate visually impaired musicians)

The Long Island Ukulele Strummers Club Song Book Galore

The Incredibly Big Little Book of Scouting and Campfire Songs

Colin Tribe’s Music Arrangements (including tabs) of Popular Songs for the Ukulele

Live Ukulele – Tabs

MyUke

Spencer Gay’s Ukulele Chord Melody Songbook

Capotasto Music – Easy Ukulele Tabs

Richard G’s Ukulele Songbook

Huapala – Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives

He Mele Aloha – A Hawaiian Songbook (and the Taropatch’s Compilation of YouTube Links to the songs in the book). See review — “And if this isn’t enough to recommend the book, He Mele Aloha is also an entirely charitable production: profits from its sale go to Lunalilo Home”.

Mele Kalikimaka (a collection of Christmas songs by 808 Uke Jams)

Ukester Brown’s Song Sheets

The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz Two-Volume Song Books (email Stu Herreid <stu@thestrumshop.com> for the official digital copy)

The Vancouver Ukulele Circle Song Books (email Wendy Cutler <wlcutler@gmail.com> for the official digital copy)

Ukulele Groups

Cutie Circle’s First Sister Group (July 2016)

The Cuties have found their first sister group, Silver Ukulele Strummers, and it is led by our dear friends, Chris and Val, all the way in Australia. Cuties can feel even more at home when they visit Australia with their ukuleles! We will work on ways to grow this cultural exchange and hope you will share your ideas and thoughts on how to make more ukulele friends! Please be sure to pay our sister group a visit and partake in all the ukulele festivities when you visit Australia.

Local Ukulele Groups

Delta Ukulele Circle (formerly White Rock Ukulele Circle) (North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Avenue in Delta on the first Saturday of the month from 2:00 to 4:30. YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT please phone 604-952-3620 to speak to registrar or leave a message with your name and number.)

Heritage Uke Club in New Westminster

Langley Ukulele Ensemble

Vancouver Ukulele Circle

Viva la Ukelucion