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pluckyfingers - Posted - 04/12/2011: 19:55:53
Not sure ABC iView will work everywhere, but I've just watched this great documentary titled, " Mighty Uke', and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Just about every banjo player I know has a uke sitting around somewhere and they seem to be everywhere at the festivals here in Australia. I havn't got one yet, but Eric if you read this, I think "Ukelele Hangout" would be a welcome addition to the site.
abc.net.au/iview/#/arts (Just scroll down until you see "Might Uke")
Edited by - pluckyfingers on 04/12/2011 20:55:52
Alan Hill - Posted - 04/12/2011: 20:47:50
Hi Bill ive just joined the Lismore ukulele club its great fun about thirty people playing some realy cheesy tunes and having a good sing song my main weopon is an Oscar Shmidt tenor in mango wood and a Martinez banjo uke its good to play some music with some other people I mostly play my banjo in a room off the garage away from the wife ,,,,bless her ,,yes the uke is a lot of fun ,,how about a uke hangout ?
robmac07 - Posted - 04/13/2011: 00:50:35
Yep, the ukes are fun and there are many flourishing uke groups around.
That Mighty Uke film was great, Bill.
We even have 3 Ukes in our local Old Timey Jam and Band, 2 of which are open back banjoleles.
Were often used in the old time bands from the 1920s and 30s
Uke Hangout......, maybe but at least there's the ''Ukulele Tyme'' group here on the BHO. It seems to be growing well.
mike gregory - Posted - 04/13/2011: 04:39:14
It was a dollar ninety-eight cent plastic TV PAL uke, back around 1960, that got me started on this journey to international recognition on the Banjo Hangout.
Milwauke Ukulele Club meets Sunday thew 17th, and I'll be there.
mike gregory - Posted - 04/13/2011: 04:42:49
The message on my screen says "This program is available to people in Australia only"
It might be a nice film, but that's a heck of a commute.
I'll ask around Sunday, see who's got it on DVD.
John Allison - Posted - 04/13/2011: 04:43:56
I see them, on occassion, at the Midwest Banjo Hangout. All the music stores sell them and seem to carry a fairly large stock. Arthur Godfrey really started something.
steve davis - Posted - 04/13/2011: 04:55:32
I just ordered a Silver Creek D170 and they're throwing in a uke for nothing.
I like to tune them like a mandolin.
Sultans of Claw - Posted - 04/13/2011: 05:16:07
That little uke they send with the D-170 isn't much more than a toy, but I'll admit, I'm having fun trying to learn to play it -- never had a Uke before.
Good luck with your D-170, Steve.
steve davis - Posted - 04/13/2011: 07:49:35
They just emailed me that it's on its way,but they had my driveway number wrong.
I called them and a nice lady straightened it out.So far I like Musician's Friend.
I'm thinking of putting a little 12 fret 5 string neck on the uke,Lee.
I was at a jam a couple nights ago playing my friends' two D-35s.I don't expect to stand toe-to-toe with them,but half as good for a tenth the price would be ok with me.
Edited by - steve davis on 04/13/2011 07:50:19
Sultans of Claw - Posted - 04/13/2011: 09:23:33
Not to hijack the Uke thead, but I meant to tell you that acclimating to SC humidity has helped those sharp treble side fret ends a lot.
pluckyfingers - Posted - 04/13/2011: 13:18:18
Shame about the Austraia only bit Mike. The film must be available somewhere else, online TV seems to all the go now. I guess we've got to be getting a bit more use out of our "steam powered" technology as we watch vids about things that didn't need any power to work.
Alan Hill - Posted - 04/13/2011: 13:27:49
Sorry Bill I forgot to say thanks for the thread the film was very good and well worth watching while im ere I recomend you have a look at ,,,,musicteacher2010 on youtube he is a great player and teacher of the uke and his enthusiasm is boundless
pluckyfingers - Posted - 04/13/2011: 13:38:59
I mentioned to my wife last night I want a uke and the reaction was, "Well don't bring it near me, and you'll have to play Tiny Tim's "Tiptoe Through the Tulips". Some people just don't get it. Anyway I really like the look and sound of those FLUKE, FLEA ukes. The flame tops and cool colours appeal to an old fellow like me.
Sultans of Claw - Posted - 04/13/2011: 14:23:54
The good news is that plenty of spouses probably feel the same way, so there should be a ready supply of great used Ukes at great prices.
Yeah the Flukes do look pretty funky cool!
Jim Cannon - Posted - 04/13/2011: 14:36:59
Elderly has it, The Mighty Uke...I just ordered mine.
Edited by - Jim Cannon on 04/13/2011 14:38:26
Paul R - Posted - 04/13/2011: 17:16:28
I get e-mails all the time from someone involved in the movie, advertising "Mighty Uke" showings in Toronto. The title confused me at first, as the part of T.O. where we used to live had a lot of Ukrainians living in it, and was occasionally referred to as "Uke Town". 
Alan Hill - Posted - 04/13/2011: 19:23:38
Hey Bill I would go for a concert or tenor sizes as the realy small ones are not nice to play or listen to mybe a lanakai or Oscar Shmidt amazon.com do some great deals its well worth a look you could always get a banjo uke your wife may find that more acceptable
steve davis - Posted - 04/13/2011: 19:38:56
Baritone ukes are much like tenor guitars.
pluckyfingers - Posted - 04/13/2011: 19:49:13
Thanks Alan ansd Steve, 'bout the different types of ukes. What tuning are they in and from when I've picked up a uke before I played it clawhammer style and it seemed to work even without the fifth string.
Alan Hill - Posted - 04/13/2011: 19:54:36
GCEA IS THE Tuning for all ukes except the barritone of which I havent a clue clawhammer works on a banjo uke but is not so loud on a normal uke
robmac07 - Posted - 04/13/2011: 20:22:47
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Hill
GCEA IS THE Tuning for all ukes except the barritone of which I havent a clue clawhammer works on a banjo uke but is not so loud on a normal uke
Hi Alan
Baritone ukes are usually tuned DGBE - same as top 4 strings of a guitar. This is also known as the ''Chicago tuning'' used on plectrum banjos.
Also not all other ukes are tuned in GCEA (''C '' tuning) The smaller ones ie soprano and concert are often tuned a tone higher (''D tuning'') ADF#B. This was very popular in the 1920s. An ''F tuning'' was also used. George Formby used sveral ukes each tuned to different tunings (just like Uncle Dave Macon on 5 string banjo)
Edited by - robmac07 on 04/13/2011 20:37:56
Jim Yates - Posted - 04/13/2011: 20:24:13
Sopranos, concerts and tenors are all tuned gCEA or GCEA. The ones with the high G string (Make your own joke) are best for clawhammer playing, which is becoming quite popular among uke players. Baritone ukes, invented by Arthur Godfrey, are tuned like the top four strings of a guitar, DGBE. As Steve Davis says, they're much like a tenor guitar in Chicago tuning, like Nick Reynolds or Tiny Grimes tuned theirs. All of the pictures I've seen of Nick Reynolds have shown his guitar capoed at the fifth fret, which would make it GCEA or ukulele tuning. I wonder if he started as a uke player.
I have a small tenor guitar which I have strung with nylon strings and tuned DGBE, making it a baritone uke I guess. I also have a short scale tenor banjo (tango banjo?) that I've strung with nylon strings and tuned GCEA, making it a banjo uke.
Edited by - Jim Yates on 04/13/2011 20:25:54
Grumpy1 - Posted - 04/13/2011: 23:41:33
I have a tenor and the grandkids have a concert and soprano. All Kala Makala. Pretty darned good entry level ukes. Definitely not a toy and only $58 on line. I've got no hog in the trough just passing on good info. I've put a pickup in the largest 2 and they sound great through an acoustic amp. 
We're tuned gCEA and I strum or finger pick. Works well in that tuning. The low G is a bit too slack for me when finger pickin". 
Keep on plunkin"
Grumpy
lc47 - Posted - 04/14/2011: 00:31:54
I've just tried to watch the 'Mighty Uke' but also found it blocked. Has anyone sourced it elsewhere?
I started with a soprano uke just for a bit of fun - purple in colour - I just thought it looked so sweet I had to buy it:)
I've now purchased a concert uke and play with a primary school group on a Monday night and really enjoy it - Uke's are so easy to play.
The "my spouse hates my Uke" seems to be a worldwide problem as my husband looks up to the heavens and moans "oh no" everytime I pick up my uke. They just don't understand that it's pure simple FUN to play (and very addictive).
Regards
Linda
steve davis - Posted - 04/14/2011: 06:03:31
We were lucky to have the Mammals play at our East Benton Fiddler's Convention a few times.
Here's a song with Ruth Ungar playing her National ukelele.
I've heard her play it live and the notes just split the air.
youtube.com/watch?v=u2AGNgqxgg...e=related
Jim Yates - Posted - 04/14/2011: 08:15:37
Grumpy - I hope that you didn't try tuning a high G string down to a low G. You have to replace it with a heavier string and it's not slack at all. I think part of the charm of the uke is that high G re-entrant tuning, but the low G ukes are more suited to "Travis/Cotton-style" finger-picking.
Linda, Pluckyfingers and Sultans - I'm lucky, I guess. I have a spouse who also plays the uke.
Alan Hill - I'd add Kala to the list of uke manufacturers who make good all round ukes. My favourite is a koa Kala concert.
Tuning - A Canadian educator named Chalmers Doane (sp?) popularized the ukulele as a music teaching tool in Canadian schools and all, or most, of his teaching materials used an ADF#B, with a low A, tuning. I've seen this tuning elsewhere too.
Jim Yates - Posted - 04/14/2011: 08:28:48
Steve - Was Ruth Unger the young lady holding a fiddle on the 1977 Jay Unger and Lyn Hardy Catskill Mountain Goose Chase LP?
Grumpy1 - Posted - 04/14/2011: 23:10:34
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Yates
Grumpy - I hope that you didn't try tuning a high G string down to a low G. You have to replace it with a heavier string and it's not slack at all. I think part of the charm of the uke is that high G re-entrant tuning, but the low G ukes are more suited to "Travis/Cotton-style" finger-picking.
Linda, Pluckyfingers and Sultans - I'm lucky, I guess. I have a spouse who also plays the uke.
Alan Hill - I'd add Kala to the list of uke manufacturers who make good all round ukes. My favourite is a koa Kala concert.
Tuning - A Canadian educator named Chalmers Doane (sp?) popularized the ukulele as a music teaching tool in Canadian schools and all, or most, of his teaching materials used an ADF#B, with a low A, tuning. I've seen this tuning elsewhere too.
I haven't fooled around with changing to a heavier gauge yet Jim. I do finger pick Travis/Cotton style mostly so will give that a try. Any gauge recommends for the low G? 
Grumpy
steve davis - Posted - 04/15/2011: 05:20:55
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Yates
Steve - Was Ruth Unger the young lady holding a fiddle on the 1977 Jay Unger and Lyn Hardy Catskill Mountain Goose Chase LP?
I suppose so,Jim,though I'm not familiar with the album,Lyn and Jay(author of Ashoken Farewell) are her parents.Here's a quick bio of Ruth.
sunspotpro.com/concerts/concer..._pop.html
INFP47 - Posted - 04/16/2011: 17:32:43
While baritone ukes are typically tuned DGBE, I play one tuned DGBD like G tuning on the banjo. That way I can clawhammer the uke without even having to think about what I'm doing. Just lazy I guess.
Tim
TB-4 Guy - Posted - 04/16/2011: 17:46:11
I love ukeleles. I got my Martin O Soprano at a divorce sale for $20 in 1971. I keep it handy and do a bit of strumming from time to time. They are a happy little instrument and with practice, some great tunes can be played.
TonyS - Posted - 07/03/2011: 15:09:39
That ABC site looks great but I too can't find any 'Mighty Uke" - even using the Search bar - any more info please?? :)
Edited by - TonyS on 07/03/2011 15:20:36
Jim Cannon - Posted - 07/03/2011: 20:57:51
TonyS, I was just on YouTube and they have several sites showing the trailer and other stuff. I hope that is what you are seeking.
mike gregory - Posted - 07/04/2011: 08:30:11
I shall talk to the Man Upstairs about the Mighty Uke film.
Not straying into a Debatable Religious Topic here. My upstairs neighbor is Li'l Rev, the guy who wrote a book of uke instructions for the Hal Leonard company.
halleonard.com/product/viewpro...id=695832&
As to tuning, traditionally, we were supposed to sing "My Dog Has Fleas", to get the right notes.
But "M D H F" are not notes to which one might tune.
"g C E A" are the notes, so, being a wordslinger, I have suggested
"grab Crazy Elephant A ss" as giving the actual letters of the scale.
It was not passed unanimously. It was not passed at all.
As they say for the unofficial slogan of M.I.T. (a fine school) "Mother, I Tried!"
TonyS - Posted - 07/05/2011: 17:33:56
Ok, there's a motion, all in favor of g rab C razy E lephant A ss raise your uke!!
