There are not many musical instruments out there whose names are as difficult to pronounce as “ukulele.” So before you start learning to play it, practice to say: “U-K-U-L-E-L-E.” Although the name might be somewhat of a tongue twister (perhaps because it comes from the Hawaiian language), ukulele is easy to play, tune, and handle.

But the simplicity of this small stringed instrument doesn’t mean that it has not been appreciated by professional musicians and performers: The Beatles’ Paul McCartney and George Harrison were ukulele aficionados, as well as Arthur Godfrey, Eric Clapton, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam – who recorded an album called “Ukulele Songs” , Tiny Tim and (not surprisingly), Don Ho, among many others. However, you don’t have to tiptoe through the tulips or dance hula to get the most out of your ukulele.

Aloha, Hawaii!

As we said, ukulele came to the mainland from Hawaii, where its predecessor, a small guitar-like instrument known as “braguinha” or “cavaquinho” made its first appearance in 1879, brought over by Portuguese sailors. It was soon modified to resemble the modern-day ukulele, reaching popularity in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. As a matter of fact, because of its portability, it was often used at the height of Jazz Age, when ukulele chord tablature started to be included into the sheet music for that era’s most popular songs. Given the instrument’s origin, it is perhaps not a coincidence that the most prominent ukulele musicians of the 20th century hailed from Hawaii: Ernest Ka’ai, the first Hawaiian-born virtuoso ukulele player; Bill Tapia, the innovator of “ ukulele jazz ” Jake Shimabukuro, “Hendrix of ukulele;” and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, known for his beautiful ukulele rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Identity crisis?

Okay, so we may be a bit dramatic here, so let us explain: quite often, non-musicians mistake the ukulele for a miniature (or a child’s) version of a guitar. The two instruments do look alike, but they are not the same. What distinguishes one from the other? Ukulele has less range than a guitar. It is not played with a pick. It emits a totally different sound – higher and sharper. It is cheaper than a guitar in all sizes – starter, midrange, and professional. It is easier to learn for a novice musician because the ukulele has four strings (to the guitar’s six) and, therefore, has fewer notes to remember. Ukulele has only nylon strings, whereas the guitar sometimes comes with steel ones. Hey, we are not dissuading you from learning to play the mighty guitar (that would be like shooting ourselves in the foot), but we just want to point out that a ukulele has lots of merits and charm of its own.

Start strumming!

Need another compelling reason to pick up a ukulele? Warren Buffet plays one! No, we can’t guarantee that mastering the ukulele will put you on the Forbes list of world’s richest people, but look at the bright side: you don’t have to be a billionaire (or a millionaire, for that matter), to start playing. In fact, the ukulele is quite affordable – several models are priced for less than $200. Are you ready to start learning? No problem, we will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons (as we do for many other instruments). By the way, going back to the instrument’s quirky name: in Hawaiian, “ukulele” means “a jumping flea,” reportedly because the fast-moving fingers on the strings reminded Hawaiians of the leaping insect. (Don’t ask us why!) Whether you associate the ukulele with the jumping fleas or beautiful music it makes, contact us so we can get started. And that’s one message that is not lost in translation!

The post With the Ukulele, You Can Bring the Sounds of Hawaii Right Into Your Home appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

A couple of months ago, we wrote a blog about an unusual but very interesting musical ensemble that plays instruments made from vegetables. And before that, we told you about an orchestra where all the instruments are made out of garbage.

These two remarkable groups inspired us to explore this topic further, especially to find other unusual orchestras or musical experiences. We didn’t quite know what to expect, but to our ears’ delight, we discovered some ingenious ways to play – and listen to – music.

Bold and creative

One unusual musical experience that is definitely making waves – literally and figuratively – is a South African underwater orchestra. This classical ensemble performs – beautifully! – submerged in the ocean. We don’t know how they manage to do this, and we find this extraordinary performance absolutely amazing. But unless you are a skilled swimmer and diver, and your instruments are waterproof, please don’t attempt to duplicate this feat! Playing music in an aquatic environment is not something you see every day, but there is more. For instance, look and listen to musicians from Australia’s Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performing with empty beer bottles . To see their extraordinary skill and dexterity is a… sobering experience!

Fun with ukes

Musicians who perform on land may not be as funky as their underwater counterparts – though they are certainly drier. And they can still distinguish themselves from the conventional musical ensembles by doing something new and different. By its definition, a traditional orchestra consists of a variety of instruments, usually from the brass, percussion, string, and woodwind family. However, that isn’t always the case. One notable exception is the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, which has gone global with performances combining uke music with a comedy routine and vocals . It just shows you what wonderful sounds you can make when you think out of the box!

We won’t get wet feet!

In case you are wondering, we’ll tell you right away: yes, our music teachers are fun and creative, but no, they will not plunge into your bathtub or fish tank. So when they come to give a music lesson in your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they expect to keep their head above water! That said, if you or your child would like to learn to play the ukulele, we have some truly awesome teachers for you. The uke is one of a number of musical instruments we teach – in addition to the guitar and many others.

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Let’s Orchestrate: Manhattan Ukulele School Introduces You to World’s Most Unusual Musicians! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.