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Best Tenor Ukulele under $200

We just got in the new Makai TK-65 tenor ukulele and the consensus here at the shop is  that this is some serious value! The sound is balanced and the design is fluent with a soft venetian cutaway. Classic Martin style construction, solid without being heavy. The tuning keys are really well made and a bone nut and saddle are …

Sound Waves from Ko’olau-

For those of you not able to get to a store with these models, the next best way to check them out is with pictures and videos. This is a Ko’olau T1 Koa and C100 Hawaiiand Ash wood. Though Ko’olau at one point was more of a production line, they are now much like the custom shop they started as. With Noa Bonk building these from start to finish you get the continuity of a master builder sanding the woods and shaping the braces, all the way to stringing it up. Enjoy~

Learn to Play Super Mario Bros theme on Ukulele!

If you’re under the age of 40, you’ve probably played this video game and have heard this tune many times. The cool thing is, it’s in the perfect range to play on the ukulele, and when you get it down you are sure to put a smile on someones face. So here’s part 1 of the tutorial, the video underneath it is what you’re gonna sound like after a week of practicing! Have fun~

Sing the Body on the Twilight Zone against the Ukulele Wall with a Pono

I just wanted to see how ridiculous of a title I could use on this one. Zack and Eli from the store were playing when I came into the shop last night. Zack had just gotten a Pono a few weeks ago and was writing this song about an episode of the Twilight Zone where a man refuses heaven because …

The Ukulele in Modern Pop and Alternative Music

a beautifully filmed performance at the UK MTV awards of Bruno Mars playing his Pono Tenor Ukulele. A good example of the ukulele in the most current, popular music of the day. Bruno’s album is at #1 on the pop charts in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Austria, Belgium (isn’t that a waffle?)
As musical trends spread through our “connected” world, there is more exposure to diverse musical approaches than ever before. Genre’s are now melting together and influences include 10, 20, 80 GB of harddrive space from 6 different genre’s in your average musicians iPod……Ingrid Michaelson, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, Portishead, Florence and the Machine, and many others. Train’s “Hey Soul Sister” has sold over 4 million copies and spent 22 weeks at No.1 in the adlult contemporary chart,…….this comfort sized instrument has proved to be the perfect harmonious companion to many great songs, and it is getting more love than ever.

3 Ukulele Players Highlighted

Here is a some unreleased footage from our Ukulele Keaka series for your enjoyment!
The first performance is from the one and only, Mr. Kimo Hussey. Kimo has the ability,like all great musicians, to take a song and make it his own. I could tell Kimo’s playing from a mile away because his style is so distinctive and ….delightful! This link is to a post showing some of his workshop

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The Ukulele Keaka

I built Higher Ground with the same principle that has me up at night doing videos instead of eBay listings – The principle that if you do good things for the community, the money side of things will take care of itself….Unfortunately for Higher Ground, that was not totally the case, but it was fun, AND we have a ton of unreleased footage!! I am going to start putting it on The Ukulele Review exclusively! We want to have our own community of uke enthusiast. A portal of inspiration and education. So let your friends know, because we got some guys comin’ up that you probably have not heard yet. Up next is a young man named Kuhio, and his voice will blow you away.

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Ukulele Performances from NAMM 2011!

this year it was great to see the ukulele captivating many genres and musicians! I was lucky enough to capture some footage at the show and after show to give you a piece of the Ukulele talent at NAMM 2011. Playing for Kala this year was the ingenious Canadian, James Hill. James is flowing in music and thought. Listening to him play, or even talking with him has an almost calming effect because he is so captivating. James has a multitude of styles and techniques that cross boundaries and fascinate a diverse crowd. He is an entertainer, an educator, and a testament to the Langley Ukulele program.Another highlight from the show was Aldrine Guerrero playing at the Kanilea Booth. His rhythm and percussive strumming has so much energy it is exciting to watch and hear.

New Ukulele Tutorial Series! “Close To You”- the Jake Shimabukuro Version – Part 1

on the fourth of January Jake Shimabukuro is releasing a new CD called Peace Love and Ukulele. You can preorder your digital download from his website – http://jakeshimabukuro.com/peaceloveukulele/ . I love Jake’s music and passion but neve really had the time to sit and figure out his compositions, actually most of them are beyond my technical ability, but his rendition of the Carpenters classic – “Close to You” from his Sunday Morning CD. If you do not have this album..Go to iTunes!!