Comments on: Why is the ukulele popular and other Guardian Questions

By: Stretchlinks

Stretchlinks — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:10:13 +0000

Ukes are happy instruments. Most people may not be aware that back in prehistoric times the Uke was originally a salad strainer. It was only after many frustrating attempts to reach inside the sound hole and remove the small pieces of arugula, spinach and red leaf that someone suggested the strumming and picking thing. The rest is history. Thanks very much for the great site and for celebrating the UKE! Best, Heinous and Wonkles, aka The Stretchlinks.

By: Jeff Bradley

Jeff Bradley — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:38:42 +0000

I think the attraction is the simplicity of the instrument. The soprano and concert sizes look like toys to most newcomers. And having only 4 strings makes them far less intimidating than almost any other instrument in the store except maybe the kazoos and tambourines. And for those unfamiliar with ukuleles the bar is set pretty low when it comes to the performance of these little guys. People who don’t consider themselves musically inclined will still pick up a ukulele. I got my first uke out of curiosity. It was an inexpensive soprano and more challenging than I expected because I was used to a guitar. I found a baritone uke a week later and fell in love. Like me, people are also pleasantly surprised to discover the sophisticated musical possibilities ukuleles present. I now have an acoustic/electric baritone, and not only does it sound great when I’m playing solo, it sounds incredible when accompanied by a guitar and other instruments. I’ve been playing for about 5 years and still making new musical discoveries. I got a tenor a couple of weeks ago. What an adventure!

By: isalei

isalei — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:58:21 +0000

The good thing about the ukulele is that it lets you express yourself