STRUMMERS GUESTMAIL ARCHIVES PAGE EIGHT

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Mahalo to all of you who have taken the time to sign my book.

12-28-04,Robe
Do you know a ukulele teacher in the San Diego area? I've been playing a little bit self taught and would like some formal lessons now.
Mahalo
Robe

12-28-04,Clint
No kno. I live on da big island of L.A. but I'm thinkin road trip to Juilliard in New York?
You should sign my Network page, that's what it's for, cuz.
I can post this and see if someone makes contact. Keep checkin back. Good luck.
( I know, I know, this was a cut and paste from Neil, but what ya gonna do? It works, yeah?)

12-27-04,Neil
Hi, I was wondering if you could recommend a place to take Uke lessons in Boston. I have a uke and have an ear for music, but have no training in any musical instrument. I'm left handed ta-boot! Any suggestions?

12-27-04,Clint
No kno. I live on da big island of L.A. but I'm thinkin road trip to Juilliard in New York?
You should sign my Network page, that's what it's for, cuz.
I can post this and see if someone makes contact. Keep checkin back. Good luck.

12-23-04,Leonard
Howzit, bra? My name is Leonard Ke, '61 Kalani graduate. Your website is DA KINE! Mahalo for all your work.
I'm a friend of Sonnys and you should really find your way to San Francisco and jam wid da gang. When the music gets rollin' it's really hot! '30's and '40's jazz, bossa nova, Hawaiian...it's all there. I just try not to get in the way.
I also attend a Ukulele class at the Doelger Senior Center in Daly City. Beginner and Advanced class every Thursday, 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. Hawaiian and nostalgic Mainland songs. Taught by Elaine Chun, Keoki Lindsay and Vince Mokeau. And the Kanikapila on the first Saturday of each month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. All three are top performers and instructors. The Doelger Senior Center is located at
101 Lake Merced Blvd, Daly City, CA. 94015
Telephone number is (415) 991 - 8012.
When I was in high school I bought a Martin four string Tenor and took it with me in the Army. I played until I was 24 when other things took up my time. Now, 35 plus years later, I'm playing the Martin again and also picked up a 4 string kamaka Tenor and I'm waiting for a Po Mahina Island Jazz Tenor to be delivered. This uke stuff is addicting, no?
Keep up the good work, Clint!
Leonard

12-23-04,Clint
Sounds like you gettin some cool classes up there on da Island by da Bay. You need to send me a picture of all your jammin' ohana strummin' on da Golden Gates bra!
(Need to wait till after lunch cause of all dat fog tho, Sheeesh)
Sounds like you enjoyin' da journey Loenard, and after all, dats what its all about, yeah?
Many Mahalos for signin' cuz.

12-21-04,Frank
I really enjoy your site! Your site has really helped me learn. I've been teaching myself how to play the uke for about a year. I'm also using Mel Bays "you can teach yourself uke" and Jumpin Jims "ukulele beach party". I have no music background but have learned many chords. My biggest problem is Bb. I also need help with timing.
I have an inexpensive Hilo uke ($30).
What would you say should be my next step toward improving?
Mahalo and Merry Christmas
Frank

12-21-04,Clint
A better uke.
Sounds like you have the drive and motivation to learn much more - if you have better tools to work with, that would help. The Hilo is strictly a very, very beginners uke. I think you're ready for something better. Good luck

12-18-04,Keith
Clint,
I came across your website off a link from who knows where. Too cool. You've done a great job. Totally cool.
I've been playing for a couple of years, mainly cuz my 12 yr. old son's interest in the instrument. (He rips). I realize I'll never get too good but like you advise, I play every day. I'm looking for an instructor in the San Pedro area that would be willing to come to the fire station I work at and gimme some instruction. If you can help please lemme know.
Thanks

12-18-04,Clint
Thanks for readin' my site. Glad you can find some stuffs to use. Hopefully someone local will read this and see you need local help and contact me. I'll keep you posted, cuz. Till then, keep shreddin' every day.
Many Mahalos for signin'

12-14-04,Brian Lonkar
Hello Bruddah!
I'd like to send a shout out from a haole by marriage in Arizona. I was given a uke handed down from four generations ago! My wife's grandfather in San Bernadino, Keoki Vierra, would like me to learn some uke and then teach my wife how to play (his little brown granddaughter). I am looking for some chord charts. I am also looking for the song, Little Brown Gal. Any thoughts?
Brian Lonkar

12-14-04,Clint
Yeah brah, I'm thinkin dat you here at my site, you done found some chord charts, cuz!
I will try to dig up da song for you and ship it off to you email. (What the hell, it's Mele Kalikimaka, yeah?).
Mahalo for signin'

12-2-04,Paul Robins
Hello
I'm a uke lover and I just came across your site. Delightful. I wanna order some uke stuff. What do I do?

12-2-04,Clint
Glad you think da site is cool. Mahalo. Will email you 'bout da stuffs

12-9-04,Ryan Tolentino Age 21
Hey, cool site - but how come you don't have any of your music posted?
Not that there's anything wrong with the Five-O stuff. Very cool.
Chord charts are nice. I have to try tuning a guitar like that until I get my hands on a real uke. I have never picked up a uke, though I want to. Been playing the guitar off and on for a few years. Play a little piano-keyboard. Picked up my dad's sax a few times. Very cool device. Played around with a bass. Can rock out with the kazoo anytime, anywhere. We should jam sometime, yeah?

12-9-04,Clint
Why don't I post all my music?
Ryan, brah, you think all dis web real estate is free? Got over 158 total pages of information on dis site, 248 images, and over 25 photos (find da wahine page yet people?)
If I could afford to put da playbook on the site, I would, but Sheesh, expensive cuz!
By the way, Five-O not just cool.... it's VERY COOL brah.
Sounds like you one jammin' musician, brah. Gonna have to look you up sooner or later. Although, we'll just pass on the kazoo thing...
Mahalo for signin'

12-8-04,Cameron Shaw
Hi Clint,
Wow, that's quite a ukulele collection! I'm a singer and performer with a day job - new to the ukulele. Managed to learn Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Wonderful World medley that IZ made famous. Now I was just smitten by Joe Brown's version of I'll See You In My Dreams. Noticed you have that in your playbook. Anyway I can get a copy of that song? Do you sell your playbook I wonder?
As for me, I spent 6 months going to UH Manoa studying geography and geology. Been to most of the islands including Molokai but not Maui. I always miss Hawaii. You can imagine the impression the place made on me when I arrived from New Jersey. Now I live in San Francisco.
Anyway, thanks for your site and drop me a line when you can.
Mahalo, Cameron

12-8-04,Clint
Ahhh......New Jersey.......now that's a vacation.
Glad you found the islands. I think I would love to go to school in Manoa. Cool.
Playbook is for sale. If I have not emailed you yet bout that, lemme know. Will give you da details.
Many Mahalos for signin

12-5-04,Sgt. Gus LaFontaine
Clint
My name is Sgt. Gus LaFontaine. I am now over my year mark of deployment in Operation Iraqui Freedom. The last ten have taken me all over Iraq as I am in transportation and we take tanks and the other big armored trucks all over the place. Last year before deploying I started looking for an instrument to bring over here with me and learn to eat up some of the down time. I had friends in SoCal that played the uke so I went out and got a $30 soprano Hilo model. I've never been musical at all and this was the first instrument I'd ever laid my hands on. I bought a book with a chord chart and just started learning some chords. I've been doing that every day for over a year now and though I still have light years to go I've made a lot of improvement (just ask the guys who've had to put up with me for the last year).    :)
For a few months I've been getting with guitar players over here and learning songs that I enjoy. I'm working on My Girl now. I've had a blast!
I ran across your website and it's the best most informative I've seen. I have read through it and as soon as I have access to a printer will print out some stuff to study better. I wanted to drop you a line and say what's up and send a few pics of me jammin' in the desert. Also, let me know where you are in Los Angeles. I'm coming out there as soon as I finish here and would love to see what the odds of me scheduling a lesson would be.
Mahalo

12-5-04,Clint
Aloha Sgt. LaFontaine
Military downtime?
My 8 years in da Corps ... all downtime brah. (I hear ya talkin').
It's awesome that you are teachin' yourself uke and really awesome that you findin' stuffs to use on my site. I posted one of your pics in da Gallery too. Many Mahalos for sharin'. When you get back to da local American soil, contact me through my site ... we'll certainly hook you up wid scheduling a lesson. Good luck wid everything and keep your head low, cuz.

12-3-04,Sonny Palabrica
Howzit?
We have a small ukulele group here in San Francisco. I teach privately one-on-one jazz and the old standards of the 30's and 40's. Occasionally we jam during the week on Wednesday and on Sundays every other month. Jackie Carvalho plays similar to Benny Chong if you've heard of his recordings. We really jam when Nando Suan, Ohta San's guitarist and my old school chum. We add a drummer and I switch off on the bass too. I used to play the bass with jazz groups up here in Northern Calif. and Las Vegas with the late Flip Nunez. Flip played with Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McCrae and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross to name a few. I also used to jam with Sam Ahia who has a brother Clem down in Southern Calif. Clem also used to teach the ukulele but now is busy with gigs playing the guitar. If you ever come up this way, give us a call and I'll call the gang and we can jam and exchange views, chords, jazz improvizations, etc.
Aloha
Sonny

12-3-04,Clint
Eh, Sonny
Mahalo for checkin' da site. Maybe I gonna get to da S.F. area by summer and if I do I jus' might look you up cuz. Sounds like you in wid some cool company to be jammin' with. Many Mahalos for signin' da guestbook.
Laterz

11-30-04,Marianne Brogan
Dear Clint
My name is Marianne Brogan, I founded the Portland Uke Association (PUA) about four years ago. We had our first Portland Ukulele Festival last month and it was a huge success. I'm interested in getting a copy of the Ukulele Strummers Playbook. My goal is to put one together for the PUA group. I'm still fussing with the playlist and looking at other club books.
By the way, I've visited your site many times and thank you for providing such great resources.
Kind regards
Marianne

11-30-04,Clint
You're welcome. Someone posted earlier and told us about the PUA and the Festival you had. They also said it was a very successful festival. Hopefully it will grow in size for you next year. I will email you about the Playbook. Mahalo for signin' Marianne

11-29-04,Douglas Garcia
My friend
You have one heck of a website. Thanks for putting all your energy to share your uke stuff. I am just learning right now and your site has been a blessing.
Cheers and Thanks again
Douglas

11-29-04,Clint
Thanks Douglas. I am glad you are finding my site helpful. Keep in mind that no matter how long someone has been playing the ukulele, they are still learning too, they are just at a different level, brah.
Good luck and enjoy the journey
Mahalo for signin'

11-23-04,Petter Kallioinen
Beginner likes your site!
Recently I decided to learn some ukulele and at the same time improve my understanding of chords and how they're built. Your site was perfect for this and easily the best uke-site on the net. I've looked around quite a bit. One thing could make this site perfect for me. More old Hawaiin songs with chords.
Cheers - Petter Kallioinen. Stockholm, Sweden

11-23-04,Clint
Petter
Will look into that later dis summertime. If you don't see some by July, remind me. Until then...have you seen da Playbook?
Mahalo for signin', all da way from Sweden!

11-22-04,Richard Gunn PhD
Hi,
I just discovered your website and have used my whole lunch hour browsing around. What fun. Last year for Christmas my wife gave me a baritone uke and I have had a lot of fun with it. I often capo it up to the 5th fret to get a standard uke tuning. Much easier to follow along with transcribed music. I have three questions-

1.   This is a great web site - how can I help with support?
2.   I really liked the list of songs in your play book. Is it for sale?
3.   I have been saving for a good ukulele (probably a four string tenor). They are very expensive. Could you recommend 3-4 brands that would ensure I do not go wrong buying?

Thanks ahead of time for your help. I have looked for someone in my area for a few lessons but the ukulele is not that popular here in South Dakota
Richard S. Gunn

11-22-04,Clint
I appreciate you checkin' and usin' my site. Glad you findin' stuffs here to use.
My site takes up a lot of web real estate and therefore is costly to me. I also do not allow pop up ads (this costs too). Some people in the past have made small donations to the overall cause, some have bought something from the Strummers Store, and some have done both. Either way, it is all Very Much appreciated.
The Strummers Playbook is for sale. It is a collection of about 150 popular tunes with all the chord patterns for each song. I ship for free anywhere in the continental U.S. and sell the Playbook for 35 Bucks.
People will agree with me (good) and not agree with me (good) on the following comments. (I don't care).
I base my opinions on the knowledge I have attained through my years of extensive schooling in Music Theory, Instrument study, years of Ukulele playing and overall Musicianship skills.
That said, here you go...
One of the best lower end, beginner-intermediate ukes out there is the Lanikai. Over time they have gotten better with their craftsmanship and overall product. Nice resonance and very good note pitch. These can be found anywhere from 100 bucks to 200 bucks, depending where you shop.
Very nice intermediate-advanced ukes are the G-string ukes and the Koaloha ukes. Overall, both are a very nice product with good string action, right-on pitches and very nice resonance-intonation. These can run you anywhere around 700 bucks to 1500 or so, again, depending on where you shop.
Top of the line advanced ukes for the serious players are the Black Bear ukuleles, (Washington..Seattle I think), Pegasus ukuleles (I thought this maker was in Central California..but for some reason think they are in Hilo, HI), and (as stated throughout my site) I feel the best in the world being made today are the Kawika Ukuleles, (Hilo, HI). Most of these makers should have their own websites and I have linked to Kawika. All of these ukuleles can run you from anywhere between 1500 bucks to 3000. All well worth it. I would recommend that you play any uke you plan on purchasing, excluding of course the "Top of the lines" I mentioned above.
Hope this helps. When you make it to Southern California lemme kno and we can hook you up wid a jammin' free lesson that'll knock you on your ass, brah.
Many Mahalos

11-19-04,Dawn Kurisu
I just started playing the uke this past Spring with my son (7). He isn't as interested as I am but he likes to strum along with the 4 or so chords he knows. My 4 year old son likes to sing along. A friend from our local preschool drops by to give us lessons when she can. I was so motivated to play, I started scouting the web to find songs with chords and came across ezfolk.com, learning different types of strumming which I was longing for. I am just a beginner, so trying new songs is fun and challenging. Is there anyway I could get some copies of the songs you listed on your web page? I would love to try some of them. I live in the Bay Area with my roots in So. Cal. I visit down there a few times a year, so I could pay for postage or pick it up when I go down.
I play on my Father-in-law's old uke from the 50's, my brothers old uke from the 60's and my Mom's newer uke. Mom was taking classes through the Cerritos Senior Center and decided it wasn't for her.
Last weekend, I spent a few days with another family, bought 2 ukes and got my friend totally hooked on playing. Her husband has an old Authur Godfrey uke and songbook from the 50's with a mechanical device connected to the neck of the uke. If you press down the buttons on the device, it will push down the correct strings to play the chord! Ah, the 50's. My friend promptly took off the device and started playing and looking on the web for new songs. She gave me the URL to your site.
Sorry this is so long. I was just so happy to find your site. Let me know about the songs on your site.
Thanks...Dawn

11-19-04,Clint
Glad you found my site. Those devices for the neck that finger the chords for you... awesome little things. Authur Godfrey created one called the "Uke Player" which, as you stated, fingers the basic chords for you. Islander also made one called the "Chord Master". Does the same thing, different name. I have a few of each. They are just fun to have. I can appreciate your excitement for the uke. Enjoy. I will email you about the Strummers Playbook.
Mahalo for signin' Dawn

11-17-04,Mark Roberts
I would like to get in touch with "Kimo" Ahia, Jr who lives in Washington. He has written in to you. He said he visits Portland on occasion and I wanted to invite him to our local Portland Ukulele Association meetings.
By the way, we had our Portland Ukulele Festival and it was incredible. It was organized by the PUA President Marianne Brogane and 250 people attended from all over the US and Canada. The performances and workshops were incredible!
http://home.teleport.com/~portland_ukefest/Performers.html
Another wonderful thing that happened other than meeting so many great performers and other workshop members was that the attention my FLUKOA tenor was getting. Remember the custom tenor koa fluke I built? Well about every thirty minutes someone was coming up to me saying "Holy @#~!" Is that a Fluke? Can I play it? Are you making those? We seem to be getting interest on websites across the world. There is a great site in France that has a whole page about it, of course it helps to read French.
http://uke.hatelog.com/dc/index.php2004/11/01/63-le-flukoa-de-mark-roberts
Enough of my rambling. Would appreciate the info on "Kimo" and feel free to post as much of this mail as you want.
Mahalo
Mark in Portland..that FLUKOA Guy.

11-17-04,Clint
I know who you are Mark. You posted a picture in my photo Gallery, brah, rememba? Glad your cool axe is gettin' noticed. Hopefully your local festival will continue and grow. Ours is. Will post a note for Kimo, and put you in the Network. Good luck.

11-16-04,Jimmy
I'm Jimmy from Kelso, Wa. about 50 mi North of Portland, OR. and I'm 53 yrs. young. A couple weeks ago the Oregonian Newspaper out of Portland Ore. ran a story on the Portland Ukulele Club. That's the first I heard about any kind of Uke Club. Well, they meet one Sunday a month at a music store and jam. Anyone can go whether you're a member, beginner, expert, or none. Right now, I'm in the none category.
Anyway, I wanted to say I've caught the uke bug but am checking things out before I jump. I was surfing the web looking at different ukes and checking out the sites to see which ones would have chord sheets so I could see what I'm getting into. (Played a little guitar in my younger years but never stayed with it. I'm a horn blower).
So you can imagine my surprise when I ran into your site and it answered all my questions. It's absolutely the best in information and the most fun to read. Thanks for taking the time to share. I'll be checking in from time to time.
Later, Jimmy.

11-16-04,Clint
...and that's what I've been sayin' people...
:)
Thanks, Jimmy, I appreciate you checkin out my site and findin' stuffs to use.
It's here for you...Mahalo for signin'

11-14-04,Kimo and Kathy Ahia
Just letting you know I try to check the site at least once a month. Have gotten 2 others to jam with in my part of the kuahiwi (bushes) so getting better even though the fat fingers struggle to get all the chords!
Just read in one of the Hawaii dailies about the ukulele guild. You can check them out whenever you get a chance at -
www.ukuleleguild.org
Aloha, Kimo Ahia

11-14-04,Clint
Kimo
I appreciate your support my friend. Keep on jammin' and enjoy the journey...

11-10-04,Benjamin Livingston
You're my only hope
Just got a uke. I'm left handed. Where do I start? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

11-10-04,Clint
Cuz...you may wanna start by not layin' all dat "I'm your only hope" pressure on my shoulders...(sheeesh)....I jus a little island boy, yeah?
I've had a few left handed bruddahs take my classes before. One re-strung and played da strings upside down and fingered da chords backwards.....(I think I'm still recovering from dat), and da other one jus practiced and played wid his right hand. I think dat is what I would say to you.
Many instruments like da clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, flute and drums are all played da same, no matter if you right or left hand.
(OK, kiddin 'bout da drums but I had you thinkin' 'bout dat one, yeah?)
Everybody jus have to take it one day at a time and learn how to play da instrument.
Wish I can tell you what you wanna hear but what I jus said, that's it my friend.... good luck to you.
I say dis all over my site....patience
Mahalo for signin'

11-10-04,Ben Brawn
I am Ben Brawn from Australia, 18 in a couple of days, lovin' your site, so stoked I found it.
I've played the trumpet since ages and a few months ago my grand-dad gave me a ukulele. Since then I been learning out of piano and guitar books, and I got a new ukulele and really enjoying it. Your site is really great, thanks.

11-10-04,Clint
Many Mahalos for signin' all da way from Australia...
real cool like, cuz.
Good luck wid all your playin and jammin', glad you dig my site.

11-4-04,Marty
Clint,
Passin' through your site? Dude, I LOVE your site. Ever since I purchased a uke, I've been lookin' for a great uke site and your is the sh*t. I will always be returning to it. It is informative and entertaining. Thank you for hosting it on the net. So far, I have mastered the Joe Brown version of "I'll see you in my dreams". I will next be learning "Somewhere over the rainbow-What a wonderful world" from your site. Keep up the great work!!!
And Thanks for your address, I will send a "sase" tomorrow!! You da man!

11-4-04,Clint
Many Mahalos for da nice words
:)

11-3-04,Marty
The song performed by Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in "The Jerk". Where can I get an "official" chord chart for this song?
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely, M. Kleinberg

11-3-04,Clint
If it was the same song as the song done by Dean Martin, I have a copy. It's not "official" by any means, but the chords are correct. You can send me a self addressed stamped envelope and I'll ship a copy off to you. No forget ta stamp da envelope, yeah? Or you can go to your local music store and purchase an "official" transcription of da song from the movie "The Jerk"
Either way, Mahalo for passin through my site

11-2-04,Francine
Thank you ever so much. Finding your site is such a boon. I'm greatful for your efforts.
Very best regards, Francine Bennett

11-2-04,Clint
Mahalo Francine.
(How nice iz that?)
It makes a day I'll tell you, boon and all.
:)