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6-7-08,Mary Ann K.
Years ago I had a very inexpensive ukelele that I taught myself to play using guitar chords to guide me. I also tuned it a couple of ways and it always seemed to work. At the time my hands were small - still not a great deal of stretch from the thumb to the pinky finger. I had taken violin lessons.. piano lessons.. and loved to sing. It was not too cool to carry around my violin nor was it possible to bring the piano along in the 1960s. I guess you could say that I self taught myself to sing the "old" familiar songs that children in elementary school learned... which is far different from today. Plus my mother sang all kinds of songs from different eras and could play several instruments by ear. At that time my voice had a much larger range than it does now. I never really was a great soprano because I loved to harmonize which I learned from my mother at an early age. I would love to begin playing the ukelele again. I have no qualms about being able to do it because I learned on the plastic type strings and they never hurt the ends of my finger tips like the violin or guitar did. I just want to be able to accompany myself and the children that I teach. I am a singing librarian ... now for 4 years. Before that I was a singing fifth grade teacher ... for 27 years. I have always been able to incorporate music into my lessons and the children love it.. especially since we have no music program at my school and many classroom teachers think that they must be professional singers to sing with kids. It does help if you can carry a tune.. but there are CDs and cassettes. I had thought about using another instrument.. whose name has completely left me.. but I would really have to work at it .. you press the chord button and strum the strings. Well.. I am a little bit clumsy.. Then I thought of the ukelele that I had.
After I read your article I realized why the strings would no longer stay in tune. So.. that means I really need a new one. I would like one that would be nice ... not too cheap (19.95).. but also one that suit my voice. I am able to sing second soprano.. alto.. and tenor. I am probably most comfortable singing in an alto voice although I know that I should encourage the children to sing more in an upper range. As much as I would like to do that it strains my voice for teaching and my singing at church. I want it to be natural and easy. Besides I am going for a love of reading and a love of music in my class ... I have to sneak that in carefully.. but when it comes down to it everyone is glad someone will sing with the children.
I teach in an elementary school with Preschool through Fifth graders. The ages ranges from early threes to older twelve year olds. I mostly sing with the ones through the third grade.. but I do have an optional choir at Christmas.
Back to my questions
1. Which ukelele do you think would better suit my voice? ( I know that they are tuned the same. I am comfortable singing G below middle C and the D one octave above middle C.)
2. What price range do you suggest?
3. Is there a certain type that you would recommend since I am sure that I will be mostly strumming? Not enough time YET to do more than that.
So.. I given you my life history and I hope that you would be able to give me some guidance in this matter. I have a feeling I must go with the size for the tonal quality I like best and I am not sure of that.. but as I said before I love harmony and if I could have I would have learned to play the cello.. not the violin .. too high for me!
I will await your advice. Mary Ann

6-7-08,Clint
Sheeeesh sistah... Olelo 'oe da kine mo'olelo, .. auwe! Okay.. I gonna start by answering you questions..
1. All ukes suit you voice if you sing in you range.. you wanna different sound to suit you voice.. changes keys of you song..
2. and 3. I suggest you look at da Lanikai ukuleles. I think they da best beginner.. intermediate uke you gonna get for da money. Made well and good sounds. Good fret spacing insure da nice pitches. Gonna run you between 150 to 300.. but you take care of it.. last you forever. You wanna good sound when you play.. buy da good tools. Mahalos.. hope dat help you. You look through my guestbook you gonna see I really dig da Lanikai.. I like da way they made. Until I see da better uke for da price.. I gonna keep tellin people Lanikai. Glad you find my site Mary Ann. You have more questions.. lemme kno.. I do my best to help. Oh.. an dat instrument you push da button and strum strings..called da autoharp sistah. Cool. Mahalo nui loa Käkau 'oe. A hui hou hoalauna.

6-6-08,Steve Edwards
Age- 40ish..but probably closer to 50..Hey, Just discovered this site.. what a HOOT!! Writing from the little island of Tasmania.. a group of very BEAUTIFUL islands off the southeast of Australia ... the big island. Great site eh! Came into uke after bluegass ... banjo, mandolin, slide ... the uke is absolutely the PERFECT instrument to play all this and more. Opens up rags and blues beautifully. Many thanks for the great site. Steve

6-6-08,Clint
Cool... I agree.. da uke one perfect instrument. I pretty sure you da first one from Tasmania to checkem out da site. Mahalos for signin and I really glad you dig it. Laterz ... A hui hou aina hoaaloha.

5-29-08,Jim
Great Page. Hi, I'm from the Tehachapi, CA. Jumping Fleas uke club. We meet Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. at the Mountain Music Jam room on "F" street. I've used your page numerous times and really appreciate all your hard work. Just one quick question, do you know of any similar pages for the Baritone uke? I began about two years ago on a Tenor (which most of the club plays) We also have one guitar player and one professional from Maui that plays tenor and guitar. Thanks for the assistance ... Jim

5-29-08,Clint
Try Howlinhobbit.com...he a bari guy I think. Bari ukulele very cool ... they burn longer. hahaha... (sheeeesh..no send mean email..only a joke people...)
Laterz

5-29-08,Andy
Great site! Maybe what you have on here can help an old country boy from North Carolina learn how to play this addiction.

5-29-08,Clint
I hope so bruddah... for what you payin' for da lessons an all, enjoy from way out there... eh...I tink you have a nice ocean breeze too, yeah... coooool. Mahalos for checkin on in. Come back soon now... ya hea? laterz

5-24-08,Keith S.
Hi. I started learn ukulele back in January when I brought one back from Hawaii and am really enjoying it. I happened across your site and found the "all positions" pages really informative.. but found I wanted the info more compact.. so I took the liberty of doing the fingering charts where they all fit on one 11x17 page. It is a PowerPoint document so if someone wants to print it on an 11x17 page.. any Kinko's..Office Max..whatever should be able to print it. A color page that size costs me 97 cents where I live and comes out very easy to read. I also changed the order of the chord types. I was working off black and white printer copies as I did this.. so I didn't notice the yellow root-note designation.. so it didn't make it on the finished product. However.. it is just a Powerpoint slide.. so if anyone who uses it knows what theyre doing with it wants to tailor it to suit their needs.. it would be easy enough. Thanks for the site. It has been quite inspirational.
Blessings and Peace... Keith Snyder, Houghton, MI

5-24-08,Clint
Mahalos for you work...Keith. I get this up on da site soon as I can. Laterz and peace.

5-12-08,Carolee Burrows
Hello South Bay Strummers, Good to find your Web pages...Please check us out....
ukuleleclub.com
also www.sonsofthebeach-santacruz.com
Aloha...Carolee Burrows

5-12-08,Clint
I will.. Mahalos

4-29-08,David and Susan Hill
Hi.. we have just set up a new group in Morecambe England.
David and Susan Hill
11, Reedmace Walk,
Westgate, Morecambe
Lanc's.
LA3 3QW
England.
01524 833556
We meet every Saturday morning between 10am and 1130am at the Fire Station at Westgate. We have been going for three weeks and have new people coming every week. The aim of the group is to show the basics and encourage the Ukuele. We want to go into schools and encourage schools to have them as the instrument for the school. Neither my husbnd nor myself can play professionally but Dave does know the basics. If you know anyone who could help us we would be grateful.. the problem we have at the moment is that we have learned the D tuning and finding the ADFB courds is proving difficult. The C courds are easy as they are the most popular. Neither of us can read music but we are haveing fun on a Saturday morning. If you are able to join us you are very welcome. Susan Hill

4-29-08,Clint
It be nice to take da uke into da school.. but da time it take to tune .. leave little time to learn to play.. I cant even imagine what a nightmare... givin 30 ukes to room full of 3rd graders... wooooow... but good for you.. maybe it you calling, yeah? Good for da kids. I play in da classroom ALOT.. kids love singin and doin da oldies and even some contemporary Hawaiian songs too.. Cool. Mahalos.. and maybe I just swing on in....

4-29-08,Mary Lou Dempler
Hi.. I LOVE YOUR WEBSITE! My name is MaryLou Stout Dempler. Ive been playing guitar since I was 7 years old.. that was 40 years ago. My husband gave me a custom made uke for my birthday and it changed my life 9 years ago. I have written 6 uke books published by Mel Bay.. 2 song booklets published by Lanikai.. recorded 4 uke CDs.. meet and discussed ukulele with Keith Urban etc. etc. For the entire story of my first uke and more about me see my bio on my website www.allmarylou.com. Also please sign my guestbook too. I love to discuss ukes and music. Ukefully yours.. Mary Lou My name is spelt with 2 names but is pronounced as 1 name.. MaryLou

4-29-08,Clint
Lazy wahines.. lazy.. sheeeesh... you need to try help people and teach.. make a book or sumptin.. no be wastin all dat knowledge.. all locked up in you head.. ( an all i get from Hawaii was dis lölö website.. da bumms...)
I dig Keith Urban.. BTW.. nice guy wid a great band.. nice sounds... Mahalos for signin.. I swing by you site and sign as well..Laterz Marylou.. an try relax a bit.. maybe stop publishin for a week or two, yeah? You gonna get a paper cut o da blista... sistah

4-28-08,Frank Bene't
Hi people..Just a line to say I think your site is pretty cool and I will be a regular from now on. I bought my first uke a week ago and I am having a lot of fun with it. I am not to good but I am making headway and can now play over the rainbow.. which was my aim at the start. Congrats to the work you do bringing the musical enjoyment to the world. I live in a place called Lowestoft on the East Coast of England, not renowned for ukulele players but I am enjoying myself and thats the main thing. Keep up the good work n your site. All the best..Regards..Frank Bene't.

4-28-08,Clint
Hey bruddah.. it only me here.. I da "people", yeah? Anyways.. no problem. Keep playin and you gonna notice big gains in da third week, yeah? Den you plateau a bit.. den hold on fo da week six.. wow. Jam on and have a great time.. bring smiles and enjoy.. that what its all about cuz.. oh.. and da fine wahines too.. well.. there is dat...

4-24-08,Pablo Rivas
Hello there, my name is Pablo im 32 and live here in Los Angeles. Here's some story for ya. I have had a love affair with the islands for some time now and try to go as much as my wallet alows me to. On one of my trips I bought a cheapo uke at an ABC store.. ever heard of them? JK and never really played it much.. ive been playing guitar for many years now so learning the basic major and minor chords came pretty easy. it wasnt till i started working at LAX about a year ago that the uke bug really bit me. alot of my coworkers were polynesians and would play the uke between flights.. i would pick it up once in a while when i wanst loading planes.. i got a couple of surprising looks from the islanders me being hispanic and all. i dont work there anymore but i havent put my uke down for a minute.. oh and by the way i upgraded from my 12 dollar uke to a nice concert koa by Washburn and a soprano Lanikai. Thanx for all your hard work.. looooove your site bra. keep it up. oh can you email some info on your stummers club please thanx...the Hawaiian Mexican.

4-24-08,Clint
Da Hawaiian Mexican... love dat brah. Glad you finally upgraded to a good instrument. Da ABC no really sell da kine ukule.. no even for da beginner. You gotta let da Islanders know.. no just da Hawaiians jam da uke cuz. Sheeeesh... Mahalos for signin. All da info you need bout da strummers meetings on da main page cuz. Everting, yeah? See you soon den...A hui hou... hermano..

4-21-08,James Geier
Hi Bro..I teach in Anaheim and my kids.. lots of Tongans.. love ukes. I was told a lot of them play Lanikai Ukes. I was just doing a search and found your site. I have to teach in about 15 minutes but want to say "mahalo".. isnt that thanks? for the site. I've been playing guitar for many years and was just now jamming with a student on a song called "Im Yours," and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

4-21-08,Clint
Eh, Jim
I jus call you Kimo cause Kimo ölelo for Jim, yeah? Know dat. Anyways, hiki no, da cedar may be louder.. depend on da thickness too..different woods gonna give you different sounds. If da top one kind wood then da body.. different sound too if da whole body same kind. 7th grade English, yeah? sheeeesh.. keep it bruddah... I prefer da small kine 3 graders... No shame.. little sponges.. and da keiki love da ukulele too... sing all kine mele in class... Really dig it... Glad you find me here. Questions.. jus email. I email back too. I post you on da guestbook by end of week. I usually post 1-2 times week. Mahalo nui loa hoaaloha keepem real and jammin on cuz... laterz... Kimo

4-17-08,Sharon Olson
Hi.. My name is Sharon Olson and I am a beginning player. I have an old german ukulele that is an "ok" instrument. Once I can play decently Id like to purchase a nice one. I am so looking to find a teacher or group that would tolerate a new player so I could play on a regular basis. A while back I saw an article in the Stockton Record newspaper of a group in the Valley Springs area. when I called that number given in the article it was not a working number so I am still looking. I found your wonderful website and wish I lived where I could play in your group. Believe it or not we used to live in Torrance in the 70s. Times have sure changed there! Anyway many thanks for your generous aloha spirit to share so much with so many. Mahalo.. Sharon

4-17-08,Clint
Glad you find us here. Maybe it you calling to start a group..if you no can find one, yeah? Use whatever you need from here.. enjoy.. and I gonna post you on da Network pages too like you want. Maybe somebody gonna see you and den. it all start. Laterz

4-14-08,Alison L
Hi! I really like your site. My name is Ali Losik, Im 27 and from Eugene OR. I bought myself a Fluke Uke after graduating from grad school last June (MA in Music Theory) and I love it more than anything. Its easy to play (I think knowing theory really well helps me a lot) and I play every single day. I really like playing all the jazz standards I know and singing. Its weird about the uke...it just makes me happy. I also work in a residential treatment center.. and I take it in and play and sing with the clients whenever I can. They think its relaxing to listen to. Thanks for the great site and Im off to study my chords in all positions.-Ali

4-14-08,Clint
Maika'i no for you Alison.. glad you playin for na känaka.. everybody gonna dig da uke too. an wid you theory background you gonna move wikiwiki through da jazz songs. People need understand da importance of knowin theory.. really knowin it. Gonna open da kine playin real quick in you. Use all da stuffs I have here. Any questions.. lemme kno sista... A huihou hoaaloha

4-12-08,Kensyl
Just Found Ya...Hey Der.. Clint.. Just stumbled on your WEB Great site.. for a beginng Uke player from Iowa-Wisc. cheese head country ! I too.. really have fallen for the Hawaiian music style and culture. Never knew there where so many vowels to pronounce.. crimeny cripes.. being from the Nort. we try to shortn everything and add a "n" at the end. 2 things.. what about that CD-Playbook of yours..cost.. order info.. etc. IZ "Somewhere over Rbow" thanks for the Tab..but Ive listened many times for a novice ear "Whats the stum pattern"
Thanks Kensyl

4-12-08,Clint
Glad you find me.. I neva kno I lost too, cuz. I send you da strum pattern. I hear so many people play dis no good.. sheeeesh.. practice much before you gonna play for folks, yeah? Da chordz easy but da strumm gonna bite you pa'akïkï. Patience. I email you bout da CD playbook tools. Laterz

4-12-08,Brad G
Brad Griffith, 55, St. Louis, Missouri
Favorite- Bushman Jenny Concert
Others- Flea with concert neck... Lehua Longneck Soprano... Oscar Schmidt Bell... Oscar Concert Spruce...low G
Is there a way to get a copy of the Songbook? I can't seem to find it on the site and would be happy to purchase.. if available. Thanks for all of the great songs.

4-12-08,Clint
I hope I mailed you bout da playbook. Yeah.. is available to you. Enjoy you flea.. wear you goggles for when da bridge flies off.. you no blind an eye, yeah? Dat way.. you can see all da cool stuffs on dis site. Laterz

4-7-08,Art Kinsey
What a fantastic and extensive site! I just started playing guitar and have always loved the Uke too. I look forward to learning much from your site as I also begin to explore playing the diminutive yet mighty Ukulele.

4-7-08,Clint
Cool.. glad you found me.. sorry for da hold up.. computer took a vacation.. back now tho. Lots of stuffs here.. help youself cuz. Enjoy

4-6-08,Paul
Hi. I was delighted to discover the long version of the Hawaii 50 theme on your site. What recording is that from and is it available on CD. Have you ever found a good version of that theme available to download as a mobile phone ringtone? Many thanks for making that version available to the world at large.
Paul Wickham, Sydney Australia

4-6-08,Clint
Mahalos. I dig dat lo'ihi version as well. I have neva found dat version as a ringtone. I have da regular TV version as my ring tone. (How long you gonna let you phone ring anyways?.. sheeesh..) Not too sure where it from too. If you want I tink you able to right click and "save target" on you computer, yeah? Den you can figure out what you want to do wid it. Laterz, Sydney hoaaloha.

3-19-08,Steve
Aloha! Very informative website! My name is Steve and I'm 40 yrs old. I am from the Philippines. I've been playing guitar for quite sometime. Recently I bought that "Little Mighty Instrument" the Ukulele. The "All Position Chords" in your website will be very helpful. I like your "tips" especially on ukulele instrumental. Surely I'll be visiting your site often. Thank you and God Bless!

3-19-08,Clint
Cool. Glad you dig da site from way ova there. I like da All Positions Pages as well. Pretty cool idea and save everybody much time too. (Still I get da Känaka lölö gonna buy da chord books cause it looken nani loa wid da hinuhinu cova and all dat. sheeesh.. whatevas ) Glad you usin'em. Many mahalos for you sign here. Enjoy cuz, yeah?

3-11-08,Sandi
Howdy Steve..
Wazzup with yer fine self? Just wanted to say howdy and thank you again for this wonderful web site. My granddaughter still plays a little bit.. she aint so enthusiastic as she was at the getgo.. now that they got that Nintendo guitar thing happening. She is good at that. Good news tho.. my daughter is playing... she who used to consider uke most inferior to the guitar. Hubby now has a new baritone uke which he tunes in open G. For all ya done for me I hate to ask ya but I gotta know.... and sorry.. Hawiian music aint my thing. Do you like the Beatles? I can do the chords fine and dandy but those intos like the beginning of Here Comes the Sun or Michelle.. Im having trouble with that. Its hard to explain precisely what I mean.... its like getting melody and chord at the same time. Your chart is hard. Is there a way to cheat?
I wish we had nice weather like you folks in Hawaii but its improving here in the mountains winter and spring duking it out. Looking forward to playing out on the front porch again. May the ukulule gods continue to smile upon you.

3-11-08,Clint
Eh Sandi.. we talk on da email alot.. I post you photo in da gallery.. and I put my name on every guestbook page.. in Orange. Comon... (howdy.. steve...? )
Sheeeesh....
BTW.. no way to cheat.. you gonna cheat.. you gonna cheat youself da most. Understand dat.
Hawaiian music is my thing.. I play alot of other stuff.. Ill jam out many instrumental jazz tunes.. and Ill sing some contemporary jamz as well .. but I have about 250 Hawaiian CDs.. its all I really listen to. You wanna play Hawaiian.. you need listen Hawaiian. For realz.. and I tink like you do.. I wish we had nice weather like dem in Hawaii too..

3-7-08,Peter Brunker
Hi Clint...Ive been playing guitar for a few years now and Im loving it. I try Jack Johnson style stuff and you can hear a bit of Ukulele action in some of his songs and Ive been hypnotised by Israel Kamakawiwo'oles version of Somewhere Over...Wonderful World. So yesterday I bought myself a Soprano Ukulele and I want to play some stuff my kids will want to listen to eg. Contemporary pop..rock as well as some sweet stuff like "Somewhere Over" and especially Id love to learn some traditional Hawaiian songs..love songs. Id love to buy your Song Book with CDs (cause therell be lots of tunes I dont know). Could you tell me how much it is and if you have any idea of postage costs. Im in Sydney.. Australia. Love your website - its been a great help. Regards

3-7-08,Clint
Mahalos to you way down there and sendin me a note through dis small kine site. Cool stuff. I get back to you bout da books and CD set. Great tools. Jack Johnson cool tunes on da ukulele. Hope you find stuffs on dis site to help in you jammin. Laterz to you down unda.

3-5-08, Ryc Rienks
Alooooha! Dat page you got plenty fine one, cuz. My sweetie and I visited the big island and took a day to check out the Portugese Festival in hilo. Oh no! Calendar wrong, it done over. No matter.. at the park some fine bruddahs invite us to a party. They find out I'm a Scot (it was the kilt I was wearin) an ask if I play the bagpipes? Nooo. I says I play the ukulele. They get a good laugh. They offer poi.. we offer haggis. All food.. right? After Hilo, Honolulu a very busy place. Met more ukulele players. One day I be good. Gotta nice Kamaka concert. Thanks for the chord charts.. better than havin to write my own and mebbe getum wrong - make bad sounds dat way. Keep up the good work - always a need for aloha on this big island.

3-5-08,Clint
A'ole pilikia cuz. Glad you find da site. I hope you eat at Kennys Pancake House.. ono nui cuz... Kilt..yeah? Cool. No need worry bout gettin wrong da chords wid dis site.. all da kine. I rememba I was small kine I play da bagpipes too... no wait.. kala mai.. my Makua make me clean da house and vaccuum. Close tho.. yeah? Laters my scottish hoa aloha.

2-27-08,Victor
Hi my name is Victor. I'm a luthier (I build guitars). I just finished my first Ukulele. I say my first because I intend to build lots of these things as they are really fun to build. But this doesnt have much to do with my question. I also play guitar and have for 40 years. One of the things Ive found important in playing guitar chords is which string is held down by which finger. Sometimes a chord that is difficult to hit and painful to play is because you are not using the correct fingering. When showed another way to finger the chord you say to yourself why didnt I think of that? Im not talking about inversions here. For example using the thumb to finger the low E on a guitar can make a chord much easier to play. I have looked for fingering charts for the Ukulele but have found none. Do you have any suggestions where I might find any? What would be very useful would be to use letters instead of dots on chord diagrams. i.e. T (thumb) P (pointer) I (index) R (ring) L (little-pinky) just a thought. Loved your web site!! Regards

2-27-08,Clint
Mahalos for da idea.. but much work to redo dat type of guide. As far as findin chord charts for da uke.. I suggest you lookin right here cuz. I tink you found da correct site.. you just no look yet, yeah? Day right here bruddah. Dis da best set of chord chart you gonna find on da net.. for free. Everybody want to sell book wid da chord charts.. comon bruddah.. chordz should be free yeah? Not like people MADE UP or CREATED these chordz.. they jus da chordz. But everybody gonna want make a few bucks off sumptin jus put into a book form. People gonna buy chordz books and charts day lölö you ask me. If you want to redo dem for me wid da TPIRL idea.. I upload dem here on my site and give you da credit. 'A'ole pilikia cuz, 'a'ole pilikia. Mahalos for da signin. Play uke and jus use my chordz pages cuz. Laterz

2-25-08,Alex
Hey, I just completed readin ya website..and then i felt a need.. a need to tell ya that the way u r speakin is burnin hot shit (!keep that up!). I don't own a ukulele.. i don't even play any music but 'dis fuzzy slang ya usin in smokin excellent! Is that native hawaiian slang or where did ya get that from?
n by the way.. standard websites stuffed up with modern graphics can't compete with yours.. mkay my bruddah? warm regards from Germany. Alex

2-25-08,Clint
Eh Alex.. Mahalos to you cuz. I like tink dat dis website da best you gonna find. No pop ups or da extras you no need.. jus da cool free info dat gonna help you be betta playa, yeah? Mahalos for da nice words from ova there. I appreciate dat. And you need pick up da uke and start jammin too. It da kine bruddah. An 'bout da speakin Hawaiian slang.. what you talkin 'bout ... what slang, cuz?
Laterz, hoa aloha.

2-21-08,Kim
Hi Clint, I would like to get the playbook and CD and I'd lke the one that follows the CD order.. if that is what you meant. I'll be hitting the paypal button pretty soon. My kids are awfully interested in what I'm doing too. I started the scales... I played piano and highschool band.. the clarinet.. eons ago.. so once.. I used to know how to read music but I have forgotten a whole lot so.. I am just remembering what place is what on the scale and unlike a piano.. where a middle C is a middle C and it's that key.. with a stringed instrument you have this extra dimension of which string to deal with to get the note you want...... Anyway.. I'm looking forward to it. Maybe someday I'll actually be able to play a song from music sheets.. but for now.. I just enjoy the sound.. even a simple c scale. I can do the chords from the "pics" for which strings to finger and what fret ..what auntie Loretta's book shows. That is much easier. I'd like my kids to be able to just tool around and play and they are old enough to be technically capable of learning to play an instrument ..(they are 8.. 6.. and 4). For me growing up "playing" music was always a scripted thing in a school band.. and with those kinds of instruments you can't sing along because you have a mouthpiece in it. Anyway.. thank you for the inspiration! Kim

2-21-08,Clint
Mahalos to you for checkin my site and supporting us with you pickin up da CDs and book. I appreciate it. Once you get back into da practice of lookin at real music... itll all come back to you real soon. Da picture chordz are really easy to play tho. Makes playin da song that much easier... cause you can focus on da singing and enjoyin it.. not lookin at da fretboard and wonderin how to transpose and finga da "F#mSus4M7b9" into "CmSus4M7b9" ... yeah?
Mahalos.. Kim
(I gonna start countin da emails I get about dat chord too...)

2-20-08,Stephen Dykes
I sing and play guitar... old country and western... for tips at restaurants here in central Texas.. but I relax and keep my fingers loose on ukulele. My mom picked up a nice tenor Leolani for me on a trip to Hawaii in 05. I haven't put it down since.
Steve.. The Acoustic Prairie Dog

2-20-08,Clint
Very cool. Mahalos for checkin in. Enjoy da site.. APD

2-20-08, Brent Hasler
Gid-day mate as we say here in Oz. I think your site is great. Very informative and very easy to read and navigate. Where's my big Island... In the South Pacific Region... little place called Australia ... I hail from the city of Brisbane out of the state of Queensland. Fav Instrument? That's a big question. To be honest I like lots of instruments and to pick a favourite out of them isn't so easy. I play a little bit of keyboard ..from when I was a kid.. and I'm now trying to play Ukulele. What do I love about the Islands ... ah now see that's easy... the people... Coming from a rushed.. hustle and bustle big city the laid back attitude of the island people is unbeatable. My story.. My story is I recently brought a Ukulele and now I'm trying to learn how to play. I am enjoying the instrument and have made some interesting sounds... that could almost be confused for music. I am really enjoying playing though and the sore tips of my fingers is probably testament enough to the fact that I am indeed practising. Today I found myself search the net cause the "little book" that I bought was my Ukulele only contained about 13 chords and for some of the song books I've looked at I need more. I really like the two song books you've put together .. I notice that they aren't in the store. Are they not for sale? Is it not possible to buy them? If it is let me know how much .. I reckon there is a good chance I'm interested. Anyway my friend. Like the site and love your efforts. Keep smiling and playing that music. Brent Hasler.

2-20-08,Clint
Mahalos for checkin my site and talkin story from way down unda.. cuz. Cool place.. OZ. I dig da reef too. Clean and clear. Nice. Enjoy da site.. Ill get back to you bout da playbooks. Laterz.

2-19-08, Kim
Hi..My name is Kim. I was actually born in Hilo Hawaii but now I just visit the islands when I can. My last visit.. I bought a ukulele.. meant to buy one for my son to just play around on.. started listening to the sound and ended up getting a nicer one for me instead! I bought Auntie Loretta's book and I'm already to move beyond that. Anyway.. found your site and it is fantastic. Thank-you for all the great stuff. I'd like to buy the playbook and the CDs that go with it. Does the playbook show you how to play the music with the songs? chords or more? I also discovered Jake Shimabukuro. So.. I'm hooked on all things Ukulele. Anyway I live in Alaska now and we could use a little of the Islands right now!!
Sincerely.. Kim

2-19-08,Clint
Aaahhh.. Alaska.. clean air.. beautiful sunsets.. clean, clear waters... jus like Hilo... except.. for da 40 feet of snow..yeah? Wow. Keep da hu'i hu'i up there sistah. Cold enuf down here in So. California wid da 65 degree wind chill....
(b r r r r r r r r r r...)
Mahalos for signin.. I email you bout da books.. and secrets about survival in snow drifts.. laterz.. big island snow bunny...

2-10-08, Craig Parker
Hi Clint...Im new to the world of Ukulele and i think im hooked. I bought a 40 dollar uke to play at the swimming pool as a joke and it didnt take 20 minutes and i was fascinated. Ive always been a big fan of hawaiian slack key guitar and hawaiian swing from the old days. Anyway.. so my online search led me to many sites but i can honestly say that your site is the most usefull and practical.. Thank You for takin the time out to learn html and get the site togeather for us newbies!!! As a 6 string guitar player the transition has been effortless and loads of fun. Ive playing some simple songs gathered online like "we'll meet again" "you are my sunshine" etc.
I noticed that in your playbook you have some elvis.. lyman and traditional songs that i would love to learn to play. I would like to ask for a copy of yr playbook and what would be the process to procure this lil goldmine of yours. ??
I bought my girlfriend a uke as well and now we are both spending sundays playing ukulele at the swimming pool. Man.. Sundays have never been this much fun. At this stage we are still going thru the scales and getting the major and minor chords under our belts.. playing simple progressions. We would love to play some of your notated song together. Looking forward to your reply..Thank you sir ..May the ukulele be with you...Regards

2-10-08,Clint
Mahalos for signin. Glad you playin da uke and findin dis site. Nice words. Play more songs together and less chords and progressions at this stage cuz. Trust me. You gonna have enuff time later on to fit da chordz in. Songs first.. den chords.. den progressions. Mahalos for signin.. and I will contact you bout da playbooks. Enjoy. Laterz

2-9-08, Larry Wolf
Wow! What a website! Ive just purchased a banjo uke. A friend of mine had it. Its a heavy one with a resonator. Not a cheapo. No brand name on it. Anyway I just hopped on the internet to find a site for some info and there you were. It looks like you have everything there that Ill need to start strummin. Years ago my mom had a uke that I messed around with but its long gone and I forgot everything I knew except "My Dog Has Fleas". Ive been messing around with the 5-string banjo for years and just recently I started on the mandolin too. Im presently repairing an old Gibson Mandola that I picked up. Im an old retired geezer so I have plenty of time. Anyway I just wanted to tell you that I really like your website. Thanks. Larry Wolf

2-9-08,Clint
Thanks for da kind words, friend. Glad you diggin da site. You gonna find many sites out there with info on da ukulele.. but this one da best, cuz. But den.. I a bit partial to dis one anyways. Enjoy da banjo ukulele.. good fun... le'a le'a maika'i, hoa aloha. Mahalos

2-2-08, Dennis Carman
I'm Dennis Carman... learned to play the uke in 64 when I was 17.. guess that makes me 60.. dang! I lived on Kauai and went to WHS for almost 2 years. The people in Hawaii are the very best. My teacher on Kauai was Freddie Viquelia.. excellent player and way to humble. I got to see him again after 40 years. In all honesty of the uke players who are good, Freddie has a way with the uke that makes his playing very easy to listen too. He's not well known because again.. he was way to humble. Anyway my interest in the uke is back on the front burner. I recently had an addiction to ebay and buying ukes.. mostly broken ukes requiring work. I learned to rebuild and repair them for no other reason than it became a challenge. Eventually as I learn more about them I would like to build a tenor or something in that size that I hope would become a very special sounding uke. I now live in the Hawthorne but do return occasionally to Vermont where I lived for the last 43. I have been playing with a small group for a few years now. I'm also their "token" haole boy. As for the uke.. I would like to learn to play it better. I certainly know that in my case I need to learn to read music to some degree to get anywhere for I don't have the "ear" for music like the Filipinos. They just hear the music and play and some of them have no idea what chord they are playing! Amazing. Anyway this is part of my story and I'm stickin' to it. Thanks for the website. By the way where are you folks located and where to do play or practice?

2-2-08,Clint
Eh haole... 'a'ole pilikia.. as long as you playin.. nobody gonna know you haole.. unless you always off rhythm, den they gonna know fo sure. We play here in So. California in Torrance. Da Bartlet Senior Center. And I hope you talkin only bout da Filipinos in you group knowin how to play by ear... cause we got a few Filipinos in da group out here.. no rhythm at all bruddah. I dont want people thinkin that just cause they Filipino.. they automatically gonna be jammin. It take alot of work.. time.. and patience. Alot acussin and thinkin and wonderin and listenin to some good playas and cds and concerts and really listenin not just hearin. And more time and patience. And some playin in front of others.. and more patience. Sooner or later you gonna get better. That's part of my story, cuz, Laterz hoa aloha.. and for everybody sake.. leave Ebay alone.. I learn dat a sickness bruddah. See da ukes on da ABOUT ME Pages. (sheeeeeesh).