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Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive: 2005 » Archive through August 05, 2005 » Is an Ukelele really an instrument? « Previous Next »

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bob
Senior Member
Username: bob

Post Number: 487
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 11:07 pm:   Edit Post

Personally, there has always been some doubt in my mind - no offense to any players out there.

And just to save us all time, it is an acoustic "instrument", and Alembic doesn't make such things, so let's not bother talking about that.

But a friend sent me this link, which is a video clip of some guy playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and I think some of you may appreciate it. Definitely worth a listen (though I can't seem to get the last minute or so).

http://www.m90.org/view_image.php?image_id=6057

This is not a site that would generally appeal to me, but I forwarded the link to a friend who happens to be very pleased about having an autographed photo of herself with Tiny Tim (never quite got that myself). She recommends you also check out the Chinese dancers video, and I concur.

edited - that link seems to have disappeared in favor of something perhaps less tasteful, so here are the dancers:

http://www.m90.org/view_image.php?image_id=6445

(Message edited by bob on July 20, 2005)

(Message edited by bob on July 21, 2005)
keith_h
Intermediate Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 131
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 4:38 am:   Edit Post

The song seems appropriate. George Harrison was a big fan and player of the Ukelele. Not only would he take his own when travelling, he brought an extra one or two along so friends could play with him.

Keith
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 777
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 6:35 am:   Edit Post

Wow! Who would have thought? Thanks for sharing Bob.

Sam
pas
Junior
Username: pas

Post Number: 38
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 6:55 am:   Edit Post

Jake Shimabukuro...saw him open for Stanley Clarke, Bela Fleck & Jean-Luc Ponty at Wolf Trap last month. I was absolutely spellbound. His musical ability simply redefines & transcends his instrument in much the same way Bela did with the banjo 15 years ago. What an unexpected treat that was...
57basstra
Junior
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 42
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 8:15 am:   Edit Post

Tiny Tim, very underrated and underappreciated player, singer, entertainer, pop icon. (God Bless us every one.)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2078
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 8:30 am:   Edit Post

Wow!!! That was nice!!! Thanks, Bob!

Somewhere I had just recently heard about this guy doing a version of "While My Guitar.." on uke. And here it is!
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 437
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 8:39 am:   Edit Post

Wow is right. Nice. How is a Ukelele tuned? 4ths? 5ths? Perhaps you can see where this is headed...
John
jagerphan84
Advanced Member
Username: jagerphan84

Post Number: 204
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 9:11 am:   Edit Post

Normally they're tuned G-C-E-A, IIRC.

Adam
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 440
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 9:28 am:   Edit Post

Thanks, Adam. Low to High or High to Low? It will be interesting to see if my fingers and attention-span are long enough to try adapting this to bass. If anybody else does this, I'd love to hear it!
John
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 522
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 7:54 pm:   Edit Post

It is definately an instrument. And just like a mandolin, I think they make great percussion instruments. Really! Check out The Fox by Nickle Creek. Or Baby Girl by Sugarland. To me that is a good example of what I mean. Sort of like a cross between a rythm guitar and click track. Good stuff!
bob
Senior Member
Username: bob

Post Number: 488
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 9:59 pm:   Edit Post

So, what, nobody liked the Chinese dancers?

Yes, the (ooh) ukelele really is an instrument - in the right hands.
blazer
Member
Username: blazer

Post Number: 64
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 3:01 pm:   Edit Post



On the Concert for George in which a lot of George Harrison's famous friends and the two remaining Beatles played his songs, Sir Paul whipped out a Ukelele and played a very ragtime version of "Something."
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2091
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 3:30 pm:   Edit Post

I've watched that Concert For George a couple of times on PBS. Very moving! Quite wonderful. On "Something", the transition from the uke into the full arrangement is especially nice.

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