| Author | Message | Last Post |
 | Mark Berry | Subject: Ukuleles
Hi All
I have been looking at buying a Ukulele there are a couple on the UK Tanglewood web site and wonder if anyone has tried one?
Are there different styles depending on preference and what differences are there between cheep Ukuleles and a more expensive ones?
Plus how do you tune it and to what notes?
Looking forward to replys
Regards
Mark | Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:28:53 |
 | AlexH | RE: Ukuleles
The different styles of Uke are fundamentally down to the size, of which there are 4: starting from the smallest "Soprano" (which is the original size), through "Concert", "Tenor" and "Baritone". All except the Baritone are typically tuned to gCEA (the uppermost string tuned to high G)...
The difference in price will be maily due to the wood (solid top, typically Mahogany, or Koa on even more expensive ones) versus laminate on cheaper Ukes. Also to things like the quality of tuning pegs, strings etc
If you are a beginner you'll probably be fine with a cheaper instrument, as even some of these can sound fine... then you can experiment a bit with sizes etc before you settle on a more expensive solid wood one. If you plan on playing mostly chords a small instrument (Soprano or Concert) will be fine, on the other hand if you plan on becoming a Uke shredding virtuoso you will probably appreciate the extra space on the fretboard of a Tenor Uke...
Good luck with it! | Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:31:01 |
| Mark Berry | RE: Ukuleles
Hi Alex
Many thanks you have opened my eyes a little
I think I will start with the concert size as I have quite big clumsy fingers.
I take it the cord shapes are the same for all Ukuleles?
Is there any particular make that you might recommend?
One of my local guitar shops can get a Tanglewood one starting at about £30
Thanks for reply
Regards
Mark
| Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:25:07 |
| AlexH | RE: Ukuleles
Hi Mark,
I'm glad it was useful.
The chord shapes across the three smaller sizes (soprano, concert and tenor) are all the same... there are a few good sites that have many simple songs together with the chord shape diagrams (http://www.doctoruke.com/songs.html) is a good example...
I think the Tanglewood Ukes are fine (I dont have a Tanglewood one myself but I've heard good things about them, and if the quality is anything like that of the guitars you'll be OK!) ...there are a lot of generic cheaper makes available, but I think at £30 you might as well go for the Tanglewood... then if you find that the Uke is for you there are a number of "boutique" hawaian makers that sell instruments anywhee from £400 upwards!!
Let us know how you get on!
Alex
| Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:04:01 |
