UKE Magazine Issue 23 has been dispatched to subscribers. Work is continuing on the online content from this magazine. Video lessons and competition forms should be in place by Monday 7 September.
Check back here then - it’s nearly there!
Eden Origin Concert and Tenor Ukuleles - Register Interest
Eden Ukuleles, a World of Ukes brand, have been a popular choice for customers in recent years - with a lot of specification for your money. They feature solid cedar tops, a gloss finish, fluorocarbon strings and a hard case, at a price of £189 (tenor) and £169 (cedar).
I am considering re-ordering a new run of these ukuleles, but… as I have to order in large quantities in order to make those prices viable, I would like to get a list of anyone interested in acquiring one, so I can gauge interest and inform people (with no obligation) when they are completed.
Please note these models have been and gone and are discontinued.
Got a Ukulele independent review of the Eden Origin.
aNueNue Moon Bird Ukulele Availability
Complete your details below for an update on the aNueNue Moon Bird Ukuleles - they’re in high demand, so do this if you’d like to be informed when they are back in stock. It will just be an e-mail, so no obligation!
Uma Fan Fret Ukuleles Arrive in the UK
The Uma fan-fret ukulele range
UMA FAN FRET UKULELES
These unusual looking instruments from Uma are new to the UK for July 2020. They feature fanned frets, which look unusual, yes, but have a practical purpose too. They allow the low G (fitted as standard) to have a higher tension, making it ring out with greater resonance and sustain. In the same way that a soprano uke suits a low G less than a tenor does, because of the tension, these instruments give you a nice zip to the low G without overwhelming the crisp trebles.
In terms of playability, they are remarkably easy for a regular uke player to adjust to. In fact, if anything, the angled frets make barre chords cleaner and easier. What looks like a mind-boggling set up is in fact, perfectly playable. Seriously, you just pick it up and play and it feels perfectly natural. I understand that people will have doubts about that - I certainly did - but I need not have worried as they’re really easy to get on with.
The Uma range, with fanned frets includes four different models, two all solid acacia ukes in concert and tenor, and another concert and tenor with solid spruce top and solid walnut back and sides.
The concert acacia model, the KC, you can read more about here
The tenor acacia model, designated the KT, is here.
The spruce and walnut concert, the SC, can be found here.
Finally, the tenor in spruce and walnut, the ST, is here
UKE Magazine Issue 22 Competition
In June 2020’s UKE Magazine, you’ll find details of our competition to win a Laka VUT-90 solid top tenor ukulele, fitted with the Graphtech Ratio Tune-a-lele tuners - the world’s lightest machine heads.
The competition prize
To win, entries need to be in by 1 August 2020, with the correct answer to the following question…
UKE Magazine Issue 22 - Technique Zone
Here you can watch a video of the lesson explained in Issue 22 of UKE Magazine, in the technique zone section - looking at picking patterns.
Ukes Akimbo / Ukes Agogo / MUGS - The Show Must Go On!
Week 1 has been rescheduled to Friday at 7.15pm
Members of ukulele groups in the vicinity of World of Ukes can continue to enjoy group sessions led by Andy Webster, with a live stream YouTube video on Thursdays at 7.15pm.
You can join the playalong on YouTube by clicking here.
You can download the songbook by clicking on the picture of Ukes Akimbo below, or by clicking here.
Click the picture above to download the songbook for the session
If you can spare a few pounds for group subs, you can donate via the League of Ukulele Gentlemen site. (Look for the ‘donate button on the top right under Andy’s face - if you can stand to look at it ;) )
If don’t have a PayPal account and it is tricky to use the donate button, you can order the session subs in the League of Ukulele Gentlemen shop.
If successful, come back here early next week to get the new songbook for session 2.
UKE Magazine Issue 21 - Technique Zone - Explanatory Videos
In UKE Magazine Issue 21, there are a series of lessons in Technique zone, with accompanying videos.
Lesson One - Ukulele String Bending
This is a video tutorial explaining how you bend ukulele strings, to add colour to solos and instrumentals.
Lesson Two - Ukulele Harmonics
This is a video tutorial explaining how to play harmonics on your ukulele.
Lesson Three - Exploring the Neck
This is a video tutorial explaining a method to explore the upper reaches of the ukulele neck, without barre chords.
UKE Magazine Issue 21 - Prize Competition
In March 2020’s issue 21, there’s a competition to win a Populele DIY ukulele kit, designed and made in Scotland. You can enter by completing the survey below - the results of which will be published in Issue 22, due out in June.
The UKE Magazine Issue 21 Prize - enter below
UKE Magazine Issue 21 - Paul Mansell - It Takes Two
Accompanying the article from Paul Mansell and Tony Mizen in issue 21 of UKE Magazine is a tab to try at home, Allegretto.
Taken from the new book by the pair, 2kulele, it contains arrangements of pieces for ukulele duos, but includes a CD with the different parts on it so that you can duet with the recording if you don’t have another player handy.
Allegretto is just one of twenty two pieces that you can try in the book.
You can listen to two audiophiles below, the first is a digitally produced file so you can hear how the piece should sound. The second, is the second ukulele part of the arrangement only, so you can play along with the role of ukulele one. (Note - the CD included with the book is a real recording of Paul and Tony playing)
The book 2kulele, can be purchased from publisher Kevin Mayhew
UKE Magazine Issue 20 - Take Heart
There’s a video from the Ukulele Festival of Scotland of Take Heart - as described in UKE Magazine Issue 20
This video is on Facebook. If you’re not on Facebook you can still view it, just dismiss the pop up that will appear and say ‘not now’ to joining!
UKE Magazine Issue 20 Competition - Complete the Survey for a chance to win!
We’re always looking to improve UKE Magazine, and the best way we can think of to do this to ask readers what they want more (or less of). To be in with a chance of winning the prize, please complete the survey below by 1 February 2020.
The prizes - a Freshman UKSPRUCE concert electro ukulele and a deluxe leather strap from Uber Doofer
Tabs to Try - Issue 20, Track Dogs with Take My Word
UKE Magazine Issue 20 - Tabs to Try
This is Take My Word, by Track Dogs, which you can learn to play in Issue 20 of UKE Magazine
UKE Magazine Issue 19 Competition - with Enjoy Travel
You can win a Smiger tenor ukulele, with solid cedar top and Florentine cutaway by completing the form below. One lucky entrant will get their hands on the uke, if they answer the question by 4 November 2019. The competition is open to entrants worldwide.
You can find out the answer by visiting the website of our partners Enjoy Travel, with whom we are putting on Big Boat on the Danube, an exclusive cruise for ukulele players, in summer 2020.
The Prize!
The Cruise!
UKE Magazine Issue 19 Tab Demonstration Videos
In September’s Issue 19, we have two songs to learn - and here are demonstrations of both.
Firstly, Lyle Ritz’s music and Jim Beloff’s lyrics for Old in New Mexico (performed here by Jim and his wife Liz)
And secondly, one of the songs entered in our UKE Magazine Song Contest, ‘Changing the world with my little ukulele’ (Music: Andreas Hellmayr (AT) Lyrics: Robert Hudson (USA), Juliana Steiger (AT))
UKE Magazine Song Contest Winner
Congratulations to Mark Stephenson, who was chosen by our panel as the winner of the UKE Magazine Song Contest, 2019. He wins a stompbox from Logjam.
Thanks to all entrants who put in some great songs to the competition, which were greatly enjoyed here at UKE Magazine HQ.
Here’s the winning entry.
World of Ukes / Stones Music Like & Share Facebook Competition
Identify these seven ukuleles and you could win a Baton Rouge V2-T8 8-string ukulele…
Here, you can win a Baton Rouge 8-string ukulele! How?
1) Complete the form below to identify these seven ukuleles. They can all be found in the World of Ukes website - visit here.
2) Visit the World of Ukes Facebook page, and like and share our competition post.
Stones Music is a UK distributor of ukuleles and accessories - with great brands like Baton Rouge, Kiwaya, Risa, Magic Fluke and Kai on offer. I recently won a V2-T8 in a competition Mark at Stones ran for dealers, and I’m making that prize available to one lucky customer.
Enter below (and don’t forget to visit our Facebook page to like and share the competition post). Before the form… there’s a few rules.
1) This competition closes on 30 September, 2019
2) To win you have to correctly identify the seven ukuleles above, by visiting the World of Ukes ukulele store. (If that seems a bit hard - there are clues on the form below!).
3) The competition is available worldwide.
4) If you decide to order one of the ukuleles above, and you are drawn as the winner, we’ll include a free subscription to UKE Magazine - which you can find out about here.
5) If you decide to purchase a Baton Rouge V2-T8 from World of Ukes, before the competition closes, you’ll receive a full refund and a UKE Magazine subscription if drawn as the winner.
6) The title of the ukulele on your entry form doesn’t need to be 100% accurate, just enough to be identifiable.
Enter below, and good luck! Remember - you’ll find what they are on the World of Ukes Website.
World of Ukes Discount Club - Reductions for Uke Club Members and Cashback for Club Funds
Ukulele Club Leaders / Admin - Please Sign Up Below
Ukulele Club Members - Please Share This Link To Your Club Leaders!
World of Ukes is proposing a discount scheme and referral programme for ukulele clubs, giving club members a small discount for purchasing ukuleles, with a percentage of all total sales payable to your ukulele club each quarter.
The cashback can be spent as you choose - charitable donations, club equipment or whatever you wish.
Each club registering would be supplied with a unique discount code which would give players the initial discount and allow me to calculate the cashback due. A supply of cards with the code and scheme details would be mailed to allow club leaders to advertise the programme to members.
Of course, as a specialist retailer, those who purchase a ukulele from World of Ukes will be choosing from a selection of trusted brands and models, with inspection, set-up and free UK delivery included.
World of Ukes is a specialist ukulele retailer with a huge stock of quality instruments, in store and online
Member discount of £5 on any ukulele
Exclusive club discount code
5% Cashback on total sales payable to club funds
Promotional material supplied
If enough interest is registered in the scheme, it will go ahead. From the World of Ukes perspective, it is vital in an age of internet giant retailers with offshore tax arrangements, that as many ukulele players know about the store as possible. So, it would be most appreciated if you can mention the scheme in your club!
Register your club interest below: -
Your e-mail will only be used to communicate about this scheme.
UKE Magazine Original Song Contest
You could win a Logjam stompbox by entering our search for an original ukulele song
Enter by 5 August 2019
Send a link (or the full video) to the email address on the image below
Write a song with the theme of Togetherness
Winner announced in the September edition of UKE Magazine
UKE Magazine Issue 18 - Paul Mansell, Can You Play Me a C
Can you play me a C?
In Issue 18 Paul Mansell talks about his new book for young children, Ukulele School.
Here is a video from Paul of the song, Can You Play Me A C.
This is the tab for the song!
Click on the image above (the tab), to download an audio file for the song.
These are free to use for personal and educational purposes only.
Full copies of the book are available from the publisher’s website, Kevin Mayhew Ltd.