Ukulele Help!

CrznDnUS1 · Post by **CrznDnUS1** » March 24, 2008 3:19 pm

I recently purchased a Ukulele off eBay and tried replace the stings. I bought a set and never really got them tuned before breaking one of the stings, so I went out to another store and found two different types. A set of baritone and a set of soprano. Not being sure what type I have I got both sets. The baritone says on the back that they are EBGD so if figured I'd try that first since I also play guitar. Now the question, the first set I got were plain ends so I tied a knot in the end. After I did it that didn't see correct, but it was too late. Now the baritone set had the largest one wound and I don't know what to do to secure to the uke. Thus I am asking some Uke experts here on BN. Anyone who can help please let me know what to do. More questions to come after i get the strings on and tuned.

Thanks,

Marnin Grita Guy · Post by **Marnin Grita Guy** » March 24, 2008 5:13 pm

Catcher

Born: January 26, 1935 (1935-01-26) (age 73)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 13, 1962
for the Milwaukee Braves
Final game
September 29, 1967
for the Atlanta Braves
Career statistics
Batting Average .200
Home Runs 14
RBI 74
Teams
Milwaukee Braves (1962-1963)
St. Louis Cardinals (1964-1965)
Philadelphia Phillies (1966-1967)
Atlanta Braves (1967)

Career highlights and awards
Ford C. Frick Award (2003)

Marnin Grita Guy · Post by **Marnin Grita Guy** » March 24, 2008 5:17 pm

Does this help?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukelele

CrznDnUS1 · Post by **CrznDnUS1** » March 24, 2008 6:17 pm

Marnin Grita Guy wrote:Does this help?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukelele

Not really but thanks anyway. I was wondering what they heck your first post was then I read the stats thinking it might mean something and said HUH?

Then I read the name on the card and duh, I get it now. Actually I was looking how to hold the classic strings on the bridge which i just fund on youtube. Now i need to figure out how to play it to make something somewhat listenable.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 24, 2008 6:24 pm

where is Ukulady???

CrznDnUS1 · Post by **CrznDnUS1** » March 25, 2008 7:54 am

springparrot wrote:where is Ukulady???

I knew I saw somoene on here with that name and a sig saying "You can't have too many Ukulelies". Figured that would be a good place to start. In the meantime I searched 'YouTube' and found lots of Jake Shimabukuro clips. This guy is amazing http://youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k (While My Guitar Gently Weeps - in Strawberry Fields, NYC). I also found out how to string it, which is the same as stringing a classical guitar. As far as the Baritone Ukes they are much larger as you can see in this clip of Jake Shimabukuro, so I pretty much found out what I needed but still have lots of questions like how the heck to make this thing sound sweet for starters.

Salukulady · Post by **Salukulady** » April 2, 2008 4:24 pm

Hey Kids, I was on vacation for a week with NO internet. Just saw this post. First we have to determine what size ukulele you bought. Soprano, concert, tenor or baritone. Unless you got a Super Uke (they come in all four sizes and have a longer fingerboard, professionals like them) a soprano is about 23 inches long, concert 26 inches, tenor 28 inches and baritones 32 inches. Traditionally, sopranos, concerts and tenors are tuned GCEA and baritones are tuned EBGD. I string my baritone GCEA (with a special set of strings just for that) so I don't have to transpose my music when I change ukes. The soprano strings you bought will fit a soprano. They will not be long enough for any other size. I have not had any luck trying to tune a soprano uke to guitar chords, this usually end up snapping the neck off 'cuz you have to stretch them so far. When I started playing uke I had to forget my guitar chords....on guitar a G is a C on a uke, etc.....I just relearned it in uke. Anyway, figure out what size you have and post back.
Some very helpful sites are ukuleleunderground.com alligatorboogaloo.com/uke/ fleamarketmusic.com tropicalstormhawaii.com ukulelestrummers.com
Also, for all of Jimmy's music cobo..org/knowledge/gcc/song.html and chordie.com
Jimmy's ballads are especially pretty when played on a baritone.
Oh, one other thing, it's pronounced "OOKAH LAY LAY.
ALOHA!

CrznDnUS1 · Post by **CrznDnUS1** » April 3, 2008 7:27 am

Ukulady wrote:Hey Kids, I was on vacation for a week with NO internet. Just saw this post. First we have to determine what size ukulele you bought. Soprano, concert, tenor or baritone. Unless you got a Super Uke (they come in all four sizes and have a longer fingerboard, professionals like them) a soprano is about 23 inches long, concert 26 inches, tenor 28 inches and baritones 32 inches. Traditionally, sopranos, concerts and tenors are tuned GCEA and baritones are tuned EBGD. I string my baritone GCEA (with a special set of strings just for that) so I don't have to transpose my music when I change ukes. The soprano strings you bought will fit a soprano. They will not be long enough for any other size. I have not had any luck trying to tune a soprano uke to guitar chords, this usually end up snapping the neck off 'cuz you have to stretch them so far. When I started playing uke I had to forget my guitar chords....on guitar a G is a C on a uke, etc.....I just relearned it in uke. Anyway, figure out what size you have and post back.
Some very helpful sites are ukuleleunderground.com alligatorboogaloo.com/uke/ fleamarketmusic.com tropicalstormhawaii.com ukulelestrummers.com
Also, for all of Jimmy's music cobo..org/knowledge/gcc/song.html and chordie.com
Jimmy's ballads are especially pretty when played on a baritone.
Oh, one other thing, it's pronounced "OOKAH LAY LAY.
ALOHA!

Thanks for the advice, and after reading this I think I might have bought a toy. It was advertised as a Harmony but there are no markings or lable proving such. It measures about 21" with 12 frets which fits into none of the specs you mentioned above. Also the top, back and sides are all made out of plywood. It might be time to buy a real instrument next time.

Salukulady · Post by **Salukulady** » April 3, 2008 9:44 am

Hey, a lot of really great ukulele players started out on $30. ukes. Some sopranos are smaller and some really old ukes were tiny and very expensive. Remember we PLAY an instrument...so...an intrument is a TOY. That said, Harmony is not a name I know, but that doesn't mean anything. There are thousands of decent brands out there. You can spend thousands of dollars on a solid koa from the islands or get a decent mahogony from china for about $100 and sound great on either, it's all about the practicing.
Some brands I'm aquainted with, Ohana, Lanikai and Kala. For strings, I use Aquilla or Hilo. I don't remember what state you're in but based on your name if you're in So Cal you've got lots of choices. I really recommend buying one in person. That way you can decide what size you want by how it feels in your hands. I started on a concert, their a little easier to hold than a soprano. I'm in Huntington Beach, and I know several good shops in O.C. Also, a great place to learn a ton is at a uke jam. Good friendly people that are very nice to us beginners. Let me know how it's going. ALOHA!

Salukulady · Post by **Salukulady** » April 3, 2008 9:54 am

Oh now I see "cruizin down the Jersey shore", your on the other US1. Well, the state of New York has more uke players than Hawaii (registered on fleamarketmusic.com) second only to CA, so there's gotta be people and music stores in Jersey that can help you. Good Luck!

CrznDnUS1 · Post by **CrznDnUS1** » April 3, 2008 3:08 pm

Ukulady wrote:Oh now I see "cruizin down the Jersey shore", your on the other US1. Well, the state of New York has more uke players than Hawaii (registered on fleamarketmusic.com) second only to CA, so there's gotta be people and music stores in Jersey that can help you. Good Luck!

Yes, not on the left coast yet. Actually my US1 goes all the way from here to mile 0 in Key West

Now i think i gotta change my wound baratone strings to some concert ones and start all over again. Thanks, for the help.

Salukulady · Post by **Salukulady** » April 3, 2008 3:16 pm

CrznDnUS1 wrote:
Ukulady wrote:Oh now I see "cruizin down the Jersey shore", your on the other US1. Well, the state of New York has more uke players than Hawaii (registered on fleamarketmusic.com) second only to CA, so there's gotta be people and music stores in Jersey that can help you. Good Luck!
Yes, not on the left coast yet. Actually my US1 goes all the way from here to mile 0 in Key West Now i think i gotta change my wound baratone strings to some concert ones and start all over again. Thanks, for the help.

Soprano string....looking forward to your first uke performance on youtube. Keep me posted on your progress. ALOHA!