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339 posts
Buying a Ukulele for a Young Child
Tamás GállI receive a great many emails from parents asking what kind of ukulele they should choose for their child. I have already written a post about buying a ukulele “for adults” but in view of the many messages I receive, I will now try to summarise what I think is worth considering when choosing a ukule…
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The Benefits of Playing a Musical Instrument
Tamás GállI found an excellent video about the effect playing a musical instrument has on the human brain. In short: it is good. In more detail: it is quite amazing. According to the narrator, when a musician starts playing an instrument, a real fireworks display unfolds in the brain, even though from the out…
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All Ukulele Chords (for Intermediate Players)
Tamás GállYou probably know the joke: "How many push-ups can Chuck Norris do? All of them." Now we are going to try to be Chuck Norris and put all the chords into a single chart. It may be easier for more advanced players, but I certainly do not want to discourage beginners either: anyone who understands and…
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Pink Martini
Tamás GállThis unusually named band is twenty years old this year, and I am sorry that I discovered them only recently. (In an earlier ukulele test post — KALA KA-S — I strum along to one of their best-known songs.) The group was founded in 1994 by a rather over-animated pianist, and they have been performing…
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The Champs – Tequila
Tamás GállI think everyone knows this oldie. Thanks to its easy-to-remember lyrics, we do not have to spend much time memorising lines: one emphatic shout of “Tequila!” takes care of the “singing”. The song – recorded by The Champs in 1958 and rewarded with a Grammy in 1959 – is simplicity itself, yet that pr…
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Cigar Box Ukulele
Tamás GállWhen I wrote the post called *(l)ele a few years ago, I never thought I would soon have the chance to hold a ukulele made from a cigar box in my own hands. A few weeks ago I received a nice message from Dávid, asking whether I would like to try a ukulele made from a cigar box - one that he had built…
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The Youngest Padawan
Tamás GállDear Ukulele Players! A new love entered my life a few days ago, which is why I have not been able to make fresh posts or videos. My little daughter was born. She has no idea yet how much fun playing the ukulele is, but I hope she will find out soon! I did not put her hand there - it happened comple…
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Kala KA-MC
Tamás GállNo, Kala has not teamed up with MasterCard - the letters MC stand for something else :). The beautiful body of this ukulele is made of mango wood (M), and it is concert size (C). I have been playing this Kala in several of the previous videos, so you can hear it in Pachelbel's Canon (and the how-to-…
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Strumming Techniques for Beginners
Tamás GállI have received several messages asking, "Okay, I can hold the chord, but what rhythm should I strum?" If I wanted to give the simple but not very helpful answer, I would say: strum in whatever way the particular song or musical style requires. That is actually true. The more music we listen to - es…
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Size Doesn't Matter II
Tamás GállLast year I already posted a similar article with two videos. Now here is another unmissable recording featuring a mini ukulele about the size of a matchbox and the enormous, roughly concert-to-tenor-sized ukulele accompanying it :). A barre covering all four strings can be held with roughly one to…
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Pachelbel's Canon in D - How to Play It
Tamás GállThe Pachelbel Brothers are on a world tour, but before they left we managed to persuade their ukulele player to reveal the secret recipe behind their canon . The piece is worth learning not only because wedding planners will be demanding our services from now on, but also because it makes an excelle…
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Pachelbel's Canon in D
Tamás GállPachelbel's name may not be familiar to everyone, but there are very few people who have never heard the chords of his Canon in D. This great Baroque composer created a chord progression that went on to inspire countless other composers and popular-song writers. The progression is catchy in the best…
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