In 2008 when my mother passed away I was left with a whole hour each evening where we would talk on the phone. I didn't know what I would do for that hour each day and found myself sinking into depression from my grief. While shopping at a small music shop at a flea market I saw a beautiful ukulele. It became my first uke. I turned to KZread for help in learning which led me to Hawaii Music Supply. I am not a great player but I love my ukes because that little instrument has always lifted me up and made me happy!

Thirty years ago I played the guitar, that is until an accident cost me the ring finger on my left hand. Seven months ago, at 66, I gave the ukulele a shot. Five ukuleles and countless hours later I couldn’t be more in love. Thank you for this video, the numerous sound bites and so much more. If I’ve learned nothing else, you don’t have to be good, not to have fun with the ukulele. Thanks again, Wes

@takewealth

4 жыл бұрын

A moment of silence for your ring finger. 😔

It was the first time I heard Kalei and Corey play!

All my life I've been what you could call "musically challenged". I had tried many instruments and none held my interest. In January 2009 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, couldn't work and had to take an early retirement. I borrowed a guitar from my older sister, but I couldn't handle the six strings and the bulk of the guitar body. Then I discovered the ukulele. Much easier on my hands and has such a beautiful sound, resulting me falling in love with it. Playing the ukulele has taught me a lot, introduced me to many new friends who've taught me a lot. The ukulele is just so much darn fun.

I saw Taimane Gardner on KZread and loved the sound. Then I found out she was coming to San Diego so I talked a friend into going with me to see her. Turned out it was an ukulele festival. They put an ukulele in my hands and taught me how to strum C. And I absolutely fell in love!!!! That was about 2012. I now play with about 6 groups/gatherings.

I was injured in my service o’seas and retired as a result. Learning to play music has helped me immensely with my PTS. I was addicted to guitar and keyboard equally, but have had quite a few major surgeries which laid me up over the past few years. My wife got me a uke as I could play it laying down (within limits anyhow). I’m now back on my feet to a degree and while I could play my guitars or keyboard, most the time I play the ukes. I love them and their versatility, and the fact that you don’t need lots of additional equipment, don’t take up gobs of room, and just make me happy. Unlike guitar or piano, I don’t get frustrated with ukes even when I’m having trouble with new techniques. I’m far from good but no worries as I’ll continue to play and learn and hopefully teach the grandkids. Maholo y’all from Texas.

I know this is over and no prize etc... The shadows of depression and grief are dark and heavy, the ukulele is a small craft that can take you into the light and bath your soul. Recharge your empathy and quiet the dark voices of the mind. The joy you see with people playing or listening gives hope. At least that is my journey with the small but powerful instrument. Thank you for the channel and talent and joy you express and share.

I had always dreamed of playing an instrument, so I bought a cheap soprano in September 2020 right before my 44th birthday. I fell in love right away. Since then, I’ve been inspired by this channel’s videos and practice as much as I can. Just recently in September 2022, I drank psychedelic mushroom tea and played my concert uke. It felt like hearing my uke for the first time and my love for playing grew more.

My wife of 40 years passed away in 2011. After a year or so I realized I needed to find something to help me move on. I had toyed with the ukulele in my youth and thought perhaps I might like to give it a try once again. I discovered Hawaii Music Supply while watching KZread videos and sent an email requesting help in finding a good ukulele. Andrew was kind enough to respond and very helpful. I eventually chose the Pono AT. It arrived soon after. I quickly fell in love with it and play it every day. I now am a member of a local group that performs for seniors and at other special events. I wish I had started playing much earlier in life but ukulele has been a blessing to me these past seven years. I very much enjoyed this video. It was nice to visit my Pono's home. Mike

I started out playing guitar at age 12. But I had a hard time with some of the chords, and although I kept playing off and on over the years, I never really progressed very far. A few years ago I became interested in getting a ukulele because my Dad talked about learning to play guitar starting out on a four string guitar called a tenor guitar. My husband got me a ukulele for my birthday and I have been playing ever since. I love the sound, and I have been able to master a lot more chords than I was ever able to on the guitar. In addition, practicing the ukulele consistently has helped my guitar playing. Playing the ukulele just makes me feel happy.

Those 4 string tunes I could listen and sleep and reawaken throughout the night

I was in Switzerland in 2001. Went into a music store and purchased my first ukulele, a Bruko Soprano they had. I was up late in the hotel noodling around on it and i was hooked. When I got back to the states I bought through ebay a Keli'i Koa Concert from a gent in Pearl City. It was a Revelation. So rich and delicious. I wish I would have kept it because I remember the string spacing was nice and wide at the bridge conducive to finger style. I then bought a Kamaka Tenor from the same guy and a Uke Brand Koa Concert from Gryphon in California. I was off and running then. Dozens of ukes over the years of course I love my Pono Spruce and Ebony Baritone I purchased from you. The set up was perfect. And now after a few years of seasoning, it"s truly a remarkable sounding bauble. Thanks. It won't be my last transaction with you. Your selection is mind boggling.

At 72 years young! I turned a Concert Uke I had into a MandoUke with GDAE strings so I could practice songs I was doing on my fiddle for those traffic snarls (keeps me from getting upset with traffic). I couldn't find a string suitable for the high E, so I went with 20 lb fishing line! LOL . It worked and wasn't detrimental to the bridge. I enjoyed practicing on this mandoUke so much that I went on to buy a Tenor, then a Baritone, and recently went all out with a sold wood Mahogany from Kawena from you guys. I'm waiting patiently as it's still in setup! Normally I have to take all my purchases to my Luthier--I'm so pleased that you guys offer this service for your customers! It gives me added security when purchasing online. Love you guys and listen to all your pods and videos

It was about 8 years ago, when my daughter who was attending college at Hawaii brought back an inexpensive soprano ukulele as a present. I thought it would be kind of fun to learn a few dorky songs on it ... but fell in love with it almost immediately. There is rarely a day that goes by that I don't play one of my ukes. I still have the original soprano, but I also have 3 more (concert, tenor, banjo uke). Good times!

Oh well, Hmmm. Probably really happened growing up on Lanikai beach listening to my mom and her friends playing ukuleles back in the 60's, but I never took it seriously until 6 years ago after she had a stroke and started giving her ukes away. First one was a little old banjo uke that got me hooked playing with a local bluegrass band. Now I have a dozen of them including one of her Kamakas, one that is signed by all the UOGB virtuosos (hanging on my office wall), play every day and teach a music class at a local private school.

I fell in love with the ukulele when I learned how to play just a few chords on an inexpensive hand-me-down concert uke. From there it quickly escalated to buying a tenor Islander and learning how to fingerpick. You can't wipe the smile off my face when I'm playing the melody with single notes while incorporating chords into the song. It sounds like magic. Love it! And I found that Islander at your shop.

I fell in love with the ukulele after I purchased a cheap one off of a whim in the 8th grade! I was obsessed!

Last year my daughter ask for a ukulele for her birthday. Well being the Dad I decided to get her a good Hawaiian uke. I found the ukulele site and ordered a Kanile'a concert. I got it 4 days before her birthday, and well I had to play it. Wow I had so much fun playing it I almost did not want to give it up. Of course I gave it to her, and ordered myself a KoAloha Tennor. It's been a year later and I still play it every day, poor banjo sits in the corner gathering dust. I love my Uke. Thanks The Ukulele Site! Will Gresham

14 years old and up to no good, I was snooping around my parents room when a dusty black box I'd seen a few times before caught my eye. I brought a stool, and reached up on my toes to grab it. I brushed the debris off and opened the box to find out that it was actually case. Inside was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! I ran to ask my dad what it was and he divulged the story of going to Hawaii over a decade ago and buying a kamaka soprano ukulele. At the time, I didn't even know what those three words meant, but from the first off-tune strum, I was hooked. 6 years later, I've performed at Ukulele Festivals, met Jake Shimabukuro/Kalei Gamiao and am now working on my own songs. I've watched every single ukulele related video on the internet, and can tell you everything from what happened to William King to what brand watch Jake Shimabukuro wore on his early 2000s Japan tour. LOVE THE UKE.

My heart sunk to my stomach with the first song. You really took me back to my chilhood.

About 10 years ago, my grandpa passed away and the eldest grandchildren performed at the funeral. My cousins did a ukulele and guitar duet to "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton. It wasn't until then did I realize the emotions that a 4-stringed Lanikai concert ukulele could create. I have been in love with the ukulele since. Later on down the line I picked up my own and have been playing since.

A friend at work ran to my office. "You've got to hear this guy!" He then pulled up Jake Shimabukuro playing "As My Guitar/Ukulele Gently Weeps." I was in awe. Then I saw him live a couple years later. Blown away again. Fast-forward a decade or so. I decide to find an instrument that isn't quite as house-shaking as the drums, to give my family and neighborhood a break. In steps the ukulele. My fingers killed for a long time, but I couldn't stop. A couple years later, I could spend hours playing my ukes. So thankful for this wonderful instrument!

I've always loved Hawaii since first visiting there with my parents as a little kid. When we came back to the mainland my parents brought a plumeria tree offshoot with them and successfully grew it in our Kansas weather. We used to lug the thing outside in the Summer and inside during the Winter. Regardless of the season my parents would always listen to Makaha Sons, Gabby and Cyril Pahinui, Brothers K, etc, etc, etc. It was just pretty much the music that I grew up on. I am now 39, live in Ireland, and all these years later I still regularly listen to Hawaiian music. It is just part of who I am. About, 5 years ago I was cleaning out my garage and was blaring some Gabby and Peter Moon and had some sort of immediate realization that I was somehow mad at myself for not having learned ukulele sooner! it was the strangest sensation in the world. I stopped what I was doing and ordered an el cheapo ukulele off of Amazon. Needless to say it wasn't the finest musical instrument. However, after about an hour of playing it I was hooked and immediately knew that I needed a better instrument. After watching countless hours of Corey Fujimoto playing a bunch of different tenors I settled on KoAloha. I don't think anybody beats it's sound. Less than year later I had already ordered a KoAloha from HMS.I've been giving ukulele lessons to my 8 year old daughter. She has the uke bug now as well. I just hope that she doesn't have UAS like her old man!! Somebody wise once told me that you're never alone when you have a good book. I think that this is very true of ukulele as well. It can provide a lot of solace.

It was 12 years ago. I was bass player for almost 15 years in a reggae band. We made a band made of French musicians and singers from Vaanuatu islands, in the South Pacific. There, people play the 'ukalele', homemade 4 strings polynesian style ukuleles (an hybrid version of the 8 strings polynesian monoxyl ukelele and the classical 4 strings hawaian ukulele, that they name 'Kamaka'). Back in France, we bought an ampified ukulele and a spare tenor Brüko for the European tour. These instruments were easier to tune and to use on stage than the traditional uke from Vanuatu. All the musicians used to grab the Brüko and strum a bit of simple chords the singers taught us. The first time I put my fingers on it, I almost instantly felt under the charm of this gentle instrument, so tiny, so convenient. During the years, I had the opportunity to try guitar but the ukulele was like a shock and an evidence to me : these 4 strings and the size of it made it the perfect instrument to learn chords, accompany songs, learn chord progressions and theory, and so on ! I quickly bought a cheap soprano, strummed it for hours and days, then bought several ukuleles, to try different sizes and kind, as I fell deeply in love with the instrument and became more and more infected by the UAS ! The discover of famous ukulele players like Jame Shimabukoro, Iz, James Hill and many others reinforced my opinion that this was definitiveley a serious instrument, not the toy that most of the people think of. More than 10 years after, I still feel the same pleasure to play and learn techniques, songs... Ukulele has come to take a huge space in my life. It seems that the ukulele fever which began in the 2000's is here to last, the instrument becoming more and more popular, which is good ! Thank you to all the team of HawaiiMusicSupply to spread the love and knowledge of the uke over the world !

I was 5 years old when my Grandfather came from the Philippines to live with us in California. He brought Ukuleles for each of his grand kids, personalized with our names, beautifully written in calligraphy. He was an artist, carpenter, composer, and musician. He played a song for me that he composed on my ukulele. I instantly fell in love with the sound and artistry. It has been and always will be my favorite instrument.

6 months ago, I wanted to learn guitar my buddy give me he's ukulele to learn the basics, now I can't imagine ever wanting to learn guitar absolutely love the ukulele, such a happy instrument. Finally getting could enough to jam out in front of people and I love the smile it brings to people faces, Lord knows it's not my vocal abilities lol

@dkbrantley5009

5 жыл бұрын

It is indeed a happy instrument! One of my favorite things to do with my ukes is to play at a local nursing home and watch the music bring residents alive. Such a gift!

Love the question! For me it was 2 years ago during my senior year of high school when I discovered ukulele artists like Honoka and Azita, Kris Fuchigami, Jake Shimabukuro, Corey, Sungha Jung, and Daisy Lu to name a few. The way they made the ukulele sing really appealed to me. I've never really been confident in my singing, but I have always loved the fact that with practice I could make the ukulele sing for me. I love the ukulele!

It was a year and a half ago, I was a freshman in college living in dorm. A couple of my suitemates play the uke, and one day at night one of them asked me if I want to go to the cliffs facing the ocean (our university is by the ocean) and I ended up going with her and her roommate. It was a super nice clear night, full moon, breezy but not cold, and my suitemate brought her uke along with her. We sat on the cliff side by the ocean, she played uke and we sang songs, enjoying the breeze, the moonlight and the twinkling starlights reflecting on the ocean. The sound of the waves crashing and the ukulele mixing together...It was so beautiful. It's the kind of magical feeling that calms you down and frees your soul. And that's the exact moment I fell in love with ukulele. Later I bought my first uke and could never put it down ever since.

@memoowo

5 жыл бұрын

That feeling of producing music with your own hand...that feeling of me and my baby uke merging together as one...It's so beautiful I could never forget

@memoowo

5 жыл бұрын

Playing the ukulele changed my life. I found passion and peace and a sense of home with in this little instrument. My soul lies within the uke.

I'm a singer without a band and had tried teaching myself piano and guitar without making much progress. One afternoon I was watching an old black & white movie and in one scene the glamorous nightclub singer accompanies herself on the ukulele and I knew immediately that it was the instrument for me. I went out that same day and bought myself a $20 Hilo. I've since upgraded to a Luna and a Keli'i, and would love to add a Pono to the family!

Hearing recognisable songs played on the ukulele and realising the potential

Just beautiful!

I'm a choral music educator, and about six years ago, I left my high school position to take a middle school position in our district. The middle school was going 1:1 iPad (technology is a focus of what I do...see techinmusiced.com) and my youngest son was less than a year old...so I wanted more time with the family (high school music teachers are always busy). There is a challenge with the middle school program, as music is a required subject. If students are not in band or orchestra, they are placed in choir, whether they want to be or not. We have no general music class for kids that are not interested in performing. Furthermore, we hold two concerts a year--one in December and one in May, leaving a big gap in the middle of the year that needed to be filled with content. After a couple of years of trying various things in the middle of the year (composition, a study of Genre, GarageBand, etc.), I started seeing a lot of posts from the National Association for Music Education about the ukulele. While the ukulele has been a staple of Hawaiian music education, and used in places in Canada for nearly 50 years, ukulele wasn't something we studied in college as music educators. We studied recorder, guitar, and drumming as instruments for inclusion in elementary education. So I grew up knowing about the ukulele, but in the context of Tiny Tim and Don Ho (remember when he came on the Brady Bunch on their trip to Hawaii)? Eventually I decided to buy a really cheap (barely functional) ukulele to see if it would be something I could include in our school's program--and became convinced that it could. I hoped that the ukulele could be a great experience for the kids in choir who didn't really want to be there, and I knew that singers would appreciate being able to provide their own accompaniment on the instrument. I approached my school and district and asked for funding for ukuleles, and could not get funding, so I approached our parents and asked for support to buy enough ukuleles for my largest classes (about 60 students), and we made it happen. We currently include ukulele as a part of our instruction in choir, in a middle school in Minnesota. What I didn't expect was to fall in love with the instrument myself, but I did. I love teaching it, I love playing it, and I love the community that comes with it. While I was already enjoying the instrument, I was utterly "hooked" at the first local jam that I went to. Our local jams meet in the middle of the day or at night--both non-ideal times for a person that works or has a young family. This also means that the local jams are filled with older players...and what I saw was a community of people, most having played less than two years, coming back to music (some after a lifetime away from school music) and loving to play and sing together. As music majors, we often get caught up in the aspect of performance--but we have a higher goal, which is to hopefully give students a skill that they can use for their entire lifetime. When I saw these adults--seniors--coming back to music, as well as the flood of teens and young adults learning how to play ukulele on their own using KZread as a way to learn--I was hooked all the way. There is just so much power in being able to carry a small instrument with you that can be used as an accompaniment to singing, or as an instrument in and of itself. There really is no other instrument that works in a similar way (even a guitar can be quite cumbersome to carry around). By college training, I'm a tuba player and a operatic tenor. Both of those instruments typically require other support to be functional (a tuba usually requires a band or an orchestra; a singer usually requires a choir or piano). You can be a complete musical act with just a ukulele and your voice, and you can pursue nearly any kind of musical style. The ukulele is an amazing instrument, and my only regret is that I found it in 2015, and not in middle school in the 1980s. On the positive side, my own middle school students are being introduced to the instrument. Want to learn more about what I'm doing? See my KZread channel (kzread.info) or my ukulele blog (ukestuff.info). Not an advertisement (and everything is free) but just listed in the event that anyone is interested.

When I first saw a youtube of musicguymic and friday follies, I had to pick up the ukulele. I play guitar with the worship team at church and have introduced the ukulele that I bought from The Ukulele Site. It makes for an awesome compliment with the other guitars on worship.

Hello to the Team from HawaiiMusicSupply, what a wonderful question ... well, I remember it as it was yesterday, and not about four and a half Year ago, when I fell in Love with the Ukulele. I Think it was the greatest gift, God has ever given to me. Many years ago (about 35 years), I played the classical Guitar, and gave it up, because of my school. Have had no more time to play and lost the feeling for it, although Music was always something very important in my Life. In 2014 I thought about the way I can make Music and play an Instrument again. I remember the Guitar and was looking for an Instrument and a teacher. Had a look at some youtube Videos - and while I am seeking at KZread I stumble over a Video with Jake Shimabukuro where he was playing the Ave Maria on his ukulele. From this moment on I was a Kind of paralyzed. Wow - I did not know anything from the UKE, and that it would be possible to make so wonderful Music with it. I bought a 65 Euro Baton Rouge UKE, because I thought it would be nice to try this Instrument out. Only 14 days after I bought it, and try it out, a Local Music School has an Artikel in the daily newspaper. They wrote that they will make courses for Beginner, and a little playing Group. I know and feel that this could not be a coincidence and decide to sign in to the course and the playing Group. Since this day I fell more and more in Love with the UKE, not only because of the sound of it and the style of Music you can play on it - since I play it I meet so many wonderful People, which are sharing Music, the Spirit of this Instrument- which is really special. The UKE brought me back what i missed over the last about 35 years - the UKE helps me when I am down and put me a Smile on my face and Lift me up. I play it almost every day and will never miss it. That is it - sorry about this long comment, but I was not able to write it in only some few words. For me it is so emotional to write this! I Love making Music alone and with others peoples and I love this little, but very wonderful Instrument to express myself. Take care, Be blessed and Kind regards from Germany 😊

It happened during Elementary. Joined my schools ukulele band, and had first learned the song Surf. Ever since then, my passion for playing carried on throughout Middle school and high school.

One day, I went to El Cerrito Music Works in the Bay Area intending to buy a mandolin, after years of listening to David Grisman and wanting to play a stringed instrument. When I got there, I discovered that the mandolin was not comfortable or fun for me, so the owner led me over to the ukulele section. I was there for three hours. I probably played every ukulele in the store, many more than once. The owner was really helpful, coming over several times to see if he could help and even playing a few of the ukes for me so I could hear what they sounded like from the front. It was definitely infatuation. I ended up buying my first ukulele there (a Kala solid mahogany concert, which I still have) and, because I secretly always wanted to be a Beatle, I taught myself "All MY Loving" as a difficult but rewarding first song. But I don't think I actually fell in love with the ukulele until, a few months after my purchase, I enrolled in a weekly beginning Hawaiian music ukulele class. I not only learned how to play Hawaiian music on my ukulele, I also found a community full of wonderful music, great and giving people, and lots of Aloha (mahalo nui loa to mu kumu ukulele, Uncle Saichi Kawahara!). My ukulele journey has never stopped leading me to wonderful people and experiences. It also led me to th4e wonderful people and experience of Hawaiian Music Supply (back when it carried guitars, drums, and other instruments in addition to ukuleles) and, eventually, to a bunch of great instruments that I found there after it had become The Ukulele Site (including, but not limited to, a rare Kamaka 8-string baritone (mahalo nui loa to my departed friend, Musicguymic). Mahalo, ukulele!

What a wonderful video and intro to the team. I’ve been watching your back catalogue of videos since finding the channel. We’re big ukulele fans in this house and on a learning journey with this wonderful instrument. Hopefully get to see your stores and team someday if we visit Hawaii from Ireland. Cheers ☘️

Probably listening to Troy Fernandez in intermediate school and trying to play along to Surf, You Don't Write, Brown Eye Girl. Never got bored again in the car!

I had a “TV Pal” Maccaferri when I was four, then went to guitar, banjo and other instruments. I heard Jake Shimabukuro at a Bela Fleck and the Flecktones concert about 15 years ago and I was hooked. Now I have 5 Kamakas and I’m about to get a Petros.

Sweet Sounds

2012 when I heard Kalei do his One Republic loop cover it inspired me to try to learn a stringed instrument for the first time. Now I play almost every day.

I love it. You are the best! ❤❤❤

I’m originally a sax player, and have been a musician since I was eight, including being an alumni of Berklee College of Music. I started playing electric guitar a bit over ten months ago and tell people I am a ‘born again musician.’ At some point I was in a thrift shop looking at guitars and saw a ukulele for $20. I had looked at ukuleles before in music shops before I bought the first guitar, but didn’t really take it seriously. It seemed like you had to be really into playing Hawaiian music or it was just a novelty. But for $20, I bought it on impulse. I take everything seriously. I’m a Harvard graduate. I can’t cook a hot dog without taking it seriously. And so I took the ukulele seriously as well. The guitar is a very capable instrument. Six or more strings, very wide range, and then you get into the gear, it’s just endless. But as a creative person I actually like limitations. Five hundred words to make a point, three seconds of video to tell a joke, a delicious breakfast that is under three hundred calories, and so on. So while a four string acoustic seemed limiting to the point of being a toy, with no ability to run it through an effects board, no gadgets, no gear, just me and the instrument, I fell in love with it pretty quickly and I’m taking ukulele more and more seriously.

I had been playing for a little while already, but the first time I could really play "Sittin on the Dock of the Bay" with confidence filled me with more joy than I ever would have expected.

I clearly remember the day I fell in love with the ukulele. I had arrived in Beijing, China not long ago, maybe one or two weeks back. My plan was to stay there for the next 6 months, and I still didn't know the area well and had no real friends yet. The feeling of loneliness was quite hard. However, I did have a friend, a tiny 70€ Makala I brought with me and I still have at home. I was not a real fan of ukuleles at that moment, I just brought it because I enjoyed playing sometimes, I used to play the guitar before but it was too big to bring it on the plain. But I remember one night, lying on my bed at night, the room in darkness, playing that tiny instrument and realizing what a fantastic range of opportunities it offers and the amazing tone it has, able to cheer you up even in tough situations. For all this, I'm currently in love with this instrument and never going to forget that moment. Thank you TheUkuleleSite for offering us the possibility of express ourselves this way. Thank you.

The duet at the end of this video should not be missed. Extraordinary! That Anuenue UT 200 is a beautiful sounding instrument! I adore mine.

I struggled for many years (decades) with learning guitar and never really felt like I was accomplishing anything or playing with enjoyment. I ended up selling all my guitar and gear and focused on playing West African drums (djembe and dundun). While visiting a friend, she took out her guitar and showed me what she was learning. I picked it up and was surprised I could still strum a few chords, but it didn't inspire me to try guitar once again. She suggested maybe I should try a ukulele. I kind of laughed it off, but over the next few days I started looking at ukes online and watching videos. Hmm, I can do this! I ordered a cheap laminate uke from Amazon and had it a few days later. Much to my surprise, I was actually making music and enjoying myself. Within two weeks I decided that I was going to get serious about this and ended up ordering the first of several ukuleles from HMS (a Kala Tenor). I'm now a bit obsessed with it! P.S. It was great watching and listening to Kalei playing the aNueNue Moon Bird Tenor. I recently got mine and literally have trouble putting it down!

My wife was pregnant and I recognized I'd be around the house a lot more! So I thought I'd get a nice guitar. Instead, an old guy, old bluegrasser, talked me into buying a yellow Mahalo. Man I beat that thing around the porch all summer---just loved the sound pretty much from the first go.

I fell in love with the ukulele the first time I heard Cliff Edwards play that first ukulele break in "I'll See You in My Dreams". I was amazed that even though the orchestra had cut out - leaving just his uke to sing over - the song didn't lose any power or beauty at all.

Great stories. I was a bass player and guitar player. I sang and played in bands for many years. I'm 65 and still play out. I started working with a singer who played uke. Eventually I started playing bass uke with a uke group. Then I started really getting the bug hanging around with all those uke players. It wasn't long before I had to get a uke of my own. Now I'm totally in love with the Ukulele. But I am still learning to say it right.

Sure can. I was flying my Searay ( a light sport amphibious plane), and got a flat tire at a rural airport late on Sunday when everything was closed. Bored, cold, and miserable while I was waiting for someone to show up, I pulled out my little survival radio and turned it on. The AM station was playing Pure Heart's arrangement of Wipe Out. Before I knew it I was tapping my feet and smiling, and was no longer feeling so bad. A week later I bought my first Ukulele. I'm no great player, but I carry a ukulele in travels with me everywhere I fly my seaplane. I often find myself playing it in the shade under the wing wherever I beach my little plane.

In 2009 on my very first trip to Waikiki. I am a school teacher and back then I had just found out I was going to moved from 3rd grade to kindergarten. I was wandering around the shops and I walked into Bob’s. I stood there and looked around and thought, this is it! This is how we are going to do all the kiddy songs! It was my ukulele epiphany. Went home, bought an ukulele and spent the rest of the summer teaching myself how to play it. It’s been a love affair ever since! Dave (Joe) Persons

Its 5 years ago,, I grew up in Solo City, where known as the capital of kroncong music. One of instrument have similarity to ukulele. Then I realized that different instrument with a hawaiian ukulele. So I started to learn about ukulele and love it till now

In 2011 after getting my 1st paycheck at my 1st job. I immediately went to easy music center bought myself a tenor kala ukulele. I started learning ukulele on KZread from ukulele underground aldrine Guerrero. I’ve kept the same ukulele since then.

Some time ago we were coming out of a clinic, my father and I. In his late 80's, having suffered arthritis he sadly had to give up playing his guitar. Passing by a music store I urged him to try a ukulele...Visiting My father not long after, I picked up his new ukulele. I have never played a string instrument before. The sound was so sweet to my ears, vibrating against my heart - I could not part from it. I now have my own soprano ukulele :)

Well done friends.

I've played guitar and mandolin for a lot of years and have always thought that I would like to try Ukulele but never got around to it. About 2 years ago a friend of mine started playing the Uke which inspired me to try it. I've now been playing the Uke for about 2 years and I love it. I have played my other instruments very little since starting the Uke and would now consider the Uke my main instrument.

I grew up in a musical family but never learned for myself to play any instrument. As I approached age 40, with three kids of my own, I started feeling the desire to have music in our house as well. A friend suggested I try a ukulele, assuring me that if she could teach herself to play, I could teach myself. So I bought a Makala, watched some KZread videos, pored over the HMS galleries, and after about a week of learning to contort my fingers on the fretboard, I played my first composition, "Alexander's Song," for my infant son.

The “aloha spirit” lives on! The Ukulele Site is a great vendor and keeper of the ukulele vibe

This video is so beautifully edited and the playing is just gorgeous! I’ve also enjoyed hearing (and reading) about how people first fell in love with the ukulele. I started playing it almost 2 years ago when my son wanted to learn. I played guitar already and figured I’d just teach myself to play the uke one step ahead of teaching him. Then I fell in LOVE. It’s funny because I played guitar for many years, and while I’ve always loved music, I can’t really say I loved the guitar itself. Not so for the ukulele. I absolute love everything about it and about the community that surrounds it. ❤️

Very cool video. The editing and the addition of drone footage was great. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos and for adding good to the world.

This is the first time for me falling in love just few days ago I bought one ukulele

Hello from New-Caledonia ! I think i felt in love first with music, long time ago. Like for some other things, sports... I needed to practice, not only to "look at" or simply listen. I tried guitar several times but i stopped in few months. About 2 years ago I felt the strong need to renew with praticing music and I was naturally, almost without reflexion, maybe because of my place in Pacific ocean, the music around us here, strongly attract by this wonderfull instrument. I felt litterally in love with Ukulele, I first bought a basic one whne I went to the "capitale" and what a wonderfull moment for playing my first notes on it ! Few months later I descovered your community and ended to buy a Pono concert mahogany, such a wonderfull instrument that I almost play every day... So lucky to have met ukulele and all the nice and hearty community around this intrument ! Keep on and thank you much, Aloha !

About 6 years ago I decided I wanted to learn a musical instrument to take camping, so I was watching KZread video's and I came across this fellow called Jake Shimabukura, now my image of the Ukulele's was Tiny Tim's Tip Toe Thru the Tulips so when I watched Jake my mind was blown, I had no idea a little bitty Ukulele could sound this amazing and I haven't looked back, thanks Jake.

Though this is an older video, I can honestly say that these folks have definitely created (and fed) my uke fetish! Indeed (and ironically), I am primarily a guitar player- who abandoned uke as being a mere 'hobby toy'... Then came both the pandemic, and my first view of the KZread feed by these guys, and BANGO! I am suddenly the owner of 3 tenors, one great concert, and a Baritone, and am working out my own relatively complicated work on all of them! I love uke, and thanks to all of on the north shore!

I have always loved the sound of a guitar and was not attracted to ukes but, I have little musical skill and wanted to play music with my hubby. A uke seemed doable. A friend turned me on to this site, I listened to samples of many ukes and chose one. Two years later and now 5 of my retired friends get together each week to play uke. We have a soprano, 3 concerts and just this last month added a bass uke. We are singing harmonies and have so much fun!!!!

I was in little complicated personal situation and needed a rest from troubles. Reading an article about increasing poupularity of ukes I gave it a try and bought a cigarbox from local maker. And it still works! Such tiny thing, mostly not disturbing sound for others, but it can reliably bring rest from every day worries.

I first picked up the ukulele because my mom made me - I had wanted to learn the guitar but, being from Hawaii, she convinced me that the ukulele would be a good intro. I reluctantly agreed to practice the ukulele for a month or two before switching. Three years later, I’m solely playing the ukulele - there was an immediate love for the instrument; I never switched to guitar. I really fell in love with the ukulele when I realized that I could teach myself fingerpicking and could learn my favorite songs.

Ohh i want to live in your fabulous country for play every days. Fantastic shop. Awesome.

When I heard Israel Kamakawiwo'ole sing in the mid '90's and his melodic tempo and the sweetness of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow" I knew that my next instrument was going to be the ukulele. Switching between the mandolin and ukulele has challenges, but also heartfelt tone qualities they are such a magical instrument. My Pono MPTSH-5 plays like butter and every time I look at it, I just smile…

Congrats on the new location! When I first picked up the uke after hearing Daniel ho play heavenly tunes I was amazed how natural and effortless it felt when compared to playing the guitar.

It was 6 years ago, when I discovered the Ukulele, after a longer stay on Hawaii (Oahu, Big island, Maui). I've never really played any instruments before, but I really like music and going to concerts. I remember that one day, after a couple of weeks of my stay had passed, when I decided to visit a local music shop, close to Waikiki Beach, and I saw this Kala soprano ukulele - and it just seemed so appealing to me!. So without any sorts of instrumental skills I decided to buy it, and I'm definitely not regretting that choice - I have had and still have so much fun with the ukulele and I have improved my skills quite a bit over the last couple of years. Hopefully I will visit Hawaii again some day, and then I will definetely visit you TheUkuleleSite!. Thank you for the nice and inspiring video.

I was 8 in 1954, Winnemucca, Nevada. The music teacher was "hot" and she taught uke. Oh yeah, loved those lessons. I bought an all solid mahogany soprano for $12 my own hard earned pop and beer bottle money. Sadly we moved to Pacific Grove Calif.. Sad because there was no hot uke teacher. PG was a great place ( then not now) Since then I have owned perhaps 2 dozen to include a very old top of the line Nunez and early Kamakas, Martins but my favorites are my Favillas. Years later I am still involved with uke and making cavaquinhos, and may start building ukes again. Excellent video, thanks from So Oregon.

When I was a little kid, I wanted a guitar *so* *bad*, but my parents decided that I was too small, or a guitar was too expensive or something, and got me a ukulele. It was a cheap, laminated thing, and I probably would have ended up liking it, but they didn't get me any lessons, and we didn't know anyone who played, so it just gathered dust for a long time until it disappeared after a move. I started playing guitar in high school, and have been teaching voice, guitar, and playing out on the side for years. Anyway, a few years ago, one of my voice students brought a ukulele to a choir concert and blew me away with what a cool little instrument it was for her. Another student brought a ukulele to guitar class and wanted to work on songs for it and the guitar at the same time. So I started looking at covers on youtube, and came across some really beautiful work that is being done with it, and some of it was just wonderful and really caught my attention. So I shopped around and ordered myself a solid top Kala from you guys, and your service was great. It's still not my primary love or primary instrument, but I do love it and wouldn't trade it. It's fun to work with it and have as another great, fun instrument that happens to be a *lot* more portable than my D35. :D I don't need a travel guitar - I have a ukulele!

I used to tinker around with the guitar as a kid. Several years ago I decided to take up guitar seriously. Got a guitar and had everything set up only to find that my old shoulder injury would act up everytime I tried to play because of the size of the guitar, and to make it worse, I injured my left wrist and thumb badly soon after. So had to give it up. Fast forward four years later, my hand had recovered and I got into learning the harp with no thought of going back to guitar. Early this year, I saw a KZread video of Corey playing the Canon (which was the piece that got me interested in the harp) and was fascinated. I'd never heard classical music on the ukulele before - it can actually be a serious instrument!! My impression of ukuleles was tied to seeing surfer dudes carrying their surfboards and ukes in Hawaii when I used to live there for several years. Could not stop thinking about ukes and classical music! So I took the plunge and absolutely love it. Plus there's a bonus - I found I could read tabs with no effort, unlike trying to read music notation for the harp!! Now I go back and forth between the two instruments and enjoy the beauty and challenge of each one. Thank you, HMS, for putting up these wonderful videos.

In the summer of 2012 a friend came to visit us at our cottage, and while chatting, mentioned he played the ukulele and suggested that I try it. His remarks struck a "chord" and I went into town the next day and bought my first ukulele. I haven't looked back since. I have more than 25 instruments; 9 were purchased online from Hawaii Music Supply!

It all started from my first trip to Hawaii last year and bought one from The Ukulele Site store. It has been a wonderful experience ever since.

I fell in love on the Ukelele at the time I was working in Bolivia with kids from the street addicted to glue bring them to a place called Mission Timoteo. Bought a Charango, try to learn,but the difficult. Bought a Ukelele and fell in love right away. 8 years later i'am still playing now in Church. With my Kala Triback Limited edition. Because myself was a drug addict voor 30 years. I play every day die Jezus my saviour. Like Jake.S say, if everybody played the Ukelele, it becomes a better world. My dream is to have a Martin Style O. Greetings from Holland.

I first fell in love with the ukulele when I heard my teacher play some songs he was going to play at a wedding. Then I started to memorize my songs and that was fun. I have been playing for just one year and I just love it. My favorite songs to play are Furelise by Beethoven and Our First Song by Andrew Hardel. I am also enjoying Christmas songs especially We Three Kings.

Loved

When I first picked it up to play... one and a half years ago.

Great video :-)

Growing up in Hawai'i as I did, I admired the ukulele genius of guys like Peter Moon and Eddie Kamae, but I played guitar instead -- folk at first so I could sing Dylan songs, and then slack key. When I moved to the Mainland to work on newspapers and then teach, I still played slack key and sang Hawaiian songs in the privacy of home. But everything musical came to a screeching halt after a rotator cuff injury to my right shoulder six years ago. Even after physical therapy, guitar was not an option. In search of a musical outlet, I picked up an inexpensive ukulele, and that was it. Though I still love my koa guitar, I haven't really played it since then. I'll never be a Peter Moon, but I do love to play. And I credit Andrew and the guys at theukulelesite with improving the quality of the instruments that I play!

Being a sailor and with about 200days per year mor or less on the go, i wanted a portable instrument that I actually might fancy. After considering the harmonica a while I found what seemed like an okay instrument for sale, and they charged only pocket money. I started scratching on it, and I'm having fun since! I'm still on a newbie level, but its amazing how time flies while playing/practice. Now I'm looking to find a more decent to have around the house while on shore leave :)

Taco place next to a uke place?!?! Oh, I’m moving there!!

When my dad gave me my first one

4:43 what is the song?

I have dabbled for many years with a guitar with little progress. My oldest daughter became interested in Twenty One Pilots whose music featured a ukulele. For Christmas, two years ago, I bought a ukulele for her and myself with visions of us leaning together and bonding at the same time. She didn’t take a lot of interest in it, but I fell in love! I don’t think a day has gone by in the last two years that I haven’t picked up one of my ukes and played. What is the name of the song sung by the girl towards the beginning? The melody sounds familiar but I can’t place it.

I was having lunch at a Greek restaurant and my daughter wanted to know what music was playing outside. It turned out to be the Saturday kanikapila. After listening for a while, my daughter asked if she could learn ukulele. It was the first time she indicated musical interest. I decided that we’d learn together and since then, we have. I’ve purchased an ukulele from theukulelesite.com and also a handcrafted one from David Iriguchi (iriguchiukuleles.com)

So did somebody win already?

@HawaiiMusicSupplyTUS

5 жыл бұрын

Sorry I forgot! Did it just now, generated the # from random.org. Winner is Kurtis Lawson so we will message him now. Mahalo!

We discovered ukuleles because of an HMS video where Kalei compared 11 tenor string sets. My mouth fell open as I exclaimed, "That's ukulele music!!??" We have been the beneficiaries of HMS sales a service on many occasions and can honestly say that without ANY doubt this company (people, individuals who care) is the best company we have EVER dealt with. No scam. Just people who love the instrument and really care to help folks find what they want. Cannot say enough positives and congrats on the new location. Our home is always welcome to Kalei, Andrew, Corey etc. to stay on the way up and down I-5 in Oregon to gigs. Thanks gang for literally changing our lives. teach@makewebs.com strat4me on UU