Hey UUers!

It’s a new month for uke playing & this month it’s a special episode of Uke Lessons just for you! For the first time on Uke Lessons, we’re breaking down a solo ukulele arrangement of a song – “My Heart Will Go On” (the Theme from Titanic). This one’s got a lot to learn and remember, but take it slow and you’ll have this one down in no time! Have fun with this solo piece, let us know what you think of it, and if you have any questions, we’re always here for you. Take care & keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Print out this whiteboard!

Hey UUers!

This one is a brand new segment for Ukulele Underground – “Whiteboard Requests” lets YOU request and vote up your favorite songs for Aldrine to teach on the Ukulele! Today’s request comes from MMA fighter (and Uke Player!) Jon Fitch who asked for his walk out song “Rusty Cage” as performed by Johnny Cash. Check out this quick tutorial and let us know what you think!

Leave a comment to request the next song and if you have any questions, we’re always here for you. Keep Strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

Spring has sprung and another month brings you another episode of Uke Lessons right here in the Underground! A bunch of you have been asking us to do more Bob Marley songs, so this time we got you covered with “I Shot The Sheriff”. Check it out and don’t forget to play along with the Ukulele Play-Along!

Special thanks to Randell Giminiz for jumping in on bass for this one! If you would like to listen to the original Bob Marley version, click here to pick it up on iTunes. Hope you have fun with this one – keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Play along with the “Ice Cream” Play-Along!

Hey UUers!

As the year marches on, another month and another month’s episode of Uke Lessons have arrived! Recently, Aldrine’s song “Ice Cream” was featured on HiSessions and a bunch of you asked him to teach it (especially the picking parts), so here it is! For this lesson, Aldrine teaches “Ice Cream” in the original key of Bb, so there are a few tough chords to master. (Check out Uke Minutes 117 – Mastering Difficult Chords to help with this!). Take it slow, learn each part carefully, and you’ll have the song down in no time!

If you like what you hear, “Ice Cream” along with Aldrine’s entire second album, “I’m a Dreamer” is available for digital download at http://ukuleleunderground.com/dreamer/

And for more fun, be sure to play along with the “Ice Cream” Play-Along! Hope your weekend is off to a great start – keep playing that uke and make some musical magic!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

While we were busy at the 2012 NAMM Show last month, February snuck up on us with a quickness! But don’t fret, your February episode of Uke Lessons is right here – this month Aldrine shows you how to play “Under The Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers on the ukulele.

This one has a finger picking intro that might take awhile to master, but once you do, it’s incredibly fun to play! So take it slow, repeat it in sections to build up that muscle memory, and put it all together for some red, hot, chili-peppery ukulele goodness. Try it out and let us know what you think!

February is for lovers, so be sure to take the time this month and show that special uke of yours some love. Rock on & keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

Happy New Year! Glad to see you made it into 2012 with your uke safe and sound, so let’s get down to business! This time on Uke Lessons, Aldrine shows you how to play “Yr Dreaming” (You’re Dreaming) by Katchafire. The picking for this one is pretty catchy and really fun to play once you get it down, so practice slow, get your speed up, and have fun!

A HUGE MAHALO to Almost Islanders for collabing with us on the Play-Along for this song. Be sure to check out their YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/almostislandersmusic

For more info on Katchafire and their music, head over to http://www.katchafire.co.nz

This year is going to be a pretty sweet one for ukulele players everywhere and an awesome one here in the Underground. We’ve got 2012 NAMM Show coverage coming up very soon this month, PLUS some big news for UU in the coming months. Stay tuned for more great stuff, practice hard, and keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

Happy December! It’s that time of year again – time to google up some holiday tunes, sit by the fireplace, and strum to your hearts content. To help get you into the seasonal uke spirit, we’re kicking off December with a brand new episode of Uke Lessons – “Winter Wonderland”!

The Play-Along for this lesson is a little fast, so it may take some time to get it down smooth. Practice switching chords, take it slow, and gain speed when you are comfortable. It’s all muscle memory, so if you do it enough times it will get easier and easier. Try it out and let us know what you think!

Hope you and your loved ones are staying warm this winter – be sure to stop by the Ukulele Underground Merch Store and pick up a new UU Zip Hoodie for yourself or gift one to your favorite uke player. Warm strumming arms all around!

May your fingers get stronger, strum faster than light
Happy Holidays to all, and to all some Uke MIGHT!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

It’s November! A new month, a new awesome episode of Uke Lessons. This month Aldrine shows you how to play “Life’s Different Now” by Cecilio and Kapono. This one is a classic song in Hawaii, as these guys are musical legends who helped shape the sound of island music from the 70s through the 90s – in fact, they’re still touring today! For more info check out www.ceciliokapono.com.

For the Play-Along, we teamed up with Oregon ukulele player and instructor, Craig Chee, who taught “Advanced Golpe” in an episode of Uke Minutes a couple of weeks ago. If you like what you hear, please go and check out Craig’s Website for more info about this guy and to pick up his music.

As the days get colder, take hold of your trusty uke and stay warm with some tunes to strum by! Rock on, uke players. Rock on.

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

It’s a great day in the Underground for some uke playing and, with it being the first of the month and all, there’s a brand new episode of Uke Lessons waiting for you! This month Aldrine shows you how to play “Take On Me” by A-Ha! Check it out and get your 80′s pop on.

Only 6 more days before Uketoberfest (Eugene, OR) AND the start of the UU October 2011 Pacific Northwest Tour! The UU guys (Aldrine, Ryan, and Aaron) will be flying to the mainland and driving all over Oregon and Washington to bring you LIVE ukulele workshops and uke performances. Check out the Official Tour Page for more details and if you are going to be in the area, we want to meet and jam with you!

Also, thank you so much to everyone who has been patiently awaiting the results of our “Ambassadors of Ukulele” Give-Away Contest. There were just so many great entries that it took a whole month to get to the final stages of deliberation. But don’t fret! Results announcement coming soon!

Hope you’re playing that uke of yours every chance that you get – keep rockin’ and we’ll see you in Oregon/Washington soon!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

Here we go, as we slide on into September, it’s another episode of Uke Lessons! This month we bring you a full ukulele lesson for Jack Johnson’s “Banana Pancakes”. You asked for it, so we deliver! It’s got a super catchy intro riff, a simple steady strum, and enough chords to keep you on your toes. Once you get them down, be sure to check out our “Banana Pancakes” Ukulele Play-Along and play along! And as always, if you’ve got questions, we’re always here for you.

Stay tuned for some cool stuff coming up this month including new merch in the UU Merch Store as well as announcing the winner for the August 2011 “Ambassadors of Ukulele” Give-Away Contest!

Keep that uke music going! Take what’s left of the summer and stir it into your coffee cup of ukulele goodness. Drink it all in, uke players. Drink it all in.

Aloha,
-UU Staff