Hey UUers!

Are you ready to kick your weekend into gear with a little uke love!? This week on Uke Minutes, Aldrine takes it back to the beginning with a few simple tips on strumming for beginners! Especially when you’re starting out, it’s important to relax, find the proper position, and ease into a natural rhythm. Practice your strumming, don’t think too much, and you’ll find a strum that sounds good and is just right for you!

Hope you’re doing great, people of the Underground. There’s some exciting news coming soon for UU – so exciting that we’re just about to burst in announcement anticipation – but you’ll have to wait and see! Keep practicing, friends & rock on.

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

Note: In the fretboard diagram on the whiteboard behind Kalei, the last note under the E string (5th fret, E string) should be an A (not a G). Sorry about that, guys

Hey UUers!

Over the past few months we’ve been working really hard on some exciting new stuff here in the Underground – here’s a sneak peek of the “Master Class” series that is being developed to help you become a better ukulele player! In Master Class episodes, exclusive seminars are taught and broken down by working professional ukulele players just for your practicing pleasure.

Available to all UU+ members
Kalei Gamiao’s Master Class, Improving Your Ukulele Playing!

In Part 2 of this workshop, Kalei expands on some basic music theory to help you find different inversions for your chords. Download and print out the UU Fretboard Diagram to help you to find the notes you need and play around with different chord voicings to your hearts content. (Be sure to check Print Properties > “Scale to Fit” page when printing).

For more info on using music theory to improve your ukulele playing, check out Aldrine’s Ukulele Music Theory course in the UU+ section!

Have fun with this one and keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Become a UU+ Member!

Hey UUers!

Over the past few months we’ve been really working hard on some exciting new stuff here in the Underground – here’s a sneak peek of the “Master Class” series that is being developed to help you become a better ukulele player! In Master Class episodes, exclusive seminars are taught and broken down by working professional ukulele players just for your practicing pleasure.

Available to all UU+ members
Kalei Gamiao’s Master Class, Improving Your Ukulele Playing!

In Part 1 of this workshop, Kalei goes over basic music theory to help you find different inversions for your chords. Download and print out the UU Fretboard Diagram to help you to find the notes you need and play around with different chord voicings to your hearts content. (Be sure to check Print Properties > “Scale to Fit” page when printing).

For more info on using music theory to improve your ukulele playing, check out Aldrine’s Ukulele Music Theory course in the UU+ section!

Have fun with this one and keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Become a UU+ Member!

Hey UUers!

Are you ready for this!? Yup, that’s right, it’s Uke Minutes … Episode 150!! On this special episode of Uke Minutes we’re back on the DIY train as Aldrine shows you how to make your very own custom ukulele stand for under $10. Go to it all you handy uke players – try it out and let us know how it goes!

For more Do-It-Yourself ukulele stuff, be sure to check out Uke Minutes 4 (DIY Ukulele Humidifier) and Uke Minutes 50 (DIY Ukulele Wall Hanger). Have fun and keep strummin’!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

For your info
Parts List:
- 1/2″ PVC Pipe (Cut into two 6″ pieces, four 4″ pieces, and six 2″ pieces)
- 3/4″ Pipe Insulation Foam
- Four 90 degree Connectors*
- Two T-Connectors*
- One Threaded T-Connector (top threaded, sides non-threaded)
- One Threaded 3-Way Connector (one threaded inlet, two non-threaded)
- One 12″ long, 1/2″ thick PVC Pipe, threaded on both ends

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!

Merry Saturday (& Happy Christmas Eve)! This time on Uke Minutes, Aldrine breaks down the basics of how to hold your ukulele. There are a couple of pointers to keep in mind but most importantly, be sure to find the position that’s the most natural and comfortable for you. Try it out and let us know what you think!

Keep rockin’ your uke (around the Christmas tree!) and have a very happy holiday season!

Aloha,
-UU Staff

Hey UUers!

Wintertime is in full swing & the holidays are right around the corner! For those of you thinking about stuffing some stockings with uke strings for your favorite ukulele player, this week’s episode of Uke Minutes just might come in handy. Here Aldrine shows you several types of ukulele string material and how they may help to shape the natural sound of your ukulele. Each ukulele responds differently to different strings, so be sure to try them all out on your uke and see what sounds the best to you!

Hope you’re staying warm – keep strummin’ and Happy Holidays!

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!

When it comes to holding chords, there are a few basic chords that still strike fear in the hearts of ukulele players. The dreaded E! The menacing Bb! Most of what makes these chords tough is that they either require all four of your fretting fingers to hold OR they require you to hold down multiple strings with one of your fingers.

In the past, we taught you how to hold barre chords (bar chords), but on this week’s episode of Uke Minutes you’ll learn how to barre specific strings in “How to Hold Multiple Strings with One Finger”. So try it out and let us know what you think!

Also *THIS JUST IN* there is an awesome new Ukulele Underground T-shirt in the UU Store now available for your purchasing pleasure!

The design comes in regular sizes AND (for the first time ever!) in KIDS sizes! Be sure to pick one up and gift it to the ukulele player in your family who deserves some extra flavor and style points. Click HERE for more info!

Happy Holidays, UUers, deck those halls with ukulele cheer!

Aloha,
-UU Staff