Ukulele

I’m convinced that if there’s a place in Heaven for ukulele players, my childhood best friend, Jimmy (aka Spanky) is spending his days picking and strumming his ukulele with the angels somewhere “up there”. Looking back on all the times, I sat in admiration as those chubby finger glided effortlessly across the keyboard and sweet sounds emerged from those four strings, little did I know that someday, I, too would discover the ukulele. Exactly what brought this instrument into my life, I suppose I can attribute to my interest and attempts to become proficient at playing the guitar. But even private lessons for a year didn’t serve to elevate my skill level and it seemed my fingers were not happy trying to stretch across the keyboard to play anything beyond basic chords. In comparison, I thought the fret board of the “standard” size ukulele, the soprano, concert and tenor models appeared to be too small. Enter the baritone ukulele. Larger in size, smaller than a guitar but tuned like the first four strings of the guitar. The answer was there. The lessons to help me familiarize myself came in the form of YouTube videos, so readily available nowadays. Anything from song tutorials, picking, choosing the right instrument and everything else, right there to be watched and to learn from. I have considered private lessons but for now, that option is on the back burner. It’s been just over the year since I purchased my very first, economy Kohala uke ( sounds Island made, but made in China, most likely), sent it to a new home and picked up three more and one bass ukulele (just for the fun of it). I’ve had and interest in playing the bass, so the bass uke was a likely option. The interest grows, the progression continues, the skill level is rising, new chords are added and the confidence level is steadily increasing.

So Spanky, if you’re watching brother……..I may never achieve the skill level that you possessed, or make the strings sing like you used to do…..but I’m aiming in that direction. Send “the force” down to me, my old friend and hopefully, you are smiling down on me, my ever-growing ukulele collection and my dedication to find that peaceful place in my soul through the songs I may play. The next song”s for you.