Andy Chase

Uketastic
Originally uploaded by Usonian.

I got my cheapo kit-built ukulele down off the wall for the first time in months last night... when I assembled it I glued the bridge into place ever so slightly off, and the intonation on the first string is bad. It makes playing it not a lot of fun, because that one note is always just wrong enough to be distracting.

But I found as happy a medium as possible by tuning the string a bit flat when open, and away I went. I had forgotten how much different it is from mandolin, whose strings are in double courses, much closer together, and made of steel. The ukulele's strings are nylon, and the neck is nice and wide so your fingers don't have to fight for space.

Then there's the tone... high like a mando, but soft and mellow, and definitely better-suited for leisurely strumming. I love the way 7th chords sound on this thing, and the strumming action is stirring up renewed interest in tenor banjo as well.

Tagged:

• ukulele
• banjo