No. 16, Spring 2017

Our Special Focus section this time is both broad and colorful: “Your Ukulele Collection”! Inside you’ll read about how more and more ukers are filling out their instrument collections by branching out to sizes they might not already own. Jumpin’ Jim Beloff offers a peak at his massive collection of ukulele ephemera, from sheet music and magazine covers  to advertisements and valentine cards. Dale Hope, co-author of the definitive book, The Aloha Shirt, lets us in on the origin of the colorful sportswear fad. We also have a feature on the growing trend of building your own ukulele. Plus, a major interview with Jake Shimabukuro talking about his wild new album, Nashville Sessions, and Jim D’Ville charts the adventures of Lil’ Rev. In our “Gear” section, we look into the importance of good tuners, and also examine the mysterious birth of the baritone uke. And our “Gods of Uke” column salutes the memory of the great early 20th century uke giant Ernest Ka’ai. 

Lessons:

• Lil' Rev’s clawhammer uke style
• Jim D’Ville on the potency of minor chords
• How to guard your uke from humidity issues

Learn to Play:

• Craft a dynamic performance of Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin’”
• Go Irish with a lesson with the fiddle tune “Drowsy Maggie”