No. 25, Summer 2019

Summer is a time for getting away from it all and our Summer 2019 issue’s Summer Road Trip special focus is there to help guide you to uke-nique destinations around the country. From the best ukulele shops to bountiful must-do road-trip stops, Jim D’Ville’s feature is bound to give you wanderlust and inspiration. A Travel Uke Roundup and advice from Aaron Keim on keeping your uke safe and healthy while traveling round out this issue’s travel focus. Byron Yasui, a retired professor of music composition and theory, and his work to elevate what’s possible on the ukulele. Check out what’s happening in libraries—ukes are branching out to local libraries for lending and group activities. Curt Sheller’s ukulele jazz and online instruction. We’ve also added more songs to play in every issue, so be sure to check out the list below. We review the new Kanile`a Oha series, this all-solid wood series combines a koa top on a mahogany body, plus new recordings that salute Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run album, Island Style 3 compilation of ukulele artists, and Kevin Carroll’s book of Irish tunes for ukulele, Ukulele Ceilidh, and Kevin Rones’ QuickStart Fingerstyle Ukulele 2 books. Plus, looks a vintage instruments including Gibson’s ever-changing ukuleles and an unusual sheet-metal uke, and listing for summer events.

Songs

• “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles
• “Route 66” by Bobby Troup, a strum-along road-trip favorite
• “Down in the Valley” a chord-melody take on a traditional favorite [With video]

Lessons

• Daniel Ward on making your melodies sing. [With video]
• Jim D’Ville teaches one way you can unleash your inner strummer—by breaking the idea of memorizing patterns and feeling the music
• Marcy Marxer introduces the chord melody technique, how you can make your own tunes, and a full song to play. [With video]