All good stuff - Most of it I use...
You will Learn More and Play More with Play Ukulele NOW.
Find out for yourself why teachers and students have depended on Play Ukulele NOW Methods and Songbooks since 2009
Find out for yourself why teachers and students have depended on Play Ukulele NOW Methods and Songbooks since 2009
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It's time to get to work on that Christmas list - Here are some great ideas for Santa...
Many of the specific items I recommend here are based on my real experience with them and other similar items. You can learn from my mistakes.
Get a Strap
Stop trying to balance that uke and relax so you can have fun playing - get yourself a nice strap. There are lots of options out there for ukulele straps - many require drilling a hole or two for strap buttons, but there are also no-drill straps that clip to the sound hole.
The no drill options are not all created equal - many have hard plastic clips that could scratch your instrument.
I love this D'Addario strap because it has a soft rubber clip that will never scratch you instrument, and it's excellent quality.
CHECK PRICE or GET YOURS: D'Addario Ukulele Strap - Clip On - Eco-Comfort - No Drill Needed - Black
Micro Headstock Tuner (your audience won't see it)
Sick of that hideous tuner clipped on your headstock all the time?
Check this out - it clips on the back of your headstock so the audience can't see it!
CHECK PRICE or GET YOURS: Accessories Guitar Tuner - Micro Headstock Tuner - Compact and Discrete - Clip On
Quick Change Capo (nothing like the Kyser)
There's nothing like the Kyser capo (lot's of imitations - but you'll notice the spring system is different on most) if you or someone on your Christmas list is in need of a capo - this would be a great gift...
CHECK PRICE or GET YOURS: Kyser Quick-Change Capo for ukuleles - Black
Get a Metronome!
You should be playing with metronome...
Most teachers recommend always playing with a metronome, one of the things most beginners have trouble with is keeping time.
This metronome is also a tuner!
CHECK PRICE or GET YOURS: TM60BK Tuner Metronome
Get a 4-track Recorder
You can do everything for recording yourself to see how you're doing to recording your first album with this!
If you make videos you can use this for the audio for your videos as well - Quite a few of people do...
This is a 4-channel (4 track) recorder... So you can record an entire song - one track at a time.
I've always had a 4-track recorder (you should have one too), my first 4-track recorder (we're going back to the 80's here) was a lot bigger than this and used cassette tapes.
CHECK PRICE or GET YOURS: Zoom H4n Pro 4 Track Portable Recorder - Stereo Microphones - 2 XLR and quarter inch Combo Inputs - Battery Powered for Stereo Multitrack Recording of Music - Audio for Video and Podcasting
Get a good music stand - A real one
At a festival I run sound for there are lots of stands - many of the performers use them and many different music stands have made their appearance there over the years, most are broken and not working properly by the end of the festival (some broke after a 1 set). Thankfully a number of Manhasset stands showed up there this year - not a single problem with them, and there never will be, they're built like tanks! I perform there as well and for the first time did not have to bring my Manhasset stand - I won't use anything else.
All teaching studios use them, orchestras use them - they've always been the stand to get. They don't fold up as nicely as some others but 'the others' just won't last like the Manhasset's.
Another great feature with the Manhasset is they have an available light!
Get some good Wall hangers
There are lots of choices for wall hangers, and the rubber on many of them is very different - some rubber can react with your instruments finish or become sticky over time.
The folks at String Swing know this and have created the industry's preferred wall hangers that have stood the test of time (the rubber on these won't destroy your instrument).
These are the ones to get...
CHECK PRICE or GET YOURS: String Swing Ukulele Wall Mount Stand for Mandolin Ukele Concert Pineapple Soprano Tenor and Baritone Compatible Case Alternative Kit for Home or Studio - Black Walnut Hardwood
Fretboard care kit
The fretboard should be cleaned with every string change - and the frets polished.
Every uke player needs this, and many don't have it.
This will help with bending, vibrato and string life.
Here's what I like to use - it includes everything you need:
How about a good Amp...
The two most popular options for an excellent uke amp would be the Roland AC-33 or the Fishman Loudbox Mini.
The Fishman and the Roland have two channels - one for an instrument an another for a mic and great chorus and reverb effects.
If you take a look at quite a few reviews on these two amps the general consensus is that the Roland has quite a few more features, battery power a looper, etc..., lot's of cool stuff, but the Fishman has a more realistic acoustic sound. Many people choose the Fishman for that reason.
The Fishman has more power - 60 watts rather than 30 watts and it has a balanced output (Roland has a 1/4 inch) - so you can run an XLR to the sound board and it has a separate reverb for the vocal channel.
I do like Roland products, and Boss effects (made by Roland), I like the extra features on the Roland (I love the looper), but I own the Fishman and use it for gig's simply because of the realistic sound. As an extra bonus it has twice the power and it costs a lot less (hundreds - check price at links)!
Fishman advantages:
- 60 Watts (twice the power when compared to the Roland)
- Separate reverb for vocal channel (Roland has one reverb for both)
- XLR output
Roland Advantages:
- Batter powered (adaptor for AC power sold separately - Fishman must be plugged in)
- Looper (Fishman dose not have it)
- Can be mounted on a stand (Fishman can not)
CHECK PRICE or GET YOURS: Roland AC-33 Acoustic Chorus Battery-powered 30-Watt Guitar Amplifier
Now you need some effects
Best effect for the uke is a delay - Since the uke dose not have a lot of sustain and the amp's above have chorus and reverb, delay would be the first thing to get...
There are lot's delays out there - here are the top picks, these are preferred by most professionals.
My first recommendation here would be the MXR carbon Copy - it's an analog delay.
An analog delay has a completely analog path rather than digital for that warm vintage delay sound. The maximum delay time for this is 600ms. That's a basic slap back delay. Analog delays change sound a little as they decay - digital delays do not.
My second recommendation would be a top notch digital delay - The Boss DD-3T.
The DD-3T has very long delay times and a tap tempo. with the tap tempo you can get the delay effect to be the same tempo as the song your paying.
CHECK PRICE or GET YOURS: Boss DD-3T Digital Delay Pedal
How about a book - A Ukulele for Christmas: Fingerstyle Solos
Learn fingerstyle ukulele at the same time as you learn these beautiful solo pieces, each one a little more of a challenge than the last!
They are carefully arranged and graduated; each song comes with a comprehensive lesson to help you perform it properly.
Get the paperback on Amazon: A Ukulele for Christmas - Fingerstyle Solos
Get the eBook (instant download): A Ukulele for Christmas: Fingerstyle solos eBook
Get just one song: O Little Town of Bethlehem from "A Ukulele for Christmas: Fingerstyle Solos" with extras! (this and other songs from the book are available FREE to patreon members).
More Books - Christmas Solos for the Ukulele Books 1 & 2
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These arrangements are rich with lush chords and enchanting campanella passages taking full advantage of the ukuleles unique reentrant tuning...
As a special treat I introduce you to the wonderful world of JAZZ CHORD MELODY by spicing up some of the arrangements here with beautiful extended chords and amazing chord substitutions... I walk you through exactly how I do it so you can ‘jazz up’ other songs on your own!
Conclusion...
Now you're ready to write that letter to Santa.
Did I miss something cool? Leave a comment.
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