The humble and oft-maligned ukulele ranks third among the most sought-after instruments in their inventory (right behind the Walden D351 acoustic guitar and the Walden G1070 acoustic guitar).
And why not? The miniature instrument popularized by Don Ho and (dare we say it?) Tiny Tim is making a comeback. Musical giants Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and Brian May of Queen are ukulele players and fans. Departed rockers Joe Strummer, John Lennon and George Harrison were also big into this little instrument. George Harrison was an active member of the George Formby Society, a group of British ukulele aficionados.
George Harrison even gave Paul McCartney a ukulele – the very one which Paul used to play the Harrison-penned tune “Something”
So how did the little instrument with the peculiar-sounding moniker get that name? According to legend, 400 Portuguese immigrants arrived at the island of Honolulu on the afternoon of August 23, 1879. One of those arriving immigrants, Joao Fernandes (gleeful over the Ravenscrag’s safe landing after its four-month, 15,000-mile journey), borrowed a friend’s braguinha (a stringed instrument in the guitar family, also known as a cavaquinho). Fernandes then leapt from the ship and began playing folk songs from his homeland. The native Hawaiians who had come down to the wharf to greet the immigrants on their arrival were impressed by the speed with which his fingers navigated the instrument’s fingerboard. They dubbed the unusual instrument “ukulele” – referring to the visual image those flying fingers conjured up.
Oh, and the English translation of “ukulele”? “Jumping flea.”
Fortuna Music Mart carries a delightful selection of Mahalo painted acoustic ukuleles, as well as some lovely Oscar Schmidt Acoustic and Acoustic Electric ukuleles. See their entire selection of ukuleles at http://www.FortunaMusicMart.com.
Ukuleles are among the most reasonably priced musical instruments available today. The Mahalo Painted U30 Ukulele, available in five eye-catching colors (sky blue, ocean blue, hibiscus red, pineapple gold and midnight black), features 100% maple construction and an ebonized bridge and fingerboard. The frets are polished brass; the guitar-style tuners are nickel plated, with plastic knobs. There’s even a color-coordinated carrying bag.
If you’re looking to express your funky musical style in an even more daring way, try out the Mahalo U1 Painted Ukulele Kit. Inside the unassuming grey carrying bag is the wildest looking musical instrument you’ll ever lay eyes on. This maple-body ukulele comes in either light blue or pineapple gold, and it’s decorated with all manner of tropical fruits – pineapples, mangoes, star fruit, coconuts and bananas – to lend a tropical punch to your performance. The kit comes with pitch pipes, a felt plectrum (similar to a guitar pick, but made of compressed felt) – and even an instructional DVD to start you on the way to becoming the hit of any party with your dazzling ukulele-strumming abilities.
The ukulele is small, light and portable – and easy to learn. Plus, an astounding number of people have never actually seen or heard one… so when you pull yours out and begin to play, just watch the smiles bloom across their faces.
As a matter of fact, Paul McCartney (whose first solo album featured the ukulele) is credited with having said, “To this day, if I ever meet grownups who play ukulele, I love ’em.”
So, if you’ve been seeking Paul McCartney’s love and admiration, get yourself an acoustic or electric ukulele from Fortuna Music Mart by visiting http://www.FortunaMusicMart.com.
