What You Need To Play a Uke and Jam

There aren't many things you need to start playing the ukulele. Here are a few ideas.

Questions? -
​To be safe, ask before you buy!!! [email protected]
The List - Items in Blue are links to a website
If you bring the items listed here, you will be in great shape to play the uke and participate in jams. Cadenza Music, Groth Music and other local stores have a good selection of these items.  If you are going to shop online, go with www.elderly.com, www.theukulelesite.com or www.mimsukes.com. Top notch trustworthy businesses that totally set up a ukulele before they ship it to you.
Ukulele Setup! - Very low priced ukuleles can make learning and playing much more difficult or near impossible because of something called “action,” or the height of the strings above the fretboard, as well as other important factors. If you already have a uke that is hard to play, ukulele action may be successfully adjusted by technicians at shops such as St. Paul Guitar Repair for about $65. This is called a "setup."

Setup is very important! Click here for setup information. (Setup is not necessary on Magic Fluke, Enya Nova, Outdoor and some molded products.)
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  • ​​#1 - Ukulele -    As long as it will stay in tune, it’s fine - You can find ukes for $40, but spend about $75 or more new, plus the accessories listed below.​ More money buys better sound, a life-time uke, a uke that can be tuned and stays in tune. You will be able to tell the difference. 
My Martin C1K Koa Concert - Click on photo for review. Not my most expensive uke, but one of my absolute top favorites. Super sound & workmanship!​
  • ​Brands you can't go wrong with - Magic Fluke (Flea & Fluke), Mainland, Martin, Amahi, Kala, Pono, Bonanza and Enya. If you are not sure of the size, go with a concert. Concerts are a nice middle point - not too big, not too small. Click here for more information on purchasing a ukulele. ​
  • Twin Cities Ukulele Club Enya Loaner/Demonstrator Ukuleles - Enya has given a number of their Nova U concert size ukuleles to the Twin Cities Ukulele Club to use as loaners and demonstrators. Click here for more on these Enya ukes.
Want a go anywhere, any time, any weather Tough Ukulele?
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Want your "forever" uke?
  • ​​​Plan on at least $400. Martin ($420-$5000) - Click on the Martin photo to the right for a Martin S1 review. Click here for a $450 Martin T1 Streetmaster tenor review. Click on the Martin photo above for a Martin $500 C1K & T1K review. Kala Elite (hand built in California - $700-$3000 - Kala Elite reviews here & here). Kanile'a, KoAloha, Kamaka, and others are sensational ukuleles!
My Martin S1 Mahogany Soprano - $420 new - Click on photo for review.
Ask anyone with a "forever" ukulele. You truly do get what you pay for!
*** For more good ukulele purchase, accessory
and use information, click here and here.
High G vs. Low G Tuning
  • Click here for a good description of low G tuning. - Either tuning is fine. However, the some jams will include playing melodies. “Having that lower string in a low G tuning allows one to have a few extra lower notes to complete the scale and therefore extends the melodic range of the ukulele.” This makes a big difference when playing in some keys, like G. Low G tuning works well on concert and tenor ukuleles, but generally not soprano ukes.
 
  • #2 - Gig-Bag - Don’t forget a decent gig-bag to carry your uke.  Groth Music, Cadenza Music and other local music stores offer good inexpensive choices.  Click here for my one of my favorites, Protec Gold.  It has a pouch big enough for your 8 ½ x 11 Yellow Book and other jam materials.  Be sure to buy the correct size for your uke. Both Cadenza and Groth Music carry ProTec bags.
  • #3 - Tuner - D’Addario (my favorite), Snark and Fender - Local music stores routinely stock good tuners.
  • #4 - Music Stand - Click here for a tremendous Peak foldable music stand.  Spend the money for a Peak.  You will never regret it. Both Cadenza and Groth Music carry Peak stands.​
  • #5 - Music/Song Books ​
  • Click here for a list of what we sing at Twin Cities Ukulele Club jams. If you want to have the absolute best books of songs, get The Daily Ukulele: 365 Songs for Better Living (known as the Yellow Book) and the Leap Year Edition with 366 different songs (the Blue Book), or both. Available locally and online (hard copy and ebook). NOTE - These versions are for soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles. If you are playing a baritone, you will need the baritone Green and Orange versions of these books. Same names, different color. 
The Daily Ukulele and Leap Year books are used at Twin Cities Ukulele Club jams, except for the Monday and Thursday evening RUG jams. The Twin Cities Ukulele Club RUG jams also use the Favorite Old-Time American Songs For Ukulele book - hard copy and ebook.
IMPORTANT - If you plan to put copies of the Daily Ukulele and Favorite Old Time books on your tablet, DO NOT buy a hard copy. You will have to pay for the ebook downloads even if you have purchased physical copies of the books. If you want to download these books to your tablet, click here for how to do so.
  • #6 - Humidifier For Your Ukulele - Not optional – a requirement in Minnesota or Wisconsin. When your furnace goes on in your house, your uke humidifier goes in your ukulele. Click here to find out why. My favorite humidifier is Oasis (about $20).  Both Cadenza and Groth Music stock these.
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