Ukelele and Bela Fleck

[Bach5G]

Is there a Bela Fleck of the ukelele?

[Ukena]

Those who are aficionados of the instrument spell it u-k-u-l-e-l-e. And that first syllable is pronounced "oo."

I don't know if you'd consider him similar to Bela Fleck, but we do have Jake Shimabukuro, who seems like he can play anything on the ukulele.

For example:

And terrible video quality, but an amazing duet:

[Litterick]

Eddie Kamae
Genoa Keawe
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

[Ukena]

And Taimane Gardner:

[sgosnell]

Abe Lagrimas Jr.

And yes, Jake is pretty good too. I have albums from both.

[mr. beaumont]

From the jazz side, Lyle Ritz.

[Doctor Jeff]

Since you mentioned uke…

I have been working on the guitar parts for the Chris Cross song Sailing. He plays a 12-string electric on the album and live and tunes it DADF#AE.

I didn’t want to retune my guitar for the show, so I worked it out on the uke. Similar tuning. Our singer sings it in B, not A, so I use a capo.

Lanikai tenor guitar A/E with wound lowered octave first string. Sounds great through the Fishman amp.

Not planning on tackling Bohemian Rhapsody anytime soon though…

[Ukena]

Jake also plays a tenor guitar. Here's mine, a Kala tenor with Ziricote back & sides (I also use a wound 4th, an octave down):





And Cliff Richards (Ukulele Ike) knew a thing or two about Ukuleles...

[Rob MacKillop]

I’m no Bela, but there’s these:

I have a dozen or so ukulele books published by Mel Bay.

But I ain’t no Bela. Genius.