Jake Shimabukuro brings sexy back to the ukulele
October 16th 2006 09:41
Most musically inclined kids grow up wanting to be the best guitar player in the world; but not Jake Shimabukuro. The Japanese-American, who grew up in Hawaii, loves the ukulele like it were his own flesh and blood
The 29 year old is the world’s greatest ukulele player. In fact, he is often called the Jimi Hendrix of the pint-sized instrument. The only problem is that it’s not the most respectable instrument in the world.
Here’s Jake playing a George Harrison classic: ‘While my guitar gently weeps’.
The ukulele is, with the exception of the piano accordion, the least serious musical instrumental in the world. It’s played by clowns and comedians.
Shimabukuro, like Timberlake, is bringing the sexy back for the ukulele. Okay, it never had any mojo to begin with, but Jake is making us all come around.
His lighting fast fingers, and his excessively technical finger picking and strumming techniques are the best I’ve ever seen (from a guitarist’s perspective). If he played guitar he’d be my idol. Though, watching him does make me want to learn the ukulele.
Here’s another clip of Jake, this time, playing his own song: ‘Let’s Dance’.
For the guitarists out there, the ukulele isn’t just a baby guitar. Its strings are totally different. Standard tuning for a guitar is: E, A, D, G, B, E; for a ukulele, the tuning is: G, C, E, A. The biggest spinout about this tuning is that the strings don’t descend from highest to lowest. The top and bottom strings (G and A) are the highest pitched strings. Weird!!!
As sexy as the ukulele is in Jake’s hands, I doubt I’ll be picking up the instrument anytime soon. I have too much on my hands as it is. Though, I encourage anyone who is interested in taking it up to do so. It’s a beautiful instrument, and we need more ukulele players in this world.
Take care and peace out…
The 29 year old is the world’s greatest ukulele player. In fact, he is often called the Jimi Hendrix of the pint-sized instrument. The only problem is that it’s not the most respectable instrument in the world.
Here’s Jake playing a George Harrison classic: ‘While my guitar gently weeps’.
The ukulele is, with the exception of the piano accordion, the least serious musical instrumental in the world. It’s played by clowns and comedians.
Shimabukuro, like Timberlake, is bringing the sexy back for the ukulele. Okay, it never had any mojo to begin with, but Jake is making us all come around.
His lighting fast fingers, and his excessively technical finger picking and strumming techniques are the best I’ve ever seen (from a guitarist’s perspective). If he played guitar he’d be my idol. Though, watching him does make me want to learn the ukulele.
Here’s another clip of Jake, this time, playing his own song: ‘Let’s Dance’.
For the guitarists out there, the ukulele isn’t just a baby guitar. Its strings are totally different. Standard tuning for a guitar is: E, A, D, G, B, E; for a ukulele, the tuning is: G, C, E, A. The biggest spinout about this tuning is that the strings don’t descend from highest to lowest. The top and bottom strings (G and A) are the highest pitched strings. Weird!!!
As sexy as the ukulele is in Jake’s hands, I doubt I’ll be picking up the instrument anytime soon. I have too much on my hands as it is. Though, I encourage anyone who is interested in taking it up to do so. It’s a beautiful instrument, and we need more ukulele players in this world.
Take care and peace out…
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