Hello!

[mrs_tribble]

I've been playing string instruments since I was first introduced to a guitar in school when I was eleven years old. The guitar in my userpic here is my faithful old Chantry acoustic cutaway, Guinevere. I also have a mandolin named Gwen, grew up playing the recorder, organ and piano and am a singer.

A year ago a fellow string player seduced me into the world of Ukuleles.

I chose Mahalo because I'm on disability and can't afford a lot, and I find that the Mahalo ukuleles are fun and sound pretty good! I own seven so far, and they all have names:

Morgana (red)
Daffyd (yellow)
Illyria (pale blue)
Mystique (dark blue)
Angelus (black)
Spike (white)
Peril (purple)

So yes... I'm addicted to the adorable little Hawaiian guitar! I don't play often, but I find it so simple to learn. I would like to have played more this year, but my disability made me quite ill and so it has to wait for now.

I'm looking forward to meeting other ukulele fans here!

Comments

[newredshoes]

I love how much music you have in your life! Lovely to meet you. :)

[mrs_tribble]

Lovely to meet you too - and I'd love to friend you if you'll allow me to!

I wouldn't say that I come from a musical family as such - my Mum can't hold a note in a paper bag and can't play an instrument - but my sister, like me, can take pretty much any instrument and pick out a tune by ear. Our maternal great-grandmother was a concert pianist, but I'm the only singer/songwriter/composer in the family.

All of my family adore music though, and my Dad always becomes excited when he finds out that I've written a new song or that I'm trying a new instrument. It's so lovely to have that encouragement!

I'm sure that you'll come to love your ukulele as much as I love mine; you will never regret buying it!

BTW, if you've never heard the likes of Iz or The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain, they are definitely worth a look! My friend Tally is also very good - I'll post the link next time she records a Youtube video :)

[newredshoes]

Ooooh, no I haven't, but I'll definitely be looking them up when I get home. And yes, please do post your friend's videos! One of my favorite things about ukulele is seeing people sitting around in front of their webcams being awesome for fun.

Friending certainly allowed!

[mrs_tribble]

Hooray, I'm always happy to be making friends!

I've just posted a video of Iz because it's beautiful and I couldn't wait to share. The funeral in the video is actually his own and I love how his friends and family turned it into the celebration of life that it ought to be - and his version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow is simply stunning.

I shall definitely ask Tally if I can share her Youtube stuff. She also has an album for download so I'll try to get you the details for that too :)

[all_adream]

Nice for you to have a lot of them and to enjoy them! I really should pick up one in secret and give it a try--usually I'm a singer and tried to get better at keyboards recently, but got ill. Health has been an issue for me too, as I see it has for you--music is so great though!

[mrs_tribble]

I've grown up with music; neither of my parents can play an instrument or string a song together (both tone deaf) but my maternal great-grandmother was a concert pianist. I've always loved to sing and I really enjoy learning new instruments, as well as writing songs and singing semi-professionally. For me, music makes life worth living.

Definitely get yourself a ukulele; the first Mahalo uke I bought (Morgana - my red one) was only £12 and came with a card showing a few chords. I've fitted all seven of my instruments with Aquila strings, which only serve to prove that even the most inexpensive ukulele can sound completely professional!

[viridian]

You have a ukulele named Illyria! ♥ I do not have all my icons uploaded here or I would have commented with a character-appropriate one.

I have not even joined this community yet, though I have recently begun learning the guitar and considering ukulele because it's smaller and my hands are small. >.> But I had to approve of your naming schemes.

[mrs_tribble]

Heheh, got to love Illyria - especially when she's wiping the floor with poor Spike!

None of my ukuleles were deliberately named after fandom figures, but Illyria just *fit* with the colour of the instrument.

I have small hands too, and can thoroughly reccomend learning the ukulele. It's versatile, fun and sounds lovely :)