Stories

ukulele close up with James Madison and chord shape superimposed

Do You Own the Songs You Strum on Your Ukulele? Understanding Copyrights and the Public Domain

Once copyrights have expired, you’re free to perform, record, and reuse a song without permission. But what if you’re interested in something a little more recent?

Kris Fuchigami Mixes Flash and Heart in His Ukulele Playing

Fuchigami’s road to success turned out to be a lot rockier than he expected it to be after that borderline-miraculous first day learning a Jake Shimabukuro song.

Turning My Passion for Ukulele into a Profession

I started playing games and singing songs with my kids, returning to the simple tunes (and childhood) I had left behind. You have to sing to your children—there is no other option.

Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary smiling and holding a ukulele

Why I Uke: Peter, Paul and Mary’s Noel Paul Stookey Says ‘What’s Not to Love?’

Chances are you know Noel Paul Stookey as part of the iconic folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Less known is that Noel played ukulele in his pre-folk days.

Roy and Kathy Sakuma at the 2019 Ukulele Festival Hawaii

For Five Decades Roy and Kathy Sakuma Have Championed Hawaiian Ukulele

Roy is arguably the most successful and influential ukulele teacher ever— nurturing thousands

craig chee and sarah maisel ukulele festival hawaii

Hawaii Calling: Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel on the Future of the Ukulele Festival Hawaii

Recent Oahu transplants Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel are helping produce the Ukulele Festival Hawaii, long the biggest uke festival in the world.

The Bad Mouse Orchestra is More Than a Nostalgia Act

Nattily dressed in vintage attire, Germany's Bad Mouse Orchestra shares their passion for the music of the 1920s and ’30s, jazz’s golden age.

Jeff Lynne and George Harrison with a pair of banjo-ukuleles.

Dr. Twanglove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Banjolele

When a musician friend eagerly showed off his new banjo-ukulele to me, I did my best to refrain from asking him to kindly throw it into a river. But then it grew on me.

Listen to 10 Great Ukulele Recordings from the 1920s!

BY EDDIE SCHER Record companies sold more than 100 million records each year between 1920 and 1929, and some of the biggest stars of the era played ukulele. It can take some patience to listen to this music—tempos and pitches…

Ukulele builder Jay Lichty in his workshop

Uke Makers: Jay Lichty is Building Some of the Best Ukes in the World in Rural North Carolina

Luthier Jay Lichty comes from the bluegrass world originally and started out building guitars, but he has also built over 150 highly prized ukes and was asked to join the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii.