That’s right - April is the month we show even more love to the people of the Underground by giving away another (this time, even nicer) Free Ukulele!! It’s the “Oh, The Places Uke Will Go!” video contest, sponsored by KALA Ukuleles!

Here’s what you need to do:
1. Make a video of yourself and your ukulele in front of a landmark. Hometown, state, national, whatever. Basically anyplace that ukes can go.
2. Say your name (or screen name) and tell your viewers that you’re from the Ukulele Underground. Something like, “Hi, my name is BlahBlah_653 and I’m a part of the Ukulele Underground!! Stay tuned, because we’re about to change the world.” Or something to that effect.
3. Tag your video with the phrase “Ukulele Underground”
4. Submit it to the Official Contest Thread.

Done.

If you can’t get a hold of a camcorder, just find a good landmark and take a picture of yourself and your uke in front of it. Add your caption and tag it up with the info above and post it in the Contest thread.

We’ll be accepting only one entry per person - so make yours the best it can be! We’ll announce the winner at the end of April. Good Luck!!

*Oh yeah, if you would like to see the Ukulele that we’re giving away, it’s actually the very same model that Ukulele_Junkie reviewed a few weeks ago (plus a case!). Click HERE to see his video review.

View Contest Entries here

Brought to you by Kala Ukuleles

In this episode of Uke Minutes, Aldrine gives a few fun facts about the origin of the ‘ukulele; its name, where it came from, and the ancestor instruments it was modeled after. For a much more comprehensive history of this marvelous little instrument, check out the following web-tastic presentations:

History of the ‘Ukulele (UGH)
Over a Century of Ukulele History (Bounty)

How To String your Ukulele

So, you need to string your ukulele? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here we’ll help guide you through all the steps to replace your old, dead strings with some brand spankin’ new nylons …

Check out our video tutorial for all the same content, no reading required.

What you need:
1. a NEW set of strings.
2. a pair of string / wire cutters
3. about 20 minutes of your time

You should also determine whether your ukulele has a standard or tie-bar bridge and whether it has a standard or slotted head (see video) prior to starting your string-changing experience.

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Humidity. It’s not something that tends to loom at the forefront of your mind, in regards to ukulele – especially when you’re rippin’ it up hardcore or kickin a smooth, tasty lick on your most prized wooden possession. And because historically, the instrument has tended to inhabit coastal or near-coastal-lying areas, the idea of even needing a humidifier on the inside of one’s ukulele case is often dangerously overlooked.

Today, with the help and support of international shipping and widespread exposure due to the internet, ukuleles have migrated to practically every inhabitable space on the globe. Unfortunately, many of those places often times experience relative humidity below the optimal 47%.

Right Now: Go to your favorite weather-information-providing-website now and check your city’s current relative humidity.

If it’s within the 35-45% range or lower – and you don’t have a humidifier in your ukulele case – you’re absolutely FU**- … um, DOOMED.

Just playin’. If you do, however, find yourself in the above-said arid state of doomed-ness, you should definitely take certain immediate actions:

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