Ukulele 101 101 Things Every Ukulele Player Needs to Know
Buying a Ukulele 1. Where should I buy a ukulele? 2. Which Size Ukulele Should I Buy? 3. How uch Should I S!end? ". Wha#$s #he bes# ukulele %or under &'(? '. Wha#$s #he bes# ukulele %or under &1((? ). Wha# should I bear in *ind when buying on eBay? +. Wha# sor# o% wood should a ukulele be? ,. I$* le%#-handed do I need #o buy a le%# handed ukulele? /. Wha#$s be##er geared or %ric#ion #uners? 1(. Should I buy a ban0o ukulele? 11. Should I buy an elec#ric ukulele? 12. Wha#$s a $low-$ ukulele and should I buy one?
S#rings 13. oes i# *a##er wha# s#rings I use? 1". Which s#rings should I buy? 1'. How do I re!lace s#rings? 1). How o%#en should I re!lace s#rings? 1+. o I need di%%eren# s#rings %or di%%eren# sizes o% ukulele? 1,. o I need di%%eren# s#rings %or -#uning and -#uning? 1/. an I use gui#ar4*andolin4ban0o s#rings on a ukulele? 2(. How do I *ake s#rings las# longer?
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Ukulele 5nline 21. Where can I %ind #ab and chords online? 22. Where can I learn chord sha!es online? 23. Where can I %ind ukulele lessons and #u#orials online? 2". Wha# ukulele %oru*s are #here online? 2'. Where can I hear ukulele *usic online? 2). How can I !ick u! a bargain on eBay? 2+.Wha# ukulele blogs are #here? 2,. Which 6ou7ube channels should I be wa#ching? 2/. Where else can I %ind ukulele 8ideos?
aking 9 ood Sound 3(. How can I hear how I sound? 31. How should I hold #he ukulele? 32. Where should I s#ru*? 33. an I use a gui#ar !ick? 3". How can I look a%#er *y uke? 3'. Why won$# *y ukulele s#ay in #une? 3). Wha# should I wear when I$* !laying #he ukulele?
:ecording 3+. Wha#$s #he bes# !or#able recorder? 3,. Wha# *icro!hone should I ge#? 3/. Wha# so%#ware should I use? "(. How %ar %ro* #he *ic should I be? "1. How can I !u# *y *usic on #he in#erne#? "2. How can I sell *y *usic on #he in#erne#?
;on#s So%#ware and 5#her ownloads "3. How can I !u# ukulele chord char#s in word !rocessing docu*en#s? "". How can I *ake *y own ukulele #abs? "'. How can I ge# in #une wi#h *y co*!u#er? "). Where can I ge# a *e#rono*e online? "+. How can I i*!ro8e *y ear? ",. Where can I ge# ukulele icons?
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9d0us#ing 9d0us#i ng 6our 6our Ukulele Uk ulele "/. 7ha# sounds scary should I do i#? '(. Wha# is in#ona#ion? '1. How can I *easure how good *y ukulele$s in#ona#ion is? '2. How can I i*!ro8e *y ukulele$s in#ona#ion? '3. How can I s#o! *y ukulele buzzing?
Ukulele 9ccessories '". How can I !lug *y ukulele in#o an a*!li%ier? ''. o I need #o buy a #uner? '). Wha#$s a ca!o? '+. o I need a s#ra!? ',. an I !lay #he ukulele wi#h a gui#ar !ick? '/. Should I buy a *e#rono*e?
Prac#icing )(. How o%#en should I !rac#ice? )1. o I need #o war* u!? )2. Wha#$s #he *os# i*!or#an# #hing when !rac#icing? )3. How can I !lay %as#er? )". o I need #o use a *e#rono*e when I !rac#ice?
hord har#s )'. How do you read ukulele chord char#s? )). Why are #here di%%eren# chord sha!es %or #he sa*e chord?
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7ab and 7echni
=asier hords and hord hanges /,. Wha#$s #he easies# way #o !lay a chord? //. Wha#$s #he easies# way #o !lay an = chord? 1((. Wha#$s #he easies# way #o change %ro* ; #o ;*?
1(1. 6our own
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Buying a Ukulele I% you !lay uke %or long enough you$ll disco8er #he righ# answer #o #he Which ukulele should I buy? is >9ll o% #he*. eciding which which ukulele #o buy is #ricky e8en %or seasoned uke !layers. 7here are a huge nu*ber o% di%%eren# #y!es and brands o% ukulele. ;or %irs# #i*e ukulele buyers i# can be di%%icul# #o know where #o s#ar#. In #his sec#ion I run #hrough so*e o% #he #hings you *igh# wan# #o consider when buying a ukulele.
1. Where should I buy a ukulele
Unless you li8e in Hawaii dedica#ed ukulele sho!s are hard #o co*e by. 7here are a %ew do##ed around such as uke o% Uke in Uke in @ondon. @ocal *usic4gui#ar sho!s will !robably sell a cou!le o% basic *odels. Bu# %or *os# *os # !eo!le !eo! le i% you wan# wan # so*e real choice c hoice #he in#erne# in#er ne# is !robably your bes# be#. 7here are a nu*ber o% dedica#ed ukulele si#es such as Ukewarehouse in #he US 7he Ukulele Sho! in #he UA and :IS94Uke Sur%er and and Ukulele 2" in 2" in er*any. Howe8er Howe8er #he bigges# choice is #o be %ound on eBay. eBay. Buying on eBay can be a bi# risky so*e#i*es so*e#i*es bu# #here are so*e ukulele sellers wi#h good re!u#a#ions. I don$# #hink I$8e e8er heard any#hing bu# glowing !raise %or *usicguy*ic *usicguy*ic %ro* %ro* anyone. 9ll #he ins#ru*en#s he sells e8en #he chea!es# are e!er#ly se# u!. ukulele"u ukulele"u is is ano#her !o!ular seller and usually has a wider selec#ion o% lower !riced ukes. 5ne way #o #ry ou# a 8arie#y o% ukuleles be%ore you buy is #o search ou# a local grou!. ;lea arke# usic has a big a big lis# o% !layers and an d clubs organised geogra!hically geog ra!hically.
!. Whi"h #i$e Ukulele #hould I Buy
7here are %our *ain sizes o% ukuleleC so!rano concer# #enor and bari#one. So!rano concer# and #enor are all #uned #he sa*e D=9E. 7he s*alles# o% #hese so!rano is #he classic ukulele and #he one #ha# *os# !eo!le s#ar# on !ar#icularly children. child ren. 7hey also #end #o be #he chea!es# chea! es# size. y %a8ouri#e size a# #he *o*en# is concer# as i# has a bi# *ore roo* %or *y %ingers. 7enor ukuleles are bigger s#ill and #end #o be #he ukulele o% choice %or !ro%essional ukulele !layers. Bari#ones are #he bigges# and are #uned di%%eren#ly #o o#her ukuleles D#he sa*e as #he highes# %our s#rings o% #he gui#arE. Because i#$s #uned like #his so*e uke !layers don$# really #hink o% i# as a ukulele.
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%. &ow 'u"h #hould I #(end
7here are a lo# o% ukuleles %or under &1' on eBay. eBay. 7hese are usually !layable and *any !eo!le s#ar# ou# on #hese. Howe8er #hey$re o%#en no# se# u! ideally which isn$# handy %or a beginner. S!ending a li##le *ore will gi8e you a *uch be##er ins#ru*en# and will be *ore !layable s#raigh# ou# o% #he bo. I#$s
). What*s the best ukulele +or under ,-0
akala ukuleles are ukuleles are your bes# be# i% you$re on a #igh# budge#. 9s 9s I *en#ioned be%ore i% you buy you buy one %ro* *usicguy *usicguy*ic *ic i# i# will be !ro!erly se# u! Dwhich *akes i# wor#h #he s*all !re*iu*E. I#$s also wor#h ge##ing a decen# se# o% s#rings #o !u# on i# Dsuch as 9
-. What*s the best ukulele +or under ,100
Aala ukuleles *os#ly ukuleles *os#ly inhabi# #he &2(( - &3(( !rice range bu# also *ake so*e lower !rice *odels. *odels. 7he Aala A9-S ahogany So!rano wi#h So!rano wi#h se# u! and s#rings %or &)( looks like a good deal #o *e. In a si*ila si*ilarr !rice range in =uro!e =uro!e is #he 9shbury oncer# %or oncer# %or '(. I ha8e #he Aoa 8ersion 8ersion and wouldn$# be wi#hou# i#.
. What should I bear in /ind when buying on eBay
9s well as #he usual eBay !recau#ions such as checking #he seller$s %eedback score Dbe wary o% anyone wi#h less #han /+ !osi#i8e %eedbackE #here are a %ew o#her #hings wor#h bearing in *ind. ;irs#ly #ry #o buy %ro* an es#ablished ukulele dealer Dsuch as *usicguy*ic *usicguy*ic or or ukulele"u ukulele"uEE who know how #o e8alua#e and describe ukes and ha8e a good re!u#a#ion. I% you$re a%#er a bargain you *ay ha8e #o #ake your chances wi#h less es#ablished sellers. 7hese sellers *ay know no#hing abou# ukuleles and *ay *ake hones# - or no# so hones# - *is#akes. 6ou can usually 0udge %ro* #he descri!#ion how knowledgeable #hey are. Ha8e a 8ery care%ul look a# #he !ho#os. I% #hey #h ey are !oor !oo r
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. What sort o+ wood should a ukulele be /ade o+
Ukuleles *ade wi#h di%%eren# woods will crea#e di%%eren# #ones. 7he #radi#ional wood %or #he ukulele is koa K na#i8e #o Hawaii. Aoa wood is
. I*/ le+t2handed3 do I need to buy a le+t handed ukulele
any !eo!le who are le%# handed !lay #he ukulele righ# handed wi#hou# any di%%icul#y. =8en =8en i% you don$# don$# wan# #o do #his #here$s #here$s no need #o buy a s!eci%ic s!eci%ic le%#-han le%#-handed ded ukulele. ukulele. Because Because #here is li##le di%%erence be#ween be#ween #he size o% #he s#rings you can 0us# re8erse #he order o% #he s#rings and #urn #he ukulele u!side down.
4. What*s better geared or +ri"tion tuners
Wi#h %ric#ion #uners #he s#ring is ke!# in #une by no#hing *ore #han %ric#ion. 7he #uning !egs will be s#icking ou# o% #he back. 9l*os# all older ukes will ha8e %ric#ion #uners. Wi#h older ukuleles #he %ric#ion is crea#ed be#ween #he !eg and #he wood. odern ukes will usually ha8e %ric#ion crea#ed by a screw #ha# can be #igh#ened #o crea#e a #igh#er %i# Das in #he !ho#oE K so #he s#ring is *ore likely #o s#ay in #une. eared #uners use a cog sys#e* #o kee! #he ukulele in #une and ha8e #he #uners s#icking ou# a# #he side. 7here are *any 8arie#ies o% #his #uner. 7hey *ay look like #he !ho#o or #hey *ay be co8ered u!.
7here are ad8an#ages and disad8an#ages %or bo#h sys#e*s and #here$s lo#s o% discussion be#ween !layers which is bes#. eared #uners are *uch *ore likely #o s#ay in #une. ;ric#ion #uners !ar#icularly chea! ones can de#une #he*sel8es when you s#ru* s #ru* hard h ard and i# can be di%%icul# ge##ing #he s#ring eac#ly in #une. Page ,
Howe8er Howe8er geared #uners are *uch hea8ier and *ore in#rusi8e. Ha8ing geared #uners *akes #he uke 8ery #o!-hea8y *aking i# less sa#is%ying #o !lay. 9 ukulele wi#h %ric#ion #uners will %eel *ore balanced. 9ccording #o so*e !layers geared #uners can also ha8e an e%%ec# on #he sound K da*!ening i# a li##le. I% you ha8e #o!
10. #hould I buy a ban5o ukulele
Ban0o ukuleles Dor ban0o ukes or ban0olelesE are a cross be#ween a ukulele and a ban0o. 7hey ha8e #he sa*e s#ring se#u! as a ukulele and are a si*ilar size. @ike a ban0o #hey ha8e s#eel s#rings and a ban0o s#yle body. Fery %ew ukulele !layers s#ar# ou# wi#h a ban0o uke. 7hose #ha# do are usually ban0o !layers or big %ans o% eorge eorge ;or*by. ;or*by. 7hey can be a li##le *ore di%%icul# di%%icul# #o ge# #he hang o% and are #ougher on #he %ingers which *akes #he* less sui#able %or beginners.
11. #hould I buy an ele"tri" ukulele
=lec#ric ukuleles ukuleles are grea# %or #wo o!!osi#e #y!es o% !laying K when you don$# wan# #o be
1!. What*s a *low26* ukulele and should I buy one
os# ukuleles ha8e a $*y dog has %leas$ #uning where #he s#ring is higher #han #he s#ring K known as re-en#ran# #uning. 7his is 8ery rare a*ongs# s#ring ins#ru*en#s *os# ha8e s#rings in order o% lowes# #o highes#. So*e ukuleles ukuleles are se# u! in #his way K so #ha# #he -s#ring is #he lowes# on #he ukulele. 7hese are known as low- or !rogressi8ely #uned ukuleles.
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#trings 1%. 7oes it /atter what strings I use
6es s#rings can *ake a di%%erence #o how #he ukulele sounds. I% you ha8e a chea! ukulele #he chances are i# ca*e wi#h a low
1). Whi"h strings should I buy
7he #wo *os# !o!ular *akes o% s#ring are Wor#h and 9
1-. &ow do I re(la"e strings
I#$s bes# #o re!lace s#rings one a# a #i*e by loosening #he s#ring wi#h #he #uning !egs #hen releasing i# a# #he o#her end. 7ake #he o!!or#uni#y #o wi!e down #he %re#board and clean around #he areas you can$# reach when #he s#rings are on. os# uke s#rings are held in#o !lace by a slo# on #he bridge Dwhere #he s#rings are a##ached #o #he *ain body o% #he ukuleleE. ukuleleE. 6ou 6ou #ie a kno# in #he end o% #he s#ring and #hread i# #hrough #he slo#. 7he #y!e o% #he kno# you$ll need de!ends on #he size o% #he s#rings and slo#. ;or #he and = s#rings you$ll !robably 0us# need #o *ake a loo! and #hread #he s#ring #hrough once. 7he and 9 s#rings *igh# re
1. &ow o+ten should I re(la"e strings
7he easy answer is when #hey s#ar# #o sound and %eel bad. 7ha# de!ends on a %ew #hingsC how o%#en you !lay how aggressi8ely you !lay wha# your swea# is like. I like #o re!lace s#rings once e8ery si *on#hs or so. Page 1(
1. 7o I need di++erent strings +or di++erent si$es o+ ukulele
6es you do. =ach size o% ukulele has a di%%eren# leng#h o% neck so you need #he s#rings #ha# %i# #ha# size.
1. 7o I need di++erent strings +or 82tuning and 72tuning
Jo you don$#. 7he *os# co**on #uning %or #he ukulele is =9 Dalso called -#uningE bu# *any !eo!le !re%er #o #une #wo %re#s higher #o 9;LB D-#uningE. 9ny good
14. 8an I use guitar9/andolin9ban5o strings on a ukulele
6ikes noM I% your uke was designed %or nylon4gu# s#rings s#eel s#rings will ha8e #oo *uch #ension and could do serious da*age #o your ukulele. 7here are a %ew al#erna#i8es #o dedica#ed ukulele s#rings. I$8e heard o% i*!o8erished ukulele using %ishing wire as s#rings.
!0. &ow do I /ake strings last longer
7here are a cou!le o% easy #hings you can do #o *ake s#rings las# longer. 7he easies# is #o wi!e your s#rings down wi#h a clo#h a%#er !laying D#o s#o! swea# a##acking #he s#ringsE. I#$s also wor#h checking %or shar! edges on #he bridge Dwhere you a##ach #he s#rings #o #he body o% #he ukuleleE on #he nu# Da# #he o#her end o% #he %re#boardE and #he %re#s #he*sel8es. #he*sel8es. Shar! edges can wear away s#rings. I% you %ind any sand or %ile #he* down.
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Ukulele :nline !1. Where "an I +ind tab and "hords online
I$* co*!le#ely biased in #his bu# I$d reco**end *y si#e Uke Hun#. Hun#. 6ou can %ind #he 7ab and hord sec#ion here and here and #he beginners #he beginners sec#ion here here.. 7he bigges# ukulele chord si#e on #he ne# is Ukulele Boogaloo. Boogaloo. I# has a huge selec#ion bu# #he
dedica#ed d #o #he bari#one bari#one ukulele ukulele bu# also has a nu*ber o% #abs %or s#andard BukeC 7his si#e is dedica#e ukulele.. 7he #abs are *ainly classical and %olk !ieces and are handily arranged by di%%icul#y. ukulele hordie.. 8hordie*s Ukulele 8olle"tionC 7he ukulele sec#ion o% hordie 8o/bative UkuleleC Si*!le chords %or !unk songs !ar#icularly 7he lash. 8urt #heller*s
beginners and so*e in#er*edia#e Eleuke Ukulele >essonsC Bugsgear$s =leuke si#e has lessons %or beginners and #ab.. #ab e$?olk 8hordsC hords %or #radi#ional #unes. os# o% #he !ieces are %airly easy #o !lay 7here is also a sec#ion %or ez;olk$s Ukulele Ukule le 7ab. 7ab. ?leabag #ongbook C hords %or a %ew classic #unes. 6lo(@@ ;rench ukulele blog wi#h #ab and chords. 6lo(
He%%eran is one o% *y %a8ouri#e ukulele !layers. 7his !age has chords %or a nu*ber &e+toneC Brian He%%eran o% old#i*e 0azz #unes De8en #hough i# only says $words$E so*e o% #he* 8ery obscure.
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here. et*s Play UkuleleC 7he chords on #his si#e are #aken %ro* a gui#ar si#e and ha8e #he ukulele chords au#o*a#ically genera#ed. 7his isn$# en#irely ideal K you$ll o%#en %ind chords *issing or !ieces o% gui#ar #ab or chords #ha# are 0us# co*!le#ely wrong. 5n #he u!side i# does ha8e #he 8ery ni%#y %ea#ure o% #aking your @as#.%* !ro%ile and %inding chords %or #he songs you$8e lis#ened #o. 'ike*s Ukulele PageC hords %or indie songs. Nalu 'usi"C Gohn Aing is one o% #he bes# ukulele !layers around. He has !roduced a %ew ukulele #ab books bu# you can !ick u! a %ew #abs here %or %ree. I should warn you #hey are 8ery di%%icul# di%%icul# #o !lay. I highly reco**end you check ou# #he res# res # o% #ha# si#e %or i#s ukulele ukule le his#ory. New Aealand ;rts :nline C hords %or aori and Sa*oan songs along wi#h so*e ad8ice %or beginners. #a"red UkeC hords %or religious songs. #ale/ Ukulele #tru//ers ;ssnC 9 whole ha# %ull o% songs wi#h easy chords. #hee( Entertain/entC 9s well as #he 8ery use%ul chord %inder #his !age has a nu*ber o% songs you can !lay along wi#h. Gus# click $P@96 $P@96 9@5J S5JS 5$.
isco. #oni" UkeC Songbook o% #he guys %ro* idnigh# Ukulele isco. Tro(i"al #tor/ &awaiiC 9 huge collec#ion o% #radi#ional Hawaiian songs along wi#h a %ew si*!le chords. 9lso has a #ab sec#ion bu# sec#ion bu# #he
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Uke ThingyC 9 rela#i8ely new si#e wi#h #ab sni!!e#s. Ukedo/C hord arrange*en#s o% songs %ro* 8arious genres. UkelandC 7ab and chords %ro* Ukeland *e*bers. Ukulele 6uild o+ &awaiiC hords %or #radi#ional and *odern Hawaiian songs. Ukulele #"hoolC 9 %ew ukulele chords including Hey There Delilah and Bohemian Rhapsody. Ukulele #tru//ers* #ongbook C ore *odern Hawaiian s#u%%. ainly Israel Aa*akawiwo$ole and Aa$au ra#er Boys. Ukulele TabsC 9 er*an si#e wi#h so*e 8ery nice solo arrange*en#s o% !o!ular songs. 7hey are
So*e ukulele !er%or*ers !u# u! chords and #ab #o #heir own songs such as 7iki Aing and Aing and #he Jew #he Jew 6ork Ukulele =nse*ble =nse*ble.. 7here are also *any si#es #ha# are no# s!eci%ic #o #he ukulele bu# do ha8e chords Dyou can 0us# use a chord char# #o %ind ou# how #o !lay #he chords on #he ukuleleE. 7he 7he bigges# o% #hese arehordie are hordie and and Ul#i*a#e ui#ar . hordie has a widge# on #he righ# o% #he screen #ha# will show you #he chord boes %or ukulele D-#uning -#uning or bari#oneE. 7he ui#ar uy is uy is good %or 0azz songs. !!. Where "an I learn "hord sha(es online
7here are a nu*ber o% !laces you can %ind chord sha!es. Shee! =n#er#ain*en# =n#er#ain*en# and and %our s#ring chords bo#h chords bo#h ha8e use%ul in#er%aces %or showing chord sha!es on #he ukulele. Be care%ul on #he Shee! =n#er#ain*en# si#e as #he de%aul# is -#uning. I% you$re using -#uning *ake sure you click on $so!rano K $ %irs# or you$ll ge# #he wrong chord sha!es. I% you !re%er #o download a !rogra* #ry Winchord.. Winchord 7his si#e *akes #rans!osing chord !rogressions easy. 6ou 0us# co!y and !as#e #he chord char# and #ell i# which key #o #rans!ose in#o. 7o hel! you learn chord sha!es you can download #hese %lashcards or #hese %lashcards and %lashcards and !rin# #he* ou#. Page 1"
!%. Where "an I +ind ukulele lessons and tutorials online
ez;olk has a big selec#ion o% ukulele lessons here. here. Pinea!!le Pe#e$s Uke School has a nu*ber o% lessons. 7here are also *any 8ideo ukulele lessons online. By %ar #he bes# are #hose by 9ldrine uerrero a# Ia*hawaii Dyou Ia*hawaii Dyou ha8e #o sign u! be%ore you can 8iew #he 8ideosE. He$s a grea# !layer and can !u# lessons across 8ery well. He$s also go# a new si#e Ukulele Underground which Underground which con#inues his series o% 8ideo lessons and also has weekly one *inu#e uke #i!s. 7here are lo#s o% ukulele lessons on 6ou7 ou7ube ube bu# bu# #he
!). What ukulele +oru/s are there online
7here are !len#y o% ukulele %oru*s around in a nu*ber o% languages. )th PegC Jo# 8ery ac#i8e bu# !len#y o% in#eres#ing and use%ul s#u%% in #he archi8es. ;ll Things Ukulele C Jo# a %oru* bu# a @i8e Gournal grou!. So long as you ha8e an accoun# you can 0oin in. e$?olk C ez;olk has %oru*s dedica#ed #o a nu*ber o% ins#ru*en#s including #he uke. I# has a dedica#ed beginners dedica#ed beginners sec#ion sec#io n. ?lea 'arket 'usi"C any long #i*e sligh#ly obsessed ukulele !layers hang ou# here. I would be #here *ore o%#en *ysel% bu# #he way #he %oru* works dri8es *e u! #he wall. King 7avid Ukulele #tation ?oru/C 7he bigges# %ranco!hone ukulele %oru*. 'y 7og &as ?leaC 9 young ;rench %oru*.
#he beginners sec#ion sec#io n is wor#h a read #hrough. The UkeC Jo# a 8ery ac#i8e %oru* bu# #he beginners Sho!. Jo# 8ery ac#i8e. In er*an and =nglish. Uke #ur+er =I#;CC Based around #he Uke Sur%er Sho!. Uke7alk alk websi#e webs i#e.. Si#e owner :ichard rosse## is rosse## is always on hand wi#h UkeTalk C 9n o%%shoo# o% #he Uke7 good ad8ice. Ukulele 8lubC In hinese. Ukulele
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