Criteria for a top `ukulele site:

 

The main focus of any good `ukulele site has to be on what a site does to help an `ukulele player make music, and learn music. Second, how fun is it, and how does the `ukulele web site represent the aloha spirit. Sounds kinda like our mission. 

 

Top 10 `ukulele sites:

 

1)      The `Ukulele Strummers           http://ukulelestrummers.com

 

This site is one of the best sites you will find. I love the Hawaiian pigeon language. It gives the site a real Hawaiian flare.  It has music with chords, and the album graphic, so you know what album to buy from that artist/group that contains the songs you want to play and sing.  Chords maps are the best, up to the 5^th position on the `ukulele fret board with unique geometric shapes for each chord position. The nomenclature page is tops. If you are a music teacher, there is some wonderful material you can use here. Bruddah Clint started South Bay Strummers Ukulele Group in Southern California.  The `ukulele is the best instrument to learn music on, and Bruddah Clint lives it.

Mahalo Nui Loa for all the sharing.

 

 

2)      `Ukulele Boogaloo                    http://www.alligatorboogaloo.com/uke/

 

This site ranks tops in my view because the songbook/music pages show you the chords with every song. The innovative music notation is easy to follow and makes for easy reading and playing. 

 

3)      Pineapple Pete’s Uke School    http://www.ukeschool.com/

 

This site is great learning materials. I love the interactive “Inchworm” and “Well Meet Again” song. Good basic material on strumming with follow along sample strums sound files.

 

4)      Brook Adam’s `Ukulele Pages http://www.brookadams.com/jumping-flea/

 

This is a fun site with lots of pictures. Also, this site has PDF formatted music in bunches that can be use for group playing. Many of the songs have been simplified for easy playability.

 

5)      EzFolk `Ukulele                        http://www.ezfolk.com/uke/index.html

 

This site has good music with the chord stamp above every chord change. This is easy to ready and learn from. I like the “Ground Hog” and “Simple Gifts” songs. The strumming and finger picking video instructions are great. However, I do NOT recommend the Martin S-0 version of `ukulele. All other older models are fine. But with this one, something went wrong unfortunately. Good basic techniques for beginners and intermediate `ukulele players.

 

 

6)      Tropical Storm Hawaii              http://tropicalstormhawaii.com

 

This site has the most Hawaiian music. If the locals in Hawaii are playing it, you can find it here. They have original works, contemporary, traditional, Jawaiian (Jamaican/Hawaiian mix). As the Hawaiians say, “Checkz itz out, Bruddah!”

 

7)      `Ukulele Friends Ohana (UFO) http://kahua51.org/

 

They are NOT a bunch of alien enthusiasts, although some say they are a little nuts. “Ohana” means family in Hawaiian. Good solid uke club. Great links. The Hawaiian music in PDF format is really great. “House on Pooh Corner” is reformatted well. I want my nui `ukulele club to embrace the aloha spirit the way this uke club does.

 

8)      Israel Kamakawiwo’ole            http://www.geocities.com/~olelo/iz-themanandhismusic.html

 

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole “Bruddah IZ”(one of Hawaii’s most beloved songwriter/singers) produced some of the best contemporary Hawaiian music. If you want to know why I play the `ukulele, watch and listen to IZ. Then, you will understand. Follow the link below.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cAbHGZ6F8M

 

 

9)      Sheep Entertainment                 http://www.sheep-entertainment.nl/ukulele/index.html

 

Great chord player. Play along as the music plays. Plus, this site also has a great link to uke players/groups around the world.

 

10)  `Ukulele Disco                          http://www.ukuleledisco.com

 

Lots of great `ukulele performances.

 

Honorable Mention

 

 

http://www.chordie.com

 

This web sites has stepped up in the last few years. A lot of songs you can changed to `ukulele (C-tuning GCEA tuning). Also, you can transpose (change the key) a full octave.  You can find the key that best matches your voice, and/or your instrument. I like the "Whole Wide World" and "These Boots are Made for Walking"