One of the fun things I got from my wife this year was an Amazon gift card in my stocking. I already spent it towards a Shaman Drum (frame drum) to use in some upcoming videos I’m planning. Here are some other ideas from things I’ve personally tried out …

A New Tuner

Tired of your painfully inaccurate cheap headstock tuner? I was. I recently upgraded to the Fishman FT2, which boasts 1 cent accuracy for only fifteen dollars. I have NOT been disappointed. It is amazing and will be my official tuner going forward with my students and ensembles (when we can finally start meeting together again). Review to come in 2021.

A Travel Uke

I did a review of the Enya Nova carbon fiber composite ukulele (concert-size) earlier this year. I’ve liked the instrument enough that I recently completed doing demo videos for all 34 songs in one of my books with this ukulele in hand. If you need a great first ukulele, or something you can leave in the car without worrying about it, this is an awesome choice and now comes in six colors:

• Orange: https://amzn.to/2XVJYLr
• Black: https://amzn.to/36TcFNg
• Blue: https://amzn.to/2AwgJa7
• White: https://amzn.to/301mabV
• Pink: https://amzn.to/2XYxgvu
• Red: https://amzn.to/2KGkmzA

I just found out they now offer a soprano-sized edition in black or blue!

Percussion

If you play in a group, percussion is always a nice thing to add to a number or two when performing. Some percussion can also be added to solo performances or to multi-track videos you’re producing at home. Take advantage of the away time most of us are experiencing due to gathering restrictions by adding some percussive skills to your lineup. Some small percussion instruments in my collection include:

• Bones (hard)
• Spoons (easy)
• Slapstick (effortless)
• Cabasa (easy)
• Tamborine (easy to medium)
• Guiro (easy)
• Rhythm Ring (use while strumming)
• Finger Shot (use while drumming on uke)
• Foot Shaker (no hands!)
• Foot Tambourine (no hands!)

Something still on my wish list is a Stomp Box.

Keep that Uke Handy

I have about a dozen String Swings installed about the house to hang my ukuleles within easy reach.

Post filed under All UkulelePlay! Blog Posts.