For most of us, a plastic recorder was the first musical instrument we encountered back in elementary school, and for that reason it’s something we tend to think of as a childhood toy. However, the recorder is actually a serious instrument, with a rich history that goes back to ancient times.
Yamaha’s latest wind instrument, the Venova, is compact, durable, and great for a saxophone sound on the go. Check out Grace Kelly’s demonstration!
In this video, three musicians – Kenta Fukui (Sax), Kei Suzuki (Sax), and Naoyuki Takano (Clarinet) – take a spin on Yamaha’s latest wind instrument in a Venova jam session.
Many of these instruments, though based on ukuleles, are unique unto themselves, and can appeal to just about anyone. Making Music takes a look at a few.
Making Music takes a look at four fretted instruments that may further enhance your recordings or songwriting: ukulele, cigar box guitar, banjo, mandolin.
The banjo has evolved from its African roots, first as a minstrel instrument, and later as a jazz, bluegrass, and folk staple. At the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, you can see more than 300 banjos – the largest public display in the world. The timeline below includes just a few.
For the ukulele enthusiast who has seen it all, here are some unusual ukulele body shapes, made by Ohana, and descriptions of how they compare to the traditional guitar-shape.
Adapted from “5-String Banjo for Guitar Players” by David Brandowski, this article delves into the basics of playing banjo.
A handful of ukulele chords can take you a long way, as far as repertoire goes. With these eight chords you can play hundreds of songs on the ukulele.
From portability, to low cost, to the ease of finding tutorials and lessons online, here are eight reasons why you should learn to play ukulele.