WHAT TO BUY TO GET STARTED

The ukulele is one of the easiest instruments to learn to accompany one’s singing. Buy a uke (my recommendations for instruments in different price ranges are below) and a book, and just “do it yourself.” For guitarists of any ability, if you know a couple of chords, you can quickly progress to playing chords on the ukulele that you could only dream about on the guitar.

• UKULELES:
  
  
• www.fleamarketmusic.com 1-800-459-5558:
  • Fluke-about $189 (bag included)
  • Flea-$159 (bag included)
  
  
• www.elderly.com (Elderly music) 1-888-473-5810:
  • Discounted Flukes and Fleas (about $25 off each instrument)
  
  
• www.empire-music.com 1-800-663-5979:
  • Soprano uke with machine heads $29.98; polyfoam case $18.98
  • “Classic” tenor uke (larger) with machine heads $39.98; polyfoam case $23.98
  
  
• INSTRUCTION BOOK:
  • Jumpin’ Jim’s “Tips ‘n Tunes” (instruction book)-available at the above websites or in music stores
  
  
• TUNER:
  • Electronic (Meisel clip-on is best for uke) or ukulele pitch pipe-available at the above websites or in music stores