Hello John:
I am totally impressed with what you do on the Ukulele, on the classical end of things. I want to do this myself and didn’t think this was possible on the Uk. But after seening you do it I can’t wait to get started I have ordered your book, and am woundering about exesize books, scales, fingerings exet. and just where do I get stared? I have a million questions to ask….
Patrick Mahoney
I’m a long time admirer of your work. I had the good fortune of working with James Hill on a chord solo book (50 Easy Uke Chord Solos) which he recorded for me. He also stays at our house when he comes to So. Calif, so he have a lot of time to chat about things. The subject of John King came up and he was more than complimentary about your work.
I was prompted to write to you finally because, strangely enough, your recording of Washington Post March. As a clarinet player, I spent a lot of time in band in the military, and remember a commanding officer telling the band: If you want to know how to please the commander, play Wash. Post, because it gives me that spine tingling feeling up my _____.
The chord solo book came out of my frustration of not having been able to find a beginning method book for chord solos. I was encouraged after James Hill played through the solos and said he would be glad to record them for me.
I started to play in ‘01 and had a lot of help from Bill Tapia, who lives close by and was available for teaching. Can’t believe it. In 9 days he’ll be 100. I’ve played a lot of gigs with him on clarinet and bari uke.
I understand that you are a classical guitarist. You may know Jeff Cogan of Chapman Univ, who is very active in all the international guitar groups. He introduced me to some of the works of Sor, Carcassi and Coste, and it inspired me to write twelve clarinet pieces which use the Sor, Carcassi and Coste pieces as accompanyments. They worked out quite well, and ClearnNote Publishers of Columbus, Oh. has just published them.
I would email a couple of the MP3s we have of them, but I do not have an email address for you. I’ll try to get them hooked up onto my web site.
Hope to meet you someday. If you would like to look further into the book, the web site is www.ukesolos.com. Have to admit though, I can think on the uke only with low G string. I need that extra perfect fourth for the melodies. Haven’t played long enough to master those high frets.
Gerry Long
P.S. I’m also doing a series of on line teaching aids called UKE-TIPS, in which I talk about chords, chord progressions. and other short cuts to learning the uke.
Bill, thanks for visiting my website and your kind comments. With regard to your question, does any other evidence of a Nunes cigar box ukulele survive today, the short answer is: none that I have seen. I would also be loath to characterize the obituary you mention as evidence of anything. The article you cite is likely a national wire story, as the death of Nunes was published in newspapers across the States, however the notices of his death in the two major Honolulu papers credit Nunes with the invention of the instrument and say nothing about cigar boxes. Nunes came to Hawaii in 1879, a skilled artisan working in a field with a proud history in Madeira. As a marceneiro, or cabinet maker, he would have been familiar with the stringed-instrument making trade, borne out by his ad for furniture and stringed instruments in the Portuguese-Hawaiian weekly, O Luso Hawaiiano, in 1885. I have come across mention of cigar box instruments, usually on the Mainland–less frequently in Hawaii–and they are invariably credited to persons without the means to purchase an instrument rather than established makers. In that sense, Kamaka’s cigar box ukes are exceptional. I seriously doubt they have any connection to a proto-cigar box Nunes instrument from 1879.
Jim Beloff sent me on over to ask my question to you. He mentioned that you are currently working on a book, an in-depth history of the ukulele, and so you would be the person to ask.
I have a copy of an obituary of Nunes in a newspaper, The Modesto Evening News August 2, 1922, that mentions “Manuel Nunes, inventor of the ukulele, dies in Honolulu. He built the first ukulele out of a cigar box in 1879.”
I’ve seen the Kamaka cigar box Ukes before. But, Nunes? The idea isn’t
absurd that Nunes made a cigar box ukulele. Kamaka was a student of Nunes afterall and the dozen or so that Kamaka made are well known.
My question is, does any other evidence of a Nunes cigar box ukulele survive today? The newspaper could be wrong, but if it is correct, perhaps Kamaka designed his cigar box ukuleles after Nunes. Any ideas?
Thanks for your comments. With regard to your idea for updating the Dias marker, perhaps other descendants might have a similar interest. I’m not sure who owns the deed to the burial plot, but a call to Makiki Cemetery caretakers might shed some light. Then again, since Augusto’s grave was overlooked in the 1980s survery, maybe not. I might be able to put you in touch with some descendants; let me know.
My great-great grandfather was Augusto Dias. Thank you for the information on his grave-site. I was dissapointed in how deteriorated the headstone is and would like to investigate installing a new, more fitting headstone that would recognize him for his contributions to the ukulele as well as his friendship with the “merry monarch”. There is some debate on who actually invented the ukulele and all of my research indicates (given the record keeping of that day) at least two and possibly three men are credited with this. It would be nice to share some of the credit for someting of such historical significance. Do you have any clue on who I might speak to regarding the potential for a new headstone for Augusto Dias?
Thanks for your comments. Jumpin’ Jim’s Ukulele Masters: The Classical Ukulele has a couple of uke and guitar arrangements and Ukulele: The Early Methods has a few. There are also some out-of-print methods and anthologies that come to mind: The Bickford Ukulele Method and Arling Schaeffer’s ukulele book. Have fun.
John,
I’ve been playing with a guitar friend lately and we’ve enjoyed playing Aloha Quickstep from your Famous Solos & Duets book. Can you point me in the direction of similar guitar/ukulele duets? Your arrangement on that song was so great, it would be nice to find other songs arranged like it.
Thanks,
Jason
A few years back, you had for sale some nice booklets with transcriptions of Bach material. These no longer seem to be listed on the website. Are any available, either from you or from some other source? I’d dearly love to get ahold of them! Thanks so much.
Joan, it was good to see you in Portland last week, that’s a wonderful event. There isn’t much that I can reccomend for four-string guitar or ukulele and solo instrument. There is a large body of music for the renaissance guitar which had four strings, though the fourth string was likely not reeantrant. I’ll email you off-board with a list of things you can try to run down.
Hi John. This is a great site. I wrote you through NALU service and then managed to get into the site. Seeing you in Portland was great. I wish you had gone on to Seattle with James. I intend to mention you to my friends at the Early Music Guild and see if they might be able to book a workshop or mini concert with you next year. If you have a Press Pack, I would gladly pass it on to them.
I originally wrote you about finding Early, Renaissance and Baroque music for the ukulele. I have a good deal of music written for the recorder and some with a continuo line, both treble and base, but haven’t found anything for a uke or a four string guitar. I live close to the UW and intend to get over to the music department library this week to hunt for materials. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Hello John King,
Awsome new look. I don’t know where you find the time to do this stuff and still maintain those sick uku skills. You are truly an asset to the ukulele community. Keep on uking on.
hello john. great to meet you and see you play last week.
i’ve put together a few points of interest in portugal for your trip
as well as a few photos and would like to send them to you.
All the best to you and hope our paths cross again.
be well,
Thanks for your comments and for visiting my website. I’ll check into a contact function; surely there is a plug-in that will allow that. Thanks for the suggestion!
Hi John, I’ve just discovered your website, and I’m anxious to read it all. It seems very friendly to get around; but I’d really like a ‘contact’ option so you can be emailed.
Thanks for sharing such wonderful information and music. See you at the Portland Ukulele Festival in June,
Jeannie
Dave’s copy of my Nunes original is nothing less than inspired. He made everything on the instrument from scratch: the pegs, the bone appoinments, frets. If he had planted, grown and harvested the woods I could not be more pleased. And on top of looking great, the sound is fabulous.
I’ll post an mp3 as soon as I get into the studio and start recording.
Thanks for visiting my website; I’ll be updating it regularly and will include the Sousa Washington Post mp3 later this week. Will see about putting the tablature online, too.
Nice changes to the website. I wanted to hear that Sousa (sp?) piece you played but can’t locate it now and failed to download it from the old site. Is it still around? and have you published a tablature for that piece?
In case you don’t remember; I’m that guy that made the little 80% soprano two-puka ukulele and sent you some pics and sound clips via email. I’m still working to learn BMV 1007 and to perfect “ahe lau makani”.
Thanks for sharing some of your neat research via this website.
The Machete looks awsome. The spruce should be loud. My son elliot got a soprano spruce uke from Mike Desilva in Oakland a few years back. Check out his my space link below.
The last song Kihei Nights is one of his originals and is played on the little spruce uke. They are loud and have a nice tone. (Elliot is also getting a Tenor Glyph)
Are you going to post a sample of how it sounds on your site?
The machete is at my house in Florida and I’m in Virginia, so I won’t get to play it til next week! Bummer. Dave said it was sweet and loud. All I can do in the meantime is drool over the pictures on Dave’s website.
Hi John,
A lot of work’s gone into your website, and it shows. Thank you.
I was wondering if you still have a link for/to the unique ‘greeting cards’ that I used last year. Aloha, Donna
John,
When I purchased a tenor uke from Roy Cone, part of the package was your book and cd “Famous Solos and Duets for the Ukulele” and I cannot tell you the hours of pleasure I’ve received from it. I’ve since purchased your book and CD “The Classical Ukulele” from Jumpin’ Jim’s Ukulele Masters Series and have not delved as deeply into it as yet, but will soon. Thanks again. I would have never guessed that you could have so much fun with a uke.
December 25th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Hello John:
I am totally impressed with what you do on the Ukulele, on the classical end of things. I want to do this myself and didn’t think this was possible on the Uk. But after seening you do it I can’t wait to get started I have ordered your book, and am woundering about exesize books, scales, fingerings exet. and just where do I get stared? I have a million questions to ask….
Patrick Mahoney
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:01 pm
John:
I’m a long time admirer of your work. I had the good fortune of working with James Hill on a chord solo book (50 Easy Uke Chord Solos) which he recorded for me. He also stays at our house when he comes to So. Calif, so he have a lot of time to chat about things. The subject of John King came up and he was more than complimentary about your work.
I was prompted to write to you finally because, strangely enough, your recording of Washington Post March. As a clarinet player, I spent a lot of time in band in the military, and remember a commanding officer telling the band: If you want to know how to please the commander, play Wash. Post, because it gives me that spine tingling feeling up my _____.
The chord solo book came out of my frustration of not having been able to find a beginning method book for chord solos. I was encouraged after James Hill played through the solos and said he would be glad to record them for me.
I started to play in ‘01 and had a lot of help from Bill Tapia, who lives close by and was available for teaching. Can’t believe it. In 9 days he’ll be 100. I’ve played a lot of gigs with him on clarinet and bari uke.
I understand that you are a classical guitarist. You may know Jeff Cogan of Chapman Univ, who is very active in all the international guitar groups. He introduced me to some of the works of Sor, Carcassi and Coste, and it inspired me to write twelve clarinet pieces which use the Sor, Carcassi and Coste pieces as accompanyments. They worked out quite well, and ClearnNote Publishers of Columbus, Oh. has just published them.
I would email a couple of the MP3s we have of them, but I do not have an email address for you. I’ll try to get them hooked up onto my web site.
Hope to meet you someday. If you would like to look further into the book, the web site is www.ukesolos.com. Have to admit though, I can think on the uke only with low G string. I need that extra perfect fourth for the melodies. Haven’t played long enough to master those high frets.
Gerry Long
P.S. I’m also doing a series of on line teaching aids called UKE-TIPS, in which I talk about chords, chord progressions. and other short cuts to learning the uke.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Bill, thanks for visiting my website and your kind comments. With regard to your question, does any other evidence of a Nunes cigar box ukulele survive today, the short answer is: none that I have seen. I would also be loath to characterize the obituary you mention as evidence of anything. The article you cite is likely a national wire story, as the death of Nunes was published in newspapers across the States, however the notices of his death in the two major Honolulu papers credit Nunes with the invention of the instrument and say nothing about cigar boxes. Nunes came to Hawaii in 1879, a skilled artisan working in a field with a proud history in Madeira. As a marceneiro, or cabinet maker, he would have been familiar with the stringed-instrument making trade, borne out by his ad for furniture and stringed instruments in the Portuguese-Hawaiian weekly, O Luso Hawaiiano, in 1885. I have come across mention of cigar box instruments, usually on the Mainland–less frequently in Hawaii–and they are invariably credited to persons without the means to purchase an instrument rather than established makers. In that sense, Kamaka’s cigar box ukes are exceptional. I seriously doubt they have any connection to a proto-cigar box Nunes instrument from 1879.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Hi John,
Jim Beloff sent me on over to ask my question to you. He mentioned that you are currently working on a book, an in-depth history of the ukulele, and so you would be the person to ask.
I have a copy of an obituary of Nunes in a newspaper, The Modesto Evening News August 2, 1922, that mentions “Manuel Nunes, inventor of the ukulele, dies in Honolulu. He built the first ukulele out of a cigar box in 1879.”
I’ve seen the Kamaka cigar box Ukes before. But, Nunes? The idea isn’t
absurd that Nunes made a cigar box ukulele. Kamaka was a student of Nunes afterall and the dozen or so that Kamaka made are well known.
My question is, does any other evidence of a Nunes cigar box ukulele survive today? The newspaper could be wrong, but if it is correct, perhaps Kamaka designed his cigar box ukuleles after Nunes. Any ideas?
Great looking site by the way! –Bill
December 11th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Bob,
Thanks for your comments. With regard to your idea for updating the Dias marker, perhaps other descendants might have a similar interest. I’m not sure who owns the deed to the burial plot, but a call to Makiki Cemetery caretakers might shed some light. Then again, since Augusto’s grave was overlooked in the 1980s survery, maybe not. I might be able to put you in touch with some descendants; let me know.
John
November 29th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
John,
My great-great grandfather was Augusto Dias. Thank you for the information on his grave-site. I was dissapointed in how deteriorated the headstone is and would like to investigate installing a new, more fitting headstone that would recognize him for his contributions to the ukulele as well as his friendship with the “merry monarch”. There is some debate on who actually invented the ukulele and all of my research indicates (given the record keeping of that day) at least two and possibly three men are credited with this. It would be nice to share some of the credit for someting of such historical significance. Do you have any clue on who I might speak to regarding the potential for a new headstone for Augusto Dias?
Thanks,
Bob Dye
September 25th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Hi John,
Great informative site. Much to ponder, reflect on. Thanks for your time and effort in developing this site.
noel v.
ps. any plans for a book on the history of the ‘ukulele?
August 30th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Jason,
Thanks for your comments. Jumpin’ Jim’s Ukulele Masters: The Classical Ukulele has a couple of uke and guitar arrangements and Ukulele: The Early Methods has a few. There are also some out-of-print methods and anthologies that come to mind: The Bickford Ukulele Method and Arling Schaeffer’s ukulele book. Have fun.
JK
August 29th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
John,
I’ve been playing with a guitar friend lately and we’ve enjoyed playing Aloha Quickstep from your Famous Solos & Duets book. Can you point me in the direction of similar guitar/ukulele duets? Your arrangement on that song was so great, it would be nice to find other songs arranged like it.
Thanks,
Jason
July 19th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Hi John,
Great site, as always.
A few years back, you had for sale some nice booklets with transcriptions of Bach material. These no longer seem to be listed on the website. Are any available, either from you or from some other source? I’d dearly love to get ahold of them! Thanks so much.
Philip Zaleski
June 27th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Joan, it was good to see you in Portland last week, that’s a wonderful event. There isn’t much that I can reccomend for four-string guitar or ukulele and solo instrument. There is a large body of music for the renaissance guitar which had four strings, though the fourth string was likely not reeantrant. I’ll email you off-board with a list of things you can try to run down.
best
John
June 27th, 2007 at 6:16 am
Hi John. This is a great site. I wrote you through NALU service and then managed to get into the site. Seeing you in Portland was great. I wish you had gone on to Seattle with James. I intend to mention you to my friends at the Early Music Guild and see if they might be able to book a workshop or mini concert with you next year. If you have a Press Pack, I would gladly pass it on to them.
I originally wrote you about finding Early, Renaissance and Baroque music for the ukulele. I have a good deal of music written for the recorder and some with a continuo line, both treble and base, but haven’t found anything for a uke or a four string guitar. I live close to the UW and intend to get over to the music department library this week to hunt for materials. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Joan
May 12th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Hello John King,
Awsome new look. I don’t know where you find the time to do this stuff and still maintain those sick uku skills. You are truly an asset to the ukulele community. Keep on uking on.
May 8th, 2007 at 12:12 am
hello john. great to meet you and see you play last week.
i’ve put together a few points of interest in portugal for your trip
as well as a few photos and would like to send them to you.
All the best to you and hope our paths cross again.
be well,
tomas
April 29th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Aloha John,
One of my students designed a Forum for the Ukulele Universe website. I have added your website link under performers.
Mahalo for sharing your music and love of Hawaiian history.
Joyce
April 19th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
John,
Always a great resource. Now a better sight. Thanks for all you do for us with ukulele community. Also for the great music too.
April 9th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Jeannie,
Thanks for your comments and for visiting my website. I’ll check into a contact function; surely there is a plug-in that will allow that. Thanks for the suggestion!
John
April 9th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Hi John, I’ve just discovered your website, and I’m anxious to read it all. It seems very friendly to get around; but I’d really like a ‘contact’ option so you can be emailed.
Thanks for sharing such wonderful information and music. See you at the Portland Ukulele Festival in June,
Jeannie
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:04 am
Hi, Paul.
Dave’s copy of my Nunes original is nothing less than inspired. He made everything on the instrument from scratch: the pegs, the bone appoinments, frets. If he had planted, grown and harvested the woods I could not be more pleased. And on top of looking great, the sound is fabulous.
I’ll post an mp3 as soon as I get into the studio and start recording.
John
April 2nd, 2007 at 9:39 am
Just saw your photo on Dave Means web site showing the machetes. Lucky you! Does it sound as good as it looks?!
http://www.glyphukulele.com/baritonesandother.html
March 26th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Hi, Robert,
Thanks for visiting my website; I’ll be updating it regularly and will include the Sousa Washington Post mp3 later this week. Will see about putting the tablature online, too.
Good luck with the other pieces.
John
March 25th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Hi John,
Nice changes to the website. I wanted to hear that Sousa (sp?) piece you played but can’t locate it now and failed to download it from the old site. Is it still around? and have you published a tablature for that piece?
In case you don’t remember; I’m that guy that made the little 80% soprano two-puka ukulele and sent you some pics and sound clips via email. I’m still working to learn BMV 1007 and to perfect “ahe lau makani”.
Thanks for sharing some of your neat research via this website.
Robert S. Williams, MD
March 25th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Wonderful site, John. It was great to see you and play uke with you at John’s. Hope to see you sson when Craig is here.
March 25th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Just checked out your link to DeSilva and I’m pretty sure this is Elliot’s Uke.
http://www.ukemaker.com/images/UkeGallery/019-SM1-2048.jpg
Funny how closely related things turn out to be.
Paul
March 25th, 2007 at 9:31 am
The Machete looks awsome. The spruce should be loud. My son elliot got a soprano spruce uke from Mike Desilva in Oakland a few years back. Check out his my space link below.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=141714237
The last song Kihei Nights is one of his originals and is played on the little spruce uke. They are loud and have a nice tone. (Elliot is also getting a Tenor Glyph)
Are you going to post a sample of how it sounds on your site?
Talk to you later
Paul
March 23rd, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Hi, Paul,
The machete is at my house in Florida and I’m in Virginia, so I won’t get to play it til next week! Bummer. Dave said it was sweet and loud. All I can do in the meantime is drool over the pictures on Dave’s website.
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Hi John,
Have you had a chance to try your new Glyph out yet? Mine should be coming soon. Let me know how you like it.
Paul
March 21st, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Donna,
Thanks. I changed the link and can’t figure out how to change it back! But you can access the greeting cards at this url:
http://www.nalu-music.com/index.htm
then, click on the nalu card link.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Hi John,
A lot of work’s gone into your website, and it shows. Thank you.
I was wondering if you still have a link for/to the unique ‘greeting cards’ that I used last year. Aloha, Donna
March 6th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
John,
When I purchased a tenor uke from Roy Cone, part of the package was your book and cd “Famous Solos and Duets for the Ukulele” and I cannot tell you the hours of pleasure I’ve received from it. I’ve since purchased your book and CD “The Classical Ukulele” from Jumpin’ Jim’s Ukulele Masters Series and have not delved as deeply into it as yet, but will soon. Thanks again. I would have never guessed that you could have so much fun with a uke.
February 28th, 2007 at 10:23 am
nalu = gnarly
February 27th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Craig,
Thanks for your comments. It’s a work in progress!
February 25th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Hey, John…
Great looking site! Very classy.