Ukes for everybody.

I bought my third ukulele this week.

According to NPR, ukulele sales are way up. Surprising, if you happen to know that instrument sales overall are down 20%. But if you flop around on the Internet much, you might not be so surprised after all. The uke, it seems, is everywhere.

I have been (at times) a tortured banjo player, a mediocre guitar player, and a passable vocalist. But I can hold my own on the ukulele. Anybody can--because there's no such thing as a bad ukulele player.*

They are inexpensive (you can get a good soprano ukulele for less than $50), easy to learn, and are tiny enough to carry in most handbags. The only instrument easier to get into is the kazoo--but take it from me--the kazoo is just going to make your lips tickle and irritate the people around you.

And let's face it--you don't get this with the kazoo.

via Ukulelehunt, who has a ukulele vid for every taste.

More nice ukulele videos here and here.

*Granted, some are less bad than others.


Image, Southcoasting.