Morris Brothers Music Store
Uke Nation
Stafford
The team here at Uke Nation keep one of Australia’s biggest selections of Ukuleles. We have created a fantastic community around this fun, easy to learn instrument, and we invite all of Australia to give it a go!
We have a ukulele for everyone on any budget; from hobby ukes for the casual player to top of the range, imported ukes from Hawaii. They come in all sizes and are made from a range of materials.
We can even help find the ideal teacher that can help you take your Uke-skills to another level. Ukulele is fun for people of all ages; it’s excellent for your brain and good for your soul. Read on to learn more about our world of Ukes!
The amazing ukulele
The ukulele is a 19th-century Hawaiian stringed instrument that was adapted from a small guitar-like instrument introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants called the machete, also known as the cavaquinho, or branguinha.
The Hawaiians instantly connected to the machete, and the Portuguese playing style. They called the little instrument the “ukulele” or “jumping flea”, and by the early 1900s, the “uke” became a hallmark of the Hawaiian islands modern musical sound.
By the 1920s, the ukulele’s popularity reached the American mainland, and sales took off. This four-stringed instrument was easier to learn than the guitar and was compact and portable.
Tin Pan Alley songwriters cranked out a number of novelty Hawaiian themed radio hits, including the famous “On the Beach at Waikiki“.
Throughout the following decades, the instrument became even more popular, being made famous by artists like Bing Crosby, Betty Gable and even Elvis Prestley, who featured the ukulele on his 1961 box office hit Blue Hawaii.
In the last few decades, the instrument’s popularity has soared again with famous covers like “Over the Rainbow” by Hawaiian artist Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo in 1993, and big hits like “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz in 2008 and “Riptide” by Vance Joy in 2015.
Now in the 2020s, the ukulele has stood the test of time with production and sales at an all-time high, allowing new generations to experience the wonder and joy of this unique little instrument from the beautiful pacific islands.
If you can’t tell, we love ukuleles here at Uke Nation, and we also love helping people find the best ukulele for them and helping them start or continue their unique ukulele journey.
The best thing about owning a ukulele is that no two ukes sound the same, whether you buy an entry-level ukulele or a premium model, you will have a one of a kind sound. With a selection as big as ours, you are sure to find something that is as unique as you are.
The benefits of learning the ukulele
Aside from being fun to play, and bringing more music into your life, there is a range of other benefits to learning the ukulele you may not have considered. Read on to learn a few more reasons why you should learn to play the uke.
It is good for brain health
Many neurological studies prove that learning an instrument can sharpen your mind. When you play the ukulele, you are using several parts of your brain at once, and that promotes neuroplasticity.
Practising the uke requires your brain to deal with hand dexterity, memorising repetitive patterns, staying in time with the beat, increased coordination, and deep concentration, especially when starting out.
This has been shown to also help with things like increased math and reading ability, and may also help to keep degenerative brain conditions, like Alzheimer’s, at bay in later life.
Stress relief
Playing the uke can lower your stress levels. When we are stressed, our body produces a chemical called cortisol. Although cortisol is essential for a healthy functioning body, too much can result in a number of adverse physical and mental health conditions.
Excess stress can cause negative health effects, such as
Headaches
Muscle pain and tension
Nausea
Poor sleep
Fatigue
Anxiety
Depression
And more
Playing the ukulele promotes mindfulness and relaxation, both vital for stress management. When you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed by school, work, or life, you may be surprised how much better you feel from just five to ten minutes playing one of your favourite uke songs.
Other benefits
There are many other personal benefits from playing the ukulele; these could include:
- Improved posture
- A sense of pride and accomplishment
- Improved social skills
- Building confidence
- Overcoming performance anxiety
- Fine hearing and more
If you were having any doubts about learning the ukulele, then this should be enough to help you make up your mind. Everything in life is a little bit sweeter when you play the ukulele.
Types of ukulele
| Type | Scale | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Soprano | 13″ | 21″ |
| Concert | 15″ | 23″ |
| Tenor | 17″ | 30″ |
| Baritone | 9″ | 30″ |
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This is just a general guide, and every ukulele is unique. A uke’s manufacturing materials can also influence a ukulele’s pitch and tone, whether that be plastic, metal or different timbers.
Our expert ukulele team can help anyone choose the best uke for them, whether they are at a beginner level, or seasoned professional.
We stock all leading ukulele brands, including:
Our store has the biggest range of ukuleles in Brisbane; and people are usually blown away by our large selection.
Come in today, and speak to one of the ukulele professionals here at Uke Nation, and start your uke journey today.
How is a ukulele tuned?
Just like a guitar or mandolin, a ukulele is tuned to standard notes. However, the tuning may be slightly different depending on whether you have a standard four-string ukulele or something more unique, like a six-string.
Here we will only cover the standard four-string ukulele. You count the uke strings from the bottom string up, one to four; one being the thinnest string, and four being the thickest at the top, closest to your thumb.
The tuning on each string is as follows:
- A-string
- E-string
- C-string
- G-string
There are plenty of online videos, apps and websites like ukutuner.com that can help you tune your uke by ear.
We also keep the best range of electronic ukulele tuner to help you keep your ukulele sounding its very best and keep you engaged and enjoying your new uke.
How to play the ukulele
We all want to be good at things quickly, and the ukulele is fun and relatively easy to learn. However, like all instruments, the key to success is practice, practice, practice. So after you find a ukulele that you like, and get used to tuning it, what then?
We all want to be good at things quickly, and the ukulele is fun and relatively easy to learn. However, like all instruments, the key to success is practice, practice, practice. So after you find a ukulele that you like, and get used to tuning it, what then?
Learning the uke should be a fun challenge, and the best thing to do is find a song you like with a simple chord structure and just get stuck in!
There are limitless resources and videos online to help you learn your favourite songs, whether they be rock, pop or golden oldies. We also stock a wide range of books and learning tools to keep you on track and fully engaged in your ukulele skill development.
An even more fun way to learn the ukulele is to play with other uke enthusiasts! The team here at Uke Nation encourage you to get involved in the uke community where you can enjoy developing styles, tips, tricks and ukulele chords.
There are clubs and community groups all over Brisbane who meet almost weekly to share their passion for this fun little instrument. You may even meet and gel with the perfect ukulele teacher during a group jam.
Some resources, schools and groups we suggest checking out include:
There is nothing like sharing the fun with other people, it’s a great way to learn and meet new friends, and no doubt you’ll catch some of the team members here at Uke Nation at a jam as well.
So what are you waiting for?
Come in and speak to one of our staff and start the fun today. You can visit the store at 2/17 Billabong St, Stafford, just north of the Brisbane CBD, or call us on 07 3356 3299.