In all openness, I have a ukulele website - UkeCanPlay.com - but my intent is to hear from the folk music world about my instrument of choice…

Recently I have seen some amazing cigar-box ukuleles being crafted and played in a more country/folk style than the typical Polynesian style. Even traditional ukes seem to be finding their way to folk groups, such as The Barnkickers.

Would ukulele players be welcomed in folk circles, and if so, is there any interest in learning to play this sweet sounding, four string beauty?

The Folkies I know are happy to see uke players at jams.  The instrument blends in really well,  and sounds great even in a novice’s hand.  The instrument’s popularity is on a definite upswing,  which is great to see.  What folky recordings featuring the Uke would you recommend?

Good to hear that, Mel!

I started wondering about this while trying to learn some Dylan songs on my uke, and I thought, “There must be some connection here to folk music - after all, there is the banjolele, right?”

Love to know what you guys think would be good tracks to learn and jam with other folkies…

I play an instrument I call a “cuatro americano” with Biscuit Jam, a local acoustic trio that plays a mix of Americana and “unplugged” classic rock.  It is a tenor uke instrument but with a different tuning and strings to make it more like a treble guitar.  The sound is sort of a mix of requinto (high tuned) guitar, mandolin, and uke.  I play with a pick or with finger picking, but never the standard uke finger strum.  It has a percussive sound on rhythm that is great if you don’t have a drummer (great for “chops”) and is not lost in the mix…but it does have to be amplified.  I find this a much more practical ensemble instrument for American folk oriented music than a conventional uke, but I suppose it all depends on the player.  Unfortuately, I don’t have any studio quality recordings of it, but here is a rather crude live recording: http://www.myspace.com/biscuitjam#!/biscuitjam/music/songs/knockin-on-heaven-39-s-door-live-81631993

Great! Thanks for the post, -ben drain

It’s good to see that some enjoys the ukulele. Upon one of my travels in Cebu City, Philippines. I got myself a couple of mahogany and coconut made ukulele. It’s just up on my display shelf for now, might consider taking it out and playing it during jam sessions

axeman - 16 September 2011 11:31 AM

I play an instrument I call a “cuatro americano” with Biscuit Jam, a local acoustic trio that plays a mix of Americana and “unplugged” classic rock.  It is a tenor uke instrument but with a different tuning and strings to make it more like a treble guitar.  The sound is sort of a mix of requinto (high tuned) guitar, mandolin, and uke.  I play with a pick or with finger picking, but never the standard uke finger strum.  It has a percussive sound on rhythm that is great if you don’t have a drummer (great for “chops”) and is not lost in the mix…but it does have to be amplified.  I find this a much more practical ensemble instrument for American folk oriented music than a conventional uke, but I suppose it all depends on the player.  Unfortuately, I don’t have any studio quality recordings of it, but here is a rather crude live recording: http://www.myspace.com/biscuitjam#!/biscuitjam/music/songs/knockin-on-heaven-39-s-door-live-81631993

Here are a few new live recordings I have with the band Biscuit Jam that show off the sound of the “cuatro americano” (Tenor Uke with alternate tuning)

http://www.myspace.com/biscuitjam#!/biscuitjam/music/songs/deep-elem-live-oct-2011-84445058

http://www.myspace.com/biscuitjam/music/songs/along-the-way-live-oct-2011-84771536