This blog is about the ukulele.

 To start, I believe in the power of making music. To be a maker of music connects you to a primary aspect of being human -- our inner storyteller, listener, artist and healer. When the throat chakra is a clear channel we are equally capable of expressing and receiving. We tell our truth and we hear the truths of others. In feng shui, sound is a powerful tool to disperse stagnant energy. We can use music to improve focus or change direction. My favorite, favorite part about music is the visceral connection between people playing music together. How amazing it is to be in sync and creating something together!

 I never caught on to the long-game of learning music. After failed attempts at learning the saxophone, keyboard and guitar in my youth I learned that if I want to play music I have to change my goals (which, if I'm not careful, defaults to "BE AWESOME AT EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME." Highly unrealistic, I don't recommend it as an approach to every challenge). If I don't have the resolve to practice daily, I will settle for entertaining myself and friends as simply as possible.

 The ukulele.

 It's tiny, it's cheap, it's not difficult to manipulate, there is a wealth of how-to on the internet, and it makes the most joyful noise.

For less than $80, you can purchase a ukulele (in any color that makes your heart happy), a tuner and a bag to keep it in. Sometimes a capo can be useful. I like the size of of my tenor ukulele for my adult hands, but I own and enjoy a soprano uke, too. They use the same tuning so you don't have to learn different chord patterns. Don’t worry about spending a lot of money on your first ukulele. If it really drives you crazy by how out-of-tune or buzzy it is, give it to a kid you know. They will know exactly what to do with it.

 [I’d like to make an aside here. When buying a ukulele or any instrument, please support your local music shop. I know the internet is big and cheap and easy but supporting local businesses is important. If they don't have what you are looking for, ask if they can make a special order.]

 If you’ve never played a stringed instrument before, start with a video called Uke Minutes 100 - How to Play the Ukulele in 5 Min by Ukulele Underground. Boom! You’re 90% of the way to being a ukulele genius. I promise. Once you get the general gist of strumming and playing chords, head straight to a chord chart and a song that you want to play.

 I find the chord sheets for songs I know on ukulelehunt.com or ultimate-guitar.com. Sometimes you have to dig around to find a version that’s been chorded correctly or sometimes the songs are just too complicated to play. No big deal. I print these out and put them in a three-ring binder songbook. No internet connection required, no screens required (which is part of the relief you get from doing a hobby) and so friends can look over my shoulder and play along. I printed out a chord chart and put it in the cover of the binder for quick reference.

 I am not able to tell you how often to practice. Sometimes I play daily, sometimes I play once a quarter. Like I said before, I am not using the ukulele to impress myself or anyone. It is a noisome thing that helps me express and transform the state of my heart.

 You don't need anything more than you already are. You don't need to be a better singer or better at rhythm, or more confident. I allow you to play alone in your bedroom if that's all you can muster. Someday allow yourself to play for a friend, maybe someone who can sing along. Perfection is not the goal. Feeling the breath passing through your throat and heart center, opening up your courageous, loving and truthful self, is the magic of being an amatuer ukulelist.

 Bring it with you. Even if you are shy, bring your uke to a party/campfire/beach vacation/errand run. Magical things can happen when you bring a ukulele. I’ve produced a uke at parties and suddenly, other ukuleles come out of the woodwork, along with guitars, bongos, jaw harps, recorders, accordions, concertinas, melodicas, cardboard boxes, umbrellas and ceiling fans. Your friends are hiding their musical talent from you.

 Easy crowd pleasers include “Hey Ya,” by Outkast, “Don’t Stop Believing,” by Journey, “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Good Riddance,” by Greenday, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash… But don’t let me influence you. Find your own voice.

For inspiration, I recommend Amanda Palmer’s Ukulele Anthem. It is not appropriate for sensitive listeners but I get choked up every time I listen to it.