Meet Wilbur

This is Wilbur, my ukulele. He's a patient fellow. I haven't picked him up in earnest yet, but he's survived the arduous journey from Maryland to Brooklyn, and doesn't mind that we haven't really bonded yet. Joey found him in a thrift store, had read about my goal to learn the ukulele, and dropped him off at my parents' house. (I may be taking this naming-your-instrument thing too far.)

I know nothing about playing stringed instruments. Frets and chords are new to me, and this explanation from soyouwanna.com overwhelmed me:

The Ab6 or A flat sixth chord is most commonly played in the key of Ab. While playing in the key of Ab, the Ab6 chord will normally follow the A chord.

Of course, going to Borders for a book yielded an armful of discounted childrens' books and cookbooks. Thankfully, I have the Internet. I asked Facebook for suggestions. A friend of my sister's has put me in touch with a friend who can (possibly) give me some lessons (maybe), and a friend from home has encouraged me by averring that it is very easy.

The Internet is also full of videos and articles (and Web sites), including this one:




I'm going to watch this at least a hundred times. It's only eight minutes long, and I don't feel confused or over my head. Jody Kamisato is a patient and enthusiastic man.

I'd me remiss if I didn't research the ukulele at length, so it might be awhile until you hear about Wilbur again, but know that my summer has upgraded from porch drinking to porch drinking and ukulele playing. (Even if I don't, the idea is soothing. It snowed today.)