Blues music has emanated from America’s Deep South since the late 1800s, favoring soulful vocals and powerful guitar lines. Yet, it is a little-known fact that the innocent ukulele, traditionally associated with the peaceful, exotic climes of Hawaii, plays an intriguingly unique role in this genre. Indeed, the often underestimated plucky strings of a ukulele can effectively churn the blues right out of silence, so much so that ukulele blues soloing has become an impressive display of musicianship in contemporary times.
Ukulele blues soloing traces its roots back to the 1920s during the Hawaiian music craze in the United States. However, its significance lies in the fact that it musters the intrinsic simplicity of the ukulele and the expressive depths of blues, creating a paradoxically full-bodied sound that resonates with audiences worldwide today. The fundamental modalities of the blues—minor pentatonic scales and blue notes—combine with the inherent perkiness of the ukulele creating a captivating, nostalgic sound that is both familiar and new. Its accessibility also plays into the current DIY movement, where self-expression through accessible means takes precedence.
While it may be daunting to think about how a traditionally upbeat and simple instrument can convey the rich and complex emotions carried by blues, the fact is that many ukulele players are succeeding in doing so, and the ukulele itself is expanding into more diverse territories. Far from being limited to the happy-go-lucky sounds we commonly associate it with, today’s skilled ukulele players are also using the instrument for more intense musical expressions such as blues, jazz, and even rock.
Research shows that over the past decade, the number of ukulele players focusing on blues has increased by as much as 57%. This demonstrates a burgeoning interest in strumming the blues on an instrument initially shaped by the warm breezes of the Pacific Islands. Different scales, such as the pentatonic or the blues scale, are emphasized, making it easier for players to capture the poignant ethos of the blues, despite the ukulele’s four-stringed limitation. Furthermore, the compact size and ease of playability of the ukulele make it a more accessible alternative for those attracted to the guitar-led world of blues, but are daunted by the instrument’s complexity.
Today, renowned musicians like Samantha Fish, Del Rey, and Manitoba Hal are redefining the ukulele’s role in blues. Del Rey, for instance, was inspired by blues musicians from the 1920s and 30s, incorporating their techniques into her ukulele, thereby, shaping an invaluable link between past and present. Samantha Fish, on the other hand, is known for her fiery blues performances on a cigar-box ukulele, adding yet another layer of depth and character to her signature blues sound. More and more “blues-lele” workshops and festivals are also popping up, evidence of a growing community of ukulele blues enthusiasts.
Nonetheless, the beauty of ukulele blues soloing lies in the creative capacity of the musician to express profound emotions and stories through an instrument that’s very basic nature is light-hearted and simple. While it’s often said that context provides meaning to music, ukulele blues defies this by generating its own context. Ultimately, it’s not merely about the sound produced; it’s about the unforeseen emotive power of a traditionally happy instrument, thus, reshaping the boundaries of what’s musically possible with a ukulele.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=JTess7A1Up0
