Silent Night on Mainland Solid Mango Tenor Ukulele

Mainland solid mango tenor uke with Mi Si Trio pickup that I got a few days ago. I shot this on a Flip HD but recorded four tracks while I was playing - two acoustically with a Zoom H2 and two off the Mi Si pickup. Then, I put the video clip in twice, first with the acoustic track, then with the electric, synched as best I could.

This is a very simple arrangement (which makes it perfect for me) - but if you know the history of the song I think that simple is the "best" way to play it.

I had this nailed six ways from Sunday - but once I started the recorders this was about the best I could do out of twelve or thirtten takes! I can play in front of people no problem, start the recorders and I become all thumbs.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Christmas
• Silent
• Night
• Mainland
• Mango
• Tenor
• Ukulele

[SourNaik]

How are you liking the solid mango? I am getting my first uke and it will be solid mango, any thoughts?

[PortlyKnight]

@SourNaik I love mine. Tonally it falls somewhere between koa and mahogany. Not quite as "cheerful" as my koa ukes but not as dark as mahogany or as "brash" as cedar. I also have a Mainland tenor in red cedar now and, while it's certainly a nice uke and very loud, it doesn't have the sweet complexity of the mango.

[degcon]

Fantastic!

[PortlyKnight]

@degcon Thank you, and thanks for the sub. Your Jingle Bell Uke is pretty sweet - and a lot more complex than this simple thing!

[ukecycle]

Very nice, and your Mainland is gorgeous. I want a Mainland Mango soprano soon, to go with my Mahogany soprano and Red Cedar pineapple.

Great job on your first "real" video!

[PortlyKnight]

@ukecycle Thanks! You gotta love the Mainland ukes. I just replaced the NylGut strings on mine with fluorocarbon strings and while it lost a little volume it got a much sweeter tone, too, closer to my KoAloha concert, though nowhere near the volume of the KoAloha.

[SourNaik]

@PortlyKnight I cannot thank you enough for such a clear cut definition. I've been trying to find information everywhere on someone who has the wide varieties. Thanks again Brudda!

[hoosierhiver]

Beaut!

[degcon]

@PortlyKnight Thank you, remember it don't have to be complex to be awesome!

[PortlyKnight]

@chicago911susy Hi susy and thanks for the kind words. I'd point you to the tab if I could but I really just found an easy key to play the chords in and then figured the melody notes around those shapes. I'm usually not very good at that sort of thing but this tune is pretty simple, and I've known it for so long (that age, thing, you know), that I was able to pull it off. :)

[chicago911susy]

Could you post where to get that arrangement? It sounded great. BTW I too have a Mainland Mango Tenor and I love it.

[mugambismonkey]

Your Mainland mango tenor sounds really nice! Great playing, too!