Tony Blews

Ukulele or Cavaquinho?

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:36:01 +0100

Possibly you may recall that back in June 2007 I got hold of what I assumed to be a Ukulele. I bragged about it here.

Recently, however, I've become convinced that it is, actually, an antique Jose Alvarez Cavaquinho. This suits me fine, as a cavaquino is tuned to DGBD (or DGBE), whilst a ukulele is tuned to GCEA. Being an approximate guitar player, anything that makes life easier for me is good.

But, which of them is it?

Lets have some pictures.... of my little instrument (oh behave).....

.....and in comparison take a look at these pictures.

Could they be the same thing? I don't really care about the antiqueness... I just want the thing done right.

Now I'm led to believe by the internet that I should steel string this little beauty, but i'm too chicken to try it. It doesn't seem to be braced enough to handle the stress, and I don't want to wreck it.

So, after much pissing about and nicking strings from my various other guitars, I've strung it with nylon.

And it sounds like this: (listen)

Note please that i'm shitfaced, I've lost my tuner somewhere, and I haven't quite sorted out the right strings... still, I like it!

(Oh, and it was Am and G).

Thirty Seven and Counting... Part 2

Mon, 19 May 2008 23:49:01 +0100

I've had quite a nice birthday. Loads of people bought me drinks.

It has only been marred by a wanker in a silver Jaguar XK who decided to sit through a green light, then belt across a crossing on red causing me to go flying and drop my curry.

But thats not important, and this is!

Jon over at Crackerwax has written me a happy birthday song. And here it is:

Thanks Jon, I think.

Random Email Rubbish

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:36:20 +0100

Question. Why to people send gibberish emails to people at random?

Today I received this piece of top quality twaddle....

-------------------------------------------------
From: "Juanita Mclean" ncncoquette@manuwealth.com
To: "tony" tony@coobeastie.co.uk
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 8:38 AM
Subject: chamois chang berwick

austin cockcrow, beltsville commutate  andromeda, comb commendation. collage  dealt diagnoses  bad
daybed abstinent  collaborate. childish  deflater catholic accomplish classification  bribery demystify  buoy
affiliate chert  cunningham cult.  caribbean diode conclude autocratic  complementary combine  archer

-------------------------------------------------

So, what is that all about? She's not trying to sell me anything, offering me a chance to share in the $10,000,000 that she found under a stone, or any of the usual crap. So what is the point? Is it some secret message?

All the words start with A B C or D. So its not a DNA fragment. That would need A C G and T.

Maybe its music? So, after a quick download of MagicScore Classic 5 5.095, and a bit of a play about,I give you this midi file. Listen to it.

Maybe this little tune is the key to universal happiness. I certainly feel more cheerful for hearing it. Thank you, Juanita Mclean, for giving me the secret of happiness. I shall play this tune to people all day, in the hope that they too will be happy, and not punch me in the face for being an annoying blert.

UPDATE!

The ever vigilant(e) Jon of Crackerwax informs me that Ms. MacLean is dead.

So, it seems i'm receiving messages (and possibly tunes) from the dead. Wow. That's a turn up for the books.

If I vanish suddenly, then that tune obviously opens a portal to hell, or something. And here was me secretly hoping that it was the greetings tune to be played to visiting aliens.