I always say ukulele people are great folks and this story bears that out: A member of our ukulele group, Ukuleles of Paradise wanted badly to play her Dad’s 1916 koa ukulele, but her arthritis in her left (“chording”) hand didn’t permit her to shape the chords. After posting on the Flea Market Music Board for ideas, we settled on the idea of using one of the 1950s-era devices popularized by Arthur Godfrey which strap on the fretboard and allow the player to simply push one “button” to create a chord. I posted a request on the Flea Market Music Marketplace for one of the plastic devices and received an almost immediate reply from Ernie that he had one, in mint condition, that he’d give to Carol if it would help.
The “Chord Maker” arrived today and I called Carol—she couldn’t wait and came to our office immediately. She slid her Dad’s koa beauty out of the leather-tooled bottom flap-style case and we affixed the Chord Maker (it still had the original rubber straps) and tuned up the instrument. Carol cradled it in her arms and was easily able to make the chords by using the buttons (six chords–all of ’em the C-tuning basics). She looked up at me in total delight as the sweet sound came out of the ukulele.
“Oh, it sounds like it did when my Dad would play hymns on it for all of us,” she said, a smile lighting up her whole face. “It’s like Dad is back with me again. This is wonderful! I never dreamed I’d be able to play his ukulele.”
So, thanks to all who helped—especially to Ernie for his generosity and kindness. Because of so many people, a much-loved ukulele again has its voice and there’s one very happy lady in town today.