Video Interview: Ukulele Master Jake Shimabukuro

Features
By published

I’ve always fantasized about playing the ukulele. I’m not sure why.

Perhaps because it’s such a small and delightful instrument.

Perhaps because when I watch someone like Jake Shimabukuro play one, it’s just so stunningly musical and inspiring.

But Shimabukuro takes ukulele far beyond casual strumming and picking out tunes. His performance is decidedly virtuosic. And he’s not a ukulele convert. This player has been committed to ukulele from day one, and it shows.

Launched by successful YouTube views and sustained by faithful fans, Shimabukuro continues to explore uncharted ukulele territory.

Here I sat down with this superb musician and all around cool guy. Check out our interview and then go to www.jakeshimabukuro.com to find out more.

Jake Shimabukuro interview Part 1: We talk about his Grand Ukulele DVD and more!

Part 2: Live performance, gear and so much more!

Part 3: Jake talks about his instruments and more!

Part 4: Inspiring others through ukulele with his Four Strings Foundation

Laura B. Whitmore
Laura B. Whitmore

Laura B. Whitmore is a music industry marketing veteran, music journalist and editor, writing for Parade.com, Guitar World, and others. She has interviewed hundreds of musicians and hosts the She Rocks Podcast. As the founder of the Women’s International Music Network, she advocates for women in the music industry and produces the annual She Rocks Awards. She is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Positive Grid, making the world safe for guitar exploration everywhere! A guitarist and singer/songwriter, Laura is currently co-writing an album of pop songs that empower and energize girls.

More about guitarists
Left- Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs on stage at Concord Pavilion on July 9, 2015 in Concord, California; Center-Ted Nugent performs at DTE Energy Music Theater on August 31, 2019 in Clarkston, Michigan; Right-Billy Gibbons of Billy F. Gibbons and the BFG's performs at Blue Note Hawaii on January 17, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaii

“Who doesn't want to hear the recording of Ted Nugent and Eddie Van Halen jamming?” Ted Nugent's colossal archive includes sessions with EVH, Billy Gibbons and the Mothers of Invention
Adrian Smith [left] and Richie Kotzen pose with an HSS S-style and Telecaster respectively.

“I started on guitar because I wanted to be in a band and meet girls. Richie wanted to be a guitar player, because he wanted to play guitar”: Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen come from different worlds, but it all comes back to the blues
Shane Fontayne playing a blue Stratocaster guitar onstage in 2019

“I remember watching when The Edge started Where the Streets Have No Name. When Bono came out, I swear I saw a halo around his head!” Shane Fontayne on being mentored by Mick Ronson, joining the Boss' Other band and playing Stairway for Jimmy Page
See more latest
Most Popular
Shane Fontayne playing a blue Stratocaster guitar onstage in 2019
“I remember watching when The Edge started Where the Streets Have No Name. When Bono came out, I swear I saw a halo around his head!” Shane Fontayne on being mentored by Mick Ronson, joining the Boss' Other band and playing Stairway for Jimmy Page
Nicole Row, of American band Incubus, performs during a concert at Showcenter Complex on March 20, 2025 in Monterrey, Mexico.
“These guys started the band the same year I was born – they have a whole world of history together”: How Nicole Row went from a wild ride in Panic! at the Disco to laying down the low-end in Incubus – and rerecording their biggest album
Adrian Smith [left] and Richie Kotzen pose with an HSS S-style and Telecaster respectively.
“I started on guitar because I wanted to be in a band and meet girls. Richie wanted to be a guitar player, because he wanted to play guitar”: Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen come from different worlds, but it all comes back to the blues
James Brown 1971 during James Brown File Photos in London, United Kingdom.
“He fined me 50 bucks and fired me, even though I didn’t mess up”: The bassists of James Brown reveal what life was really like playing alongside the Godfather of Soul
The Vapors’ Dave Fenton
“I get asked, ‘What’s it like being a one-hit wonder?’ I say, ‘It’s better than being a no-hit wonder!’” The Vapors’ hit Turning Japanese was born at 4AM, but came to life when two guitarists were stuck into the same booth
Stevie Ray Vaughan plays his #1 Stratocaster (left), Stevie Wonder sits at a keyboard
“Let's play... you start it off now, Stevie”: That time Stevie Wonder jammed with Stevie Ray Vaughan... and played SRV's number one Strat
Bootsy Collins performs during the 2012 Voodoo Experience at City Park on October 26, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“The bass is the instrument you need to play the longest to become truly funky”: 20 funk bass legends who took low-end groove to new heights
Jason Newsted, Robert Trujillo,and Kirk Hammett of Metallica perform at Day Two of the bands' 30th Anniversary shows at The Fillmore on December 7, 2011 in San Francisco, California.
“There’s an art to simplicity, and Jason Newsted brought that art. Cliff Burton was more aggressive, and a busier player”: The bassists of Metallica
Patrick Patterson of Cymande feels the funk as he performs SXSW 2022, playing his sunburst Gibson ES-339 – a guitar that's served him well over the years.
“We set out to put our thoughts and musical ideas out there, hoping they’d be appreciated. That’s proved to be true”: Sampled by Grandmaster Flash, De La Soul and the Fugees, Cymande shaped the sound of hip-hop. Now they’re back to claim their legacy
[L-R] George Harrison, Aashish Khan and John Barham collaborate in the studio
“I got the impression that he needed to be quite forceful to get his songs onto Beatles records”: George Harrison orchestrator John Barham reflects on their shared love of Indian music and being conducted by Phil Spector