Ukuleles strike a chord with players at this Oregon winery

People who play a ukulele say the four-string instrument is easy to learn, lightweight to hold and not loud enough to annoy housemates or pets.

But somehow it’s more fun when you can strum along with friends.

At Pebblestone Cellars' southern Oregon tasting room in Talent, adult uke players of all skill levels sip wine, strum and sing from 2 to 4 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month.

For the price of a Jake Shimabukuro concert ticket, a beginner can have all the equipment needed to join the free sessions and learn to play familiar songs by Joni Mitchell to Taylor Swift.

Leading the dozens-strong pack is songwriter and music teacher Tish McFadden of Ashland. She started the free Ukulele Jam in 2014 and in 2022 moved the music sessions to the winery’s barn-shaped tasting room. Here, the vaulted ceiling and hardwood floor act as a resonant, resulting in a deep, rich sound.

“With views of beautiful vineyards and the mountains, the vibe is welcoming,” says McFadden. So are the members of her group, who enthusiastically call out the name of each uke player walking through the front door like the characters from the sitcom “Cheers.”

Jam regular Carolyn Shaw of Ashland jokes that her ukulele-cemented friendships have grown into something like a nuclear family. “We are a ‘uke-cle-ar’ family,” she says with a smile.

Julie Norman of Ashland comes for the camaraderie offered by the region’s largest regular gathering of ukulele players. “We’re not really here to practice,” she says. “We just relax, get loose and play fun songs as Tish cheerleads us along.”

Another perk to the casual sessions at the winery: Dick and Pat Ellis’ Pebblestone vineyards, in an ancient riverbed, produce aromatic, award-winning red wines like Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Tempranillo and white wines like Albariño, Pinot Gris and Viognier that are sold by the bottle or glass.

All of this adds up to a scene that’s not intimidating or competitive. The players come together for joy and collaboration, says McFadden.

She has created songbooks with chord charts and demonstrates ways to tease the best sounds out of different sizes of ukuleles: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Guitars, banjos, jingle bells and shakers also show up at the sessions.

“Everyone plays and sings what they can, and we all do it together,” McFadden says. “People can tap their feet or turn their ukulele over, with strings toward belly, and tap the back” to keep the beat.

Norman says without much effort, her skills have improved. “It’s so much better than being in your living room playing alone,” she says.

Of course, you’ll need a ukulele to get started. That’s where Daniel Porter steps in.

Ukulele popularity

The owner of Plectrum Music Company in Talent, Porter says ukuleles are one of the most popular instruments in his store, which he moved from Harney County in southeastern Oregon to the Rogue Valley in 2023.

In some places, ukuleles are mostly seen as a children’s instrument or toy, Porter says, but his shoppers come to purchase their first ukulele or upgrade or repair an old one to participate in the area’s growing number of ukulele groups and community jams.

“Depending on the player’s style of music and sound they want, the ukulele is an easily approachable introduction to the world of music,” he says.

Other benefits: The soft nylon strings are gentle on fingertips and notes on the instrument smaller than a guitar can be produced without stretching fingers too much, reducing wrist tension for adults and making it easy for kids.

Porter carries a range of ukuleles, from beginner to professional level, in acoustic and electric styles, and all four sizes. “I even have a uBass or two,” he says.

Wooden ukulele bodies made of ebony, curly mango, teak or spruce produce different tones. Some ukuleles have fun finishes, some are waterproof.

Prices start at $50 and rise to $500. A $110 Kala starter kit with a concert-size mahogany ukulele, tuner and case draws serious beginners to the Plectrum Music Company store.

Porter says he often sells out of his ukulele inventory. “In the Rogue Valley, I have discovered that many people love them,” he says.

If you go: Pebblestone Cellars is at 1670 Pioneer Road in Talent. See events, including live music at pebblestonecellars.biz (541-512-1655).

— Janet Eastman covers design and trends. Reach her at 503-294-4072, jeastman@oregonian.com and follow her on X @janeteastman.