Curt Sheller — Bio

Curt Sheller Publications was created by Curt Sheller (me) in 1995 and has been on the web in form or another since 1992.

Here's more information on Curt than you 'll ever need to know (from Curt).

I began playing guitar at age 9. I always say that a valuable trait is to be persistent and never give up. "Stick with anything long enough, and you tend to get good at it. Hook up with the right teacher and mentors and get really good at it.";

As a serious student of jazz with guitar as my main instrument since 1978, I have been researching jazz and contemporary guitar, studying with the amazing and talented Chuck Anderson for over 30 years. My studies included arranging, private teaching, 20th-century harmony, and performing and working successfully with other musicians. Some years back, I started bringing a ukulele to the lessons, since I'd become, by then, totally turned on by the 'ukulele, and tuned-in to all its possibilities.

My journey exploring the ukulele began in 2003 on a CampFire USA trip to South Dakota planned by my wife, Bernadette. I'd searched the Internet® for a small travel guitar to bring with us, and rediscovered the ukulele instead — an instrument I'd toyed with twenty years earlier. But now I felt I finally had some skills and knowledge to “figure it out,” and thus began my love affair with the 'ukulele.

Finding little material organized at a level that works for intermediate to advanced players, I decided I could fill that gap and help the 'ukulele community as well. I've gone on to develop an international reputation as a ukulele expert, having written over 30 books and over 600 lessons for the ukulele and as several books for guitar, bass and general music.

I believe that the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, as simply as doing quality exploration over and over. And hooking up with the right teachers and mentors. And I thank and credit all who have helped round out his experiences and learning – especially Chuck Anderson.

For Performance and Workshop Bookings

For booking Curt for a performance — solo or the trio — and/or workshops visit the Booking Info page.

Ukulele Books by Curt

A Guide to Ukulele Chords
A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords - Volume I
A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele A to Z
A Guide to Ukulele Chords for Lefties
A Guide to Ukulele Chords, 2nd Edition
A Guide to Ukulele Strums
Exploring Jazz Chords on Ukulele
Fingerpicking for Ukulele - Alternating Thumb Style, 2nd Edition
Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads C Tuning
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads G Tuning
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Major Triad
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Minor Triad
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Diminished Triad
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Augmented Triad
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Aeolian Scale
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Blues Scale
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Diminished Scale
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Dorian Scale
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Ionian Scale
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Mixolydian Scale
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Pentatonic Scale
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - WholeTone Scale
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Tonis Minor Scale
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning
QuickStartScale Fingerings for Tenor and Baritone Ukulele, Volume I, G Tuning
Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering
The Advanced Guide to Chord Progressions for Ukulele - Volume I
Ukulele Chords, C Tuning
Ukulele Chords, G Tuning
Ukulele for Guitar Players
Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer
Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - C Tuning
Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - D Tuning
Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - G Tuning

1964

Short Bio Summary

I am a Professional Musician specializing in jazz and contemporary music with the ukulele as my primary instrument. With over 20 years of experience, I have performed at various ukulele festivals and conducted workshops, sharing my extensive knowledge and passion for music. As a dedicated student of renowned musician Chuck Anderson, I bring a wealth of expertise to the ukulele world. In addition to my performances, I maintain a busy teaching schedule, guiding 50 to 60 students each week on ukulele, guitar, bass, and related instruments. I also released a critically acclaimed CD titled How About More Uke? featuring the Curt Sheller Jazz Trio, where we explore jazz, improvisation, and contemporary music using the ukulele as the lead instrument.

Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. - Calvin Coolidge

Music Gear

My Main Ukuleles

I have two Ko'olau CS (Contemporary Series) Model Tenor Ukuleles, amazing instruments with a cedar top and rosewood sides and backs. One delivered November 2009 and one from February 2017. These are my main performance ukuleles for everything — both with a low G custome tenor set of strings. Basically a number one and a backup being groomed, in-training and backup for live broken string scenarios.

For details and the nitty-gritty regarding the strings I use, checkout this Ask Curt page for my response to: What Ukulele Strings Do You Use?

The Rest of the `Ukulele Gang

Pono Pro Classic Thinline solid-body tenor and baritone ukulele. Pretty much any Pono and Pono Pro Classic instrument is better than most mass-produced ukuleles. • ( low-G, C Tuning )
Magic Fluke Koa Tenor . • ( high-G, C Tuning ) • Great uke to travel with and my "Always on My Desk, Uke!". For strings I use Ko'olau Golds.
And a few Soprano and Concert ukes I use around Funky Frets Music Store for lessons.

A Few Past Favorites and any I might have that are currently for sale.

Lanakai All Koa Tenor - This is made in the USA ( Hawai`i ) ukulele. • ( high-G, C Tuning ) SOLD
Martin IZ Mahogany Tenor. • ( high-G, C Tuning ) - SOLD • This was and is a remarkable instrument. Probably have to get another one at some time - shouldn't have let it go. Or the 2K tenor that I also had and let go. Keep trying to get Martin to let us, Funky Frets, be a Martin ukulele only dealer.
Mya-Moe Classic Tenor. • ( low-G, C Tuning ) - SOLD ( $2700 )

NOTE: Pretty much have stuck with Ko'olau and Pono ukuleles for over a decade.

My Ko'olau CS Tenor

My First Tenor Ukulele - 2003 • After a failed attempt with a cheap Soprano ukulele in the early 1980s, I gave up and then come 2003 the uke bug struck when I re-discovered the Ukulele again.

Guitars

Still do a bit, a very little bit of guitar, mainly in private lessons and for my, occasional entertainment. Also, doing the lead-in music for an on-line show: Rock Stars of R&D , hosted by the amazing John Conway (2020).

Custom Funky Frets made Tele® that myself and my daughter Kelly put together ( pictured here ) with D'Addarrio .011s and a Fishman Fluence Signature Series Greg Koch Gristle-Tone™ Pickup Set .
Takamine P1M Acoustic - Cedar top with rosewood backs and sides. It is strung with Martin Lifespan 80/20 Bronze 12s or 13s.

Strings

Here are the strings that I typically use on my guitars and ukuleles.

Checkout this detailed listing of the set of strings that I've put together and use for my Ko'olau CS Tenor user.

Ukuleles

Both the Ko'olau, and Pono have a radius fingerboard which does make a big difference in ease of playing. The Ko'olau, Pono and Mya-Moe are all strung with a low G. For high G, C tuning I grab an American made all Magic Fluke. Other than Pono, I've only found the Godin Multiuke to have a radius fingerboard in a mass-produced ukulele.

And with our music store, ( Funky Frets, Boyertown, PA USA ) – that is, naturally, heavy into ukuleles and over 100 ukuleles in stock at all times. I'm in a position to play pretty much what I want — but it's the Ko'olau CS Tenor that gets the most action. That and a Pono solid-body are the only performance ukuleles I perform with in concert.

Amplifiers

For amplifiers, I use an AER Compact 60 as my main amp for any acoustic instruments (guitar and ukulele) and it works great with the Tele and bass. Backups or if I need a PA include Fishman PA or one of the Fishman Loudbox series of amplifiers. Typically, no effects and for a DI I only use Fire-Eye , L.R. Baggs , Radial Engineering or Fishman .

AER Compact 60

The AER Compact 60 rev.4. Small size but powerful twin-channel acoustic guitar amplifier designed to reproduce the sound quality of your instrument in a natural manner. The electronics are carefully designed to deal with piezoceramic pick-up's, microphones and any sort of line signal and with the dynamic controlled 60 watts power amplifier provide a brilliant clear sustaining sound performance throughout all the dynamic range. Used by Robin Nolan, Angelo Debarre, Bireli Lagrene, Romane, Neil Anderson, Dorado Schmitt, The Rosenberg Trio, among many others. Includes padded gigbag w/shoulderstrap. The new 4th generation editions of all models now feature a Pre FX / Post FX swtich for the DI Out signal, allowing user to choose if their Direct Out signal incorporates the amp's on-board digital effects An 3.5mm Aux input with Level control has also been added. These ultra-portable amps still offer the same outstanding reproduction of acoustic instruments and vocals that have made them an industry standard and a favorite of performing guitarists and singer-songwriters everywhere.

I really like to keep the gear simple. No endorsements or artist models for me. I like to make my choices and not be locked in to or be put in a position to recommend a specific a brand of gear, other than Ko'olau and Pono. The same gear as I have will never make you sound like me, and I'll never sound like me by using your gear.

Harmonicas

Since 1972 I've played numerous Hohner Blues Harmonicas. And, lately it has been Lee Oscar and now a Seydel 1847 Classic. The Seydel harmonics are one of the finest harmonicas being made. Seydel has been making harmonicas since 1847.

The 1847 is the result of Seydel's more than 175-year of experience in manufacturing high-quality harmonicas. The first serial-produced Richter-diatonic harmonica with stainless steel reeds

Pedals

Checkout the Ukulele Gear pages for recommendations based on what I use.

I do have a bunch of the LRBaggs Align Series of Acoustic Pedals that I fool around with.

Computer and Software

Pretty much been an Apple / Mac person since 1987 with introduction of the Mac II and the advent of Desktop Publishing (DTP) via Aldus PageMaker and Quark Express. And, now also Linux Pop!_os by System76 on a Thelio with an AMD processor, also by System76

Checkout the Credits Page for more info on the software and computers I use the most.