Populele ukuleles offer something that I haven’t seen from a stringed instrument: a smart learning experience so you can start creating music faster. The ukulele is already a great instrument to begin your musical journey: they’re great for children too, but not just for children. I never played one before trying the green uke shown in the image above and I found it extremely easy to learn a few songs. In this article I’ll give an example of a song I learned and recorded today while preparing this contest article. You’ll find a variety of colours of the Populele 2 at Best Buy and we are giving away a white one and the green one I used in this contest.

What are the benefits of a smart ukulele

The Populele 2 is a great sounding instrument that offers something you won’t find elsewhere: it is smart. Yes, tech sites throw that word around a lot and it applies in some cases more than others. There is no denying that this ukulele is smart thanks to its integration with the Popumusic app that can light up the notes to play on the fretboard. Before I get into some details i suggest you read the review by Darren Blakeborough posted on the Best Buy Blog. Darren does a great job explaining the features.

One interesting point Darren brought up is that he had always thought there must be a way to apply the features of the game Guitar Hero to learn how to play a real instrument. Populele has figured it out. Their app offers a selection of activities, including Guitar Hero style gamification, to accelerate anyone’s learning. I tried Jason Mraz’ I’m yours and in a few minutes I had learned the chords and strum pattern. At first I was terrible. But in a few minutes I was able to sing along. I then took my newfound uke skills to learn a song I had never played: Billie Eilish’s 8. I recorded it after a couple of practice runs.

Ukulele music is more popular than ever

This song that I just played was new to me: I’m more of an eighties/seventies music person. In fact the first song that I played using the Populele 2 was Peaceful Easy Feeling by The Eagles. However, when I searched for new songs to play there were hundreds of options from which I selected the Billie Eilish song. I saw her on SNL once and really liked her tone, so thought I’d give this one a try.

What song would you play first if you win one of these awesome instruments? Perhaps you don’t want to win for yourself. Many parents put their children in music lessons at this time of year; you might be thinking that this is perfect for your child. Consider these questions as you enter this contest!

How to enter

Entering this contest is easy and you can enter in two different ways.

  1. In a comment below tell us who you are entering this contest forā€”yourself, a child, a friend (first name only please)ā€”and what song you think should be played first on it if you win.
  2. In a comment below Darren’s review article, tell us one thing Darren talked about that you like best about this musical instrument.

What you can win

At the end of this contest, we’ll randomly select two (2) winners. One will get the white Populele 2 that Darren tested for his review article, and the other will get the green Populele 2 that I tried.

This contest runs from Sept 9th to Sept 25th.Ā 

Remember that you can enter in two different ways.Ā  Tell your family and show them Darren’s video and my video so they see how great this musical instrument is: they’ll definitely want to enter this contest too.

Win a Populele smart ukulele Contest Rules and Regulations

Good Luck

Martin Renaud
Martin Renaud
Editor in Chief
Martin loves working with the talented editors and writers on the Best Buy Blog as Editor-in-Chief. During his spare time he is either working on his next novel, cooking up a masterpiece in the kitchen, or adding some smart tech to his new home on Mayne Island in British Columbia.
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447 COMMENTS

  5. My son has been asking for a ukulele – they started learning last year at school. He’d likely want to play Believer by Imagine Dragons first!

  7. I am entering this contest for myself. The first song I would play on this would be Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.

  8. I would give this to my grandson as he loves music and likes to sing. He could learn to play happy birthday for his sisters

  13. I’m entering for my nephew Alexander and I think he’d probably want to play a Korn song first? Maybe “Blind”….

  15. I’m entering the contest for myself as I always wanted to learn to play ukulele. Would love to play Cavatina — the theme from The Deer Hunter by John Williams.

  18. I’m entering for my dad because he always wanted to play a ukulele, I don’t know what he would play first because I don’t know any ukulele specific songs

  20. Definitely for me, always wanted one. I play guitar and piano. The first song I would learn would be Hallelujahā€ by Leonard Cohen

  22. I am entering for a friend, Justin, who has always expressed he wants to learn the Ukulele! I think a great beginner song for him to learn is Count on Me by Bruno Mars.

  24. I’m entering for me and I’d LOVE to play anything by U2 as they are my favs. I’ve researched and found the With or Without You ā€“ U2 is an easy one to learn so that is what I will play first.

  26. I’m entering for my daughter Anna as she’s going to be learning how to play the ukulele this year at school. Well if I win this for her I think its only fair she learn to play me a song “I Won’t Back Down” – Tom Petty.

  32. it would be for me. I like that it is app based so i can learn easier. not sure what id learn to play yet. something simple that won’t scare the neighbours when i attempt it. šŸ™‚

  37. I am entering for myself (Mick) and I would play “Somewhere over the rainbow” ooooooow, oooooow, ooooooooowoo. and I like that it is got the wi-fi feature.

  40. entering for my daughter in law, who plays the ukelele. I hope she plays “somewhere over the rainbow” for me!

  41. Oh my I think my kids would fight over it they both learned and loved ukulele in school. Iā€™d make either of them play Tiny Lights by Coco Love Alcorn

  42. I would enter for myself because I enjoy playing music on piano and guitar. I think the Smart Ukulele would be a fun instrument to learn. I would play “Winkin’ Blinkin’ and Nod” written in 1800’s by Eugene Field, a writer and poem.

  46. I would enter for me as I would love to learn to play. I’d have to start with something very simple though, so ‘You Are My Sunshine’ here I come.

  48. I’m entering for my adult son who learned ukulele when he was a wee young bairn and he would play In the hall of the mountain king.

  49. Primarily for my daughter (8) but if I’m being honest I would also love to play it. She would probably like to learn a Taylor Swift song, bad blood or love story. I would like to learn Today by the Smashing Pumpkins.

  50. I would enter for me and the first song I would play would be the Emmy Lou Harris one ……..Rough and Rocky.

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