During late nights while working at a gas station, Cullen Porter said he would practice playing his ukulele. While working around 1 a.m., he said he would play until someone walked in.

He said customers would be surprised to hear the mellow string instrument in the nearly empty station.

Porter, a coordinator at Teen REACH and member of the Big Blue Mountain band, said he now plans to share his love of ukulele playing with anyone willing to learn.

Though he taught himself to play the ukulele, he grew up with a large musical influence because his father also played.

He said his father played and taught the banjo, as well as the ukulele.

Porter later taught himself how to play the guitar, mandolin and the banjo.

He said he prefers playing the ukulele over the guitar because it is a soft-spoken, cheerful instrument.

“Unlike the guitar, you can play in a room and not be too loud,” Porter said.

He said it is hard to be unhappy while playing the ukulele.

“The ukulele is more happy, you can’t be sad,” Porter said.

He said he follows George Harrison’s philosophy on ukuleles — teach someone to play a ukulele so they can teach someone else.

Group ukulele lessons start on Feb. 26 and meet from 6 to 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 520 Jackson Ave. Price for lessons is $40.

Porter said Harrison believed if everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place.

Even if he is not able to convince everyone to play, he said, playing for himself makes him a better person.

He said he plays “Baby,” his eight-string concert ukulele, the most.

However, Porter said he owns about five ukuleles, but they are loaned out to others who are trying to learn.

In the three years he has taught, Porter has given out about 50 ukuleles and taught about 25 students.

“I love playing and I love teaching,” he said.

Kim Wargo, the recreation supervisor for the Charleston Parks and Recreation Department, said the department offers the classes twice a year but not many people sign up.

Porter said he is currently teaching one-on-one lessons to two students but will probably teach five students in the group classes.

Porter said even if he is teaching guitar, he will often have students first try the ukulele.

He said he will have kids practice with the ukulele if they cannot hold the guitar completely.

Even though there is no proof, Porter said he has seen the ukulele help students to concentrate better.

He said besides offering ukulele and guitar lessons, he also teaches the ukulele at Teen REACH.

Porter said he can see the difference it makes with the kids, but it is also trouble trying to make a difference.

He said he will play the F.U.N. song from Spongebob Squarepants or songs by Plain White T’s for teenagers.

There are a lot of ukulele players with ranging musical styles such as bluegrass or Appalachian, Porter said.

He said he and his band prefers to play a more traditional style.

Besides trying to teach others, Porter said he also plays for himself.

He said for him, it’s a stress reliever.

“It keeps me from being mad,” Porter said.

Amanda Wilkinson can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].