Category Archives: UkeBeginners

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My first uke – what should I buy? What should I practice?

Essential reading for all new ukers!  These two excellent articles include advice on what to buy as your first uke:

http://ukulelehunt.com/2010/02/24/beginner-ukulele-lessons/

http://www.gotaukulele.com/p/beginners-guides.html

Some more ideas:

I get regular emails via the website asking for advice about the “best first uke to buy”, advice for beginner lessons, etc.  There are lots of websites with this sort of advice so I have started listing them here as and when I find them:

My Xmarks: 1st Uke for Beginners

I have copied extracts from a couple of emails and the replies I sent – see below – and hope this information helps others too.

This is a “first draft” of this blog post, so please leave any comments about updates or suggestions and I will add them with credit to the author.

QUESTION 1:

Hi Lizzie,

A friend of mine has a ukuele and I’ve quite enjoyed having a go at his. I’m thinking of taking the next step and buying one for myself. But if possible I want some expert advice before I do. I should start by explaining that I’m not musically gifted, probably tone deaf, can’t read music and have relatively short fingers. But I’m up for a challenge.

Can I ask where I’d go for a reasonably priced ukulele in the North East? If possible I’d also like to know which one you’d recommend for a beginner with all the odds stacked against him? Any good books out there for the complete novice?

Many thanks

ANSWER 1:


The first thing to remember – playing a ukulele is the most fun you can have doing something badly!

Secondly – you will be amazed how quickly you will pick it up – speaking as someone also musically ungifted, etc.

1. Which size uke to buy?

  • The smallest is a Soprano, then a Concert then a Tenor. Bigger again is a Baritone but it is tuned differently and you will find it harder to learn if you are going to join a uke-group and learn from watching and listening to other people – and that is the way that is most fun.
  • My advice – go for a Concert. Could have been designed for short, stubby fingers.


2. How much do you want to pay?

I would suggest NOT going for the cheapest you can find as it will be hard to play and will not keep tune. Reckon for up to £50 for a decent Concert from Hound Dog Music (Whitley Bay), Windows or Newcastle Music Centre or look on eBay for second hand.

3. Buy a clip-on tuner – about £20:

It is not cheating, we all use them and your uke will sound vile if it is out of tune.

4. Get good strings.

  • Aquila or Worth (under £10 a set) will make your uke sound like it cost hundreds of pounds not pennies.
  • If you buy at Hound Dog or any other music shop then buy the strings at the same time and ask them to re-string the uke and tune it for you (even if you have to come back later to pick it up). Phone the shop first to ask if they have Aquila strings in Concert size in stock – you can only buy Worth over the internet.
  • Ask them to keep the packet for you – it will have instructions on how to bed them in.
  • Buy two sets if you can afford it, in case you snap a string (not likely but possible).

5. Buy a felt plectrum.

You might or might not like to use it some or all of the time but you won’t know until you try – cheap.

6. Buy a case for your uke if it doesn’t come with one.

This is your new baby!!! Try not to roll over and squash it when you take it to bed!

7. Play with other people.

There is information about uke clubs and sessions in the North East and Cumbria here:

http://ukes4fun.org.uk/2011/10/06/ukulele-groups-clubs-sessions-and-classes-in-the-north-east-and-east-cumbria/

8. Ukes4Fun Google Group.

If you will be coming to our sessions and would like to join our Google Group, enter your email address here: http://groups.google.com/group/ukes

Further info here: http://ukes4fun.org.uk/google-group-help-and-tips

9. Lots of Ukulele Links.

  • All my “Uke Stuff” bookmarks on Xmarks


10. Don’t delay – practice every day!

The real trick will be work out how to STOP yourself practicing – it’s not like trying to learn to play the guitar – it’s fun! 

There is a nifty little site here if you want to practice along to songs – it shows you the chord shapes as the the song plays – might be a bit of leap for a complete uke-virgin but worth bookmarking because it won’t be long before you can play along.

http://www.supernifty.com.au/playalong_find.php 

There are also masses of uke learning videos on YouTube – this is a good one to start with – learn to play your uke in less than 10 minutes.  (But get a clip-on tuner, not the one on the video)

That should keep you out of trouble for a while!

Many thanks for the excellent e-mail and kind regards,

PS – I’ve got a worried wife re. this whole sleeping with your uke, it’s the second time I’ve heard of this phenomenon over the last couple of weeks…

Your wife will be fine – just get her a uke as well :-)

QUESTION 2:

 

Lizzie,
I am new to this group and enjoyed the video clips of Sunday’s Tynemouth Rowing Club gig.
Is there a programme of songs available beforehand?
A beginner like me would like to be able to practice a few songs that were coming up to get the confidence to join in.
ANSWER 2:

George Welch has given us a booklet for new starters called “Ukulele First Step”plus mp3 files of two of the songs to practice to (the third to follow). You can download these from here:http://ukes4fun.org.uk/the-ukulele-first-step/

I have been making corrections to the current songbook and there are more songs to be added – the current version will always be on this page, with notes in the “comments” about below the main page about revisions and updates:

http://ukes4fun.org.uk/songsheets/

Some other handy resources:

A good “starter pack”:
http://ukulelehunt.com/new-to-uke/

There are some strumming tips here:
http://ukulelehunt.com/2008/10/22/ukulele-strumming/

YouTube – learn to play uke in 10 minutes:

There will be some more “tutorial” videos amongst these:

More tutorial videos:
http://www.ukulelevideo.co.uk/tag/ukulele+lessons

Don’t worry about not being “up to speed” – I had never picked up a musical instrument in my life when I started going along.

The most basic practice is difficult to describe but easy to show:

I couldn’t find a uke video demonstrating but this is what it is on the guitar -
http://www.5min.com/Video/Learn-To-Play-Guitar-Warm-Ups-Part-2-31246675

On the uke, start at the top on the string nearest to your head (G) and pluck the strings once each time:

  1. fret the 1st fret with index finger,
  2. second fret with middle finger,
  3. third fret with ring finger and
  4. fourth fret with little finger,

Then move to the next string (C) and do the same and then the same with (E) and then (A)

Then do the whole lot backwards.

Another exercise is similar but you work down the neck (up in pitch) as you go – this is called “the snake”.

Start off the same was as above on the (G) string:

  1. fret the 1st fret with index finger,
  2. 2nd fret with middle finger,
  3. 3rd fret with ring finger and
  4. 4th fret with little finger
  5. 4th fret with little finger again
  6. 3rd fret with ring finger and
  7. 2nd fret with middle finger,
  8. 1st fret with index finger

When you move across to the (C) string, moved down a fret:

  • fret the 2nd fret with index finger,
  • 3rd fret with middle finger,
  • 4th fret with ring finger and
  • 5th fret with little finger
  • 5th fret with little finger again
  • 4th fret with ring finger and
  • 3rd fret with middle finger
  • 2nd fret with index finger

Then move across to the (E) string with index finger starting on the 3rd fret and follow the same patternThen move across to the (A) string with the index finger starting on the 4th fret and follow the same patternThen do the whole lot backwards – so you end up with the last action being a pluck on the (G) string with your index finger on the 1st fret.This is the best way to get a feel for the uke and gets your fingers  to know the fretboard. You don’t need to practice further down the neck than this.Hope this is helpful and look forward to seeing you at the sessions,

Lizzie

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Ukes4Fun Song Practice No 4: Singing In The Rain – Two chord version!

Wonderful video of Megs leading Mis-spent Ukes and Friends at Rowlands Gill Community Centre – courtesy of Bob – with a song-sheet so you can practice in between sessions!

 

SingingInTheRain.mp4 Watch on Posterous
Singingintherain

mp3 and pdf:

 

SingingInTheRain.mp3 Listen on Posterous
 

SingingInTheRain(Landscape).pdf Download this file

See “The Ukulele First Step – Beginners Start Here!” for the first three practice songs.

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Preview! “What Ukulele Players REALLY want to know” eBook by Barry Maz @bazmaz

What Ukulele Players REALLY want to know

A guide, written FOR beginners..

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Barry Maz

Published by Barry Maz at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Barry Maz

To new ukulele players everywhere….

Cover photo – Mainland Mahogany Concert Ukulele – photo copyright Barry Maz 2010

INTRODUCTION AND HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS BOOK

I’m Barry, and I’m a ukulele player. Well, actually, I am not just a player. In fact, I have found myself rather obsessed by the ukulele. You see, the little instrument can do that to you, it kind of gets under your skin. Before you know it, it has taken hold and you are stuck. It’s fun though!

I’m actually a guitar player by trade and have been playing for over twenty years, until a few years ago I was re-watching a documentary about a hero of mine, George Harrison. George liked the uke. In fact, that is an understatement, George LOVED the uke. In fact many of his friends are on record pointing out that he actually put the uke higher than the guitar in his affections. He would always travel with two ukuleles, so that if he was playing with friends, he could also pass one to somebody else to join in. I love that story. George had the ukulele bug bad, just like me. In fact, most people I meet who have started playing the ukulele have the same bug…

When I first bought a ukulele, totally contrary to all of my knowledge and good practice with guitars, I assumed the uke was a toy instrument, that it wasn’t very serious. I therefore spent as little money as I could get away with in the hope of having some fun. How wrong I was. You see it turns out that the world is flooded with cheap ukuleles that frankly, don’t play very well. Nor is the ukulele a toy or anything that shouldn’t be taken seriously. It’s an instrument and it needs the same thought and attention any other instrument receives. This frustrated me, but I carried on, and bought a slightly better ukulele.

continue reading next 20 pages of preview at  smashwords.com
  • Well worth checking out! Written from a UK-uke perspective for beginners. This preview gives a good insight into the content if you are not sure whether it is for you. Bargain price for the full book – Much less than the cost of a pint! If you like his website Baz, invites you to buy him a beer :-)

http://gotaukulele.blogspot.com/2011/01/ukulele-ebook-published.html



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Top 10 Ukulele Lessons & Articles of 2010 at UkuleleTricks – some great Beginners Tips and Songsheets

Written on December 23rd, 2010 by UkuleleTricks
http://www.ukuleletricks.com/top-10-posts-of-2010/

Top 10 Posts of 2010

Ukulele Tricks is only a few months old, but I’ve been so blown away by the welcome we’ve received from you all and the ukulele community. I’ve started to make some friends with other ukulele bloggers like Brad from Live Ukulele, Woodshed from Ukulele Hunt, Tim from Ukeeku, and other folks from the Ukulele Underground forums. All these guys have GREAT ukulele websites and have been nice enough to share the word about some of the great resources here on Ukulele Tricks.

I thought it would be fun to look back on the year at some of the best posts here on Ukulele Tricks. Many of these posts became great because you all asked questions and made comments. This is what this blog is about… YOU. I want this to be a community of ukulele players that help each other out. So thank you for your contributions, emails, questions, and comments. It’s awesome!

With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the best articles on Ukulele Tricks for 2010!

Go to UkuleleTricks to see the Top 10 Ukulele Lessons & Articles of 2010

via ukuleletricks.com

 

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Steven Sproat Uke Workshops – Newcastle & Gateshead Feb 19 & 20 + Windows Free Prize Draw & Promotions

A4 Flier front pdf

A5 Flier front pdf

Registration / Free Prize Draw Form pdf

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Durham Beginners Ukulele Group – Facebook Page

DurhamUkuleleBeginnersGroup
Facebook Page Info:

A new ukulele class in Durham City kicking off in January 2011 led by an experienced uke teacher and community musician.

So why play the ukulele? Well, as more and more people are finding out, it’s fun, you can pick up new tunes quickly and it’s one of the easiest musical instruments to learn!

Absolute beginners welcome :)

To book your place email Ian at ukuleledurham AT gmail.com (replace AT with @)

Course starts Tuesday 11th January 2011

We meet every Tuesday from 7.30pm-9pm
at Antioch House, 66 Crossgate, Durham City, DH1 4PR

Fees:
10 week course- £48.00
Or 2 installments of £24 in week 1 and week 5.

You’ll need to bring a uke, but don’t worry as among the many delights of the ukulele is the fact that they are the cheapest musical instruments out there!

Check out www.marketmusic-durham.co.uk for a great range of good quality and affordable ukes!

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Inspirational videos for uke-beginners! John Simmance, 82, shows his progress and gives tips as he learns to play the George Formby strum on banjolele over 4 months – and sing at the same time!

Please note: If you want to contact John Simmance or leave a comment on his videos, you need to visit John’s channel on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/johnsimmance

First Efforts at Learning the George Formby Banjolele Strum – after 3 weeks practice

John Simmance played the banjolele his father gave him in 1947, always wanted to learn the Formby style of playing, but didn’t know how! Now, thanks to the Internet, and several excellent players who have made instructional videos, he knows HOW! So now, at nearly 82, after many years of being out of practice, he bought a Gold Tone banjolele and now he is practicing until his fingers are sore! After three weeks, he is beginning to get the basic Formby “Split Stroke” and struggles with the “Triple”.

But to encourage other old men to try something new, and to show that an old CAN learn new tricks – or at least begin to – he offers this video!


Next Efforts at Learning the George Formby strums – after 6 weeks practice

This is a continuation of my video “My First Efforts at Learning the George Formby strums” showing the progress I made in three more weeks of practice on my banjolele! Old men! Don’t stop trying to do something new!


My Final George Formby strum efforts! – after 9 weeks practice

This is the third and last video recording my efforts at learning the difficult George Formby strumming techniques on the banjolele! The first was made after I had been practicing for three weeks, the second followed after six weeks, and this last one covers my progress after a total of nine weeks.
The message behind them all is directed at old ment like me: the fairy tale that old dogs can’t learn new tricks is just NOT TRUE! So: old men, if you wan’t to try something new, don’t listen to the opposition of others (or your own doubts) and just DO IT! You’ll be glad you tried.


My banjolele progress after four months practice!

A short record of my progress learning the George Formby strumming techniques on the banjolele, four months after I started.


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Ukulele Classes at The Sage – info found on Ukulele Cosmos Forum

Ukulele Classes at The Sage – info found on Ukulele Cosmos Forum:

What: Beginners Ukulele
When: Wednesdays during term time 6.30-7.30pm
Where: The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead, NE8 1RT
Price: £5 per week (paid termly i.e. £60 for 12 week term). Half price concession for people over 60, under 19’s, students and those in receipt of benefits.
To book: Contact The Sage Gateshead’s ticket office on 0191 443 4661
For more info: Contact us at adultprogramme@thesagegateshead.org or phone 0191 443 4627
Website: www.thesagegateshead.org
(or link to adult learning page http://www.thesagegateshead.org/l_and_p/joinin/adultprogramme.aspx )

Info: Everyone has to start somewhere and for those wanting to play ukulele, this is it! In just half a term, everyone will learn the basic chords and techniques enabling the group to play the ukulele with pride. Sessions are relaxed, fun and supportive, preparing those who wish to join our more advanced Uke Troupe.

What: Uke Troupe
When: Wednesdays during term time 7.30-9pm
Where: The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead, NE8 1RT
Price: £5 per week (paid termly i.e. £60 for 12 week term). Half price concession for people over 60, under 19’s, students and those in receipt of benefits.
To book: Contact The Sage Gateshead’s ticket office on 0191 443 4661
For more info: Contact us at adultprogramme@thesagegateshead.org or phone 0191 443 4627
Website: www.thesagegateshead.org
(or link to adult learning page http://www.thesagegateshead.org/l_and_p/joinin/adultprogramme.aspx )

Info: A fun, informal and supportive group, which explores a wide and exciting variety of repertoire. In addition, the group has the opportunity to develop skills, technique and musicianship. There will be many opportunities to perform ‘ both at The Sage Gateshead and across the wider community.

Regards

Sally Kat
Head of L&P Business Development
The Sage Gateshead

Direct: 0191 443 4623
Switchboard: 0191 443 4666
Box Office: 0191 443 4661
www.thesagegateshead.org
The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR
“The Sage Gateshead has quickly become the most exciting music venue in Britain” – The Times, 1st September 2006
North Music Trust is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, number 4044936 and as a charity, number 1087445.

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Beginner Ukulele Lessons | Ukulele Hunt

You’ve just got your hands on a ukulele (or are just thinking of buying one). Here are a few things to read and songs to play that’ll get you up to speed quickly.

Step One: Learn the basics

- So You’ve Just Got Your First Ukulele – a free PDF I put together for beginners including essential links, first chords, tips and links to suggestions for the first songs to learn.
- 10 Things I Wish I’d Known About Ukuleles (Before I Bought One) – Don’t make the same mistakes I did.
- 10 Tips for Ukulele Beginners
- 10 things I wish I’d known about ukuleles before I bought one.
- How to read chord charts.

Extra Credit: Ukulele 101 – My ebook covering all the info a beginner needs that is left out of most beginner books.

Step 2: Get Your Strum On

- Ukulele Strumming for Dummies
- Strumming notation

Extra Credit: – How to Play Ukulele Strums – An ebook I wrote covering all the strumming and rhythm essentials for beginners.

Step 3: Play Some Songs

Check out the Songs with Chords You Know Post

Some popular ones:

- Somewhere Over the Rainbow
- I Wanna Be Like You
- Hallelujah
- 5 Years Time
Sentimental Heart

Extra Credit: Joan Jett – Bad Reputation – Easy chords but you’ll need to have your chord changes down and a strong strumming-hand to play it up to speed.

Step 4: Spend Some Money

- A ukulele tuner
- Some good strings like Aquila.

Extra Credit: Keep your ukulele upright with a stand. Get a capo to make playing in other keys easier.

Congratulations! You’re no longer a noob. You can now advance to the improver section.

If you think there’s a post that deserves a link here or have a topic you’d like me to cover in this section, leave a comment.

 

via ukulelehunt.com

Essential reading for all new ukers!

This is one of the best (THE best?) uke sites and blogs you could hope to find.

Cheeky name too, careful how you say it, or stick to “Ukulele Hunt”.