George stepped back from running midweek sessions in 2009. However, he provided support, encouragement and practical help in re-establishing a ukulele session, as “Ukes4Fun”, at The Cumberland Arms late that year and has since helped to set up other ukulele sessions in the North East.

One of the most popular pages on this site is George’s clearly written and beautifully illustrated guide for beginners, The Ukulele First Step, that he kindly donated to Ukes4Fun.

Stuck for what to give George for his birthday this year, I decided that I would write him a ukulele song.  The chords are C, F and G and I hope that you enjoy playing along to the video below.  The words and chords are shown on-screen and there is a link to download the songsheet underneath.

Download songsheet pdf: Music Man – George Welch

I am sure you will all join me in wishing George well and hoping that he is in better health soon. He is still doing some gigs locally so drop in and see him if you get the chance and want to hear some wonderful music and song!

Best wishes,
Lizzie

http://www.nuiukulele.org/what_you_dont_need_to_play_the_uke/

Love it! Love it! Love it!

More uke-wisdom, humour and useful tips at:
Nui ‘ukulele Club, Chicago

• Thursdays as usual at The Cumberland Arms: 6:00 – 8:00
• Next Sunday Session at The Biscuit Factory: 13th May 2:00 – 4:00

The Old Ship Car Park on the road at the back of the pub

The Old Ship from the front, overlooking the prom

The Old Ship
63 Front Street
Newbiggin by the Sea
Northumberland
NE64 6NJ

• Back room in the Old Ship pub on the main street in Newbiggin – entry at the front, overlooking the prom.
• Note: the carpark on the rood side is at the back of the pub
• Adults – if not young then young at heart.
• We meet in a pub and younger teenagers should be accompanied by an adult.
• Free

Website: http://j.mp/OldShipUkes

Directions on Google Maps: Old Ship

Contacts:
Dennis 01670 817231
or
Charlie Lally

Oct 2011: A growing group welcoming new members!

Charlie Lally

Ukes of Northumberland Sessions on Wednesdays

Many thanks to Ray Cowell, luthier, for adding details of the Mickley “Ukes of Northumberland” group to the list of Uke Sessions in the North East and Cumbria:

The Ukes of Northumberland
Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30

Mickley & District Social Club
West Road
Mickley
Stocksfield
Northumberland
NE43 7BG

Over 18′s
“All welcome from beginners to top pickers, or just come along and listen. Very comfortable lounge and cheap drinks “
Free

For further details see:
www.theukesofnorthumberland.com

Contact: Ray Cowell
Tel 01661 836315
Mobile 07805493284
Email (not a link): 

Uke in Style at the Tap and Spile
Tuesdays 8.00 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.

The Tap and Spile
Manchester Street
MORPETH
Northumberland
NE61 1BH
Directions to The Tap and Spile at Google Maps

All players welcome, from beginners to super-ukers!
18 and over.
Free Sessions
Contact: Dick Dodds
Phone: 01670516148
Email (encoded for spam protection – click link to open): Uke in Style

Dick has added information about this new session to the list of Uke Sessions in the North East and Cumbria.

Bored on a Tuesday night? Now you know where to go for a bit of uke-action!

TUSC Songbook 7 cover - featuring wonderful "Borat" artwork by Steve Power

I can’t stop laughing . . . first at

then at

“The People’s Songbook – for make glorious music ukulele benefit the whole world and Taunton.”

and then I found the Ukephallus Man!

Ukephallus Man from TUSC Songbook

Resisted the temptation to despoil the Angel of The North and went for nicking the TUSC Songbook byline for our Songsheets Index:

Ukes4Fun Songbooks 1 to 6 Index

I will add this as an alternative index page for download as a pdf file on the Ukes4Fun Songsheets Page along with pretty versions of the index pages for each songbook.

Reverse the sexes and that looks uncannily like an evening at my house!

Finally completed all the corrections to Song Books 1 to 6 (strewth!) and they can be downloaded from this page:

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

I have included some info and advice about preparing to introduce new songs to sessions (have to try to remember to follow it myself now, of course) and getting new songs into future Song Books.

Please let me know which of your favourites are missing and I will put them on the list for the next Song Book – there is info on the Song Sheets Page about the format you need to use so that I can submit them to the magic-wrangling of Songsheet Generator!

There will not be a Sunday Session at The Biscuit Factory on Easter Sunday – you will have to flaunt your Easter Bonnets elsewhere

"Ukuele Queen" Tricity Vogue ~ www.tricityvogue.com

More ukulele hats: http://www.zazzle.com/ukulele+hats

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.

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

• “Beginner” info on the Ukes4Fun Website:
  • http://ukes4fun.org.uk/the-ukulele-first-step/
  • http://ukes4fun.org.uk/category/uke-can-learn/ukebeginners/
    

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!

QUESTION 2: