Here goes...

[JayPee]

Not having any experience of playing musical instrument ever, I figured I would start with one of these, is a 12 quid Maholo jobbie off ebay. Learning a few chords and playing (badly) twinkle twinkle little star took me an hour or so, but I haven't time to learn anything else yet Good fun though

[Ace-T]

Glad you have joined the fold JayPee!

Start with this guy

http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicTeacher2009

An enthusiastic teacher of the uke, start at lesson 1. In half an hour you will be playing 12 bar blues.

Trace

[Ace-T]

Back again, this time with a selection of 'must see' uke vids to surprise, delight and make you smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuWgx0EnZnY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G93EsbY_HE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kBPHeJiMXo&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6Akkmwz38M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31nDR6pXJUI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGeu3bscvdU&fea...

Bit ropey at times but I like it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWv6uFcLTCM

Oh I had to add this one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t28COxEp2k



Enjoy

Trace

Edited by Ace-T on Thursday 4th February 22:00

[Zad]

Ace-T said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G93EsbY_HE

I know this is gratuitous... but hhhellooo! And she has a friend!

And how cute is the kid playing ma-i-na-ku-ma-na!

[Ace-T]

This thread is being brought back to life more often than a zombie convention but I just had to share this

Jake Shimabukuro does Bohemian Rhapsody on the ukulele. He is a bit good...

http://www.ted.com/talks/jake_shimabukuro_plays_bo...

I am getting quite into ukulele blues playing. Still not very good cos I don't practice enough though.

Any other uke'rs want to share their uke news?

Trace

[Ace-T]

For anyone who wants to learn, there is now a '...for Dummies' book out for the Uke. Buy it on Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ukulele-Dummies-Lifestyles...

It is written by the chap who does this blog...www.ukulelehunt.com and is pretty comprehensive. Although I would say for a beginner it could be a bit overwhelming if you read past the first section.

Oh and check out this version of Billie Jean...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2r0w30-TI4



Trace

[mattdaniels]

Holy thread ressurrection batman!

Well I have a DIP (Drunk Internet Purchase) uke. I am, however, completely non musical in every way shape and form. But I am on a mission to learn how to play it.

I have done "my dog has flees" tuning and am currently learning the chords for "When I'm cleaning windows". Individually I can play most of them but moving from one to another takes a bit of time (and concentration). And "Ab7" is making my fingers bleed.

Great fun though. I will not let it beat me.

[The Excession]

Ace-T said:

...but I just had to share this

Jake Shimabukuro does Bohemian Rhapsody on the ukulele. He is a bit good...

http://www.ted.com/talks/jake_shimabukuro_plays_bo...

That's fking ACE! I love the hit on the harmonics at about 5:08! - that lad is seriously talented.

An old mate who was gifted on madolin accindently hit the over-drive pedal that he normally reserved for his electric guitar one drunken night whilst jamming, the sound was awesome to the point he ended up doing a Guns-n-Roses type finger tapping solo on it.

Having had a dig around there's some fabulous ukulele stuff out there. Must get one, though I doubt it will solve the fact that I suffer from a complete lack of rythym!

Did you find the Ukulele Orchestra doing Smells Like Teen Spirit? Kurt would be pround!

[Ace-T]

The Excession said:

Having had a dig around there's some fabulous ukulele stuff out there. Must get one, though I doubt it will solve the fact that I suffer from a complete lack of rythym!

I have 3 now. A sparkly black Mahalo that goes where it can be bashed about, a much more expensive Kala that is lovely to play and a vintage Arai (well actually it is the same age as I am, so not flattering!) which is a very nice concert size.

Get a £15 one from ebay, the Mahalos are usually reasonable, get some decent strings on it and get learning. Huge fun!

The Excession said:

Did you find the Ukulele Orchestra doing Smells Like Teen Spirit? Kurt would be pround!

Seen them twice now live (once courtesy of some most excellent PH mates) - brilliant gigs.

Trace

[Ace-T]

mattdaniels said:

Holy thread ressurrection batman!

Well I have a DIP (Drunk Internet Purchase) uke. I am, however, completely non musical in every way shape and form. But I am on a mission to learn how to play it.

I have done "my dog has flees" tuning and am currently learning the chords for "When I'm cleaning windows". Individually I can play most of them but moving from one to another takes a bit of time (and concentration). And "Ab7" is making my fingers bleed.

Great fun though. I will not let it beat me.

Yay! Another convert! welcome!

Trace

[Famous Graham]

I might have fiddled with Amanda Palmer's uke in Edinburgh this August

That isn't a euphemism.

(she did a great pisstake of Friday as well that night)

[sawman]

Glad I found this thread, there are a few good links, although some seem to be dead now.

My little lad had to have a uke for lessons at school! so after a bit of internet shopping picked up a Makala dolphin, its great. I have to confess to playing much more than he does!

The local music store has a great selection, they have a great looking resonator uke - like a national guitar.

I have been taking most tips from Ukulele Mike, nice and easy to follow and gets a recogniseable tune in just a few mins. I am addicted.

[The Excession]

The Excession said:

An old mate who was gifted on madolin accindently hit the over-drive pedal that he normally reserved for his electric guitar one drunken night whilst jamming, the sound was awesome to the point he ended up doing a Guns-n-Roses type finger tapping solo on it.

FOUND IT!!!

The song where he puts his mandolin down the 'dirty channel' - about 1:50m & 3:00m in - no finger tapping on this one, but it inspired the sound which I think is possibly one of my all time favourite mandolin sounds.

Ask Murt - Happenening at home

and another...

Ask Murt - Here I go again

All recorded on an Amstrad 4 track tape machine in a bedsit in Didsbury Manchester circa 1992 - you can hear the tape hiss and everything - just doesn't do justice to the sound live in a small room after kick out from the pub! - Great days - I still get the odd goose bump listening again after all these years.

[The Excession]

Ace-T said:

Yay! Another convert!

There's a music shop 50 yards from my house.... Me thinks Ex and Little Ex might be getting ukaleles for xmas... He's only five, I'm nearly 45 surely a match made in heaven once we start playing all the Levellers songs he loves!

[mattdaniels]

Right, I give up.

Ab7 - how do you get your fingers to go there automatically? And how do you do it without making the index finger sore? The skin on the end has gone all hard now.

[Ace-T]

Cracking version of Freebird on ukuleles!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZv4mtgr0tY

Hope all who got ukes for Christmas last year are still enjoying them. Me and a few work colleagues are getting together one lunchtime a week to practice with the intention of playing at the department Christmas carol concert this year. As 2 of us are complete beginners we have a little way to go but teaching others to play is helping me learn loads too!

Trace

[Ace-T]

mattdaniels said:

Right, I give up.

Ab7 - how do you get your fingers to go there automatically? And how do you do it without making the index finger sore? The skin on the end has gone all hard now.

If you haven't got this yet, I found this useful

http://www.ehow.com/how_2362857_play-ab7-ukulele.h...

and after that just practice. I still find Em a pig to get to, my fingers just won't do as they are told.

Trace

[hms]

Damn,
I know I shouldn't browse Pistonheads in the quiet periods
One Mahalo Soprano on it's way.
New strings bought.
Glad I wasn't browsing the classifieds.
Better get some earplugs!
h