How to play the ukulele, tune it, maintain it and get the most from it. What’s the technique and how is it related to the guitar? Learn to play the ukulele quickly and easily.
Once upon a time the ukulele was an obscure novelty instrument which George Formby coupled with a northern accent to annoy both those who did and didn't go to war. Today many people are starting to play the ukulele. It's popularity is everywhere - you can't turn on a television without hearing one jangling away in the background. Take a moment to count how many times you hear a ukulele in the next commercial break.
The ukulele is with us for good, but big-time. Why is this? Well, it's relatively inexpensive for a musical instrument, it's easy to play, it's portable and with a little effort you can get a pretty good sound out of it quite quickly. It's also an instrument that lends itself to all sorts of styles of music. Check out the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.
While sharing his own enthusiasm for the ukulele, Frank Skinner, in his recent TV programme about George Formby, was keen to tell us about the man himself. (Frank Skinner on George Formby and the Ukulele part 1). George Formby’s father, George senior, was also a very popular singer and entertainer who made a very good living. George’s upbringing was a far cry from being poor and working class. George junior actually started out impersonating his father’s act. It wasn’t until he met his future wife and business manager, Beryl that he found his act being redefined. She put him into a suit and placed the banjolele at the centre of his act. He gave her a lot of credit for his success.
We were treated to some fine clips from George’s twenty four or so films, all of which, according to Frankie, followed more or less the same story line, i.e. gormless boy meets girl, evil/bad man causes problems, boy solves problem and gets the girl. Songs and ukulele playing were shoe horned in along the way.
That didn’t mean that Mr. Formby had nothing to offer. Anyone who has ever picked up a ukulele will have appreciated the speed and the skill with which he played. Take a close look at his technique. Not only is his right hand action incredibly fast, but listen to the variety of rhythms he works into his solos. It’s often syncopated, full of triplets and he even varies the way he makes contact with the ukulele strings, sometimes playing with a finger, a thumb, his fingernails or all of his fingers. The sound is quite overwhelming.
As an aside, Frank went into a primary school classroom in an attempt to pass some of George’s expertise onto some ukulele wielding children. That’s another attractive thing about the ukulele. The technique can be as simple or as complicated as you like. With only a few chords and a flexible right hand, even young children can play a whole host of songs. Perhaps it’s time for the ukulele to replace the recorder in the classroom.
It was a real treat to see Andy Eastwood play. Watch the video below and be impressed!
Andy Eastwood playing the ‘William Tell Overture’.
His playing really is most impressive, though I do find his rictus grin a little disturbing.
While on the subject of performance, is the Lancashire accent really necessary? Are we acknowledging the man and his music or simply doing an impersonation?
George himself was most revealing and sincere in the clips shown from his 1960s special. His sentiment about stardom is something that some of today’s entertainers could think about. In short, he said that it’s the public that makes an entertainer into a star and they should never forget that. Without an audience, there is no ‘star’.
Frank Skinner’s program was informative, entertaining and unpretentious. It showed George Formby to be a thoughtful and talented man who gave and continues to give, a lot of pleasure. What about the banjolele? Well, it’s hard to be miserable when you’re playing one. As Frank said:
So, what’s not to like about Frank Skinner? As a Brummie myself, I’ve always been fond of Frank. (Yes. I feel I know him well enough to call him ‘Frank’; he’s that sort of bloke, isn’t he?) I enjoyed reading both of his autobiographies though he doesn’t seem old enough for two volumes. What I like about Frank is there’s nothing pretentious about him. He’s not afraid to talk about his past in an open and, well, frank manner.
Anyone who saw his programme about George Formby will have picked up on the enthusiasm and affection he has for both Mr. Formby and the ukulele. He didn’t get in the way of the story, as so many presenters do. You can usually tell what sort of show it’s going to be if it’s entitled ‘Piers Morgan’s personality shortcomings’ or Joanna Lumley’s predictable comedies’. This was simply about George Formby and asked some basic questions like, ‘Why was he so popular?’ and ‘What is the appeal of the ukulele today?’
Frank Skinner on George Formby Video
Frank even came within a gnat’s whisker of getting the terminology right. The instrument that George Formby usually played was a banjolele or ukulele banjo, though I was interested to see a clip of him playing a ukulele. The mistake people make is partly his fault. He sang ‘With my little ukulele in my hand’, but it wasn’t. A ukulele is a small, usually wooden instrument shaped like a guitar. A banjo is a larger instrument which has a circular resonator. That’s the bit that’s covered in animal skin and looks like a tambourine. A banjolele combines the size of the ukulele with the shape of a banjo. In essence, it looks like a small banjo.
It was interesting listening to Frank talk about what was different about George Formby fans. The fact that most of them actually play a uke, sets them apart from so many fan clubs. “Jimmy Hendrix fans don’t take their guitar along to appreciation clubs.” It’s a very active society.
Attending the annual George Formby convention in Blackpool, Frank was made very welcome. He said, “I didn’t meet a single person that I didn’t like. They have warmth to them”. There didn’t seem to be any one-upmanship. Grown-ups and children seemed to get a lot of pleasure from simply playing together in a non competitive forum; so refreshing in these days of ‘Young Musician of the Year’/‘The X Factor’/‘Britain’s got Talent’/’You’re rubbish at entertaining, so why don’t you go away?’ etc.
So, you’ve seen enough of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and you’ve been inspired to play the ukulele and now need help and advice on buying a ukulele. Where do you begin? Like anything, you get what you pay for. You can pay hundreds or even thousands of pounds for a good ukulele. However, if you’re just starting out, don’t go mad.
If you can, get hold of someone who plays. It’s very hard to try out an instrument in a music shop if you don’t actually play. Failing a ukulele player, get hold of a guitarist. The sort of things you’re looking for are primarily the same.
Where do you look? The internet is a good place to start. Today there are a whole host of websites dedicated to the mighty ukulele encompassing repair, maintenance, playing, selling, buying and meeting up with like minded individuals. Most good music shops have a selection. Occasionally, you’ll find one in a second hand shop, rag market or in the paper. There are bargains to be had but make sure you try it out before you purchase. Don’t buy one from a catalogue and never buy one in a toy store. It’s not a toy, it’s a real musical instrument.
Guidelines for Buying a Ukulele
So what do you look for when buying a ukulele? They’re the same sort of things you look for in a guitar:
Play each note on each string, working your way up the fingerboard. If it buzzes, rattles or shakes, don’t buy it. Each note should be clear and in tune.
Make sure that the individual pieces of wood that make up the ukulele are glued together properly. There should be no gaps. See that the frets do not protrude over the edge of the fingerboard. If they do, you’ll be able to feel them as you rub your finger along the side of the neck.
Check the tuning keys. Do they turn smoothly? Do they hold when you tighten a string?
Look down the instrument from the nut end. This is where the tuning pegs are. Look down the finger board and make sure that it isn’t warped.
Check the tuning. Play a scale and listen closely. Is the octave in tune?
See how it feels when you finger a chord close to the nut. Try some chords at the first fret. Does the head of the instrument get in the way?
Listen to the sound. Ukuleles sport a whole variety of tones. Compare a handful. The melody line may sound good but try some chords. Which sound do you prefer? Find a ukulele that you like.
Remember, purchasing an instrument doesn’t mean your relationship with the shopkeeper is over. What sort of guarantee can he offer? Will he honour his obligation to you if the instrument falls apart or starts to develop a rattle? Can he repair your instrument or will he have to send it away? Can he recommend a good ukulele repairer?
Hopefully you’ll be happy with your purchase and following these guidelines when buying a ukulele will help you to find a good one. The main thing is to get a ukulele player to come with you, failing that, someone who plays an instrument from the guitar family. Then all you have to do is enjoy it.
A. Throwing a banjo into a tip without hitting the sides! lol!
To the uninitiated, this may well apply to the mighty ukulele but there’s so much more to it than you’d imagine. Over the years a whole range of musicians and entertainers have been caught indulging. Consider the number of people who have taken the time to learn to play the instrument: George Harrison, Van Morrison, Frank Skinner, Richard Durrant, Bruce Forsyth, Tiny Tim and so on. Perhaps the ‘bonsai guitar’ deserves a second look.
Initially the ukulele has a novelty value. Like Ronnie Corbett, it’s unusually small but it doesn’t end there. It may look like a toy but when it’s played properly, most people are pleasantly surprised. When you really listen to it, you realize it’s a real musical instrument. You only have to lend an ear to the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain to be aware of the instrument’s remarkable range. From ‘Born to be Wild’ to ‘I Will Survive’ via ‘Tears on my Pillow’, it’s a totally new way of listening.
So, what’s so great about the mighty ukulele? It’s not a hard instrument to play and so many popular songs can be played using three chords. (The UOOGB say, “Why so many?”) It doesn’t require a lot of amplification. The ukulele technique is also straightforward. It’s easy to carry, it’s inexpensive and you can practice without annoying the neighbours. If you fancy getting a group together, it won’t cost much to kit yourself out with instruments.
It’s also incredibly versatile. From popular Music to classical Music by way of soul and reggae, you won’t be short of inspiration. Also, it’s a rhythm instrument, a melody instrument and even a percussion instrument. The technique is also transferable. Most guitar players can play the ukulele to a degree as there are tuning correlations, so even if you don’t take to the instrument in the long run, the effort is never wasted. It’s also a great way to learn to read Music.
Whatever the appeal, the ‘dancing flea’ is on the up. Lend an ear the next time you sit through a dozen adverts. There’s a ukulele in there somewhere. You may not realize it, but there’s a whole gang of pop songs out there being played on the mighty ukulele. Don’t fight it, embrace it. It’s the future.
