anyone taught themselves to play the ukulele?

pavlovs_dog

I'm looking for a project as a focus for my 'me' time over the coming year (i'm a teacher determined to improve my work/life balance). I really fancy learning the ukulele. was just wondering whether anyone here has taught themselves, or plays the Uke? any hints or tips to share?

crazyguy

Is this is a joke ?

nickyhutch

Justin Moorhouse is doing that at the moment.

pavlovs_dog

crazyguy wrote: »

Is this is a joke ?

if it is then the punchline has gone way over my head...

pavlovs_dog

nickyhutch wrote: »

Justin Moorhouse is doing that at the moment.

had to google, as I'd never heard of him. I've learnt something new today

browneyedbazzi

I bought my OH a uke for his birthday a couple of years ago and with the aid of some online tutorials he's taught himself to play (and really enjoyed it!).

You'd be surprised at how many pubs do ukulele nights as well...really good fun!

nickyhutch

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

had to google, as I'd never heard of him. I've learnt something new today

He's very funny

Bazey

My O/H bought me a uke for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. It only cost £21.99 from amazon (just a budget Vintage one).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vintage-VUK20N-Ukulele-Outfit-Natural/dp/B002QFX9O6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314291938&sr=8-1

I'm loving it. It came with a load of chord diagrams, and I've been hunting out songs I want to learn of t'interweb. There is also a free uke tuner online, which has made it a doddle for working out alternative tunings.

http://www.get-tuned.com/online_ukulele_tuner.php


Check these guys out....very good and very funny!!

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Wuthering Heights

pavlovs_dog

do you play any other instruments Bazey?

Bazey

I used to play drums(sold my kit 7 years ago when I moved to London) and I started to learn acoustic guitar march last year.

Uke chords are quite different to guitar chords but I've not had any probs picking it up easily enough!!

I've just learnt how to play "shook me all night" by ACDC on the uke. You will not believe how much I've been grinning...

Good luck if you do decide to start learning. I'm certain you will enjoy!!

Sheepstar

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

I really fancy learning the ukulele. was just wondering whether anyone here has taught themselves, or plays the Uke? any hints or tips to share?

When I first wanted to learn the uke, I watched a lot of the free videos on Ukulele Underground. They start with the basics like how to tune your uke, what the chord shapes are, how to strum etc.

I seem to remember there was a tutorial on how to choose your first uke as well, so you don't end up with a plank. I found it really helpful.

I've been playing for about three years now, and find it a fab stress-buster. The uke is most definitely a happy instrument.

Good luck