anyone taught themselves to play the ukulele?

Crunchy_Nutter

MSE always seems to cost me money - I found this thread and now I've gone and bought myself a Uke from Amazon :eek::rotfl::eek:

Can't wait til it arrives

SplashWellyKid

Further to the above, I'm now the webmaster for our free & inclusive uke club (People of Lewisham's Ukulele Club) & will be posting articles & links for beginners & improvers, including plenty of free resources where we find them, over the next few months.

So, if anyone wants to join us for our weekly strum or suggest ideas for the site, do get in touch either via the site or PM me.:)

art_for_arts_sake

I have to disagree with the people who say the chords are completely different. Despite its re-entrant tuning (if that's what your uke uses) the uke uses the same chord shapes as the top four notes on a guitar for many of the chords, albeit in a different key.

I'd agree to buy a better quality uke with geared tuners which will hold its tune better, and probably sound better too. Be prepared to be the butt of jokes.

What is the difference between a ukulele and an onion?
Nobody cries when you cut up a ukulele...

catrobs34672

I try to taught the ukulele again and again but failed because it takes lot of times and we can learn it in the short period of time.

SplashWellyKid

I'll also post this somewhere in the regular competitions area, if it's not been done.

Just received the ...For Dummies newsletter today. You just need to add your name & email to enter the prize draw to win one of three beginner's ukulele sets (including uke, tuner & their two Dummies books):

To celebrate the release of the exciting Ukulele Exercises For Dummies by Brett McQueen, this month is all about the music!

Competition
Win a ukulele, electric tuner and our bestselling ukulele books!

The ukulele is easy to play and great fun, so this month we are giving you everything you need to be great at it!

Enter here for your chance to win a copy of Ukulele For Dummies, Ukulele Exercises For Dummies with a Tiger Beginner Soprano Ukulele (in yellow, of course) and a Qwik Tune Snark Ukulele Clip On Tuner.

Good luck!

We have 3 sets to give away. Competition closes Friday 14th June 2013.

URL: http://www.dummies.com/Section/id-811787.html

malcumms7898

SailorSam wrote: »

I've been looking on Amazon at ukes and most of the reviews say they're addictive little instruments and well worth the money. A problem that many people talk about, particularly with the cheaper one is they go out of tune easily (could you tell with a novice like me). So maybe it's best to pay a little bit more at the beginning. I like the look of the Brunswick Soprano for £51, it comes with better strings than some others but unfortunately no bag.
What do others think who already play ?

I bought a fairly cheap one from ebay (think it was about 5 or 10 quid) and can certainly testify to it not staying in tune. Had to retune it about every 4 minutes. And then the bridge snapped. I tried to go to a music shop to get a replacement and the guy said it would just be cheaper to buy a new ukulele than get a replacement part.

Pink_Fairy_2

I have no idea why I can't like any of these posts. I have always fancied learning an instrument and since discovering The Rinky Dinks I have seriously thought about a uke. I might never get to their standard, but it would be fun trying!

puppypants

Well how spooky is this?

I bought myself a ukelele yesterday, with a book for complete beginners, and then this thread comes up!!! I haven't got a musical bone in my body, but hopefully I will do ok.

My ultimate ambition is a banjo ukelele. x

lauriemac

Good to hear there's a new Ukulele for Dummies, I've been (slowly) working through the original, which as others have said is from the guy behind the wonderful UkeHunt.

It's a great instrument and I've been enjoying learning it for a while. Even just learning a couple of chords and strumming patterns is incredibly rewarding and fun.

Lincoln_Imp

My lad is currently playing the Mandolin
I am sick of hearing REM songs