The ukulele thread

[icowden]

I bought a ukulele about a year ago. It is easier to learn and play than anything else I have tried. I am not very coordinated, and I don't suppose I will ever be very good. However, for the last week or two I have been practicing When I'm Cleaning Windows. Next, I will have a go at My Old Man Said Follow the Van. Don't suppose anyone has the uke tabs for Do Ye Ken John Peel?

I've just been learning When I'm Cleaning Windows for an old time Music Hall I'm doing next month. I'm getting pretty decent at it - using a Banjolele rather than a Uke though.

D'ye ken John peel is a simple 3 chord trick. So in C would be.

C / C / C / C /
G /G /G /G
C /C /F /C
/F /C /G /C

If you prefer G (cleaning windows is in G so you should already have these chords off by heart):-

G/ G /G /G
D/ D /D /D
G / G / C G
C / G / D / G

Other keys are available ;-)

 

[icowden]

D'ye ken John peel is a simple 3 chord trick. So in C would be.

C / C / C / C /
G /G /G /G
C /C /F /C
/F /C /G /C

If you want to make it slightly more classy, on the first line you can do C / Cmaj7, C+6, C really easily. You slide up one fret from the usual C for Cmaj7 then play open for C+6. And the second two Gs on the second line you can make into G7 by inverting your G pattern.

 

[Yellow Fang]

If you want to make it slightly more classy, on the first line you can do C / Cmaj7, C+6, C really easily. You slide up one fret from the usual C for Cmaj7 then play open for C+6. And the second two Gs on the second line you can make into G7 by inverting your G pattern.

C seems to work, but I will look into these refinements.

 

[PaulB]

I was in a uke group before switching to the guitar and one artist we would NEVER do was George Formby. Then, one day one of our members died and his daughter asked if we'd perform at his funeral. Of course, we jumped at the chance (we got very few opportunities to do anything other than practice.) We all turned up with our cases under our arms, respecting the occasion but equally wanting to do our former member proud. His daughter came up to us and asked, "Due to the timing, you'll be limited to one song. Can you do 'When I'm Cleaning Windows?'" ARRRGGGHHH! Two of the team snuck out of the doors not having a clue how to play this song and we didn't have the music for it with us.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Recently I have been trying to play Stormy Weather. I am having difficulty with a particular chord that uses all four fingers.

I am considering buying a slightly better ukulele. I think the next one up is a tenor. I might make it to a low G.

 

[icowden]

Recently I have been trying to play Stormy Weather. I am having difficulty with a particular chord that uses all four fingers.
I am considering buying a slightly better ukulele. I think the next one up is a tenor. I might make it to a low G.

What chord is it and what key overall. We may be able to suggest an easier chord to use.

 

[Yellow Fang]

What chord is it and what key overall. We may be able to suggest an easier chord to use.

I think it was Gdim

 

[Cathryn]

Recently I have been trying to play Stormy Weather. I am having difficulty with a particular chord that uses all four fingers.

I am considering buying a slightly better ukulele. I think the next one up is a tenor. I might make it to a low G.

4 finger chords are impossible.

I've been going to my uke group weekly since New Year and it's bringing me so much joy. Everyone else is much better than I am but they're so friendly and it's just a wonderful way to spend an evening.

 

[Drago]

Formby mainly played a banjolele.

 

[Cathryn]

My Uke group is doing some gigs in the spring and I want to cycle there as much as possible. Any thoughts on how to safely carry my concert uke on a bike?

 

[Drago]

My Uke group is doing some gigs in the spring and I want to cycle there as much as possible. Any thoughts on how to safely carry my concert uke on a bike?

A good quality and heavily padded gig bag and wear it on your back.

 

[icowden]

My Uke group is doing some gigs in the spring and I want to cycle there as much as possible. Any thoughts on how to safely carry my concert uke on a bike?

Hard box case with rucksack straps
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001356497527.html
Soft cases also available:
https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Snail-Concert-Ukelele-Gig-Bag
https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/G4M-Concert-Ukulele-Case-Black/

 

[simongt]

A good quality and heavily padded gig bag and wear it on your back.

As I've found out from experience, adjust the straps to make sure that the top of the bag doesn't catch on your bash hat; if you wear one and the bottom of the bag doesn't catch on your saddle.

 

[PaulB]

How long had you been playing before you switched from your thumb to cover the three strings nearest the ceiling to play the D chord and started to trust your index finger to do the job instead? I'd say I've gone about the same length of time as it took me to do the above to trusting my fingers to make a big boy F or B barre chord instead of playing cheat chords. There's no rush and you shouldn't feel pressured to do it too early.

 

[icowden]

How long had you been playing before you switched from your thumb to cover the three strings nearest the ceiling with your thumb to play the D chord and started to trust your index finger to do the job instead?

For me it's a slightly different challenge. I tend to use 4 fingers to do that chord. I have tried barring but I've been playing piano for 45 years to a semi-professional standard (i.e. I get paid for it on occasion but don't live off it :-)) . As a result my index finger resents the concept of being straight when I reach with it. It curves naturally.

Thus barring just doesn't work for me.