Ukuleles

[NotAllThere]

Watch some George Formby (seriously), what a right hand, I've never had a bash on a Uke but I'd imagine a strong right hand technique to be vital to get something out of it otherwise it sounds a bit weedy....

I got one with a pickup (for about £65) that I can plug into my amp. It's totally ridiculous and a lot of fun.

I'm fairly confident that stairway to heaven was written on the uke, since it is so easy to play.

[northernladuk]

Mrs. D000hg is interested in getting one to do music with at school (reception children) but neither of us know anything about them. I play guitar so I imagine I could easily pick it up and teach her a few chords, but what should be getting? Only want something cheap and cheerful but someone told me/her there were different types, like how you can get tenor recorders and so on.

Any idiots' guide style tips would be nice - at our low-end do we just buy any old thing or are there still choices to make? And is it as easy to transfer guitar strumming to ukulele as I imagine?

My other halfs school got a few in to try last year but they ended up getting broken and abused and weren't really much use as it does still take a bit of skill to get a tune out of them. They ditched them and went back to recorders and stuff you can bang I am afraid.

[NotAllThere]

... went back to recorders and stuff you can bang I am afraid.

So, it's a porn studio then?

[northernladuk]

So, it's a porn studio then?

3/10 - Must try harder.

[d000hg]

My other halfs school got a few in to try last year but they ended up getting broken and abused and weren't really much use as it does still take a bit of skill to get a tune out of them. They ditched them and went back to recorders and stuff you can bang I am afraid.

She's not thinking to let the kids play them - they're only 4-5 years old. But for her to play, probably the kids would be clapping or other percussion; apparently teaching that at a young age is important for non music related development.

[northernladuk]

She's not thinking to let the kids play them - they're only 4-5 years old. But for her to play, probably the kids would be clapping or other percussion; apparently teaching that at a young age is important for non music related development.

Ah my apologies, my other half does year 6 where they are taught to play. I would have though a ukelele would be a fun instrument for playing and for the kids as well. Would be a great party trick to pull ukelele out and strum a tune for your other half as well!

A local music shop provides bits and bobs to the school from time to time, does the school have any similar arragenemt? Might get a second hand one free or something.

[NotAllThere]

3/10 - Must try harder.

Fnnarr fnnarr.

[d000hg]

A local music shop provides bits and bobs to the school from time to time, does the school have any similar arragenemt? Might get a second hand one free or something.

Maybe, although she's managed to find seemingly the one school in the NE with a budget to throw around on non-essentials like music, PVA glue and pens.

If you can get one that isn't a waste of time for £20 it's a bit of a non-issue, my fear was it would be like a £20 guitar

[stek]

Maybe, although she's managed to find seemingly the one school in the NE with a budget to throw around on non-essentials like music, PVA glue and pens.

If you can get one that isn't a waste of time for £20 it's a bit of a non-issue, my fear was it would be like a £20 guitar

I bought a Soviet seven string acoustic off Ebay actually, £60 and it's a work of art, made in Leningrad in 1960...

Has three nylon strings and four metal, tuned open G, Russian term is Syemistrunka, down to five strings now tho....

[northernladuk]

Fnnarr fnnarr.

I fail so much.