Richard Hawley

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 Post subject: ukalele
PostPosted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 11:45 am 
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Hawley Groupie

Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:03 pm
Posts: 189
Location: kent
Im dead nervous about asking this. Does a ukalele (dont even know if thats how its spelt) count? can i ask a question about them? I cant read music, never played an instrument, but at 52, i should have. I thought about a ukalele. Only 4 strings, sounds pretty. Is it an easy thing to learn? Does anyone know anything about them?


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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 1:29 pm 
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Hawleytastic!
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Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:21 pm
Posts: 1570
Location: Ireland
People either love them or hate them

Ever since seeing The Jerk I'm a big fan :)

I got one as a present and find this guy's lessons very easy to follow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GSqRIe-qc4

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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 3:05 pm 
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The Boss
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Location: Sheffield
Of course they're great.........get one and enjoy

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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 9:23 am 
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Hawley Groupie

Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:03 pm
Posts: 189
Location: kent
Thank you. Im going to an shop in Rochester (near where i live) now, to have a look at one. Im ridiculously over excited.


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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 5:31 pm 
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Hawley Groupie

Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:03 pm
Posts: 189
Location: kent
Bad news the neck was wobbly, on the one in Rochester. Good news, my mates daughter is going to Reading festival and needs cash and is selling me her old Uke! Played with it most of saturday night. However, my left hand finger tips are numb and painful at the same time. Any cures? Or how long until they harden up and stop being pathetic? Could only manage a half hour of practice this morning.


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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 5:49 pm 
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Hawleytastic!
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Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2007 12:07 am
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Location: Stoke-on-Trent
No cures - just keep playing! Also, what tuning are you using? I cheat and tune mine to the top four strings of a guitar - saves having to learn new chords....

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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:48 pm 
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Hawley Groupie

Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:03 pm
Posts: 189
Location: kent
efsb wrote:
No cures - just keep playing! Also, what tuning are you using? I cheat and tune mine to the top four strings of a guitar - saves having to learn new chords....


Oh lord, thats not good news. I cant stop playing, ive got a few blisters. Could I be pressing to hard? Im concentrating so much my whole body is stiff, and im exhausted after half and hour. Tuning????? I havent. The girl I got it from tuned it, I think, when she gave it to me. Well, she plucked the strings and twiddled the ends. What do I do? My brother plays guitar, can he show me what to do? How often does it need to be tuned?

Sorry if i sound like a half wit, but it is a first for me.

I have to say, I cant remember having so much fun. I absolutely love it. Its so exciting when you play a cord and it sounds lovely. It may be the best thing ive ever done.


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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:31 pm 
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Hawleytastic!
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Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2007 12:07 am
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Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Unless the machine heads (the twiddly knobs) are really good, you should tune it pretty much each time you play - or at least check its tuning. If you don't, then you'll be getting inaccurate sounds.

http://ukebuddy.com/ukulele-guide/begin ... -a-ukulele

There are several tunings for a ukulele - halfway down this page it gives you a few.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukulele

I use the guitar top 4 notes simply because I know them and I don't have to learn new chord shapes. The disadvantage of this is that it's more difficult for me to play in an authentic style playing, say Hawaiian tunes - but as i don't want to, it's not a problem...

Your fingers will harden up. If you've got long nails on the chord hand, with which you're pressing, that will mean that you're probably moving the position of your hand from a less painful one, to a more painful one. Short nails might help...! That way, you'll possibly harden the tips of your fingers more quickly.

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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:06 pm 
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Hawley Groupie

Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:03 pm
Posts: 189
Location: kent
Thank you. Nails cut. Does feel better. The girl i got it off did mention my chord hand looked like a chicken on a bicycle. Do the tuning things you put on the strings work very well? I think that may be the way to go. I dont mind spending money if it works. Im playing on it every day so it would be worth it. Went round to where my brother was working at lunchtime to make him tune it, he thinks ive gone barmy. But i can hear it sounds better, than it did this morning.


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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:16 pm 
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Hawleytastic!
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Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Do you mean something like these?

http://www.browndogbanjos.co.uk/joyo-jt ... -245-p.asp

They're OK - sometimes they don't seem to work - in that case, just move it and re-clip it and it will do, as they work off vibrations. Like most things they can be a bit hit and miss, but it's worth getting one. I've got a couple as I keep putting one down and forgetting where it is...

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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 4:41 pm 
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Hawley Groupie

Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:03 pm
Posts: 189
Location: kent
Yes, thats the sort of thing. Tilly (the girl i got it from) keeps hers attached to her jeans. I noticed it ages ago, but didnt like to mention it. Shes the same age as my youngest, and i know how much she loves being asked questions.

Thank you so much for this. Ive ordered one with my husbands credit card, he was rude about my 'plinky plonky noise'. Revenge is sweet.


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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 7:08 pm 
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Hawleytastic!
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Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:04 pm
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Location: Elephant & Castle
Ukelele is one of those words that no one can spell (I spell checked it!). Another is karaoke. Good to get yourself a big chord sheet, print one out from the internet, and then learn to play Richard's songs on the uke. Would like to hear 'Leave Your Body Behind You'!

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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 9:02 am 
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Hawley Groupie

Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:03 pm
Posts: 189
Location: kent
Im completely besotted with Duke (thats what Ive called my ukulele) Things are going well, fingertips are hardening up nicely. Im working on the basic chords everyday. One big snag, no matter what I do, i cant cover all 3 strings with my 1st finger. To do D7 I have to hold 1st finger down with 2nd finger, then use 3rd finger for 1st string. Is that ok? Or will it cause havac as I progress? Its that 2nd string, it will not stay down.

Im treating Duke to a case tomorrow, are there any i should avoid? He was given to me in a cardboard box, very undignified.


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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 1:29 pm 
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Hawleytastic!
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Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2007 12:07 am
Posts: 2899
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Try changing your wrist position; lift it up. It sounds like you're holding it too low, which might cause the problem you describe?

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 Post subject: Re: ukalele
PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:20 pm 
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Hawley Groupie

Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:03 pm
Posts: 189
Location: kent
I understand what you mean now. If you move your wrist up, its much easier to reach the chords as well. Why the hell dont they put useful information, like that, in the book. Been working on it most of the w.end. Think i may have got it now. Thank you. Wish id asked before.


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