guitar bashin'

Only A Fool - original song from early 1960's

2020-02-22T17:08:00.001+00:00

This is a very early example of my songs

and should be viewed in conjunction with my earlier post My early love of music it was actually written whilst my only instrument at home was piano, which I could barely pick out a melody on and a set of homemade drums which I had cobbled together from cardboard boxes, a toy drum set and biscuit tin lids. The uke part in this video was put together in a few minutes and which I had played (for practice about 3-4 times) hence a little hesitation and deviation (joke - from a UK radio quiz show, info for overseas readers. LOL)

See the lyrics on my poetry pages, where you will find more song lyrics from now on - see comment below.

A Ukulele Journey - Chapter two: My First Guitar

2020-02-20T23:06:00.000+00:00

Well thanks for waiting but here it is at last. I don't know how I have managed to hold back - except it was all so long ago and photos and memories are sadly few and far between. The photo here is me (honestly) around 1967/8, really looking cool or bloody silly depending on your vintage.

In an earlier post I alluded to another photo but although I have seen it recently, it seems to have been put away safely. Have you got places like that - you will at my age, so safe that I can't remember where to even begin looking.

So, what can I say? The guitar (an arched top Hohner or Hofner with "F" holes) was a Christmas present from my parents sometime between the ages of 12 and 14. I learnt to play from Bert Weedon's book, Play In A Day. Of course What you were able to play at the end of the first day was not explicitly stated. However I persevered and learnt to play a few chords and how to pick out a melody. This latter basically from my early attempts at the piano and an ability to play by ear. If you are unsure that means hearing the tune and being able to assess where each note was on the fretboard with at least only a few near misses. Not that I used my ears in the way that Jimmy Hendrix used his teeth.

Very soon I was frustrated at my progress and took out a subscription (with my own pocket money) to a postal course. This taught me how to use all six strings to form a chord which could be moved up the fretboard - the dreaded Barre chord! An expensive way to purchase a few sheets of paper but it came thru the post regularly with enough time to practice the contents.

I also purchased books on finger style, folk, country and BLUES. The latter I had not really been subjected to before but I soon took to it because of course R&R was king and driven to a large extent by the blues. Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee soon became firm favourites, a few years later having the pleasure of seeing them at The Birmingham Town Hall on a tour of the UK.

Around this time (1967/8) I also started dating my wife and attending the "JUG OF PUNCH" folk club run by Ian Campbell at Digbeth Civic Hall. A couple of his band later joined groups such as Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. Over 50 years later we still see the latter as often as we can, Still touring after all this time, although there have been many changes in the line-up.

But I am running ahead of myself, I was playing rock, folk, blues and country and of course by now I had heard The Shadows (firstly Apache in 1961). This changed my life - Hank Marvin was my first real hero - and I started playing their music. This of course meant I needed an electric guitar with a tremelo arm. I purchased a cheap solid model, very faintly looking like a strat. I am unhappy to say I cannot remember the make, I have no photos or any other recollections of this guitar. It filled a gap for me and I always felt the need for a Fender Stratocaster which took until I retired in 2000 to fill. I used to play the cheap guitar through the reel to reel tape I described in chapter 1, It never seemed to warrant a more expensive amplifier. As a last ignominious mention. I cannot remember what became of that guitar, no memory at all.

The arched top model lasted a good number of years but it was knocked over and the neck fell onto a chair. The tension in the strings, of course, simply pulled the neck out of the body. I attempted repairs but it was never the same and I swapped it a number of years later for a beat up old amplifier for another guitar which I then had. But this is the end of Chapter 2, more about that next guitar then.

A younger cousin showing you the guitar

I intend to include a couple of videos over the next few posts, of songs which I wrote using this red guitar. Some of my very earliest songs from the time of my early teens. probably will seem to be quite simple and bland, but of course I like them being biased.

Thanks for reaching the end.

My Early Love Of Music

2020-02-11T20:28:00.001+00:00

It is not a very exiting subject but the story has to start somewhere. My father had a love of music and could play almost any instrument which he tried. Mostly piano, accordian and spoons and a saw. Not forgetting an harmonica.

Playing a musical saw. and musical spoons

Have you ever seen anyone play a saw by bending it to produce musical notes? I must have gotten a taste for music from him. Something for which I am eternally grateful. My first instruments were using the family piano (badly, but I could pick out a tune or two), a plastic trumpet upon which I learnt a few military calls, such as, "Come To The Cookhouse Door" and "The Last Post". No I never considered a military career but the notes for the calls were included with the instructions for the trumpet. I can also recall a mouth organ and a penny whistle, neither of which I seemed to be able to master at the time.

Around about, and probably before I was ten (I know - it's not that young really nowadays ) I was bought a reel-to-reel tape recorder; That really got me going. I used it to record music from a small B&W TV which sat in our living room, taking pride of place. I still remember some of those songs and a favourite still today was Buffy St Marie singing Universal Soldier. Yes I know Donavan recorded it in the sixties but it was a poor cover of the original.

Buffy St Marie, A Canadian Cree Indian

I also used the tape recorder for recording myself, and sometimes my sister, singing. My mother often said that she could not understand how we managed to learn so many songs. It may be relevant to mention that I was chosen for the school choir at 7 or 8 years old, but on reflection it may be because of the power of my voice rather than the "pure tones" which I produced. the choir was entered for many school festivals but I do not recall ever winning anything. As an aside, I would sing all the time at home and to demonstrate how far my voice travelled mom used to get comments from neighbours who lived further away than I could have ever expected.

Mentioning my mother also reminds me that we used to have a radio on in the house most of the time. TV was only one channel and only on a few hours a day to start with. I guess I am remembering when I was 5 or six years old. A song I still remember from this time is Vera Lynn singing "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot". The first time I heard it I was in inconsolable tears because I thought that the little boy was me. I still sing this song at Christmas, and may even have a video on my PC, which I may look up and post on the blog.

Before I finish this instalment I would like to mention two other memories; the first was that used to collect lyrics. Sometimes I copied them from my tape recorder and sometimes cutting them out of magazines, such as "The Record Song Book" published in the 60's and 70's.

One last memory concerns a home made set of drums. Using a bass drum from a toy drum set as a snare drum (without the snare) various boxes and tins and I remember a circular biscuit tin lid into which I punched about two dozen nails. Hitting that "cymbal" gave a wonderful swishing sound. I mostly used pieces of thin dowel (sanded to round the ends) as drumsticks but Dad was able to get me a pair of steel brushes from a work mate who actually played the drums.

I did actually begin my song writing at this time. I could not yet play an instrument to play along with the songs (I could play a melody on the piano but not well enough to play along as a backing) so I knocked out a rythm on my drum kit. Songs were very simple and quite limpid as you might expect from a 10 year old. At least that is the best guess of my age at the time. Unfortunately I can no longer remember any of them or even their titles, must say something about them.

Apart from Buffy, other early inspiration came from Elvis, Buddy Holly, Billy Fury and so many others that I am not going to name them here. Most of them are not well remembered anyway.

OK, this post is rather longer than I expected but despite everything As I actually typed it in, I kept remembering odd bits of my musical experiences. And I haven't even mentioned the Zither. Maybe another time?

The Nearness Of You - acoustic ukulele version of this great song

2020-02-09T22:57:00.000+00:00

Just indexing some of the many videos I have recorded of me and my uke over the past few years and came across this one which shows a different style. Plus it is a song I really like. Hope you like it too.

I am going to take another opportunity to advertise UKULELE CENTRAL - SHIRLEY, UK further information is available on the previous post

If you play the uke, live in the Solihull or South Birmingham area and are free on Wednesday evenings, why not think about joining us for some fun from 8.00pm (most of us are there from around 7.30) to 10.30pm (or sometimes until we get kicked out if we are enjoying ourselves). All abilities welcome!
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Cover, CREEP Acoustic Ukuklele / vocal

2020-01-30T17:34:00.002+00:00

I belong to a fairy small ukulele club, "UKULELE CENTRAL Shirley". I first heard this song at one of our meetings in a new song book. It has become a favourite of mine. I just wanted to have a go and find how how it worked on an acoustic ukulele. A little rough in the vocal but that's me.

Ukulele Central, are group of friends who meet twice a month, on average, to enjoy a little convivial company and to partake of a little strumming to exercise our right arms (it's what your R arm is for). We jam for a couple of hours playing hits from the present day back to the 1950's, at The Shirley Club, Solihull.

Whilst we recognize the skills and expertise of one G. Formby, we prefer to work out on covers of more modern songs. But are always open to suggestions!

If you play the uke, live in the Solihull or South Birmingham area and are free on Wednesday evenings, why not think about joining us for some fun from 8.00pm (most of us are there from around 7.30) to 10.30pm (or sometimes until we get kicked out if we are enjoying ourselves)

We are always looking for new players at all levels, enthusiasm and a desire to improve is all that we ask. We are a very friendly crowd.

We perform at a few regular during the year year: we do mostly charity gigs, large and small, so you will be able to showcase your skills in public at whatever level you play. Many of Central's members played with Pudselele, a Ukulele band set up to support Children in Need. They played at both CarFest North and South two years ago and also the BBC (Birmingham) raising money for Children in Need.

Join our Face Book group or email us at, ukulelecentral14@gmail.com for further information.

A New, Original Song

2019-03-19T11:53:00.000+00:00

I have said many times that this blog was about songwriting; and mainly about my attempts at that. I have filled in with music videos of some of my fave artists and their songs as over the past (too many months and years to contemplate) my own songs have dried up.

I guess that I found more opportunity and expression in writing poetry rather than lyrics. In my poetry blog I have tried to explain this to my own satisfaction by suggesting that it was due to my usually writing songs by starting with a chord riff or two and adding melody to match using words / lyrics as placeholders. with this in mind I tried to write lyrics first but often forgot the melodies after a very short time. Even if I had had a clear worked out idea in my head.

Usually this was because I was not backing up those ideas with the chord riffs (giving them an existence?), maybe I was away from home or just not being thorough?

I have tried recording a few of the latest song ideas very shortly after they have appeared in my head. I have been sitting in front of my PC with a ukulele on my lap and using the built in webcam. It doesn't make for a very good video, technically or in performance terms, however I do then have this to fall back on when I find time to suit down to work on completing / editing the song. This has saved much scrap paper with unused ideas being cast aside.

As an example I am posting here a video of one of these half-formed ideas; the lyrics need final editing, I am playing a backing which I am making up as I go along to harmonise with a melody which is changing from verse to verse. BUT it does hold the germ of what I think is a good idea. Hopefully I can take this to a decent conclusion which I will post at some future date.

I tried to post the video (quite humorous in a crappy sort of way) but Blogger does not seem to enable the posting of videos (?) and I did not feel able to post it on You Tube until polished a little. Watch this space.

In the meantime you can check out the new lyric on my poetry blog - cheers!

Pink Floyd on the ukulele anyone?

2018-04-17T17:59:00.001+01:00

WISH YOU WERE HERE

a little bit of an experiment, wanting to see how it migh sound

Once again, I record myself because my own opnion is very important to me

But I have to hear it dispassionately to be able to really tell how it sounds.

See more on my channel, on You Tube

A new song - How Do You Play Your Ukulele

2018-03-27T20:59:00.000+01:00

Mmmmmm ....

Writing songs, thats's what it was all about when I started this blog. I seem to have gone around in circles ever since. But I have been writing poetry, and some of my readers may say, "well isn't that like writing a song?"

In a way yes, would be my answer. For me though poetry opens up a whole world of subjects that I would never contemplate writing a song about. I could not be pedantic about what I really mean but let me give you an example. The first poem I wrote was a failed song. I wrote the lyrics to "The Wind" just after Hurricane Katrina swamped New Orleans. It should have been a song but somehow it didn't work. So I called it a poem because I did like it, and still do.

Today, I finished off a song lyric which has been bouncing around in my head for (probably) months. I had written bits of it on scraps of paper which were in danger of getting lost. Something, sparked me off on a quest and I decided to get these down onto a more permanent footing and complete it. I even came up with a chord sequence for the song and started to put a tune to it. That still needs completing but I will try to record it on the PC and post to here asap. I must admit I am pretty pleased with it. And for those who want to see it, I include the whole lyric here. It is written Verse/chorus repeated three times. An unusual construct for me and one which I tend to think of as folksy. But I can think of many main stream popular songs which have this structure.

How Do You Play Your Ukulele

There's a singer that I follow in my town

I catch his act, when ever he's around

In pubs and clubs on stages

where ever he appears

He will always draw a crowd

Its not his voice they want to hear

chorus

How do you play, your ukulele

How do you make it sound so sweet

Of all the things I've ever learned

Nothing takes me close

To recreating what I hear

That sound I love the most

There's this little lady that I know

Feels the way I feel about your show

She says the way you play your uke

Sends shivers up her spine

Now I would like to make

That little lady mine. so tell me

chorus

How do you play, your ukulele

How do you make it sound so sweet

Of all the things I've ever learned

Nothing takes me close

To recreating what I hear

That sound I love the most

These guys and I have formed a little band

To make our name we need a helping hand

If only I could play

The uke just like you do

We could bring a little joy

And spread a little voo-oo-do

chorus

How do you play, your ukulele

How do you make it sound so sweet

Of all the things I've ever learned

Nothing takes me close

To recreating what I hear

That sound I love the most

well there it is, maybe there is a little folksy touch to it and that is why it took me so long to write? Just goes to show, always make a note of your thoughts and ideas. And never throw out those old ideas no matter how long they have been lying around.

I will be back with the recording soon I hope.

A bit of blues, and a load of laughs!

2018-03-14T20:26:00.005+00:00

Well here is a video that really does show me up. I had been writing a song and had a few lines down on paper.

I was also fiddling about with a little blues on my ukulele; would they work together - only one way to find out ........ and here it is!

and here are the lyrics which are not necessarily what I was singing, had I been drinking?

I'm Not There

Nobody listen to my plea

Nobody want's to listen to my plea

I'm just invisible, I'm not there

Nobody seems to care, For me.......

Call me mister No........body

I'm just mister No........body

Thats me!

Too many times Ive tried to grow

Be the kind of man, I'd like to know

I'm just invisible, I'm not there

Nobody seems to care, For me.......

Call me mister No........body

I'm just mister No........body

Thats me!

Nobody want to be my friend

They got excuses I can't comprehend

I might as well not be around, I'm not there

Nobody seems to care, For me.......

Another fun session with Dr John!

Dream Lover - cover

2018-02-25T11:31:00.001+00:00

Recently recorded cover version of this classic by Bobby Darin.

I have said so many times before that I record for one reason, and only one reason. What do I need to do to make this song work for me. Although, I do record some of my own songs to hear what they sound like ( when I can liste objectively) At my age (71) I have no thoughts of breaking into a new career .

I want to know where I can fit twiddly bits / new chords or even melodic lines in the accompaniment. Is the key really right for my voice, and should I change it.

Sometimes it is so easy to enjoy the performance and forget how to improve it. LOL!

Just A Quickie

2018-02-24T23:28:00.000+00:00

I have so very little time for blogging these days but every now and then I feel the need to share something. Today this is a new song lyric. I would have recorded this and included a You Tube vid, however I am struggling with the way the song goes together.

So just for now, in case I lose the scraps of paper this was written on (actually a couple of supermarket receipts) and the whole thing is forgotten, I am adding this "partial" post to this blog which some of you may remember as a songwriting blog. An aim which has been long forgotten.

I actually do not have a name for it yet but, here it is anyway:

chorus
Yesterday's a long time gone
Tomorrow's the day you've gotta move on
Today's the day you feared would never arrive
But here you are
And let's be clear that you've survived

verse 1
Yes I know you've had a loss
That person you knew has gone
Well you know we loved him too
Time for us all to move on

verse 2
Things are different today
Everything's frightening you
You know you can count on us
to do what you've gotta do

chorus
Yesterday's a long time gone
Tomorrow's the day you've gotta move on
Today's the day you feared would never arrive
But here you are
And let's be clear that you've survived

verse 3
Tomorrow brings adventure
As you learn to live with strife
Count on us , we're there for you
To help with your brand new life

chorus
Yesterday's a long time gone
Tomorrow's the day you've gotta move on
Today's the day you feared would never arrive
But here you are
And let's be clear that you've survived

chorus
Yesterday's a long time gone
Tomorrow's the day you've gotta move on
Today's the day you feared would never arrive
But here you are
And you've survived

I know the meter is not quite right and the rhymes are a bit naff, but I keep jotting down ideas and then losing them. I am trying this in desperation - I suppose. Having put in down in a public way I guess I am hoping that I will finish it for once.

(Came back today to edit content slightly and the phrasing)

WISH ME LUCK, please

Pudselele - collecting for BBC "Children In Need"

2017-11-13T21:25:00.001+00:00

A project specifically aimed at collecting for the BBC "Children In Need" (2017) was put together by our group/club chairman. This arose out of a chance to play at some of the smaller stages at CARFEST North and South. A small group of club members were hurriedly put together with a duo which included a lead player and a vocalist. The name for this "new" group, PUDSELELE , was decided on quite quickly and sounded just the job.

In the late summer we played a number of gigs, including some popup gigs at the Carfest festivals, North and South. The brain child of Chris Evans, a mixture of music and cars, was supported by The BBC in aid of "Children In Need"

I will possibly include another few videos in the next post, BTW our collecting buckets contained nearly £550 for the Children In Need appeal. A very pleasing amount.

Ukulele Central UK at Blakesley Hall

2017-11-08T11:25:00.000+00:00

Well, this is amazing, two posts on one day. But let's start as I mean to carry on.

This is just another gig from the club, "Ukulele Central UK", this time at a Birmingham Museum property at Stetchford; the wonderful Blakesley Hall. On this clip we feature a great vocalist, Charli . You may recognise the two tunes, Forget You and Eight Days A Week.

This is just an opportunity to include this video, so without further ado, lets go. 1,2,3,4 .....

Hope you like this one, and as before if you are in awe of our performance, and would like join us on our club nights at UKULELE Central UK. Find us on FaceBook and Twitter, all skill levels are welcome, help for beginners available. We meet in Solihull on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

Ukulele Central UK on FaceBook

Mr Brightside, a cover of The Killers hit on ukulele

2017-11-08T10:38:00.000+00:00

Seems like getting involved in playing the Uke, is taking up more of my time than writing the blog these days. But I hope to be getting myself sorted and getting back to writing up what is happening in my musical life. Of course now I am into my seventh decade, I really should have plenty of time for everything - but being retired isn't the easy ride it's cracked up to be.

Here is a video from a recent gig in aid of St Alphages Church in Solihull, would you believe the event was a Beer Festival which appears to be quite a fund raiser for them. This is the second year we have played this event and looks like we have been asked back again.

My first attempt at playing a lead for the group - scary. The question is why do we all look so worried when we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

If you are in awe of our performance, and would like join us on our club nights at UKULELE Central UK. Find us on FaceBook and Twitter, all skill levels are welcome, help for beginners available. We meet in Solihull on the first and third Wednesday of each month

New Video, The Nearness Of You

2017-03-20T15:03:00.000+00:00

OK I know it's not really new, but I have only just started learning this great Hoagy Carmichael song which I heard on Rod Stewart's album, the American Songbook.

I am so fond of beautiful melodies and meaningful lyrics, I just had to download a copy of the songsheet and see how it sounded on the old uke. This is not the first run thru but almost so. I do advocate anyone learning how to play record themselves - doesn't have to be a video - to hear objectively how they are improving; or conversely where they need to improve.

Anyway, here it is warts and all:-

More photos of ukulele central UK in concert

2017-03-20T13:12:00.001+00:00

Just a few more images of Ukulele Central in concert, etc. Hoping to capture a few memories of some of our earlier performances.

Poster photo of the group at 2016 Beer Festival at LRSC

Presentation of cheque to Headway at 2016 Christmas party;
it's in the envelope, honest!

2015 Ukulele Extravaganza

Outdoor concert at Family Fun Day,

Christmas 2014

Ukulele Central in concert

2017-03-19T17:48:00.000+00:00

As many of you know by now Ukulele Central UK gives many concerts at many different functions. Some we perform at for free, although a small donation helps in our charitable work. Many of our concerts are for charitable functions/orgaisations. Our latest - and something we are looking forward to is to play at the BBC CARFEST music festivals held to raise money for children in need. Can't say too much about these yet but should be happening in July and August this year.

We have played at residential homes, private parties, ladies night at the masonic lodge in Moseley, A ukulele festival at Warwick Racecourse (our first big occasion). We have played at at least three beer festivals for different organisations. We have given concerts at Church Halls and WI and I must not forget our christmas parties. One of our most enjoyable performances was a day with The Severn Valley Railway. Maybe I should say more about this in its own post.

Concert at the WI Solihull

Our Christmas party 2016

Note: this blog is a personal view and any bookings, etc, should be discussed with our group leader for before finalisation.

Ukulele Central UK

2017-03-19T17:16:00.000+00:00

I thought thta I would give a little shout out for the Ukulele Group I belong to, Everybody welcome, as long as you bring your uke and your vocal chords. We are a part of the Land Rover Social Club which means that we can use the facilities whic mostly means a private room twice a month but also consideration if we need rehearsal space at other times. And of course the main concert room for our annual charity etravaganza.

check out the Land Rover Social Club Site

Ukulele Central UK

Are you interested in getting together with fellow strummers for some fun

a drink and a Sing-a-long, playing songs from the 60’s 70’s 80’s etc.

Any age, any ability.

If so come and join us at

Land Rover Sports And Social Club

The 1st & 3rd Wed of every month

If you are interested email Phil at: ukulelecentral14@gmail.com

For more information Call:

Phil Beevers On:

07940 423 127 or 01564 898 932

Here's is the poster for the 2016 Extravaganza, at the end of the day we had a massed band of over 120 ukulele players from around Birmingham and the Midlands strumming and singing at the same time.

My Collection of Uke's is Growing ...

2017-03-19T12:01:00.002+00:00

I did forget one thing which I thought I might have shared. On the header, I introduced a photo of two ukuleles. Well I have to report that my collection of these instruments is growing - much to my wifes annoyance, specially when I still have several guitars which as I said last time I am not really using any more. So here is a sneak view of the growing collection.

It is called UAS or ukulele acquisition syndrome; something that many ukulele players suffer from. There appears to be no known cure and can last for years.

2017-03-19T11:51:00.003+00:00

Wow, I do seem to have forgotten this site!

So much to do and so little time; so what has kept me away? Well work and family life of course, but what do I do with my spare time? Let me see ...

I get a few evenings a week to myself nowadays and one or two of these are available for music. This is almost exclusively covered by the ukulele at the moment. I don't think I have picked up a guitar in ages. Oh, except for one recording I made recently. I wanted to do a short instrumental lead-in and the ukulele simply does not have enough sustain, even when amplified to make it sound as I wanted it. So, I had to press an acoustic guitar into use - just for a couple of bars though.

This was a cover of the song made popular by Josh Grobban, You raise me up. Lots of people have recorded it since then and why not it is a great melody.

Listen to Raise Me Up on "YouListen" (Not a site I would recommend because of extensive nag screens and advertising although it pushes itself as a fee site. But it is convenient so as not to use up too much of the free time I use on "SoundCloud".)

I hope to put up a better link soon.

The ukulele group, UkuleleCentral UK has gone from strength to strength and we have had a succession of gigs, which keep us busy. This photo shows the group at our second birthday extravaganza that we held in support of a cancer charity, Get Ahead, and for the second time we raised over £1000 for this very special organisation.

That's me on the extreme right. We vary the number of players at our gigs depending upon time (some of us still work) and place/occasion. For example this net photo shows us at a local school fete.

This time I have pointed myself out with the red arrow. And just one more photo set for this post .... This was from a day long gig on the Severn Valley Railway. We split our numbers into two and rode up and down the line from Bridgenorth to Kidderminster and played at stations along the way. And gave impromptu performances on the trains between the stations. As a final act, we met up at the recently improved visitor centre and played through our set as a single band. A lot of fun was had by all of us and some of the paying travellers as well.

Final act in the visitor centre

in the guard's van and one of our more sophisticated fans on the day

The first set of the day at Kidderminster

OK I believe that is enough for this post, don't want to bore you too much. I will say however that most places we visit for a gig often lead to repeat bookings, We will play at anywhere, anytime withing reason. But being a community group rather than a "band" we do need to be able to get enough volunteers to play at some times of the week/day. Certainly, we expect this trip on the railway to be repeated.

Magic Fly - Space (Cover by Kaibakorg)

2016-10-03T21:42:00.001+01:00

Just a quick nod to number one son who has recreated thte track by Space; Playing all parts (live) and even creating a video to go with it. Hope you like it!

And Then there were four ...

2016-09-22T15:06:00.000+01:00

It had to come, "ukulele acquisition syndrome" (UAS) knows no bounds, I did conquer a similar problem with guitars some years back and now have another fight on my hands.

My first uke was a Stagg, one of the higher end models from this supplier. Because it offers inexpensive imported models for schools at low cost of course, Stagg ukes often get poor reviews. I found my concert UC70 a great mid-range instrument. Yes, much more expensive models are better but by how much? listening to some of the reviews and comparisons, I think the player has much more to do with the sound than the instrument.

My second was a Gretch C9120. I wanted a tenor (slightly larger scale length) since I was having some difficulty holding some chords. My fingers did not seem to have enough room on the fretboard. I walked into a music shop whilst on a weekend away, asked about tenors, and they showed me the only one in the shop. I took it down off the wall, tuned it and played a few notes/chords. I loved it and walked out of the shop with a new tenor ukulele.

Now the third was a little bit of an experiment; I had by now become used to the fretboard on the concert uke and wondered if I could play a smaller instrument effectively. I did borrow some ukes at the club I go to but did not seem to have enough time with them. This "shop display model" came up on Ebay and it was such a good offer ( and the on-line reviews made it out to be a great starter uke) si I snatched the sellers hand off and I hade my third. Oh yes, it is an "Octopus". and I found it quite suitable for myself.

Now this last (and it will have to be the last (space constraints at home!!!) is also a Stagg, it is a UC80, very similar to the concert above but has all solid wood body rather than just a solid top. Anyway, although there is no built-in tuner, I decided to go for it. Again a very, very good offer on Ebay. Half the price of other suppliers and a third of the rec'ed retail price. How do you not go for it?
Besides I already have tuners.

Need to record a few tunes from this uke to give you all a taste - look out for the posts - soon!

Ukulele Extravaganza - Solihull

2016-09-06T14:28:00.000+01:00

September 18th .... it is all happening at the Land Rover Social Club.

Originally this was a sort of birthday celebration for Ukulele-Central (UK). Put together by our founder Phil, and held in support of the Gt Ahead Charity based at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. His efforts raised nearly £1100 for this worthy cause.

The aim of the day is to have fun, by playing the ukulele. A number of local (and some not so local) groups played a shortish set of around 30 minutes and then at the end of the evening everyone got back up and played a set together - over 120 ukes took part in this mass jam.

This year promises to be even bigger and better, with more bands/groups and open mic spots for individuals or smaller groups.

Leave a comment if you would like contact details

Next Gig - Land Rover Social Club Beer Festival

2016-08-30T00:22:00.000+01:00

Strangely we seem to be doing a fair number of Beer Festivals, Can't understand why the offer of free beer has anything to do with it.

Or maybe it is the fact that the audience has been tanked up and joins in with anything and everything and doesn't mind the odd occasional blooper.

Maybe we might see you there on one night or the other if you are in the neighbourhood.

Severn Valley Railway Gig for UKULELE-CENTRAL-UK

2016-08-28T21:30:00.000+01:00

Wow what a day!

We started early at Kidderminster station and before we had finished the group had split into two bands and played 10 sets at three of the stations on this famous volunteer run railway. Pardon my taking the opportunity but I thought that you might like to see the tall guy, me, in more detail. So here I am:-

BTW Phil, our leader, was trying to encourage a little audience participation when the photo was taken.

The group settled down at Kidderminster and played a set of half-a-dozen well-loved songs, mainly from the sixties although a couple had a lesser vintage. We then split into two bands and went our separate ways. More music at Bridgenorth at the other end of the line and at Highley, where there is a new purpose built visitor centre and museum.

At Bridgenorth, our official photographer (Kath?) seems to have been more interested in the audience in this shot:-

BTW, I am third from the camera in this photo, that's me wearing the dark glasses!

And in the museum, we set up a stage between two steam engines, perhaps a comment on our music. Who Knows?

There I am again in the middle of the action, You would think that being a tall guy, I should be on the back line, where I might be able to take it a little easier at times.

Anyway, everybody had a very enjoyable, if "wearying" time. thanks to all at The Severn Vally Railway.

Hope to be back with news of more gigs in the next few weeks.