Ukeleles?

[janewilliams20]

I have an invite to join a ukelele group, starting next year. Socialising, music together - all good stuff. I have never touched a uke, much less tried to play one, and my knowledge gets as far as "sort of like a baby guitar, so fretted strings, right?" I've never played fretted strings.

So, musician friends, please Eddicate me? The lady who invited me seems to think I'll be able to pick up enough to join in in five minutes or so, and borrow one of hers, but I'm less confident. What do I need to know? Also, if I buy one myself, what should I look out for and what should I avoid? Any recommended teach-yourself books?

Comments

[needled_ink_1975]

Catch-up reading on Reading page (need to do a*lot* of that).

If you've not found any good advice yet, these folks will probably help out. They're in Bournemouth but calling 'em costs nothing (except what it costs to call Bournemouth *grin*).

Ukes are cool, and yes, honestly easy to play—totally non-musical people have become uke players in not much time. Relatively easy to tune, just depends on the type you settle with—more than 4 strings = probably easier to get a tuner, if you don't have access to a piano.

Altogether a lovely instrument, but not quite as straightforward as people think. There are many types of uke, ranging from sopranino to bass, 4- to 8-string.

If you take up that offer, hope you get lots of joy out of it.

...and all the best for the new year.

–Nici