Reply to: The Good, the Bad and the Ukulele

[stek]

I just bought a Rickenbacker 360/12 WB, 24 fret neck, toaster pickups, from USA.

[darmstadt]

Just bought one as well, actually for Frau D. (part of her belated birthday presents), a Peavey one:

[barrydidit]

Lured to the dark side....well then, you are lost !!

Don't worry, i've laid a trail of breadcrumbs.... Any other suggestions for beginners type tunes?

[TestMangler]

Well, the Uke is here. And the tuner. And the book thing. Unfortunately, I'm having to do as much learning as her in order to be able to explain stuff. Bah. I'm not following the instructions too well (first up is Rivers of Babylon but can i f* get the notes to sound anything like).

So i've had a little think, found me a youtube demo of Duelling Banjo's, and after an hour i've got something vaguely recognisable as a tune out of the thing. I'm quite pleased with myself, so thanks for all your input guys. I'm sure the little one will do me proud if she can master that for the first day of term

Fingers hurt now though - i'm gonna bathe them in alcohol. I reckon a litre of scrumpy ought to do the trick.

Lured to the dark side....well then, you are lost !!

[barrydidit]

Well, the Uke is here. And the tuner. And the book thing. Unfortunately, I'm having to do as much learning as her in order to be able to explain stuff. Bah. I'm not following the instructions too well (first up is Rivers of Babylon but can i f* get the notes to sound anything like).

So i've had a little think, found me a youtube demo of Duelling Banjo's, and after an hour i've got something vaguely recognisable as a tune out of the thing. I'm quite pleased with myself, so thanks for all your input guys. I'm sure the little one will do me proud if she can master that for the first day of term

Fingers hurt now though - i'm gonna bathe them in alcohol. I reckon a litre of scrumpy ought to do the trick.

[DaveB]

Get two, and learn with her.

+1.

Good duet here

[Cliphead]

[socialworker]

Doesn't the ukulele have an old fashioned image?

I always associated it with the 1930's comedian George Formby, who was a favourite of my grandfather's

On the other hand maybe it's me wot's old fashioned

That's the ukulele banjo you're thinking of.

[stek]

Nothing wrong with a ukelele especially as she's so young. A dreadnaught size (the most common size of acoustic) guitar would be huge for her, unplayable in fact. She can always try guitar in a couple of years if she's enjoying the uke.

I'd second Cliphead's advice. It's a false economy to get the cheapest instrument to see if someone likes it, because it will be so hard to play that they definitely won't enjoy it. I've played guitar for about 15 years now and I still pick up someone's el cheapo guitar once in a while and think "Christ, this thing is murder to play", so imagine what it's like if you're just starting out and have no calluses on your fingers.

I'll second that, I just bought an Epiphone 12-string acoustic, cracking guitar, action on the 12th fret is incredibly low, only one weird fault with it, octave G goes out slightly all the time - restring in order but they're all new anyway. Probably just need a good stretch....

[cojak]

[KentPhilip]

Doesn't the ukulele have an old fashioned image?

I always associated it with the 1930's comedian George Formby, who was a favourite of my grandfather's

On the other hand maybe it's me wot's old fashioned

[TestMangler]

Nothing wrong with a ukelele especially to start a bonfire. A dreadnaught size (the most common size of acoustic) guitar would be huge for her, unplayable in fact. She can always try guitar in a couple of years if she's enjoying the uke.

I'd second Cliphead's advice. It's a false economy to get the cheapest instrument to see if someone likes it, because it will be so hard to play that they definitely won't enjoy it. I've played guitar for about 15 years now and I still pick up someone's el cheapo guitar once in a while and think "Christ, this thing is murder to play", so imagine what it's like if you're just starting out and have no calluses on your fingers.

FTFY !!

[Cliphead]

...get a Snark.

What I use but keep some of these batteries in the case, I just ordered these for my Snark. Yep, twenty for 3 quid free postage

[Bunk]

Yeah well, i've noted your uke-phobic tendancies during my research so your interjection wasn't exactly unexpected. What was unexpected was the helpful tuner advice, i shall investigate.

As for a guitar, she's at an awkward size - to big to be sent up chimneys and too small to be sent down t'pit. A uke will do her grand for the time being, thanks very much.

Nothing wrong with a ukelele especially as she's so young. A dreadnaught size (the most common size of acoustic) guitar would be huge for her, unplayable in fact. She can always try guitar in a couple of years if she's enjoying the uke.

I'd second Cliphead's advice. It's a false economy to get the cheapest instrument to see if someone likes it, because it will be so hard to play that they definitely won't enjoy it. I've played guitar for about 15 years now and I still pick up someone's el cheapo guitar once in a while and think "Christ, this thing is murder to play", so imagine what it's like if you're just starting out and have no calluses on your fingers.

[barrydidit]

Sound advice. Clipster, bear in mind he's from Yorkshire though, so he'll be looking through his collection of ha'pennys right now to see if he can afford the two shilling one.

Barrydidit, let the contractor overtake the yorkshireman in you and splash out. Buy the kid a decent guitar (not a uke) and when you're choosing the electronic clip on tuner, get a Snark.

Yeah well, i've noted your uke-phobic tendancies during my research so your interjection wasn't exactly unexpected. What was unexpected was the helpful tuner advice, i shall investigate.

As for a guitar, she's at an awkward size - to big to be sent up chimneys and too small to be sent down t'pit. A uke will do her grand for the time being, thanks very much.