11713817_10153179383697874_7886691864695580183_oBeginners Group

Many of our members had never played a musical instrument before joining the jam. We particularly welcome beginners at our jam sessions.

On the alternate weeks when the main jam doesn’t meet, we hold a group for beginners and improvers. We take things more slowly at these sessions. If you would like to come along to join in, just to listen or sing or just to get an idea of what the group is like, you are very welcome. You can find the dates of our meetings on the Calendar and the details of what we will play at the next beginners session at the Next Beginners and Improvers Page.

If you are looking for daytime, individual or fingerpicking lessons, please use the contact form and address your message to Rosemary or visit Rosemary’s website ukuleletime.co.uk.

Mailing list for beginners and improvers

You can sign up for the mailing list to be told when the song are up for the next session and any announcements that we have to make such as cancellations. We won’t SPAM you or sell your details. Click here to subscribe.

Info for Beginners

In the meantime, here are some links to useful reading, which we hope you’ll find useful.Feel free to print them off if you want.

Beginners Getting Started Handbook
Chord Chart
Left-handed Chord Chart (i.e. for use if your ukulele has been strung to make it easier for left-handed playing)
Beginners/Improvers song suggestions (See ‘Songs’ tab above for songsheets)
Buying a ukulele
Basic Strums See also Video instructions for strumming
Notes on Basic Strumming
How to read tablature or see this YouTube video

Learn from Will Grove-White of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Will Grove-White’s website has 3 lessons for getting started. Don’t be put off by the simplicity of the website. The content is brilliant for new beginners:

http://willgrovewhite.com/?/learn/learn-how-to-play/

(If you don’t know the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain do look out for one of their shows. They spend a lot of their time touring overseas but they do play locally too. UOGB Website)

Step-by-step lessons from Pineapple Pete’s Uke School

The lessons from Pineapple Pete’s Uke School start very simply but take you on to quite advanced techniques too. There are animations with sound which you can strum along with, ideal if you are struggling with strumming your first chords. An excellent way to start learning to play.

Learn by Video

If you wanted to get a head start before coming along to one of our evenings, there are so many videos for all abilities, from complete beginners to more advanced players out there on the web.

This one is very straightforward and quite amusing:

The Ukulele Teacher

Bill suggested this collection:

http://dailyfrail.com/the-ukulele-project/

or you might like this German chap – learn to play in less than 10 minutes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APYXhN8yUg0&feature=related

Or, if you are ready for some slightly more challenging chords and a new strum pattern, you could learn this Hawaiian song called ‘White Sandy Beach’ from Jody Kamisato of ‘Ukulele Essence. He’s just so laid back it’s a pleasure to watch!
Lesson 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78nr8QMaUbI
Lesson 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMwbDTRFKAE

However you decide to get started, we wish you fun with your ukulele – happy strumming!