Does anyone here play the Ukelele?

So let m tell you hollydolly my story of learning the ukulele. Years ago I took a Beginners class to learn at our Seniors Centre. Lovely young woman( university student) was the teacher. As we got started, the class of about 10 maybe less, all of them knew how to play the ukulele. That was the first surprise. So when the teacher asked after some practice to strum some chords, well, I looked like an idiot as I was super, super slow. But the teacher was very kind. Then I had no idea that it hurts to play the ukulele. That was my second surprise. My finger tips would be in pain practising. Apparently, after the calluses form on your finger tips, they won't hurt anymore.

Well long story short, even after practising at home a lot (poor hubby), at the end of the class the teacher suggested that I re-take the class. No surprise, all the beginners in the class who were not beginners proceeded to the Intermediate level. Well, with my still sore finger tips and having to type at my day job, I decided ukulele was not for me. I found piano which I had taken when I was much, much younger was a hell of a lot easier. But I know there are many people who probably would disagree with me.
 
LoveTulips said:
So let m tell you hollydolly my story of learning the ukulele. Years ago I took a Beginners class to learn at our Seniors Centre. Lovely young woman( university student) was the teacher. As we got started, the class of about 10 maybe less, all of them knew how to play the ukulele. That was the first surprise. So when the teacher asked after some practice to strum some chords, well, I looked like an idiot as I was super, super slow. But the teacher was very kind. Then I had no idea that it hurts to play the ukulele. That was my second surprise. My finger tips would be in pain practising. Apparently, after the calluses form on your finger tips, they won't hurt anymore.

Well long story short, even after practising at home a lot (poor hubby), at the end of the class the teacher suggested that I re-take the class. No surprise, all the beginners in the class who were not beginners proceeded to the Intermediate level. Well, with my still sore finger tips and having to type at my day job, I decided ukulele was not for me. I found piano which I had taken when I was much, much younger was a hell of a lot easier. But I know there are many people who probably would disagree with me.
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Thanks for that insight LT...helps a lot to get perspectives before I decide whether to buy and learn or not...

well the truth is I wondered if it would hurt my fingers like a guitar would, given I already have OA in most of my fingers, particualrly the right and they are very painful most days. However I've learned that for the Uke you can use a plectrum, but not like the ones for a guitar which will dull the sound or make it twangy.. but a Felt finger Ukelele Pick or leather .. which apparently make the sound soft, and protect your fingers..

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hollydolly said:
Thanks for that insight LT...helps a lot to get perspectives before I decide whether to buy and learn or not...

well the truth is I wondered if it would hurt my fingers like a guitar would, given I already have OA in most of my fingers, particualrly the right and they are very painful most days. However I've learned that for the Uke you can use a plectrum, but not like the ones for a guitar which will dull the sound or make it twangy.. but a Felt finger Ukelele Pick or leather .. which apparently make the sound soft, and protect your fingers..

717s52O0wOL._AC_UF350,350_QL80_DpWeblab_.jpg
u.png
Click to expand...
Well, heck I wish someone at that time would have suggested one of those thingies that you are showing. Who knows, maybe, I will try again the ukulele.
 
LoveTulips said:
Well, heck I wish someone at that time would have suggested one of those thingies that you are showing. Who knows, maybe, I will try again the ukulele.
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I think I will go ahead and learn to play the Ukulele when I get back from my trip....... I'll let you know how I get on with the Felt picks...:D
 
Pappy said:
Hi Holly. Started playing back in the 60s. I like the tenor size uke. Has a lower warm sound and it’s larger than its counterparts. Haven’t played in years and as soon as this wrist heals I may dig it out of the closet.
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I'm thinking of starting with the Soprano Uke , Pappy.. do you think that's a good idea ? I don't want anything that's going to sound too tinny...
 
My father won some money at the races and bought a Uke with the winnings. He could play it by just strumming chords. As he got better he used to bring it out at parties at our house, he was a great hit. Later on, when they had a concert at the local church he and another man would get up and play songs from the movies. He had a lovely Baritone singing voice and decided to make a tape of himself singing at least 50 songs that he knew. I still have the tapes at home. Two of my friends have joined Ukulele orchestras and they have a great time.
 

Does anyone here play the Ukelele?​


Holly, are you thinking of becoming a Window Cleaner? 😊

George Formby - When I'm cleaning windows​

 
Does this mean that you aspiring ukulele players will someday favor (?) us with a performance of Tiptoe Through the Tulips in the style of Tiny Tim? 🙀

The performance is from Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. Dick Martin’s facial expressions are priceless!

 
hollydolly said:
*M* I have OA in my fingers , but I'm not going to let it stop me because I'm gonna be using a Pick... so I'm hoping my fingers won't get painful..
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I don't play a uke but I do play a guitar. I understand your issue with OA in your right (strumming) hand, but I believe the talk is about sore fingers and callouses on the fingers that depress the strings on the fret board. It is certainly painful learning on a steel string guitar. Maybe I am not understanding the conversation.
 
Tom52 said:
I don't play a uke but I do play a guitar. I understand your issue with OA in your right (strumming) hand, but I believe the talk is about sore fingers and callouses on the fingers that depress the strings on the fret board. It is certainly painful learning on a steel string guitar. Maybe I am not understanding the conversation.
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Sorry...what exactly don't you understand about Arthritis in my fingers ?:unsure:
 
Tom52 said:
I don't play a uke but I do play a guitar. I understand your issue with OA in your right (strumming) hand, but I believe the talk is about sore fingers and callouses on the fingers that depress the strings on the fret board. It is certainly painful learning on a steel string guitar. Maybe I am not understanding the conversation.
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I'm with @Tom52 . . . a bit confused. On a standard, steel-stringed guitar the callouses (and associated pain) are on the left hand. On an acoustical guitar with nylon strings or an electric guitar with flat-wound strings, it can be somewhat less. In any case, the fingers on the fret board must have a certain amount of strength and agility.

I was, in large part, a "finger picker" so my right hand was also busy, but to simply strum . . . ? Picks (for the right hand) come in an infinite number of shapes, sizes, materials and colors (including the always popular "left side of the thumb"). @hollydolly if your left hand is up to the task, I say "Go for it!" :D
 
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Tommy said:
I'm with @Tom52 . . . a bit confused. On a standard, steel-stringed guitar the callouses (and associated pain) are on the left hand. On an acoustical guitar with nylon strings or an electric guitar with flat-wound strings, it can be somewhat less. In any case, the fingers on the fret board must have a certain amount of strength and agility.

I was, in large part, a "finger picker" so my right hand was also busy, but to simply strum . . . ? Picks (for the right hand) come in an infinite number of shapes, sizes, materials and colors (including the always popular "left side of the thumb"). @hollydolly if your left hand is up to the task, I say "Go for it!" :D
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No I will be playing with my right hand...both hands have osteoarthritis..I'm confused why you are confused ?
 
:unsure::unsure::ROFLMAO: I'm sooo sorry @hollydolly. Now I'm feeling that I'm being a pest but I'm just trying to be helpful.

I can't think of any hand-held stringed instrument that can be played with only one hand. Ukulele, guitar, banjo, violin, &c. and in most cases it's the left hand (the one on the fret board, or "neck", of the instrument) that does most of the work. You have to depress and hold different strings on different frets in different combinations (I.e., chords) with the left hand while strumming with the right. The required chords change frequently throughout a song. Hence, the fingers of the left hand are constantly applying pressure and frequently changing position. Meanwhile, the right hand (which is strumming using a pick) can be held in a relatively fixed position with most of the movement limited to the wrist and forearm.

I don't have arthritis in my hands (thank God) so maybe I'm not understanding your situation. At any rate, I wish you all the best! Please don't take offense. You're one of my special people on SF! ❤️
 

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