Keeping Up at Ukulele Club - 10 Tips for Stress Free Strumming

As of August 2022, many of us are getting used to going back out to gigs, festivals and ukulele clubs. Many people picked up the uke during lockdown, though, and may be coming to a uke club club for the first time, so here are 10 tips to get you going!
00:00 Intro
01:51 Listen
03:20 Do You Know The Song?
04:13 Scan The Sheet
05:35 Simplify
06:40 Eye Contact
11:17 Play With Confidence
12:22 Look Ahead
14:01 Don't Stop
15:42 Write Notes
16:45 Have Fun!
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[@spinnersue17]

Phil, this video could have been made for me! I was a lockdown beginner, taught myself by following various uke tutors, mostly American. here on YT, then later I found yourself. I joined my quite large local village group when I had learned about 6 chords and had never played and sung at the same time. I don't mind admitting that as they all sang and played through the songbook, I felt totally out of my depth and thought about not returning, despite the warm welcome. However, I made myself carry on and improved every week and then it was lockdown again and we went onto Zoom which really helped me as I could play at my own speed with nobody listening and watching and my confidence soared..I even started to lead two or three songs each session and really looked forward to it...on Zoom we were down to about 12 players each session and I really got to know them and we had great fun. Unfortunately I have not been able to play for 8mths due to a shoulder injury and when I do eventually return I will feel like a beginner again but I know with practice I will catch up. Thanks for another great video which will be so useful for newbies. x

[@MrDparker69]

Yet another excellent video. Isn’t it great that Phil takes the time to make these videos that help us so so much. Thank you for all you do Phil. Danny

[@fromthedell1960]

Phil you are the best explains everything in easy terms thank you so much

[@ChrisBrown01]

Thanks Phil Just shared this with the Windsor Ukulele group

[@derekbudd2394]

Superb as ever Phil, such valuable and constructive observations, but if only the leaders would also take a moment to consider these viewpoints. Often the meetings are impromptu with little planning, rehearsals or more importantly a sound level check. After 50 years in broadcasting I’ve been privileged to have filmed numerous musical events. Like everything in life it can only be improved by planning, making players aware of tunes in plenty of time beforehand to enable practice, practice. Some clubs naturally suffer by mixed abilities, leaving beginners without a knowledge of strumming patterns and timing, if they are suddenly presented with a tune they don’t know. There are photocopies of chord/lyrics continually passed around, often too many songs in club songbooks. Great advice about the leader/conductor reminding them that they are there not always as the star performer, but to showcase and lead their group. Singing is often overlooked and with old age it’s impossible not to keep looking at the music sheet if not regularly practiced, or as you say scanned beforehand. Performance is also about connecting with an audience, not looking down all the time, especially with the right acoustic balance, it’s not just the leader’s amplified audio level, it’s the ability of the choral vocals, that create harmonies etc. it’s sad to so often hear the same strumming pattern throughout different songs. Practice and rehearsals then give the ability for creative playing as well as not overpowering other players. We often forget that many bands are only as good as their own favourite hits, that require practice and perfection. Only then will it sound alright on the night. Well done for sharing your observations.

[@jeffweinbergeruke]

Excellent! I'll share this with our uke club.

[@thelmajorge4109]

Thank you for your advice. Its very helpful

[@Barbiejay2]

EXCELLENT tips which I will take to my group next week, thank you Phil

[@MK1-SK2]

##5tip is gold❤thanks Phil

[@07747690036]

80 years young poor eyes and grand kids buy me a ukulele Thanks for your inspiration, I will join u3a Nantwich

[@honeybunchhoneybunch9954]

Great tips thanks and am learning so much from your videos they’re such a big help.

[@michaelgatens5621]

All good advice from Phil. Lots of new players spend time either apologising for not being able to play yet! "We're all learning" is my response. The info about 'hiding behind the book' is so often an issue as playing with a group IS different to playing in your spare room on your own. When you see others playing you can also hear them! Thanks Phil

[@dmon1996]

Thank God for your video! I have always wanted to play but after a few tries with guitar lessons and my fat short fingers just frustrating the hell out of me, I took the plunge and bought a tenor ukulele. I have a friend who has guided me with what to look out for and such, but he has been nudging me to come out to his club. I watched some of their videos and it scared the hell out of me!!! But with your great suggestions, I figure I can go and not look the total fool, or even worse... give up before having a fair chance to answer this yearning... I have now liked your vid, and subscribed to your channel. Keep up the great encouragement!!!

[@PhilDoleman]

Thank you! Do go along, clubs are very friendly places and you'll find that many will have lots of people who felt a lot like you just a few weeks ago.

[@EagleUkes]

Hi Phil....myself and my wife Roz run a Ukulele Group ( Eagle Ukes ) which has been going 5 years ( birthday today..yeah ). We started with 8 members and have grown to nearly 30. Your advice is really great ( as always ) I would add the huge benefit of plenty of regular home practice inbetween club visits rather than leaving your playing to just when you attend the group. Also...strongly recommend regular club attendance to keep up to date with what the group is doing. Myself and Roz do stand in front of the group at practice to lead and instruct but we can easily stand on the back row of players and behind seated players at gigs as they are so well rehearsed and we do have a monitor so folk that cant see us can still hear everything...but youre so right in persuading everyone to join a group, playing music with others is great and friendships made are priceless....oh....and if there isnt a local group then why not start one like we did?..uke players are the nicest folk you could wish to meet....😊...sending you our love and best wishes.❤

[@PhilDoleman]

Hi Graham, That's great to hear! Absolutely, I do see lots of people who only pick up their uke on club night! I'll have to come and visit Eagle Ukes sometime!

[@EagleUkes]

@@PhilDoleman ...you'd be welcome anytime Phil as a guest of honour...👍🙂....we meet at Eaglescliffe Village Hall,590 Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe 4:30 to 6:00pm every Friday. ...🎵🎶💖

[@stanleysokolow]

A strumming tip: Watch Phil's lesson on strumming patterns: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpO2nolsfq-keLc . You'll learn how not to stress about the strumming pattern that other people or the leader are doing. Watch the leader's strumming arm and synchronize yourself with his tempo and down strums. Then just don't worry about where to play the strums or when to skip over the strings.

[@davegee5037]

Hey have to thank you for you lesson on learning the fret board.and understanding it. Looking forward to meeting you at Bosworth hall 😊

[@PhilDoleman]

See you there!

[@stephmabee8155]

Great video! I’m forwarding it to my bro who wants to start playing… well done Phil..

[@judynpeterjones3307]

Very informative video Phil, will benefit all groups, thank you!

[@georgefrench1907]

Very useful. Thanks.

[@laekhastephens1269]

Very helpful thank you 😊

[@jeancaunce21]

Thanks Phil…all very sound advice.

[@brianchild3242]

Thank Phil, I played guitar as a hobby but when I retired I decided to join a Ukulele club. Our group is part of U3A Crowborough. That was nearly four years ago, now I occasionally run the group and I love it. Our members range from excellent to beginners and we all welcome and help our new members. I have just found your videos and I have learnt quite a bit from them which has also helped my guitar playing. I have definitely git the bug, I have four ukes and the only one I haven’t really played properly is the bass so any guidance on this would be a godsend. Once again thank you.

[@PhilDoleman]

Thanks Brian, I started life as a bass player and I do own a uBass, so I really ought to do some videos with it! In the meantime though, check out Ukulele Wales, there are lots of uBass lesson on there kzbin.info Cheers, Phil

[@dieabm]

Danke!

[@blue2824]

Thank you Phil, I’m just getting started and learning some chords etc. I hope to get good enough to look for a group or club over the next few months or so and these tips you share really make a lot of sense. I think my personal fear level might be a bit less of a problem when that time comes for me because of your tips. Thank you for sharing. Roy Auburn, WA. USA

[@PhilDoleman]

Hi Roy, Please do join a club, they're very welcoming places. Glad that it's helped give you some confidence to go for it!

[@alanwhitney3263]

Hopefully getting back to uke club soon after Covid/other health issues. Practice most days for 5 or 10 minutes, any longer seems too much unfortunately.

[@PhilDoleman]

Sorry to hear that Alan, hope you're back to full strength soon!

[@catch22again]

I belonged to several clubs before Covid in fact you visited our club at Daventry. I'm now lost because they have all closed and now I've moved house. I was playing for my mum in her care home but she sadly passed away. I've been thinking of starting my own club but am not sure I have the confidence and ability to run one. I started playing with a friend but she gave up now I'm finding it hard to sit down and play on my own which is a real shame. I've now probably picked up so many bad habits in my playing.

[@PhilDoleman]

I'm sorry to hear about your Mum, and that you're feeling lost. Where are you now? There are often clubs that are a bit 'under the radar', I may be able to put you in touch with one. I'm sure you could start your own club, I know lots of people who've done it even if (or most likely because) they felt they weren't 'good enough', and it's helped them immensely, not just in their playing, but also in find ing a group of like-minded people. Feel free to drop me a line, you can get in touch through my website phildoleman.co.uk, there's a little envelope icon at the bottom of the page and that email will come straight to me.

[@johnchisholm7350]

Youre bloody annoying Phil! You make it look so easy, but “keeping up” is going to save my life. John the Pom

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I'm afraid there are a lol of performance enhancing drugs in my local ukulele group.