Hi Matt, Likewise! I have only recently discovered how to use the split screen setting on my iPad. Now I have the luxury of watching your lesson and following the sheet music. Not sure though what my school technology teacher would write in my end of year report…..probably’room for vast improvement, needs to focus on this subject instead of the ukulele’…

Hi James, Thanks for the message, makes me feel loads better about my tech skills! I fumble and stumble along but I now find I gradually get there! More often by accident, but rarely by design. I press the keys then wait and see. But yes Meta has been a minefield to say the least. Thanks to Karen though I am now a member of the Facebook group and have posted some stuff over the last week. Thanks for the support and advice though, very much appreciated. Now all I have to do is focus on my daily uke practice sessions.

Hi Karen, 10pm here. I tried to access one of my FB messages in my mail which takes me to my page..same request again for password. But every time I have to enter new password. Google my account, same problem. I’ll try tomorrow, once on my page I’ll tap on bell icon as indicated. Thank you again for all your help and time, apologies from me. Must be something I’m doing but with a clear head I’m sure I’ll work it out tomorrow. Best wishes Anthony

Hi Karen, Apologies, I have been going through my emails, but no invite message. I have googled Hangout page and password thing all over again. I must be missing something or not hitting the right key. I’ll search again.

Hi Karen, Many, many thanks for all your help. I have only just gone back onto my iPad so I will check my messages and accept your friend request. Really feel more involved now with our community! Best wishes Anthony

Hi Karen, Thanks! …You’re a star! ….That’s my FB page Brilliant!

Hi Karen, Many thanks, I’ll sort that out this morning. 7.05am sitting in the kitchen with strong brewed coffee and my uke, best way to start the day! Looking forward to watching and learning Matt’s latest fantastic Beatles arrangement this morning as well….’Here Comes The Sun’…and right on time it’s now hitting my kitchen wall! Looking forward to chatting on the Facebook page…thanks for helping out a lost soul in this ever increasing digital world…leaving me way behind….across the universe.. Sincere regards Anthony

Hi Joseph, Absolutely! I also think we share the same wavelength. Look forward to exchanging ideas and other stuff. I’m just over a year into learning now and it has taken up to now to not even fully master strumming and changing chords but 4/4 counting 1&2&3&4& and changing chords is going pretty fine. I find playing a slow 12 bars Blues chords sequence in A particularly useful if you play A x3, A7x1, D7x2, A x2 E7….my favourite chord! X1, D7 x1, A x1, E7 turnaround x1. Play, repeat …sounds great and real Bluesy!

Hi Joseph, For a while now I have been focused entirely on Matt’s excellent Beatles course, specifically the chord melody songs. After watching Matt’s lesson about how to overcome nerves, I am keen to build a small repertoire of songs that I know inside out. Gradually I’ll focus on the Beatles pieces in the course that involve more strumming. I play through all the chord melodies every practice session. However there are gaps in each song where I am unable to remember what comes next, so I try to focus on these areas more. I don’t try to flap too much about this as I know there will come a time when everything simply clicks. This is still some way off but I don’t let it spoil my enjoyment of playing Matt’s gorgeous arrangements. Yesterday is 90% there now except for a few chords, so that song forms the base. Apart from that I am slowly working through the Intermediate Course and Fingerstyle, also love the Blues! I like to mix it all up because I’m not a fan of Magpies! As for what I’m into listening to at present, I have recently discovered Slim Harpo, favourite track ‘Tip On In’, Robert Plant and the new Sparks album MAD. The Beatles are on my turntable so to speak most of the time now and there are so many favourites to choose from. Learning their songs has really got me into them, so ‘She Came In Through The Bathroom Window, Come Together, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Ticket To Ride..gosh the list goes on. Cheers Anthony

Hi Karen, Just retiring for the night and iPad pinged these guys. Took a minute to cotton on it was spam. Apologies for late post, just thought better see what it was been half asleep.

And also after me getting all sentimental about the aNueNue been my first Uke and that parting would be such sweet sorrow! Still onwards and upwards?

Hi Matt, I’m a fan of them already and I’m only going by looks! Hope I can get to play one soon as I have fallen head over heels for the ‘Oli L1 SPTMG - BK Stained Black Solid Mango Tenor model with gig bag after watching Alex’s demo video down at SUS. The aNueNue concert issue is there again. I have become so melded to playing Tenors which for me is now my preferred and go to Uke that dropping down back to concert is happening less and less. Into just over my first year of learning to play it has taken this long to work out which size of Uke feels best suited to my hands and style of play for both strumming and chord melody. So after receiving a very tempting trade in offer for my aNueNue towards a another Tenor the question is in the words of The Bard (Uke style) ‘To trade or not to trade’.

Our own brilliant teacher Matt in Gloucestershire, Matt Warnes who runs World of Ukes in Carlisle and publishes the UKE Magazine and not forgetting Alex, Romeo and Phil down at the Southern Ukulele Store (SUS) in Bournemouth. From north to the midlands and down to the south coast we have a passionate nationwide ukulele community !! Love it!!

Hi Sheila, The more I look at the ‘Oli ukes and hear them on demo, the more I love their tone. The side sound port just gives it extra depth. Plus their design is just stunning!

Hi Karen, totally agree, playing and learning the ukulele has been good for my soul, only wish I had taken up this beautiful instrument years ago. Three ukes in I know I will aquire at least two more over the next eighteen months or so. One of the Oli range next after watching Alex’s demo videos down at SUS. I have only had the Millar Tenor a short while, the TA 260, which I purchased from SUS. The acacia produces such a mellow tone, can’t see me ever parting with it though. Catch the video on Youtube of the Millar factory, fascinating!

Hope this isn’t overload…… I speak and feel from the heart……peace. L

Oh my oh my! Such a shame. Flight Ukes always look so good. Been tempted many times to invest in a Flight but think I’ll look elsewhere. My last Uke was a Millar Tenor all solid Acacia from SUS. Beautiful tone so mellow, a sheer delight to play even though I have just been a year into learning the Uke. UAS was a mystery to me, thought it was the name of a new band like REM. My first Uke a Fender Venice Soprano I donated to a good friend whose grandson had expressed an interest in learning the Uke. However only twelve months into playing I now have three Ukes to my name. Latest one to tempt me is the Oli range. This is madness! Where does it end! The guitar and the piano never had this effect on me, one was enough. Can anyone out there please tell me why Ukes to borrow an old Frank Sinatra song title have got me under their skin. Everyday I’m accessing SUS or World of Ukes and adding to my wish list. Sense has to prevail! I am attempting to lay down a study plan, to focus solely on improving my playing technique, a bench mark if you like from which I can build. And yet……there is something about the Ukulele which is beyond defining. I think it is the simple and beautiful fact…the lovely endearing reality that this instrument brings people together in a solid community where everyone supports each other. Respect here to all other instruments and their dedicated students…but I know and have now discovered no other instrument….and I love it…that brings people together. Maybe it would do our world good if a few politicians were encouraged to take up the Uke. Maybe, just maybe the world would be a better and happier place. Long live the Uke!

A friend of mine who plays acoustic guitar and whose strumming out strums mine when he plays ukulele said it is all about feeling the song. Funnily enough I have started just strumming basic Blues chords not worrying too much about misplaced chords, slipping fingers etc. Thing is I can ‘feel’ the Blues even though it is a bit raggy in places. Yet when I turn to strum patterns and such on sheet music…up down, down up….I am all at sea again. Matt’s walk/ running technique sets me on the right track but show me a chord melody piece….Matt’s arrangement of Yesterday…just love it!…the song is so well known the melody is there in my head and the strumming parts funnily enough have not phased me too much. I am going to start practicing Caravan, the melody line just hooks me in. So sink or swim I am just going to go for it. As to loads of ukuleles strumming along…I too am not a fan and I mean no disrespect here. What attracted me to the Ukulele was the pure soul of the instrument, the tone packs a punch in so many ways it just sings emotion when simply played on it’s own….no embellishments required. Again respect to all Ukulele players, both strummers and pickers.

And of course there is our own Matt Stead whose album Pocket Symphonies ( reviewed in UKE magazine issue 37) is a tapestry of sublime playing and musical emotion. Just a sheer delight . Matt is a superb musician and brilliant teacher.

Hi Pat, been centrally located in the West Midlands, SUS is just under a three hour car journey away, around 170 to 180 miles. Likewise the other specialist shop over here, World of Ukes is situated in Carlisle in Cumbria on the edge of the Lake District. A straight run up the M6, Carlisle is again around just over three hours away clocking in at around 195 miles away. I have yet to pay a visit to World of Ukes but any excuse for a holiday a stay in Ambleside in the Lake District National Park puts you within touching distance. Could say I’m spoilt for choice in which direction to travel! Matt Warnes who runs World Of Ukes is both Editor and Publisher of UKE, the UK’S Ukulele Magazine, an excellent publication overflowing with everything you could wish for Uke related. Loads of teaching and exercise articles, reviews and more. If you check out his website you won’t be disappointed. I have just subscribed to his magazine and now find myself ordering back copies. What with our own Matt Stead’s excellent teaching, SUS, and WOU the UK is a thriving scene for everything Uke related. I also subscribe to Ukulele Magazine which is published by String Letter Publishing, Inc in San Anselmo California. This is also another excellent magazine covering everything that happens in the States. Loads of information on Uke societies and stockists plus again reviews of Ukes and teaching articles. Hope this helps Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2025 Kind regards Anthony