Sometime around 2018 I saw the Romsey Ukulele Group performing in Datchet. They played ‘Fulsom Prison Blues’ and that was that. I asked my wife for a Uke for my birthday. After a while I thought about joining a local group but couldn’t find one. Then the world caught Covid. Cue a year of nothing much.
When lockdown was lifted and I put out a few feelers on facebook groups asking if anyone in Windsor wanted to play ukulele with me. Sometime later (early 2023) a few strangers met up at the Old Court Arts Centre and played some songs together.
After a few weeks we moved to the Swan in Clewer and the band grew from 5 to 10 people. In those early days we played plenty of three chord songs in the key of C. Nothing much has changed although a minor chord or two occasionally muscles in on the action these days.
Pretty soon someone suggested it was time for us to play a gig in front of a real audience.
Rehersals took on a slightly more serious edge after that, but we still have lots of fun.
In early 2023 one of our members, Caroline moved away from the area. She left us with a wonderful parting gift of the logo she had designed for us.
Since then we have been rehearsing and gigging and growing. There are now 15 or so core members plus quite a few irregulars who come when real life doesnt intrude. The band style is generally ‘if in doubt, play louder’.
FAQs
Why play the Ukulele?
- Ukes are small and portable, so you can take them with you wherever you go.
- Ukes only have four strings, so they are easy to learn at any age.
- Softer lighter strings don’t hurt fingers much compared to many other stringed instruments
- Ukes are not very loud (unless you get an electric one); practice without disturbing your neighbours.
- Ukes are just plain fun!
So get yourself a ukulele, join the Windsor Ukulele Band and next year you could be headlining the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury… (well, we can always dream).
Q: Is the Ukulele really easy to learn?
A: Yes. It really is. Within days or even hours you can be playing recognizable tunes.
Q: What if I can’t read music?
A: Most of the band cannot read music. We learn the chords (basic shapes for the left hand) and strum a rhythm with the right hand. Who needs to read music?
Q: How much time is required?
A: We meet for two hours on a Tuesday night to rehearse. Aside from that, you decide how much time you spend ‘practicing’ which is just another way of saying having fun. The more you time you spend playing, the better you sound.
Q: Is it all old George Formby tunes?
A: There is nothing wrong with George but of the many hundreds of songs we have played together so far, only once have we tackled a Formby song. Most of our sets are rock and pop standards from the sixties onwards.
Q: Which size of Ukulele should I get.
A: Size doesn’t matter. Whether you have a tiny soprano, a concert or a larger tenor, they all work in the same way.
If you already know how to play guitar you might also want to consider the larger ‘baritone’ ukulele. Baritones have a different tuning to the others, so are not recommended for complete beginners to stringed instruments. However ex guitar players might find this a good choice.
Gary plays a Bass ukulele and Martin often moves from ukulele to percussion to give a more authentic rock vibe.
Above all, we have fun.