Debunking The Ukulele Plectrum Nonsense

"Oh no, no, no, it's a ukulele, you CANNOT play with a pick"... Heard that comment before? What a complete load of nonsense. Listen up, you can play how you damn well like. Why does this only come up with THIS musical instrument?

Left: Individual finger picks, Top right: Guitar picks, Bottom right: Leather pick

I'm not really sure where this myth really got started, but I am increasingly seeing such statements online. I suspect in the first instance, it goes back to traditional playing styles (Hawaiian, Music Hall etc), that don't employ the use of a pick, but you know what - the uke is just a musical instrument and if you can get a good sound out of it using loaf of bread, then why the hell not? Instruments and playing styles develop in all forms of music and I think that has to be a good thing. If we lived under a rule that the uke music could not develop then the instrument would be a very boring thing indeed....

Aside from the 'it's not traditional' purist debate, there also seems to be a couple of other key driving factors behind those who have strong views on the use of picks.

First up there is the 'damage' argument. This seems to be a suggestion that the strings, or the body of the uke are going to be damaged if you use a plectrum. Well, yes, if you go at it hammer and tongs, you might do, but, really, so what? Strings are consumables. Wear them down and you then need to spend about £7 on a new set (a couple of pints of beer). It happens, they are not designed to last forever. In fact you are supposed to change them now and again! People really shouldn't be precious about their strings - it's kind of like buying a car and not taking it on certain roads as you don't want to wear the tyres down. So long as you are sensible with what material you use to play the strings (i.e. metal may not be a good thing!), you will be fine.

And what about damage on the uke, such as wear on the top? Same applies - it happens, but do you own a ukulele to make music or to be a museum piece. Personally, I have wear on all of my ukuleles, but that shows me I PLAY THEM A LOT! Take a look at the uke below that probably gets played the most in my house, my Fluke - worn to shreds. Does it bother me? Not really, it still works. And no, this was not a cheap instrument, but such things don't get me down.

Now my own wear and tear may be on account of my playing style which is kind of rough and ready (and I play a lot of rock and roll), but I won't be the only one.

But time for the bombshell - I have worn strings and tops on my ukes like this and I DON'T use a pick. Read that again. It's because I grow my fingernails out for picking and the last time I compared, my nails are just as hard as standard guitar picks. See where this is going?

It is a simple fact that a medium guitar pick is really no harder on the instrument than strong nails are. So why are nails acceptable in the ukulele world, but picks are not? And what about the pro players that use individual finger picks like those in the first picture above? They are CERTAINLY harder than my fingernails and are used by many top players. Are they committing a cardinal sin? Of course not. Are they destroying a set of strings in each song they perform? Nope.

The misconception that guitar picks are too hard to use on a uke even led to the creation of the felt or leather soft picks, pushing the argument even further and giving players something that I would wager is actually softer than a human finger tip to strum with!! (we all have nails, and even if you don't grow them out, I would argue that a short nail is going to create more wear than a felt pick!).

The other argument seems to be one based on sound. I have heard people say that a guitar pick makes a uke sound too harsh or overly loud. Well, really that kind of depends on how you play it and the pick material you use. Just because you are holding a pick doesn't mean that you have to thrash the living daylights out of the instrument. Newsflash - it is possible to play softly with a guitar pick!

And therefore back to the felt and leather picks on the market - to my own ears they make the whole instrument sound TOO soft and muddy. The ukulele, particularly the soprano variety has a traditional staccato sound to it, and if we want to go with the traditionalists then the sound of strong nails on the strings IS the way a uke should traditionally sound. They are designed to sound jumpy and snappy. Felt and leather picks, to my ears, take all of that sound away from the instrument. And when you then consider that such soft picks are the ones that are considered to be 'acceptable', then.... you get my drift.. But hey - this if you want to use those - that is your right to do so.

Do I use plectrums myself? Not really, on rare occasion perhaps, but it doesnt offend my ears when I do. For me I prefer the flexibility of using fingers to pick and strum and I find harder with a plectrum. And that is perhaps one of the only good reasons I can think of as to why a pick may not be a good idea - at the end of the day four strong nails is equivalent to controlling four picks at once and I find that more versatile! Certainly the fans of things like split and fan strokes will agree with me there, as those sort of playing tricks are not going to be possible with a pick.

But that doesn't mean that using one is wrong, it's just my personal preference and if you want to use one, go for it. Want to use your nails, individual fingerpicks, guitar picks, leather picks, felt picks? Then do so!  Just please stop telling  others that it is unacceptable or that they will destroy the instrument...

And if you are still reading this and thinking it is nonsense - here's the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain in 1985 - (know that group?) look closely at what George and Kitty are using.. Now, stop telling people what to do!

AND! Be sure to check out my other ukulele RANTS - where I explode the many myths and bad advice that surrounds the instrument - CLICK this link! http://www.gotaukulele.com/search/label/rants

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N'Ukefest 2014 - A Roaring Success

Well another year over and we said goodbye to the third annual N'Ukefest Ukulele gathering in Cheshire UK. Here is a very quick look back.

This year we wanted to to make this one bigger and better than ever, the previous two N'Ukefests being small and ad-hoc affairs, and so the planning for this started in late 2013. A change of venue too this year, moving to the better equipped Cotton Arms in Wrenbury Cheshire.

After the months of work on the devilish details, physical setting up started at the venue on the Thursday before the festival, and we were surprised to note that some eager punters had already arrived on the campsite. After a day decorating and setting up gear and stages, we retired on Thursday to await the onslaught on Friday.

Friday was the informal start of the festival where people could meet for a chat and a drink, and enjoy it they did. After a hard day setting up the stages, the punters arrived in their droves on Friday and much beer was supped into the (very) early hours! The nice thing about uke players is they will always create a jam for others to join in with wherever they are. Top marks go to the guys from Carlisle Uke Club who led a jam and singalong (with some sublime playing) inside the pub on the Friday. But it didn't end there. The Pavilion building for which we were holding the evening concert on the Saturday was soon put to good use by Paul Elcock of the SUSSies who had rigged a projector showing song sheets for a mass play along with yet more players.

Carlisle Uke Club entertaining the pub

Up early on Saturday morning to rig the outdoor stage and the place was soon full. Our raffle tent was quickly set up by Mary Agnes Krell and family and was soon displaying the fantastic prizes that had been donated from around the world.

N'Ukfest Raffle Stall

We then started the open mic performances with a day full of bands, solos and clubs from around the UK taking their turn on the stage, all ably mixed by Chuck from The N'Ukes. We really didn't know what to expect or how we would manage amplifying such a wide variety of acts, but aside from some very minor glitches, we are pleased to report that everything ran on time and nothing broke down! I shouldn't pick favourites really as all acts performed so well and with great gusto, but I particularly enjoyed The Splintered Ukes from Liverpool, Autumn McCann and Joe Grant Mills and Michael Adcocks sublime playing in the style of Roy Smeck (ably joined on stage by Peter Moss).

The highlight of the open mic day for me though was an idea created by Steve in The N'Ukes, in an attempt to make the event more inclusive for new or shy players. So we coined 'Play With A Pro' and offered people to sign up to form three groups of players to go away and work on a song they have never played before and then perform it on stage with one of the evening performers. It was a concept that could have crashed and burned I guess, but when you had pros leading the groups like Phil Doleman, Mike Krabbers and Tim and Jake Smithies, how could it go wrong?. The groups looked nervous, but the group leaders took them through it perfectly and the three performances had some of the best audience receptions of the day!  Oh, and did I say that by the end of the open mic session, two thirds of all of our raffle tickets had sold out?!

The Splintered Ukes

With not much time to spare after finishing the open mic stage, the evening acts were ushered to the Pavilion stage for the quickest of sound checks. Minimal fuss from these artists who have performed many many times around the UK, and we were ready to go at 7pm. Kicking off the show were our pals Ooty And The Cloud from Chester who delivered a suitably dreamy and classy set and soon had the pavilion full.

Dead Mans Uke followed with their fantastic, thrilling sound that really did have the audience amazed - I love their style and attitude and it was so good of them to come.

Dead Mans Uke

Next up, Krabbers and his set of introspective and also funny self penned tunes was a particular highlight and drew a great audience reaction - love that mans voice.

Then on to some sublime technical skill and a guy we love and were so pleased to have along. Phil Dolemans sets are wonderful to watch and always delivered with total professionalism. He certainly went with a bang.

Then a trio of guys we have been friends with for some time who we just knew would get the audience bouncing - Chonkinfeckle. One way or another the guys from Chonkinfeckle have contributed to each N'Ukefest so far, so we were delighted to have them back for the third time and see them perform a really tight set as a full band.

Chonkinfeckle

Closing the night were the N'Ukes - we were rough and ready, and extremely tired, but I think the audience enjoyed it. A highlight for me was some of the other evening acts joining us on stage for the final thrash out of Should I Stay Or Should I Go by the Clash. Note to self - when organising a ukulele festival, don't think you will be fit to play anything at a start time of 10.45pm..... It was a blur really...

Accordingly, straight to bed for me after the gig, but I know that the fun and games carried on in the campsite until the early hours. ( I shall keep the stories to myself....)

Up and at them for day two and things kicked off with the guys from Carlisle again and I had been dying to see them on stage. They have a really tight thing going on and were a joy to watch.

Special mention to Wirral Uke Orchestra, and a couple of their spin off bands such as The Mighty Flea for their very tight and well arranged sets. With an 'Orchestra' it's not straightforward to play so many ukes with such variety, but they nailed it I thought.

Wirral Ukulele Orchestra

Early afternoon we had sold out of raffle tickets, and Mary Agnes Krell joined us on stage to announce the prize winners (at all times being put off by the blowing wind and her billowing skirt!). The generosity of those who donated still staggers me. And the raffle was not all, we also had a cake stall set up by locals Eileen and Rosie Mason with all proceeds going to the charity too.

And I said I wouldn't pick favourites, but who am I kidding... later in the afternoon we had an act that we just knew would blow the festival away. Nervously taking the stage was Zahra Lowzley from Edinburgh who burst into one of the most impressive ukulele performances I have EVER seen. Quite incredible and everything from classical to flamenco, dub step to bluegrass. Staggeringly good. I say this as no exaggeration - some people in the audience were in tears at the emotional playing and she received the only (and well deserved) standing ovation of the weekend.

Zahra Lowzley

And soon it was over. The feedback from attendees has been amazing and we are so glad it went off well. And what of the reason for it all? Well, the event was put on to raise money for two very worthy charities, Macmillan Cancer Support and The Wingate Centre in Wrenbury, a disabled children's charity located close to the N'Ukefest venue. And the total? £3,731.58!!! We are totally thrilled with that sum and it smashes the target we had in mind by some distance.

Thanks on behalf of The N'Ukes go to all who attended, took part or contributed in any way at all. If I start listing names, I will miss somebody and don't want to offend, so, thanks to all - you know who you are!!

FINAL Word has to go to this performance from Zahra!

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Dead Mans Uke - Flaming Formby Hot Sauce - REVIEW

I can honestly say that when I started blogging about the ukulele, I never once thought I would find myself writing about food. Until that is UK act Dead Mans Uke came along with a gem of a merchandise idea. Flaming Formby Habenero Hot Sauce!

Tim and Jake Smithies of Dead Mans Uke came up with the novel idea recently, and via the culinary skills of the Cambridge Chili Sauce Co, presented me with this bottle of Dead Mans Uke brand sauce at the last N'Ukefest.

It's made from Habanero peppers and boy, can you feel the heat. This is a HOT sauce and quite refreshing for it. I find a lot of the supermarket shelves are filled with sauces that claim they are hot, but are actually anything but. This one though has a fiery kick that will satisfy the most avid chili fan. Even the label reads,

"Dead Mans Uke cannot be held responsible for any damage or pain caused..."

Love it!

It's not all heat heat heat though, and has a fruity and slightly sweet taste too. I've had it with cheese and it goes down a treat, as it did on grilled chicken, and my wife mixed it with mayo to create a chili dip!

But on to that name and the label.  The packaging was designed by Jake Smithies of the band and features a gurning George Formby on fire..... For readers from around the globe, Mr Formby was a master of a certain style of cheeky chappie banjolele uke from some years ago, and still revered by some people over here in the UK. Readers of this site may also remember that I am not, personally, the biggest fan of the Formby style. As such, a bottle of sauce that features the burning head of said Mr F was naturally going to appeal to me in a perverse way.  And as Tim Smithies said 'Turned out hot again!'

You can pick up your bottles via the Dead Mans Uke website at http://www.deadmansuke.com/flaming-formby/ and be sure to check the band out too. They absolutely rocked the crowd at N'Ukefest 2014!

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Zahra Lowzley at N'Ukefest 2014

We had to get this up and shared on Youtube as quick as we could. Zahra Lowzley performing at N'Ukefest 2014 this last weekend.

Without any doubt, this was the performance of the weekend for which she had an encore and a standing ovation. Amazingly this was her first ukulele festival, so we are so proud to have put her on stage.

Sorry about the sound - the audio is via a camera - and not from the desk. Still - this is just quite incredible I think.



( DIRECT LINK )

And if you want to read more about Zahra - visit - http://www.theukuleletutor.com/about.html

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Fusion Premium Tenor Ukulele Gig Bag - REVIEW

Ukulele cases. Often something that is overlooked by many players, but really - the safest way to store or transport an instruments is in a good quality case. I was therefore intrigued to take a look at this new line from Fusion, kindly supplied on test by Stones Music. This is the Fusion Premium Tenor gig bag and is the top of their line.

Now uke bags tend to come in about three flavours - thin cloth covers, semi hard pod cases, and fully hard cases. The former don't really offer any protection whatsoever, so most people wanting something sturdy choose between the pod case and the hard case. The pod cases are not quite as sturdy as a good hard case, but have the benefit of being lighter and usually include things like shoulder straps and pockets. Full hard cases can be bulkier and heavy, but do provide the best protection in transit or from crushing. This Fusion case is of the pod variety.

The first thing that strikes you about the Fusion Premium series is just how much of it there is. This is impressively fully featured and I spent a good ten minutes going over it and finding new features all the time. It is however a little bulky, but as you read on, you will see that the case is clearly designed for travel and taking as much with you as you can, and not as a grab and go case.

It really does exude quality in every area. The zips and tags are thick and sturdy - something that is often a failing of generic pod cases. These are trustworthy and lockable, with each one tagged with the Fusion logo in a soft feel rubber.

The case material is based around a 30mm foam shell, with a water resistant rip proof PVC outer (in the kind of material good quality walking rucksacks are made from) and a velvety soft lining. This one is in black and green, but it also comes in a range of colours.

In fact the walking rucksack comparison doesnt end with the material it is made of, as turning it over shows off a very clever air flow system and supremely comfortable shoulder straps and waist band. This is very much a walking ruck sack, and the back is held away from the back by two padded strips allowing air to circulate. Goodbye sweaty back!  You can see the case means business. I tried it on and it is indeed supremely comfortable and adjustable. Almost feels like it isn't there. Compared to the thin shoulder straps on cheap pod cases, well, there isn't any comparison!

There are pockets absolutely everywhere with three deep pockets on the front, and another on the back. The front pockets are kind of stacked on top of each other with the largest running about two thirds of the length of the case. The smallest pocket has zippered sub pockets within it, and the middle pocket houses a stretch to fit rain cover. Really, you could carry so much stuff in this.

And if there isn't enough storage for you, Fusion have included what they call a 'Fuse-ON' system, allowing their range of accessory bags to be easily and neatly clipped to the outer of this one.

Inside is cool too. The finish is very soft to protect the finish of the uke, and has a removable padded strip to cope with different sizes of tenor uke. There is an adjustable neck pad and strap to provide further security and this too can be detached and moved. I tried a few of my tenors in the case and fit very well and securely.

Elsewhere the quality continues, with rubberised bumper strips and for standing it up, an address tag and the main handle is about the best I have seen on any case.

Honestly - for features and build quality I cannot fault this in any way whatsoever. It really is a Rolls Royce. And that brings me on to the Rolls Royce price. These are retailing for the best part of £162. That is not a typing error. £162. I think that is an eye watering price for a uke case, and it leads me to believe that you need to be a very specific buyer to get one of these.

Firstly, the case would suit you down to the ground if you are travelling, trekking, or perhaps even just doing a regular city commute to busk as you can carry so much gear with you. I mean, you could even fit a spare change of clothes in it! If that is for you, you may be interested. If your uke life involves you just walking to the local pub for a jam, then it is clearly overkill (and would take up the space of a person!). If you are just looking for a case to store a uke in at home, similarly I would say it is overkill and a cheap pod will suit you fine.

And what about expensive ukes? Well, I would always recommend a case whatever the uke, but if you are lucky enough to own a £1000 instrument, then perhaps £162 is a fair priced investment to protect such a prized instrument? Well perhaps, but I would then suggest a good hard case for such a uke, not this. And that is because of the one area that Pod cases fail over hard shells - crushing. A good hard case can pretty much be stepped on and the uke will be fine. Pod cases have their strength in the shell around the sides of the uke, but are not designed to end up on the bottom of a luggage compartment (and I certainly would not put this in an aircraft hold).

But the choice is not mine to make. If you have the cash and want a superbly made and functioning case, you will love this. I wish I could justify the cash myself as its such a nice thing. Thankfully though, Fusion also do a fuller range of cases at cheaper prices, and if the quality of this is anything to go by, they will be well worth a look. For me though, it was still fun to take a look at the Rolls Royce!

FUSION BAGS WEBSITE

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N'Ukefest 2014 - not long to go!

I've not posted a great deal about N'Ukefest on Got A Ukulele, to keep some distance between band and blog, but there really isn't long to go now, and folks are getting excited!

N'Ukefest is a completely charitable ukulele gathering in the heart of Cheshire, UK which takes place between 16 and 18 May. Best of all it is FREE to attend and we have some marvellous acts on board.

On the Saturday evening (17th) the festival headliners include Ooty And The Cloud from Chester, Dead Mans Uke from Sheffield, Krabbers from Farnborough, Phil Doleman from Derby, Chonkinfeckle from Wigan and The N'Ukes.

All day on Saturday and Sunday we have an outdoor open mic stage which is hosting acts from all over the UK - bringing the total number of performers up to nearly 40 acts.

Most importantly though, we are collecting all weekend for two great charity causes - Macmillan Cancer Support and the local charity - Wingate Centre who offer recreational facilities for children and young adults with learning and physical disabilities.

Supporting that charitable cause is a fabulous raffle, hosted by Mary Agnes Krell, director of the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival in which hundreds of pounds worth of gear can be won (including several ukuleles provided by kind donation!).

Anyway - as I said - not long to go. You will find all the information you need at http://www.nukefest.com and we very much hope to see you there!

Baz

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