Introduce yourself

To Pat and Anthony

ditto,

very much ditto. Tyne Valley so could probably pay Matt a visit quite easily. A69 direct route.

Just subscribed to the Uke Mag and read my 2 years of back issues. Just recently bought my cedar top Snail Tenor from him and went back and bought a mahoganay topped low g Enya tenor. Always be sure to view his secret offers section.

Dave L

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

It sure is fun!

Hi Pat, welcome to the group. I’m also a Minnesotan and just moved back to St. Paul after decades away.

Arthritis in my hands is an issue for me, too. In fact, I had surgery to replace a joint at the base of my thumb on my fretting hand in early September. I’m just starting to play again in short sessions.

Hi Pat,

Anthony here from Birmingham West Midlands, UK. I have only been playing the Ukulele since the summer but like yourself I have over the years played some piano but mainly classical guitar. I found piano a tough nut to crack, I so wanted to learn but to be honest for some reason I just drifted away from daily practice and became frustrated with my progress. I had some lessons but found them too rigid, in fact I just stopped taking an interest in anything musical. Then a colleague I work with suggested the ukulele, he had a spare one I could borrow, within a day I was hooked! I just simply loved the sound, it was a Fender Venice Soprano and I ended up buying it. I then discovered The Southern Ukulele Store, SUS in Bournemouth and have travelled down twice now and have three Ukes, an ANueNue concert, Kala Tenor Salt & Pepper and Millar Acacia Tenor, well I will have the Millar on the 25th this month. What I love about the Ukulele and no disrespect to other people who play any instrument is the versatility of the Uke, so many styles, you can’t resist the temptation to pick it up. Matt’s enthusiasm just inspires me all the time, he makes learning and playing the ukulele just so enjoyable. Having taken his Theory Course I now understand theory better than I ever have before which in turn improves your technique. Moreover what comes across with Matt’s lessons is how this simple yet beautiful instrument brings people together in a community where the spirit of music and the soul of music shines through his teaching and the courses he has developed. In no time at all you begin to feel an affinity with this community through Matt’s playing. Best thing I ever did was to buy that first Uke and discover Matt’s website. Enjoy your Ukulele journey.

Greetings all!

My name is Pat, and I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the US. I’m a visual artist and I paint in the style of classical realism. But I actually love all of the arts, especially music. I played oboe in high school, but then stepped away from playing music for many years. But after retirement, I began to dabble with guitar and piano. I really enjoyed both guitar and piano, but I have small, very arthritic hands, and it just didn’t work for me. So, I decided to try ukulele. Initially, I bought an inexpensive Cordoba concert ukulele and began watching YouTube videos, but didn’t put in any consistent efforts to learn how to play it. When I did practice, it was often for long, but intermittent periods. I found that even this little instrument can aggravate my hands if I’m not careful. But I am not ready to give up. In my determination, I recently purchased a beautiful Koaloha concert ukulele, and signed up for Matt’s classes. I hope that if I don’t overdo it, I can eventually learn to make some lovely music! I just need to start at the beginning, and remember to take it slow and easy. I am enjoying watching many of the videos on the Facebook page, and also some of the live sessions which are such fun. At the moment, I am feeling motivated and excited to learn, and to be part of this lovely group.

Hello, I’m John, from south Cumbria. I bought a cheap Mahalo day of the dead uke for my grandson last Xmas that I saw on Amazon, had a go, and now I have six, better sounding ukes of my own. I’m 61 and just watched various teachers on fb and reddit for a couple of months,and although I was learning to make chords and strum a little, it wasn’t enough, so researched teachers and Matt was the one I thought would help best. And I was right, in the couple of months on the beginner course I’ve improved noticeably and now have more fun than exasperation, still at a very early stage though. When I realised how much fun the uke can be (it can even hold off depressive episodes sometimes!) I decided I didn’t want to get annoyed at a possible stop-go progress and to take it as it comes. I like how if I need to take a break from life and the course, I could just go back a lesson or two and jump straight back to where I’d left off.

I’ve got to the point on the course where things are coming together and Matt said to look online for music to play to sharpen the new skills. I’ve come across music I’d never hear otherwise from Sha Na Na’s Those Magic Changes, to recently Sia, with Snowman, both much fun with my new Matt given skills!

And the one year old other grandson can’t keep away from the Flight travel I have, his strumming technique is already impressive, and he’ll be signed up in due course.

I usually practice on a Risa solid body uke so that I don’t bother the semi detached neighbours too much, while I really like my Flight Diana soundwave concert and Enya Feather which sounds cool with an unwound low g.

That’s about all really, other than to say that everyone I’ve encountered in the ukulele community so far are really nice supportive folk and I’m really glad I stumbled across that day of the dead uke.

Cheers, John.

I live in Cheltenham have done so for the past 7yrs. Have been in a dark place, now fine. Put together a bucket list of which one was to play some music. Picked ukulele because I met a group playing at an event and I got locked. I attend a club but it is a sort of club that you have to find your own way. I want help I know about, 30 notes and can keep up with the best of them but I still need help

I'm 80yrs young.

Hi Beach

I’m Anthony from Birmingham West Midlands, originally hailing from Bingley in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

I have only recently started playing the Ukulele this year, got hooked on a basic Fender Venice Model purchased from a guy I work with at the local Library where I volunteer. I have worked my way through classical guitar, keyboard and piano over the years never really mastering them but enjoyed learning to play and learning how to play from a score and understanding music theory. Theory has helped a lot, the nuts and bolts of music, best instrument to learn from is the piano keyboard. I was reluctant at first until a tutor whipped away my note chart which I layed before on the keyboard. Did me a favour as I soon got to grips with working out the notes from middle C in bass and treble clef.

Anyway hooked on the Fender…..although sounded terrible really…I discovered SUS…the Southern Ukulele Store in Bournemouth and sold my piano and classical guitar before making the journey down this summer. I came away with a Kala Doghair Salt & Pepper Tenor and aNueNue UC 1K. Then I discovered Matt’s website and have learning ever since. I thought two Ukes would be enough but then went for the hat trick! I heard Alex at SUS demo a Millar TA 260 all solid acacia tenor….so back down I went a couple of weeks ago….alas the Miller has been sent to that guy with the white beard in the North Pole……Kurt Russell I think….too much Christmas Chronicles….sorry..anyway come December 25 Christmas dinner will have to wait.

Just wanted to say hello and hope to keep in touch. Matt’s lessons are just so, so good. He is an ace teacher and I have already learnt so much over the last few months. Best thing I did to take up Ukulele , the Fender has been given to a friend I jam with for his grandson… another Uke that has been despatched northwards. Hope he gets as inspired as I did and he go’s on to discover what a beautiful instrument the Ukulele is.

Best wishes

Anthony

Hi

I'm Beach, Originally from UK but now living in S W Portugal.

I love all sorts of music from Classical to Indian Ragas to Techno and all points in between.

I'm no stranger to stringed instruments and music having played the Bass for many years, though only by ear and with very little music theory knowledge.

I have worked as a roadie and live sound engineer in both rock n roll and theatre and I was the chief tech and head of sound at the largest receiving house in the UK back in the 90's early 2000's and had the pleasure of working with some of the greats in music and entertainment industry. I could name drop and bore for hours lol

I sold my basses a few years ago and miss them so looking for a fix I bought my first Ukulele about 6 months ago, a Baton Rouge UTM-T with a solid flamed maple back and sides and solid spruce top. I've tried a few string sets and now very happy with Uke Logic pink ST with a Thomastik low G.  A little too loud and bright for strumming which I can live with because I'm more interested in learning and playing Finger style, Chord harmony and soloing, keeping the strumming to a minimum. Same goes for singing. no problem with a few harmonic BV's but definitely not lead.

 I have worked my way through a great value finger style course from a fab Uke personality named Alex and gained lots, though not finessed the final piece yet.

I feel that I'm a case of scattered knowledge though and need/like structure to my learning so I've decided to to follow Matt from the very beginning and follow each course in turn.

 I have just finished the beginners course and managed to gain from it and now started the intermediate and theory courses.

 I watched videos from a lot of teachers and looked at many courses and then I found Matt, I watched some of the free stuff and a couple of lives and for me Matt is in a different league. Love the way he teaches and his personality. Signing up to Gold was an easy choice for me.

 'Make me a muso Matt'.

 Not a great one for forums and social media, though I have joined the FB group but thought it a good idea to introduce myself and if I help anyone as well as receive help that would be cool.

Matt and forum followers

70yr old from a small village up the Tyne Valley in beautiful Northumberland.

Probably a typical bedroom player with a severe case of GAS and prone to investigate every rabbit hole in existence. Now own a number of guitars, electric , concert,parlour and classical acoustic. Bought an Alvarez concert uke supposedly to improve my strumming , it didn’t particularly. Local guitar lessons probably just as my strumming was coming together a little. YouTube led to Matt. SUS and World of Ukes. WoU had a Snail tenor at a great price just as Matt’s app and online was appearing on my Facebook algorithm. So here I am. Gone from Silver to Gold in one day. Now that’s progress. A multi instrumentalist who can play equally badly on all of them. I care not a bit as I try something new, follow a song lesson, theory or sight reading, If I look back I have to be better than I was and the amount of fun and enjoyment are immeasurable. Who knows where it may lead, nowhere or everywhere.

Thanks for the app and I look forward to following in the forum and further improvements in my uke playing.

Believe it or not, this is the edited, brief version. Was easily heading towards a novelette.

Dave L

Dear Matt, dear community, I'm really happy to be here! I really like the wide range of courses, the choice of music, the many tips and tricks and how Matt conveys the content. And Matt's humor😃 I'm from Hamburg and have been playing the ukulele for 2 years. I'm particularly interested in learning fingerstyle/chord melody. But strumming and singing is great too! I'm looking forward to my musical journey here!

Welcome, new here myself, great teaching by Matt, wonderful community spirit.

Hi everyone,I'm new to the uke and have a concert. 🤠

Does anyone play a Flight Ukulele?

Heard mixed reports but like the Nighthawk in particular

Hi everyone!

So many comments, thanks for all the feedback, what a fantastic and positive community Matt has created! There is so much great stuff to learn I am having to be very disciplined with myself and focus for the moment on the Intermediate course. Keep telling myself stay focused. However….just trying to play the classical guitar well known piece Romance on my concert Uke…good fingerstyle practice and great for attempting to master barre chords. Sound muffled still…need to iron out the creases in my fingers so to speak. I just keep plugging away, stumming, chords and theory and attemping different pieces. Makes my head spin but hey I’m having a ball!….stay happy and enjoy your playing! Music makes the world go round!

Hey All,

Loving the content on this App, Now the summer is over (did it actually begin) I'm hoping to get more practice time.

Currently on the fingerpicking programme and learning the Sigh Waltz.

Interested to hear how many of you are also doing this course.

UKE - UMA MOON - TENOR

Strumming sometimes feels to me like balancing on a tightrope which is a negative approach my mind falls into. When I watch other players I marvel at their control. I know it is all about practice but I’m always thinking ‘how do they do that’? Having said that on a positive note Matt’s tution has finally set me on the right path.

Welcome 👍😊

Hello everyone! Just found my way to this page after a few weeks now of studying the Beginners course. I am totally new to the ukulele, played some classical guitar and piano but nothing advanced, just enjoy music and the vibes of learning to play an instrument. By chance I bought a basic Fender California Venice model earlier this year from a colleague who persuaded me I was missing out on a good thing. How right he was! Hooked from my first basic strumming session and looking to purchase a concert model I soon discovered the Southern Ukulele Store and made the trip down from the Midlands. Spoilt for choice was an understatement but I came away with an aNueNue concert and a Kala Salt & Pepper, with the help and advice of Romeo and Adam, sincere thanks lads! And then I discovered Matt’s website. I am having a really good time here, so many courses to choose from but best I think to learn how to walk before I sprint so getting the basics right first but so looking forward to getting to grips and developing my playing with Matt’s guidance and tution. Many thanks Matt!