Home
Er, the home page. Natch.
Dates
Dates for our all-comers' thrashes and concerts.
Where are...
the regular UkeThrashes? (Google map of The Three Horseshoes).
What do you need?
What to buy, where to buy it...
Pictures
of some events
Videos
A few random (sic) YouTubes
Links
...to other local clubs, ukulele sites, whatever...
Ukes for UNICEF - our annual Ukulele Festival.
The performers' pages
Stuff aimed at our gigging contingent: special editions of songs, mostly.
What do you need?
Well, you'll need a ukulele. Best to buy an electronic tuner, too. It'd be great if you could print off the songbooks and bring those. But you'll want to print them off anyway so that you can practise them, so that's not a problem.
The Music Department in St Alban's, Fretz in Hemel, The Record Shop in Amersham and Perfect Pitch in Chesham all have a good range of cheap to mid-priced ukes.
For the best range, however, it's worth going a bit further. The finest ukulele emporium in the western hemisphere is Southern Ukulele Store. Quote discount code "leaningonthelamppost" and get 10% discount on online purchases. Hey! Then there's also Meteor Music which is a mouthwatering site too and is also offering 10% discount on all online purchases if you quote UKE10%OFF (subject to a minimum £50 spend).
The standard uke is the soprano - that's the smallest one with the classic uke sound and the one you'll find most widely stocked with the widest range of features* (and prices). Slightly bigger is the concert and the tenor is slightly bigger again. Both of these may have a bigger sound, definitely bigger frets - and if your fingers aren't too dainty that might be significant - but all three are tuned the same. That's important because we'll all be playing at the same time, so it's best we're playing the same chord shapes and they have the same notes. The biggest uke is the baritone. You won't be buying one of them - not until you've been playing for a while, at least. If in doubt, try the different sizes. If still in doubt, stick to the soprano.
*Features? Taking for granted that it's easy to play and stays in tune all the way up the fretboard - and all but the very cheapest will do that - what does it sound like? What is it made of? What does it look like? Does it have a case? These are all pretty obvious features. More exotic are does it have a pick-up? (You won't need one for BURP, but you may want one for your burgeoning gigging schedule.) What sort of tuning heads does it have? (Personally I think these are important. Most traditional and cheaper ukes used to have friction pegs and they can be awkward and unreliable. I'd recommend geared tuners. If you don't know what they are, then ask the helpful shop assistant.) Many purists would disagree with me, however...
BURP endorses
For more and perhaps more authoritative advice, see some of the sites on the links page
Contact:
get in touch by e-mailing "contact" at "BURPmusic" dot "com"
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Berkhamsted Campaign for Real Music
Concerts featuring professional acts, performing with integrity and style
Got Rhythm
Hamish and Nick's uke duo; swing, jazz, blues...
Hamish's personal pages
...that's what