George Formby Style Banjo Uke: Fan Stroke Tutorial

[nicole22rox]

holy cow thats amazing, I just got my banjolele today :)

[PolycarpusT]

Hello, I found your video last night (Thursday) Absolutely great, I am away to get myself a Tanglewood uke on Saturday and thereafter, I will be giving your videos some real hammer.

Looking forward to having some fun along the way.

Kind regards

Anthony.

ps In the age of my second childhood!

[tontoski1]

Hi John,managed to get a John grey uke-banjo for £150,well pleased,need to work hard now,what chords do you use in this video,keep up the tutorials,many thanks neil

[MrSnorbitz1]

Hi could you tell me what type of Uke you are playing and how much do they cost.

Carl

[wittgrjp]

@MrSnorbitz1 Hi in this video it's a Cartwright Super Delux- it was made specially by Phil Cartwright, he makes good ukes, mine is v. good and has improved also with age. In other videos I use a vintage Ludwig. A new Cartwright would set you back £500-£1000 depending on model, a Ludwig £1200+.

[tontoski1]

hi there,what type of banjolele would you recommend for a beginner like myself john,great video,regards neil

[wittgrjp]

@tontoski1 Hi as a beginner I would simply try a normal wooden uke, one in about the £30-40 price range would suit, not one of the cheap toy ones. Try playing over the neck just where the neck meets the body- not over the hole like guitar! This will enable you to try out formby techniques and see if you take to them. If you do, then consider a banjo-uke and/or tenor uke, a banjo-uke needs to be set up for formby, there's info on this on the web if you google. Cheers John

[blueprint4]

Thank you soooooo much, what a great clear video. I'll do it I'm sure! Liz

[kayfing]

I have watched this video many times, and it is helpful to a point however, Please tell us what chords you are playing and also how to move between the different strokes.

[MsPerfectsquare]

Thank you!! I have learned so much from watching this! Very generous of you to share your knowledge!

[Jackyboii9]

Hey! U have helped me so mch, i came across your videos about 2 nights ago, i've nearly already got the triple and split stroke, and the AMAZING and good looking fan stroke is definately on its way. Your really impressive demo at the beginning of this video is great! love the style, Thanks so much. Jack

[Jackyboii9]

Hey! U have helped me so mch, i came across your videos about 2 nights ago, i've nearly already got the triple and split stroke, and the AMAZING and good looking fan stroke is definately on its way. Your really impressive demo at the beginning of this video is great! love the style, Thanks so much. Jack

[thundercat8366]

Thanks for the tips....

[gazzzgo]

Thanks mate! Really appreciate your efforts!

I've got myself a George Formby model banjo uke and will be playing it in my band. Thanks so much for getting me started!

By the way, which company manufactured this model? Mine was bought in the late 1970s.

Regards

Sweet Garry

[MrDeepeepee]

A big thank you for your videos, I am new to the Ukulele ( after many years as a mediocre guitar strummer) I have found that the Ukulele was the instrument I should have been playing all along, compact, great fun easy to pick up and hard to put down. I have only been playing Uke for about a month and your triple stroke and this fan stroke has stopped me playing the uke like a small guitar, I am now beginning to play it for what it should be a unique little instrument. Again many many thanks.

[harrychef]

Hello Chap. I have been learning from your videos for a while now. I am sure i have the theory of the Fan stroke ( in fact i know i have) But!! i am struggling to get it as you are. I have a £25 soprano UKU but i have just bought a £120 Concert UKU both wooden. does the Fan & split stoke only work on the Banjo UKU. That is my question. Ps one day ill post my own video for you to see & Laugh Cheers Harry

[greenplectrumfilms]

Absolutely brilliant! Thank you so much

[johnsimmance]

I'm not ready for the fan stroke, but it inspires me! I practice your split stroke video, and the most encouraging part for me is when you said: "Trust me!" I didn't think I could do it, for I am nearly 82, left handed (but play right handed) and I can't bend the top knuckle of my left ring finger! But I trusted you and - Gor Blimey - it's coming! Thanks so much! John.

[wittgrjp]

@johnsimmance Good for you, keep at it!

[Chandriko]

Thank you for great video and annimation. I'm considering taking up the banjo uku and looking to buy my 1st. If you have the time, what should I consider when buying one? Looks like you like one of metal? Cheers.

[wittgrjp]

Hi a good banjo uke takes some choosing and will not come cheap. To start it may be best instead to use a normal uke, not the coloured toys but something slightly more serious, say c. forty pnds. Play over the neck just before it meets the resonator. If you take to it then consider a banjo-uke.

[wittgrjp]

The cheapest would be a chinese import c. 150 but you can often soon grow out of them. Avoid cheap used ones where the neck overhangs the head, it won't be possible to play them in this style. Good ones for this style are 500+ rather than repeat everything here a good place to get advice is The Resonator forum.

[treborwem]

@wittgrjp hi there I have been practicing using your tutorial it's spot on. Is that uke made by Phil Cartwright?

if so what do you think of it, I am getting one from him soon

cheers bob

[wittgrjp]

@treborwem Hi, there are variable reports on Phil's Ukes but I have nothing but top marks for him. The uke he made for me (abbot copy) played great to start with and after 2+ years has matured into something wonderful, and I prefer the sound to my old Ludwig. It also looks amazing. If you pick it up from him on site he may show you his workshop- which is a real eye opener as to the work and hours that go into each instrument. Good luck. Cheers, John

[ronaldweasleyfan55]

i am looking to buy bonjolele. Any website suggestions?

[pinkipingbling]

Woah.How the bloody hell can you do that?!

[vladtheoptician]

A bit late in replying, nonetheless an excellent tutorial that taught me the fan stroke. Thank you,

[jahmein725]

fantastic, brilliant. keep up the good work (please!)

[RoccoWOUTERS]

A very clear and VERY nice tutorial on a stroke that I always raised questions to me. Love practicing it. Great tutorial! 5/5

[hoggugg]

Wow - this is one of the best 'secrets revealed' teaching videos I've ever seen. It's also what makes youtube great. wittjrgp, many, many thanks to you, and please keep posting! Six stars ******.

[wvfiddler]

John,

Thanks for posting these videos. I am finding them very useful and instructional. I appreciate your generosity! Cheers and keep playing!

Doug

[harrychef]

Can a fan strok work on a woden uke as aposed to a banjolele. Harry

[wittgrjp]

Yes, it's possible on any uke- even one made by yourself from a tin can, a piece of wood, and fishing wire! On a wooden uke though remember to play just on or up the neck not over the resonator hole or you may not be able to pull off some of the strokes effectively. Cheers, John.

[bluescountryfolk]

very good, thanks. Could you tell me what type of uke that is, and how much are they...it sounds good.

[jarrodthebassplayer]

is the tuning on a banjo uke the same on a regular ukulele?

[wittgrjp]

Unfortunately no, you would rip your fingers/nails apart on the steel strings! The banjo-uke has nylon or gut strings, which enable very rapid strumming with the fingernail.

[wolverineks]

i've seen some people perform using the index finger instead of the pinky and some using the pinking and ring finger... is this just preference or is there a reason behind choosing one over the others?

[wittgrjp]

You can vary the fingers- whatever suits you best both for playing and getting the fan effect. Using the thumb allows you to recoil your index finger easily ready for the upstroke, but it's not a requirement.

[pokeyone12]

Thanks. you're one of those natural born teachers. I was lucky enough to stumble across your fan stroke lesson. Yesterday, I was listening to a charango on the radio and wondering how he seemed to triple his speed in some of his phrases. Now I know -he was playing a type of fan stroke.

Pokeyone12

[wittgrjp]

Thanks for the kind comment! He may triple his speed using "triple", "fan", or "shake" .. check out all these techniques on my videos, those of Peter Nixon, and others. Keep uking! John.

[LandRoverMan]

This musthave taken you ages to put together. Well, it is truly appreciated. It really gives me something to aim for. Clearly and nicely demonstrated. Thanks, man.

Keep the faith.

[guitgrl]

This is a great teaching video! Thank you! What kind of banjo ukulele are you playing? Is it made recently?

[wittgrjp]

Hi there. I usually put the make/model of uke in the "more info" option, found at the top right of the page.

[Greasyanimal]

are the chords different in ADF#B tuning?

[bigrock9999]

Your videos are great. I have a banjo-uke but it has a broken head. I need a 8 inch head but cannot find where to get one. Do you know or have any recommendations where to find one?

[4276357]

formby used his little finger/

plaese not not the in dex finger.

on the last poart of the fan strioke

[mkcwebmaster]

Thank you very much for posting this tutorial. The fan stroke is the one thing I struggle with on the uke but I think your advice will be valuable.

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

A wonderful tutorial. You have a really clear and relaxed teaching style. Please keep on making uke lessons.

Will you consider doing a teaching video using the standard wooden uke?

Thanks again.

KEN

[wittgrjp]

Many thanks for your kind comments, as I say in my notes I'm only sharing the little I know, there are others much better than I at this style. I hadn't planned any more short term, the best place to get tuition in this style and really progress is at GF society meetings. As you are probably aware for other styles there are already lots of vids on wooden ukes on you-tube. John

[Uketeufel]

Thanks a lot for this very useful lesson! What kind of banjolele do you play on?

[wittgrjp]

Thanks for the comments. The Banjo-uke in this tutorial is a Cartwright Super Delux, which is a finely finished copy of an Abbott Monarch. It is a year old. In my Split Stroke and Triple explanation I use a 1926 Wendell Hall Professional. The sounds of these ukes come out better on my vids not in the kitchen, i.e. without the kitchen echo, but I love them both. Cheers, John.

[natalia916]

Thanks for the video! What sort of strings have the best Formby sound?

[wittgrjp]

Thanks for the comment. The uke make, the vellum (the white skin over the head), vellum tightness, humidity, index fingernail length, and playing touch often have more bearing than strings. Fishing wire is quite good enough, but popular string types are Cleartone, Galli, GHS, and Aquila. I use Cleartone (clear), occasionally using a Galli (black) for the first string to pick out the "tapping" notes more clearly. Different players have their own favourites and swear by them!

[riaboni]

Thanks John, Really love the way you broke down.

[petercnixon]

John,

I like the (left handed?) animations :) You have a good way of explaining things and making it easy to understand. I don't like the acoustics in your kitchen though, can you not get your missus to let you go in the computer room? :)

[wittgrjp]

Thanks Pete. If only we had a computer room though!!! The spare room is taken up by the kids, so well have to put up with the kitchen echo for a while yet! The animations are designed to mirror the right handed player as they look at the screen, I guess I could reverse them, but that confuses the me!! Cheers.

[petercnixon]

Ah now I get it, I'm left handed so when I look in the mirror I see the same as when I watch someone else playing which is quite handy.

[eedeyw]

Another excellent tutorial from kitchen uke.

Thank you.

[Petey1308]

Thanks Alot :D Them animations are really helpful too :)

[SUkeSoc]

Thanks for this, this is great, v. helpful.

[metalheadjosh16]

thanks, im practising now.

ur very good :D

[wittgrjp]

Hi here's the requested Fan Stroke tutorial. I hope it is helpful. You'll need to know the Split Stroke first (which is covered by another tutuorial from me and also a couple of others online).