George Formby Style Banjo Uke: Split Stroke and Triple

If you are a beginner, you should find this very useful, if you are a master, you can probably give me some tips!

In this video I attempt to help you get started in GF uke style, by introducing two basic techniques. First the split stroke, which is the foundation for most of the other GF style strokes, and secondly the thumb roll (or "triple"), which adds a bit of extra interest. Even though these are just two of the techniques, when used together, they can sound sound fantastic.

To help make things very clear, I've used animations in slow motion to break down the strums very clearly. Bear in mind that these are designed to mirror the right handed player as they look at the screen.

Although a basic triple is easy to learn, the exact triple sound/timing is difficult to master. For this reason I've created a follow on video (see video responses), using GF's own triples to pin down the timing in 1/32nd beats.

If you wish to hear GF style played properly or to receive tuition from an official tutor, my channel isn't quite the place! The best advice is to try one of the George Formby Society Conventions (details available from their website).

This Banjo-Uke used in this tutorial is a Ludwig Wendell Hall Professional in GCEA tuning. If you would like to try anther tutorial on the split stroke, try user m134mr (Matt Richards) a great player.

Cheers, John.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George
• Formby
• banjo-uke
• banjolele
• ukulele
• wittgreffe
• kitchen

[lardenr123]

Hi, great video.

Just wondering though, obviously practising builds you with muscle memory to learn these. How long would you practise this a day, and how long do you think it could take to learn. I'm never sure that I give it long enough. I practise at least 30mins a day,

[wittgrjp]

Well there's no set time, if you give it 30 mins a day, that's quite good and sooner or later it will click, perhaps when you least expect it... with some of these techniques, even if you get stuck and despair on one day, if you sleep in it you can come back to it the next and find it just "clicks". Keep at it!

[jblackbath]

Thumbs up if you feel like this guy could have lived next to Frodo over in The Shire..

[wittgrjp]

@jblackbath Well I am a big fan of Frodo and LOTR but I've never been compared before- I do live in an english shire in a country village!

[razzamatazz100]

Very good instruction. Will this technique work on a 4 string plectrum banjo?

[wittgrjp]

I'd give it 15 mins before your nails are worn away and 30 mins before you draw blood! These techniques are not compatible with steel strings! Cheers, John

[Halpk100]

John, why do your animations seem backwards? Or is it just me?

[scottedelman]

Thanks for this! I've only been playing the ukulele for three months, but I've fallen in love with it, and with George Formby, and am trying to teach myself "Why Don't Women Like Me?" I'm also trying to learn the split stroke. I guess I just do it slowly over and over and over and over again each day, and after a few months it'll click? Any suggestions for a chord progression to move through while I practice so it doesn't sound too boring? Thanks again!

[AngieMairmie]

@jblackbath believe me it was a Shire, but not THE Shire - I was best friends with his sister for years... I wonder where she got to... :-) Hello wittgrjp's sister... love you still, after all these years! x AMM

[lardenr123]

@wittgrjp Great, many thanks for the tip. I have a Banjo Ukuele which I bought last year and only just got it tuned today with new strings. It is old, Circa 1904, but sounds good. This will give me something to practice this on!

[BOT101st]

@wittgrjp

Hampshire? :P

[CLASSICMONSTERGUY95]

What is your uke tuned in?

[CLASSICMONSTERGUY95]

hi there

For my birthday I want a banjo ukulele (not even touched one! never played one!) and I have found some (The Grafton UB2 from AndyBanjo, the Heartwood DUB-5, but I really want a Dallas!) Anyways when I get it how do I start playing (I mostly want to play Formby songs, in which the Grafton is already tuned to) as I cannot find any learning videos? Just watching you play AMAZES me! When I watch all these videos about eg split stroke I am following them, then I watch them play!

[saintellins]

I love the fact that when he plays the Cleaning Windows tune he grins just like George Formby...Its instinct when you play his music