George Formby Style Banjo Uke: Fan Stroke Tutorial
June 6, 2010 by baritone ukulele
Filed under Tuning
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The fan stroke is often admired for it’s visual effect and the apparent skill of the player. This tutorial shows you how to learn the Fan Stroke, first by learning the motion and fingering and then all importantly a technique for getting the timing right. Make sure you know how to do the “Split Stroke” first, if you don’t know this see my Split Stroke tutorial first. This isn’t the only way to do the fan, there are lots of variations especially with fingering and where you can slot the fan into a rhythm, for example see Stephen Sprought (You Tube user ukelounge). User 4276357 has also just put up some videos of Jack Jones (an amazing uke player) showing how to do the Fan Stroke, so try those also. When you have mastered this, to add a further dimension, try to match the fan to the split stroke sound (not just the timing). In this case the first stroke is with the thumb instead of the little finger, and the index finger upstroke and little finger downstroke are on just 2 strings not four. 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). The Banjo-Uke used in this tutorial is a Cartwright Super Delux (an Abbott Monarch copy) in ADF#B tuning. Thanks for watching and Good Luck! Cheers, John.
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