Learn to Play JUST Like George Formby!
Welcome to the Formby Fundamentals & George’s Genius Bundle! During these courses, you’ll learn all the fundamental and foundational elements that comprise the famous George Formby technique, before learning how to expand upon these ideas to create your own riveting and professional-sounding solos!
This is a first-of-its-kind resource, featuring some of the most in-depth tuition on the style available with over 4 hours of videos, downloads and more on everything from the split, triple and fan strokes, how to combine them to create a great solo and extras like playing the sung sections and the endings effectively. You’ll learn how to play with a band, study the playing of other players like Billy Uke Scott and Tessie O’Shea, and play through 10 solos with clear instructions and guidance.
The skills you learn on this course can be applied not only to virtuoso George Formby’s material but in countless other ways including trad jazz, Dixieland, show tunes and more, by elevating your rhythmic skillset and variety. You’ll even learn a cool trick or two that you can throw into any song and impress your audience with!
During the 1930s and 40s, George Formby was one of the most successful music and film stars in the world. Known for his cheeky persona and his mastery of the ukulele and banjo-ukulele with a heavily rhythmic and jazzy sound that makes full use of a ukulele’s tuning and set up.
“This is the best explaination of the split stroke technique ever”
Marco
“Quite simply brilliant and of extreme value to anyone who may embark on the exciting journey of learning to play in the Formby style”
Alan
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Providing premium, high-class ukulele online courses covering specialist topics in unprecedented detail, taught only by world-class ukulele experts.
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MODULE OVERVIEW – see modules and lessons
Modules & Lessons
Explore the what you each module will entail. Rewatch, slow down or speed up each video as many times as you need, and enjoy lots of included downloads and exercises. Get a certificate at the end too!
FORMBY FUNDAMENTALS
- Introduction
- History
- New Chords
- Familiar Chords with Alternative Fingerings
- Formula & Structure
- Sung Sections & Sheet Music
- Exercise
- Introduction, Sound Sample & Posture
- Whole & Half Strums
- Rhythm
- Fitting in with the chords
- Slow speed
- Exercise
- Tapping versus non-tapping
- Tapping on simple chords
- Tapping on more complex chords
- Little finger extensions
- Thumb tapping
- When not to tap
- Exercise
- Purpose of the triplet
- Rhythm
- Mechanics
- Alternative methods
- Incorporating the triplet
- Exercise
- Split stroke at different speeds
- Correct technique (recap)
- Exercises
- Purpose & effect
- Technique & mechanics
- Alternative methods
- Fitting in with the split and triplet
- Exercise
- Beginning a solo
- Ending in C
- Ending in F
- Variations of C endings
- Variation of F endings
- Endings in other keys
- Final notes
NEW FOR 2025! An extra series of solo breakdowns. Songs include:
With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock
Our Sergeant Major
Hitting the Highspots Now
GEORGE’S GENIUS
Start here! Find out how the course will work and recap some of the most important terms and techniques from Formby Fundamentals (George Formby Part 1).
- What makers a challenging chord progression?
- Basic chord progressions – When I’m Cleaning Windows
- Longer lasting chords – Leaning on a Lamppost
- Slower tempo – TT Races
- Busier chords 1 – Out in the Middle East
- Busier chords 2 – Mother What’ll I Do Now?
- Busier chords 3 – She’s Got Two of Everything
- Introduction to techniques
- Changing up the split stroke rhythm
- The shake
- Fan as triplet
- Half time
- The rake
- Exercise
- Narratives
- Starting a solo
- Middle of a solo
- Climax of a solo
- Ending of a solo
- Conclusion – Narrative
- Melodic versus non-melodic soloing
- Techniques for melodic playing
- Melodic possibilities in C
- Melodic possibilities in F
- Determining a tune 1
- Determining a tune 2
- Chinese Laundry Blues
- Role of passing chords
- Examples of passing chords
- How passing chords work
- Practice exercises
- Billy ‘Uke’ Scott Style
- Alan Randall Style
- Tessie O’Shea Style
- Roles of instruments
- Playing with a backing track
- Playing with a band
- Preparing for a live performance
- Formby-specific performance tips
- Conclusion
Please get in touch if you are having issues with the course interface or are stuck on some of the course content. Your course comes with a free 30 minute consultation with the course tutor.
If you are already subscribed, click on a module header to navigate to the relevant module’s content.
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Just £63.99/year! Save 20%!
4 hours of lessons – 14 modules – 80 lessons – 1 subscription
Matthew Quilliam 