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339 posts
With a pick or without?
Tamás GállOne of the eternal—almost religious—questions among ukulele players is whether you are “allowed” to use a pick. In the video below I explore the subject a little, but if you do not want to watch it, I will give away the answer: yes, you are. Who could forbid it ? Of course, it is another matter what…
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Thank you for Instagramming
Tamás GállAt the end of February I received an email from one of the organizers of Ki Mit Tube, who wrote, “I came across your videos on YouTube and I really like what you do,” and invited me to take part in this year's competition. After a few emails and phone calls we discussed the details, and in the secon…
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A Chinese ukulele test
Tamás GállThis year I again travelled to China for work, this time to Xi'an (on Hungarian maps you will often see the city written as Hszian, but the correct transcription from Chinese characters is Xi'an). This beautiful ancient city is counted among the great capitals of antiquity alongside Rome, Athens and…
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Ukulele courses in October 2025
Tamás GállDear (Future) Ukulele Players! Unfortunately I was unable to organize the spring course, but at last the autumn one is happening! The courses will again take place at our familiar central Budapest venue. Unfortunately the venue's rental fee has increased, so I too have had to raise the participation…
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Report on Course I in autumn 2025
Tamás GállI set off on a cool autumn morning with an unbelievable number of ukuleles, because a record number of participants had asked to borrow an instrument for the course. Naturally I was happy to fill the car with ukuleles, and I reached the venue very quickly. At first the room seemed perhaps a little c…
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Report on Course II in autumn 2025
Tamás GállOnce again I held a Course II with a fantastic atmosphere on 19 October 2025. As on earlier courses, we did lots of rhythm and chord work , put together several performances , and I very much hope the participants found as much joy in playing together as I did . Once againCsilla Vargadocumented the…
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Egyszer egy királyfi — and a giveaway!
Tamás GállIn the video below I would like to teach you a ukulele arrangement of a sung fairy tale. The story itself continues for many, many “verses”, or sections. Memorizing the text is almost an impossible mission for me , but the chord accompaniment is much simpler, and the bright, chiming sound of the uku…
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Ukulele courses in March 2026
Tamás GállDear (Future) Ukulele Players! To my great delight, interest in the ukulele courses remains as strong as ever. Today I also reached an agreement with our existing venue, so here are the dates: Ukulele Course I – 21 March 2026 (Saturday), 9:00–16:00 Ukulele Course II – 28 March 2026 (Saturday), 9:00–…
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Egy boszorka van...
Tamás GállIn this blog post and video I would like to show you and teach you a ukulele accompaniment for the Slovak folk song beginning “Egy boszorka van...” (“There is a witch...”). I find it hard to imagine that anyone in Hungary does not know it . I loved it as a child, and now I very much enjoy singing it…
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Report on the spring 2026 course
Tamás GállLast Saturday a very enthusiastic group came together, and I too was excited to begin the first ukulele course of the year. Several of you asked to borrow a ukulele for the course, and naturally I was happy to bring instruments again. Once more the minutes and hours flew past and the day ended incre…
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Testing a mini amplifier
Tamás GállI assume many of you have found yourselves wanting to play with other musicians, only for the ukulele to get a little lost in the mix because you had no amplifier. Obviously we can solve that by plugging into an available amplifier with a cable—or even wirelessly—or by positioning the ukulele in fro…
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Ukulele courses in September 2026
Tamás GállDear (Future) Ukulele Players! Summer has not even been with us for two full weeks, but I am already organizing the autumn courses , and the dates are now set: Ukulele Course I – 19 September 2026 (Saturday), 9:00–16:00 APPLY Ukulele Course II – 26 September 2026 (Saturday), 9:00–16:00 APPLY The fee…
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