Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 14 - 11:01 AM

Is anybody still interested in this subject. I have to say that most of what is written about George Formby here is inaccurate.

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Tony Burns
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 07:52 AM

You've piqued my curiousity about ukes again MTed and I went searching for information. It seems like I was mislead or misunderstood the information I recieved a couple of years ago. In any case some of the information I gave above is questionable at best. I thought that tenor and soprano ukes were the same size and that turns out not be the case according to this page.

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 08:42 PM

What is no secret about GF is that he was a fantastic player who was musically illiterate. He had a different banjo-uke for every key that he played in (perhaps not too different to putting a capo on a guitar or banjo today) but would refer to them as 'that high one' or something similar. While he was no slouch with the chords he played with his left hand, his true talent lay in the complex syncopation he achieved with his right one. While there are sheet music collections of his songs they typically simplify the true quality of his playing. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 07:45 PM

I don't have to go any farther than the package of my Hilo Strings, Hawaiian Tenor Ukulele Set, which says "4th-/hi G, 3rd/Mid C, 2nd/Hi E, 1st/Hi A"--distributed by Pegasus Guitars and Ukuleles--which is Bob Gleason, who is and excellent luthier and makes great custom ukuleles, (including my tenors, which are Koa with a cool sunburst finish). If you don't believe me, you can check with Elderly Instruments, who sell his strings--I have posted Hawaiian Ukulele links to other threads before(including links to the site that gives all the Hawaiian names for the parts of the instrument) but I can't find them right off, and am in a hurrry--

If you asked me though, a tenor will sound plenty pupule with a low G string--

Aloha!!!

MTed

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Tony Burns
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 06:16 PM

#&^%$^%#!!!!

gCEA etc.

Now I know why I've tried to explain it as capoing a guitar on 5 and 7.

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Tony Burns
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 06:07 PM

Oops!

Not DCAE and EDF#B but GCAE and ADF#B

therefore gCAE and aDF#B

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Tony Burns
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 05:53 PM

Call away MTed. Here's how I tune them.

Baritone uke: (bigger of the two sizes): DGBE (same the first 4 on a guitar)

Tenor uke: (smaller of the two sizes we are discussing here. Like a guitar the 2nd sting is heavier than the first, 3rd heavier than the 2nd and 4th heavier than the 3rd): DCEA or EDF#B where the 4th string is the lowest open sting on the instrument.

Soprano uke: (same as the tenor in all respects with the one exception that the 4th string is of a lighter guage than the 3rd): dCAE or eDF#B where the 3rd string is the lowest open sting because the 4th string is tuned an octave higher than when strung as a soprano)

I learned this a couple of years ago from a fellow in Texas who makes ukes. I'd be happy to learn this is wrong if you can site a reliable source.

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 12:21 PM

Tony Burns, I let this pass before, but I am going to call you on it now--the Tenor Uke is tuned exactly the same as a soprano, octave note and all, it is the Baritone Uke that is tuned down--also, the lower tuning and chords go for the Bari--

Incidentally, the instrument Formby played was not I think, actually an Ukulele, I am a bit hazy, but I think it was a Ukelin or some such thing--

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Willie-O
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 11:21 AM

"Come On George" doesn't strike me as a film you could watch all the way through. I've seen parts of that movie twice though, the bit where he picks up the--I thought it was a tenor banjo--in the stable before the big race and does "I wouldn't let the stable down" is quite well set up--with all the choreography though, its clear he's very comfortable with the instrument, perhaps in a limited sort of way, but it sounds not bad. Fits the scene which is of course all that is needed.

Course I wouldn't know a jazz chord on tenor banjo or uke if it bit me in the ass.

Willie-Ouch

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 09:26 AM

No problem Mooh. There was a rather boring hippie film critic on afterwards who had me chuckling with his "serious academic" deconstructing of the three films. Somehow describing Formby, Fields and Hay, the same way you would, olivier, Bergman, and Kurosawa comes across as hilarious.

"the psychological implications and the sexual imagery of Hay's constant use of the piece of chalk were unmistakable, and remind one of Formby's unusual substitution of the diminished 7th in the 12th bar of "I'm a Fool For Blackpool". It reminds one of Eisentien's "flaunting of the pikes" in scene 26 of "Ivan the Awful" part 5.........etc.etc.

Rick

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Mooh
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:49 PM

Rick. Tres cool flick. I only saw parts of it but caught some tunes. They don't make 'em like they used to, eh. I don't know if there'd be a modern equivalent, and maybe there shouldn't be, anything else would seem like another parody. Thanks for bringing this to my (somewhat limited) attention. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Tony Burns
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:49 PM

I would think they were probably tuned a tone apart Rick. My justification for saying this is from music I have seen that includes ukelele chords. Many of them show 2 tunings that they call C and D. When I tell people how to tune a uke I tell them it's the same notes as a guitar with the capo on either the 5th or 7th fret. A soprano uke has the 4th string an octave higher than the guitar note and a tenor tunes it the same as the guitar note. (Different diameter strings used for soprano and tenor 4th.)

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:30 PM

Thanks Rana. After the Home County Festival we went back to the hotel, and I was a bit too pooped to jam...so I turned on the TV and there was the Will Hay flick (with a very young Charles Hawtrey). Talked to someone who said the "two ukes" thing might be right though. One was probably tuned a semi-tone higher, so he could still play in simpler positions.

Rick

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Rana
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 06:17 PM

There is (I just found it today) a George Formby Society.

Here is the web:

http://www.georgeformby.co.uk/

which should give you all the info you want.

Saw the TVO listings and it is a repeat of the evening some months ago.

The George Formby film is followed by a Gracie Fields Film and finally the Will Hay film which is about a boarding school in a castle in Scotland haunted by bagpipes - definitely music content here!!

Rana

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: jofield
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 10:48 AM

George Formby was a British entertainer during WWII, correct? I believe I've seen old newsreel footage of him sitting on a military vehicle, surrounded by soldiers, playing the ukelele and singing about "The Maginot, Maginot Line". Is that the dude?

James.

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Rana
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 09:01 AM

Rick,

I can lend you my one George Formby CD if you wish.

By the way, thanks for telling us about TVO tonight - will have to set up the VCR. Hope they show a Will Hay comedy again - last time I programmed the stupid thing incorrectly.

Rana

PS: Jeff Goodes played you just after 7 this morning - did a nice plug for Home Counties

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 08:44 AM

Heather always told me Rolf Harris' genius was in his right hand as well John. But look...I'm bettin' on Formby. I think he could really play, and was just being modest.

Paw, is it true your folks sent you to (re) Finishing School?

Rick

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 08:02 AM

When was it he got into wood refinishing?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 01:30 AM

Rick, I must protest! Whatever the outcome of your observations I would ask you to keep them silent. Does George Formby really play great jazz chords? Is there really a Santa Claus? Some issues are really better not discussed in public. Besides which it's his right hand which is really the virtuoso part. Regards, John

Subject: Geo.Formby Project for Ontario Catters.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 11:27 PM

In the thread that'll probably be gone by tomorrow "Play Like A Pro, Without Lessons" (can someone post a blue clicky..I've forgotten how) We were talking about whether George Formby could actually play WELL.

On Saturday night, one of his movies will be playing on TVO (TV Ontario) at probably 8 pm. I have to go to London to perform at the Home County Folk Festival or I'd check it out. If anyone is sitting at home and can check for us, Formby will probably play at least seven or eight tunes. See if he's actually playing the jazz chords or not. Feel free to get drunk or smoke a joint while watching the flick....but no LSD...he'd play like Hendrix on THAT! Thanks

Rick