Tootler
Well-known member
I got a copy of an old ukulele tutor book totally out of the blue in the post today. Someone clearing out their house in a move had found it and sent it to me knowing I play ukulele.
It was published by Francis, Day & Hunter a UK music publisher and was priced at 3/- (three shillings old money, = 15p current money) though it looks as if it has had a raised price sticker on it at some time.
There is no publication date or copyright notice though there is a catalogue number so it should in theory be possible to trace the publication date. My guess at the moment is that it dates from between just after WWII to the mid 1950s when the guitar really began to take over big time.
Of interest, it suggests:
* three alternative tunings, GCEA, ADF#B and BbEbGC with ADF#B clearly being the base tuning.
* stringing it using best quality [gut] violin strings. E strings for 1st & 4th strings and A strings for 2nd & 3rd. Interesting thought and may still be a valid idea.
Chord diagrams are based on ADF#D with instructions on transposing to the other tunings.
There is a selection of songs
I've scanned some pages in. Images below.
It was published by Francis, Day & Hunter a UK music publisher and was priced at 3/- (three shillings old money, = 15p current money) though it looks as if it has had a raised price sticker on it at some time.
There is no publication date or copyright notice though there is a catalogue number so it should in theory be possible to trace the publication date. My guess at the moment is that it dates from between just after WWII to the mid 1950s when the guitar really began to take over big time.
Of interest, it suggests:
* three alternative tunings, GCEA, ADF#B and BbEbGC with ADF#B clearly being the base tuning.
* stringing it using best quality [gut] violin strings. E strings for 1st & 4th strings and A strings for 2nd & 3rd. Interesting thought and may still be a valid idea.
Chord diagrams are based on ADF#D with instructions on transposing to the other tunings.
There is a selection of songs
I've scanned some pages in. Images below.