Acoustic Noise Collective

Frequently Asked Questions

Hopefully everything you need to know about our ukulele group.

What is Acoustic Noise Collective?
We are an all abilities, no audition ukulele group. We take time together to work on an arrangement of each of our songs to reflect our respective skills and confidence. During this process everyone is encouraged to pitch in ideas, suggest strumming patterns or riffs, anything that'll make the song distinctive.

What sort of songs do you play?
Pop and Rock classics from the past five decades. Anything from Gloria Gaynor to George Ezra, The Cure to The Cranberries. Big hits, iconic tunes, absolute bangers, all killer / no filler. See our Spotify Playlists for examples.

Where can I get a copy of your songbook? Should I bring a Music Stand?
No need for either a songbook or music stand. The venue we use is equipped with a big screen TV. The songs are screen-shared to the TV so no printed sheets or music stands are required for our weekly sessions.

Where and when do you meet?
Our sessions are held on Monday evenings in the Park Life Community Hub in Heavitree, Exeter. Your first visit is free, after that it's just £3 per session on a pay-as-you-go basis. This small fee covers the hire of the venue and any running costs. Any surplus is retained for the benefit of the group as a whole.

Why do you charge a fee?
Lots of ukulele groups are free to attend. They usually meet in a local pub on a quiet night with an unwritten rule that attendees buy a drink from the bar before the session starts as well as during a break in proceedings. There is nothing wrong with this model, but pubs can be noisy, distracting and don't suit everyone.

We meet in a well-appointed, accessible, hired hall with good acoustics. We have the room to ourselves for the duration which suits the collaborative way we work on our songs. The pay-as-you-go weekly fee of £3 is (we think) very good value – maybe even less than the price of a couple of drinks in the pub!

I'm a beginner, will it be OK to come along?
Absolutely. No-one is going to judge you for not being able to play all the chords. One or two is plenty to begin with and you'll be guided and helped along the way. The fact that we often go through each song more than once (especially if it's new to the group) means you shouldn't ever feel left behind.

I'm a teenager, can I join your group?
For sure! Under-16s are welcome to come along – but they must be sensible, well-behaved and accompanied by an adult. Only one session fee would be required as long as the adult doesn't join in with the music.

I've got a ukulele but I can't play yet, can I come along anyway to learn?
Most certainly! Playing in a group setting is a great way to get to know your ukulele. We aren't teachers and our sessions aren't lessons, but everyone started somewhere and we'll be happy to help you out with encouragement and tips. Start with open strumming (no chords), attend regularly and you'll learn and improve without realising it. Many of our members have done or are doing just that!

I haven't got a ukulele yet. Can I come along to watch before I decide to join?
We'd rather you didn't. Our Monday evening ukulele sessions are participation-only events. Besides, no ukulele is no barrier – come along and have a go with our loaner ukulele. Playing is a lot more fun than watching anyway, so why not have a go? You might surprise yourself.

NOTE – If you do decide to come along without a ukulele please let us know ahead of time so we can make sure the loaner ukulele will be available!

Can I bring my guitar / banjo / mandolin / ukulele hybrid?
Yes – as long as they remain in their case for the duration of the session while you use our loaner ukulele and reflect upon the error of your ways! Sorry, joking aside we're strictly a "ukulele only" group, but with a variety of ukulele sizes available – soprano, concert, tenor and baritone – there's still some degree of choice.

If the guitar is your regular instrument and the thought of transitioning to the ukulele feels a little daunting, then consider trying a baritone ukulele. They're tuned DGBE and are a bit larger than a standard ukulele so it's broadly a small guitar with two missing strings! Here's a free baritone ukulele chord sheet to download.

Do you gig? Will I be expected to join in?
We play a small number of local shows throughout the year as well as some open mic evenings. All of our regular attendees are welcome to take part but only when they feel they're ready.

Can my bestie / partner / spouse come to our next gig and play along?
Sorry but that's a firm no. We devote time to practice and take playing live reasonably seriously. Therefore the only people allowed on stage are our regular attendees who are already familiar with our songbook. However, anyone can join in with our Monday evening sessions, so why not bring someone else along with you!