Hi DUGs
There’s plenty to look forward to over the next few weeks—from Strumday preparations and a community performance to beginners’ sessions and workshop practice. Here’s a quick round-up of what’s happening and how you can get involved.
Loch Lomond Strumday
We’ve now chosen our two songs for Strumday: Teach Your Children and Friday I’m in Love. Both will stay on the playlists for the next two or three weeks, giving us plenty of time to get them performance-ready.
If you’re performing, please join us for a final rehearsal at 6.45 pm on Wednesday, 30 September, in the hall. The beginners’ sessions will have finished by then, and I’ll send another reminder nearer the time.
Dementia Friendly Dunblane
The Friday after Strumday, we’ll be playing for the dementia group in Dunblane. We ran through the setlist at last week’s meeting, and Ken Russell recorded us—we sounded great! I’ll share the recordings on the DUGs website as soon as I can.
Find the full details: Events Calendar
Beginners’ Sessions
The beginners’ sessions will run for two more weeks, with the final session on Wednesday, 23 September. I hope they’ve helped our newer members feel more confident and comfortable playing with the group.
This week we’ll introduce the A minor chord and explore practical ways to play and sing at the same time—a skill that can feel surprisingly tricky at first. Adding Am means we can tackle Octopus’s Garden.
We’ll also work on the Island strum. Whether it feels natural or takes a little longer to click, we’ll look at simple ways to join in when the main group uses this pattern.
Session notes: You’ll find them in the website’s Resources section: Beginners’ Sessions
Workshops
Sarah will be back with us on 18 November. Until then, I’ll keep the three workshop songs in the playlists so we can practise the techniques from her notes and tips. A little preparation now will help us get the most from the next session.
Workshop notes and video links: Visit the Members’ Area: 2026 Workshops
This Week’s Playlist
The playlist includes our two Loch Lomond Strumday songs and the pieces we’re preparing for Sarah’s workshop. We’ll also add You Really Got Me and use Sarah’s tutorial to focus on its strumming pattern.
The rest is a lively mix of songs I fancied playing—but I’d love to include more member choices. Please send in your suggestions!
Octopus's Garden
Jamaica Farewell
Teach Your Children
Friday, I'm in Love
Somewhere in my heart
You Really Got Me
Whistle For The Choir
Black Velevet Band
Tell Me Ma
Bohemian Like You
Song Sung Blue
Bad Romance
If I Had a Million Dollars
Lyin' Eyes
Man on the Moon
Texas Hold 'Em
This Is The Life