Wellington, Oct 19 NZPA - Ukelele players, including Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie, have failed in an attempt to set a new world record for the most players strumming at the same time.

The gathering 606 at the Hawke's Bay Ukelele Festival at the weekend was well short of the record of 851 but festival organisers said they would have another attempt next year.

McKenzie is a founding member of the Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra.