Anyone can learn to play the ukulele, and play it well. No previous knowledge of music is necessary. Strum and pick both harmonies and melodies. First Lessons Ukulele provides a simple approach for learning how to play the ukulele without reading music. from the most basic necessities, such as holding the uke properly and forming simple chords, up to more advanced techniques, which include transposing, using second and third position chords, and picking and strumming melody solos. Companion CD included.•

Fingerstyle master Richard Gilewitz introduces fundamental fingerstyle techniques for ukulele in this handy first lesson book. Clearly written with a system of straightforward fingerpicking patterns, easy-to-read chord charts, tablature andnotation with study and historical notes for simple level tunes. First Lessons Fingerstyle for Ukulele is a basic and fail-proof approach for beginner players, plus those who wish to expand their ukulele playing to include fingerstyle.Includes access to online audio

That’s right, the ukulele is a great instrument all by itself! This book contains 101 solos that let you play melody and accompaniment all on one ukulele. If you’d like to sing, go right ahead; lyrics are included for many of the solos. Each section starts with easy solos, complete with tips on ukulele technique and arranging. The music is written in tablature and standard musical notation, with suggested chords above the music for an optional second ukulele or guitar. Essential right and left-hand fingerings are shown in traditional classic guitar symbols and while most of the book is written in standard (aECG) tuning, a few tunes are offered in both drop-B tuning and drop-E-flat tuning. With selections ranging from country to classical, medieval to modern, and a Christmas section with seventeen traditional favorites, this ukulele collection includes music for every taste and season. A useful chord dictionary and access to online audio of the author’s beautiful renditions of each well-crafted solo arrangement are included.

This book presents 25 lyrical North American melodies scored for solo baritone ukulele in standard notation and tablature; occasional left-hand fingering suggestions are provided in these intermediate to advanced melody/chord settings. Selections include historical themes from the turbulent Civil War era, popular 19th century ballads, and modern pieces by William Bay. Along with the songs of several other known and unknown composers, any collection of American ballads would be incomplete without the timeless melodies penned by Stephen Foster; you will find Beautiful Dreamer, I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair, Darling Nellie Gray, and Stephen Foster's timeless Civil War classic Hard Times, Come Again No More in this collection. As the baritone uke is tuned the same as the top four strings of the guitar, guitarists can enjoy playing these satisfying arrangements on a second instrument!

In this collection of 23 melodies from the British Isles, award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist Ondrej Sarek treats the soprano ukulele as the lyrical solo instrument it can truly be. Along with fingerstyle arrangements of traditional airs, love songs, songs of home and longing, and the timeless melodies of Irish harpist Turlough O’Carolan, the book includes settings of a few original tunes by Mel Bay Publications president, William Bay. All arrangements appear in gCEA tuning in standard notation and uke tablature with suggested backup chords and occasional light fingering.

The Ukulele Workbook includes 8 weeks of lessons and more than 20 songs. Over 300 students have already completed the curriculum which I continue to refine and improve based on student feedback. What makes this book unique is the playlist includes recent hits and each song is accompanied by a webpage where you can play-along. I also cover the circles of fifths and inversions to help you progress beyond just playing songs. Within 8 weeks, you will become a great ukulele player! My goal is to give you the confidence to play with others. You might be surprised just how much fun it can be to learn to play the ukulele using this method.

Since its introduction to Hawai‘i in 1879, the ‘ukulele has been many things: a symbol of an island paradise; a tool of political protest; an instrument central to a rich musical culture; a musical joke; a highly sought-after collectible; a cheap airport souvenir; a lucrative industry; and the product of a remarkable synthesis of western and Pacific cultures. The ‘Ukulele: A History explores all of these facets, placing the instrument for the first time in a broad historical, cultural, and musical context. Drawing on a wealth of previously untapped sources, Jim Tranquada and John King tell the surprising story of how an obscure four-string folk guitar from Portugal became the national instrument of Hawai’i, of its subsequent rise and fall from international cultural phenomenon to “the Dangerfield of instruments,” and of the resurgence in popularity (and respect) it is currently enjoying among musicians from Thailand to Finland. The book shows how the technologies of successive generations (recorded music, radio, television, the Internet) have played critical roles in popularizing the ‘ukulele. Famous composers and entertainers (Queen Liliuokalani, Irving Berlin, Arthur Godfrey, Paul McCartney, SpongeBob SquarePants) and writers (Rudyard Kipling, Jack London, P. G. Wodehouse, Agatha Christie) wind their way through its history—as well as a host of outstanding Hawaiian musicians (Ernest Kaai, George Kia Nahaolelua, Samuel K. Kamakaia, Henry A. Peelua Bishaw). In telling the story of the ‘ukulele, Tranquada and King also present a sweeping history of modern Hawaiian music that spans more than two centuries, beginning with the introduction of western melody and harmony by missionaries to the Hawaiian music renaissance of the 1970s and 1980s.