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.

Whether you want to play a few simple melodies or jam with other musicians, this helpful guide gives you the surest path from start to success.

Strum a tune on your ukulele—no Hawaiian shirt required! Picture it now: the sun sets over the shimmering sea, and, as the beach bar falls quiet, you begin strumming Queen Liliuokalani's "Aloha 'Oe" to a mesmerized crowd. ... Okay, while this doesn't happen every day for ukulele-players, you'll still have a lot of fun learning your favorite tunes on your ukulele. Widely associated with Hawaiian music, the ukulele has exploded in popularity in recent years as kids and adults alike have started their music education with a uke or added it to their collection of instruments. Learning to play this versatile instrument is made easier for the experience and inexperienced alike with this new edition of Ukulele For Dummies. Following its straightforward instructions, you'll pick your way from the basics of purchasing your ukulele and accessories to confidently strumming through simple chord progressions and jamming through various styles and standards, including pop, folk, and those much-loved holiday favorites. Aloha, Santa Claus! Buy the right ukulele for you Perfect your pick and fret Practice with downloadable audio Get the best ukulele apps Whatever you want from your ukulele adventure—strumming on the beach or adding its island style to your distinctive new pop sound—Ukulele For Dummies will have you making a big splash with this tiny instrument in aloha no time at all!

Easy play-along guide to understanding music, building confidence and learning to jam like a pro, with over 100 audio play-along practice tracks If you play ukulele to a basic level but want to take your playing skills to the next level by being able to hear, follow and understand the music and songs you play then this book is for you. With Next Level Ukulele you can: - Dramatically boost your confidence when performing - Develop your music theory knowledge, rhythm and listening skills - Improve your ability to play and remember songs - Transform your all round skills as a musician Does the world really need another uke book? We think it does - you see, many experienced beginner/intermediate ukulele players grow frustrated by their inability to understand and follow the music they play. Instead of blindly following the chords on the page, they want to be able to ‘hear and feel’ the music they play in the same way an experienced musician does! This is where Next Level Ukulele comes in - simply follow the step-by-step method in this book (with over 100 play-along tracks included), and see your musical skills improve dramatically. By focusing on really listening and learning to recognise the sounds in the music you play - you can go beyond basic ukulele playing, and begin to think, hear and feel like a real musician. Next Level Ukulele comes with over 100 play-along backing tracks demonstrating most of the examples in the book. These are used to teach you to hear and recognise all of the most common things you hear in the songs you play - chords, chord progressions, keys and key changes, common rhythmic patterns and more. Playing along with these ‘live band feel’ backing tracks is also the perfect way to practice your uke playing at home and become totally confident when you make music with others - whether it’s as a solo performer, in a uke band or club, at open mic nights or impromptu sing-alongs and jam sessions. Next Level Ukulele shows you how to: Learn to play ‘by ear’. This is how many musicians can work out and play songs they’ve never even played before! Learn how to develop the skills you need to eventually be able to do this Understand and recognise the common elements we see in the popular ukulele repertoire - major and minor chords and keys, different rhythms and time signatures, ‘seventh’ chords, common chord sequences, key changes, ‘borrowed’ chords and much more Recognise common song forms and structures like the 12 bar blues, ‘IV’ chord chorus songs, and song based on simple repeating chord patterns (makes it much easier to learn and remember songs you want to play) Learn to ‘feel the rhythm’ and nail common rhythmic feels and strumming patterns - including swing rhythms, shuffles, ‘train’ rhythms, waltz time and more Perfect if: - You want to improve your ukulele playing skills, feel more confident when playing with other musicians, and simply enjoy your playing more - You’d like to become one of those players who can hear songs and work them out simply by using their ears! - You want to improve your ability to listen to and follow the music you play - You want to learn some of the skills you need to jam with others (and feel comfortable and confident doing so!) - You’d like to play music and songs on the spot ‘by ear’ instead of always following a chord sheet - You want a deeper understanding of the music you play - You’d like to be able to recognise the common chords, chord progressions, song forms and key changes used in the popular ukulele repertoire Ready to see a dramatic boost in your ukulele and music skills? Then grab Next Level Ukulele (with over 100 play-along practice tracks) and get started!

This book and accompanying audio include 21 beautiful songs, old-time tunesand Christmas melodies arranged as duets for two ukuleles. The individual parts are single note melodies designed to allow players of all skill levels to play together. The pieces are arranged so the first ukulele plays the melody and the second ukulele plays the harmony above it. Regardless of your previousexperience, these arrangements, even played at slow tempos, will produce anattractive full sound. Audio available online

The benefits of music are monumental! Ukuleles are the perfect first instrument for kids to learn to play, and this book will show them why and how. Filled with basic instructions for holding positions, tuning, basic chords, and more, children will then learn and practice 24 songs, games, and activities. From songs about counting to songs about yoga, each exciting musical activity provides a rich and playful learning experience kids will love! Kid’s Guide to Learning the Ukulele is a must-have musical journey for children and parents or teachers alike – no prior experience or knowledge needed! Author Emily Arrow has over 10 years of experience working with children and teachers in music education. An award-winning children’s songwriter, an official Kala Brand Music Co. artist, and popular YouTube personality, her work has also been featured on SiriusXM’s Kid’s Place Live, as well as Sesame Street Studios.

The Ukulele Christmas Songbook has thirty of the most loved holiday favorites arranged for beginner to intermediate ukulelists. Each song is shown in lead sheet format, meaning the melody, lyrics, and chords are included. The melodies have both ukulele tablature and notation, and each song includes chord diagrams showing the finger placement. Twenty songs have a more advanced fingerstyle arrangement for players looking for a fuller-sounding chord melody with chords and melody together. There is also a useful 30+ page ukulele reference section for players wishing to expand their ukulele knowledge. This reference section includes a chord library of the most common ukulele chords, strumming and fingerpicking patterns, chord and arpeggio fingerboard diagrams in every key, and a collection of ukulele scales and scale patterns to warm-up your fingers.

This new book is designed for seniors who wish to learn to play the ukulele. Care has been taken to select repertoire familiar and appealing to a more mature audience and attention has been given to the pacing of the material. Basic chords are given and variety of songs and exercises make the learning fast and fun. Play along CD includes all songs taught in the book.

Take your ukulele playing to the next level - fast! - with hundreds of fun exercises, drills and practice tunes You have a ukulele, you know just enough to be dangerous, and now you're ready to do something with it. You're in luck: Ukulele Exercises For Dummies helps you become a better player. This practice-based book focuses on the skills that entry-level players often find challenging and provides tips, tricks and plenty of cool exercises that will have you creating music in no time that include: • Creating rock-steady strumming patterns and rhythms • Becoming a better fingerpicker with patterns, arpeggio exercises, and solo fingerpicking pieces • Expanding your fretboard knowledge and crafting your own rock, blues and jazz riffs and solos • Playing actual songs on the ukulele - everything from the classic ukulele tunes to the 12 bar blues! • Downloadable audio files of the exercises found in the book, providing you with a self-contained practice package No matter if you're a beginning ukulele player or you're wanting to stretch and improve your chops, Ukulele Exercises For Dummies puts you on your way to becoming a ukulele extraordinaire!

From the author of Mel Bay's best selling Learn to Play Fingerstyle Solos for Ukulele and Favorite Fingerstyle Solos for Ukulele, we are proud to presentFingerstyle Duets for Ukulele.This book and accompanying audio offer 21 great songs arranged in 18 duets for fingerstyle ukulele. The songs come from around the world: European waltzes, classic Hawaiian songs, folksongs, Victorian parlor pieces and classical guitar and piano transcriptions. Nothing in this book will be out of reach of the advancing beginner or intermediate player. Even advanced players will find something to tickle their fancy. The book includes tips on technique and fingerpicking exercises. Many of the songs include lyrics, adding to the flexibility of the arrangements. Included are four etudes - basic duets featuring scaled down melodic parts for the lead ukulele and simple pattern picking for the accompaniment. More advanced duets feature modulations, chord inversions up the neck, and different rhythmic approaches forthe right hand in both parts. The book concludes with an arrangement of Erik Satie's haunting solo piano piece Gymnopedie #1