Mel Bay Learn To Play Fingerstyle Solos for Ukulele

While the ‘ukulele is enjoying a well-deserved renaissance on the mainland, in the land of it's birth, it has never gone out of style. Hawaiian's took to the "jumping flea" right from the start, creating music of stunning beauty and versatility. Now intermediate players can learn to play lovely finger style solo arrangements of classic Hawaiian songs, folk songs, standards–even a few pieces from the classical guitar repertoire. The book offers 27 arrangements from around the world written in standard notation and tablature playable on any ‘ukulele. Songs are grouped according to level of difficulty, starting with simple arrangements well within the grasp of dedicated beginners and intermediate players and leading through more challenging songs featuring unusual chord voicings, inversions up the neck, tricky fingerings and "all the fun stuff" the author could muster. To aid the student, the companion CD includes all of the songs taught. Includes chord charts, inversion studies, introductory material on finger-picking and making the transition from strumming to melodic playing.

Customer Reviews:

I Love This Book!

By photo_artiste - March 31, 2009

This book is not for beginners one wrote...depends on how you define a beginner? If you have a basic understanding of the 'Ukulele and have learned some cords and strumming techniques and have at least a basic understanding of how to read music (although this helps it is not necessary) and are patient then stretch your wings and go for it.

I started playing about 8 months ago and using this book about 2 months ago and it is the only book I use right now and will probably be working my way through it for several more months.

It taught me how to read TABLETURE a necessity for 'Uke or Guitar song books and with the understanding of the rhythm of musical notation (the CD can replace this although I have not used it yet) I am simply working my way through each song and getting it down about 50-60% then moving on the the next. Then the next day I warm up with a song I have down, practice the one I have down somewhat and start into the next and run through it a few... read more

Very helpful and easy to follow

By Keith R. Snyder - July 8, 2008

My uke playing up 'til now has been strumming. This book has many tunes of all sorts of styles, progressing from easier to harder. I like the mix of Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian pieces. Right now I'm at the stage of learning each song as written, but because some songs appear a couple of times with different degrees of technicality and style, it will help me to better understand how to play other songs using these techniques and expand my repertoire. It is such a beautiful instrument and easy to play, and I really want to get past the level of being able to strum along on some songs, and this is a book to really help. I only wish there were a few more slack-key songs in it. The CD that is included not only is helpful in learning the songs, but I play it in my office as nice music to just listen to. I highly recommend Fingerstyle Solos.

Great uke music

By Loni Simone - July 17, 2009

If you're into fingerstyle solos, and you want to apply it to the ukulele, this book is for you. Since I already play fingerstyle with guitar and banjo, it helps I know, but the uke is such a user-friendly instrument I think a beginner can be playing songs in little time. Start off with the old favorite 'first song', 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' to get you ready, and then to folk tunes and Hawaiian tunes that you really want to play on the uke. Tabs will help the non-musical notation reader. The companion CD will help you get familiar with the tunes and is just great to listen to.