How To Play Ukulele: A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners - Level 1 Paperback – August 13, 2012

I've wanted to play a musical instrument my whole life, but being dyslexic I found learning one impossible and reading music even impossibler. My elementary school tried to teach me the glockenspiel, my patents hired a piano tutor for me, my cousins are all music teachers and they tried to teach me the ukelele (almost 10 years ago). Nothing took, not even a little. Hopeless.Now I know this book is geared towards younger readers, but I figured that as a remedial adult I might as well start simple. I'm so glad I got this book!I received this book and a ukelele in the mail today, and this night I'm strumming twinkle twinkle little star and Yankee doodle dandy and out in the fields. Which doesn't sound like much, but it's just the first day! And what's more I'm reading it off in musical notation and translating it into the correct chords on the instrument! I never thought I'd be able to learn musical notation.This book breaks everything down into super simple steps and gives you easy exercises for each step. Perhaps most importantly it explains things really clearly, both in the text as well as with many helpful illustrations on each page.True true, a 10 year old could probably use this book. But it's clear and has a lot of info, and most importantly it works. But it's really for absolute beginners, so if you already have an idea how to play chords on the ukelele you'll probably want something more advanced.I'm so happy I'm tearing up. A hundred stars!

A quick review and reference book for those wishing to learn more about ukulele with charts, pictures, and beginner musical terms.

This looks like it will be a great way to learn the Ukulele I got for Christmas. It is a bit thin, but they price was low, and it was the #1 Ukulele Guide when I was shopping and had good reviews. I'll be sure to update once I'm a Ukulele master. . which I will hopefully become.

I have purchased 4 other books on how to play the ukulele and read music. This books is the ONLY one that explains things in laymen terms and the one I refer back to when I look at the other books. It doesn't dummy down it just assumes that you don't know anything about notes and chords and reading music but teaches you how to play without going into confusing explanations! It has basic songs that you know so you can learn how things should sound. I'm 57 and feel like a dork learning but am actually making progress thanks to leaning back on this book!

I was nervous buying this as the last ukulele book I purchased was from a music store and not one employee told me it was for intermediate players, despite being the first instrument I've ever bought and knowing this. This book has been SO amazingly helpful that I strongly encourage it to anyone!! I never thought that someone like me, who has 2 learning disabilities, could ever play a musical instrument and yet this book has done a lot more for me than 3 years of music lessons in school!

Easy to follow. However, there is no audio CD. Tones are extremely simple. This would be good as a children first book on playing the Ukulele. Also, there are no words for the songs. They could have included the words, but left them out. If you are a beginner, I would recommend Ukulele Primer with DVD by Bert Casey. Ben Parker has well organized this book and goes over finger picking. This is a good start before getting into the more complex patterns of finger picking. Ben is a kid with a lot of talent. However, he plays the guitar more then the Ukulele.

helps to get you started

Explanations are minimal and hard to understand. Introductions of new chords are not done in a consistent manner or even in an order that makes sense. Examples of songs are not well chosen and should provide words. I am comparing with the books from which I learned to play the guitar. I gave this book to another person, and she also was very bewildered by it. The tiny book that came with the ukulele was actually more helpful! Sorry for the negative review.