Alistair Wood - Ukulele for Dummies: 3rd Edition

Ukulele For Dummies, 3rd Edition

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Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2020946174

ISBN 978-1-119-73660-8 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-73662-2 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-73663-9 (ebk)

1. Chapter 27

1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 19
19. Chapter 20
20. Chapter 24
21. Chapter 26

Id like to share with you the best piece of ukulele playing advice I ever read: make a joyful noisemake a loud noise. The aim of this book is to help you do both these two things. (In fact, the quote comes from the Bible (Psalms 98:4, King James Version), which I think proves beyond doubt that God plays ukulele.)

Most people who pick up the ukulele dont do so with dreams of rock-star fame or recognition as a virtuoso, but simply to have fun making music. This book doesnt go deep into the theory or insist on you practicing endless scales. Instead, you get the confidence and knowledge you need to start enjoying making music as quickly, joyfully, and loudly as possible.

You dont have to read Ukulele For Dummies, 3rd Edition, dutifully from cover to cover. Think of it more as a reference that allows you to dip in and find the help you need at the time and focus on the parts that interest you most. So if you dont have a ukulele yet, you can skip straight to the buying information in if you want to start with the musical genre that gets you most excited.

To take full advantage of the book, use all the following methods:

• Read the charts. Songs in this book are presented in chord charts, which are a simplified way of presenting music thats much more immediate than standard musical notation. The charts indicate how to play the chords in the song and the strumming rhythm.
• Copy the photos. The position of your hands and fingers is really important for getting a good sound from your uke. The photos give you a better idea of what your fingers need to look like than just using the chord charts.
• Listen to the audio tracks. Grasping what something should sound like from the written word alone is difficult, and so I include audio tracks to demonstrate the examples. I recommend listening to each exercise a few times before trying it yourself. Head to www.dummies.com/go/ukulelefd3e .
• Watch the videos. Find helpful videos at www.dummies.com/go/ukulelefd3e from how to hold your uke to alternate picking, I hope you find these free videos really useful.

The only large assumption I make is that youre using a standard-tuned ukulele (soprano, concert, or tenor) rather than a baritone ukulele. The baritone ukulele is a very different instrument.

I dont assume that you have any knowledge of the ukulele or of playing music in general. I dont assume youre able to read music. Youll see some standard music notation in the early part of the book. This is just to show where the melody of the tune fits against the chords. Youre not expected to play it until a bit later.

This book uses the following icons to call your attention to information that you may find helpful in particular ways.

The information marked by this icon is important and worth remembering. This icon allows you to spot the info easily when you refer back to a chapter later.

This icon indicates extra-helpful information that can save you time or make something easier.

This icon marks places where technical matters are discussed. You can skip over this more technical material if you prefer because the book is designed to let you do so without missing out on anything essential.

Paragraphs marked with this icon call attention to common pitfalls that you may encounter or prepare you for techniques that may turn out to be difficult to master.