Ukulele Books/DVDs

Books

Beginners

Ukulele for Dummies

A completely biased recommendation since I wrote it. But it is definitely the most comprehensive beginner ukulele book around. Find out about it here. Read reviews here.

Buy it on Amazon US
Buy it on Amazon UK

It’s also worth picking up a chord dictionary like Mel Bay’s Ukulele Chords

Intermediate

Fingerstyle Solos for ‘Ukulele

A great book of straight-forward fingerstyle arrangements by Mark Kailana Nelson. Read my full review here.

Advanced

The Classical Ukulele

A book of tricky arrangements of classical and folk tunes from the master of campanella ukulele John King. Read my full review here.

DVDs

Beginners Instruction

The Complete Ukulele Course taught by Ralph Shaw

Ralph Shaw guides you through basic strumming technique and strumming in different styles. Read my review here.

Improvers Instruction

Ralph Shaw – Essential Strums for the Ukulele

Advanced Instruction

Bob Brozman – Ukulele Tunes & Techniques

Genre-hopping multi-instrumentalist virtuoso guides you through jazzy and Hawaiian ukulele playing techniques with the help of Ledward Kaapana. Read my full review here.

Performance

Jake Shimabukuro – Play Loud Ukulele Price: $14.98

6 Comments

  1. Huey July 3rd, 2011 10:19 pm

    What is a good electric ukulele to buy for playing the blues ?

    Huey

  2. Michael December 27th, 2011 10:29 pm

    Does anyone have recs for a lefty for books or chord charts? I need some help here Thanks Michael

  3. Steve January 9th, 2012 5:53 am

    Michael

    William Bay has produced a left-handed chord book for the uke. Published by Mel Bay (I think) and cost around £3.50.

  4. Steve January 9th, 2012 6:10 am

    No books listed here as yet, but it has to be said that Al Wood’s own book “Ukulele for Dummies” (Wiley ISBN 978-047-097799-6) is excellent.

    Al has a naturally friendly and relaxed style with a real gift for getting information across to the reader very clearly. He has also proved that he is up for answering dumb questions from banjo jockeys, so fame and the untold riches of being published haven’t yet gone to his head! 😀

    This could very well be the only uke handbook you’ll ever need to buy and probably the best use of £10 this side of next Christmas!

  5. Evandro April 23rd, 2014 2:35 pm

    I’m looking for a 8 strings Ukulele, where i can find?
    Thanks

  6. Tim September 3rd, 2015 5:39 pm

    The “Dummies” book is definitely the best, and I accepted no payment for saying so….I do agree with some reviews that the photos printed too dark to see well….nobody’s perfect…..

    I also have “Learn To Play Ukulele’ by Phil Capone. Very basic, but easy to read chord diagrams and a lay-flat binding.

    “Fretboard Roadmaps” for uke is useful in showing all the progressions and relationships of each chord to another.

    “Hawaiian Ukulele, The Early Methods” is a collection of reprints of several vintage methods. Nothing spectacular in their contents, and most are written for “D” tuning, but fun to leaf through.

    “The Ukulele” by Jim Beloff is a fun book about the history of ukes, with loads of photos of vintage ukes to either drool over or laugh at.

    A i914 Bailey Method and 1917 Guckert’s Chords round out my library, found both on eBay.

    I have the mandatory half dozen chord books, and charts from online sites.

Got something to say?