Ukulele Exercises For Dummies

Here's where I'm coming from: I am, perhaps, an advanced beginner at the instrument. I received this book as a gift about a week ago. I probably practice too much.This is at its heart an exercise book. It's absolutely excellent for that - I've only spent about a week on it and see plenty of places I will improve from. It's also a great book for jumping around in. If you're a middling to advanced beginner (for me, I know all the important chords well, with one or two strumming patterns and no fingerpicking) this will help you advance. No, I haven't completed it - but this has already demystified strumming patterns for me (practice slow at first, then bring the speed up to the listed rate on the example song). I also now have a good understanding (if not ability) of how arpeggios work and I will be working on those.There are a good number of example songs, though I'd have liked to see more (one per strumming pattern, for example). There is still a good deal of footwork involved for the reader to produce more lengthy exercises on trouble spots. Strumming patterns, for example, are typically two measures long. This is far too short to make an interesting exercise (though it may be effective) and playing it in a song really makes the pattern understandable. I'm only asking for 3-4 lines of music, not complete songs. Other books have complete songs - this one should have had snippets, and in greater numbers. For that it loses a star (half a star, perhaps).The song choices are seasonal... Christmas music is appropriate for no more than a month or two of the year (less, if you don't go shopping after Halloween). "Jingle Bells," "O Holy Night," and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" are a third of the example pieces in the strumming section. "Silent Night" appears in fingerpicking. "Angels We Have Heard On High," "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," "Coventry Carol," and "Joy to the World" are the majority of the songs in the fretboard (chords & scales) section. One of the authors must have loved Christmas music, but year-round songs could have been chosen. This is the other star lost.I haven't purchased a hard-copy "dummies" book in a number of years, but the paper and binding quality is similar to a book of crossword puzzles. I can't see this book lasting long.3.5 stars, but its shortcomings can be overcome with reader effort to make this your most important daily resource.

I am reviewing the print copy of this book, not the Kindle edition.It makes little difference to me whether the author chooses to write in British English or American English, but to flip-flop between the two is not acceptable. The very first page of the table of contents serves as a warning that no decent editor or proofreader has been anywhere near the galleys for this book. One may "practice" or one may "practise," but one may not do both right on the same page, inches from each other! This geographical confusion is repeated throughout the book.Since this book is called "Ukulele Exercises," I expected more exercises and less text/drivel, but on this count I was sorely disappointed. Most of the book is taken up with space-filling blocks of self-promoting soul-draining delaying tactics. I agree that before playing any tunable instrument, one should tune it, but the idea that I should not pick up my instrument and begin to play until I have completed an extensive regime of stretching exercises is ridiculous and off-putting. I wouldn't mind these exercises being included somewhere in the book, but they should not stand in the way of actually playing the instrument, let alone command "don't pick up the ukulele just yet," accompanied by a warning symbol of a lit explosive device as if failing to locate a tennis ball and do sufficient hand-squeezes prior to playing is likely to result in serious injury.The format of the book is remarkably poor. The volume is too thick and heavy to sit on a typical music stand, too slippery to rest properly on a lap, and bound in such a way that getting it to lay flat without breaking the binding and freeing the pages is not possible. The pages are large, but have enormous margins, which results in the all-important printed music being squeezed into a very small space. The tiny numbers of the tablature and teeny chord charts are clear enough in full daylight at a distance of 18 inches or so, but holding the book so close while simultaneously strumming and fretting requires more hands than I've been issued. I have rather poor distance vision, but just last week my eye doctor confirmed that my vision up close is superb and that I have no need for bifocals or reading glasses and that my corrected distance vision is superior to 20/20, so I am certain others are likely to have this problem as well.The author teases the reader with repeated promises of "exciting" exercises ahead, but delivers page after page of rambling platitudes and theory instead, to the point that the promises become taunts. The writing style is a familiar one and reminded me of the traditional elementary-school effort to fill space to meet a page requirement: nothing is too obvious to be spared a repetitive long-winded description or two or three. Everything is told and nothing is shown.I had anticipated picking up this book and my ukulele and strumming my way to improved skills, but the only way to get any use from this book is probably going to require photocopying enlargements of the pages with music, which really should not be necessary, as I have already paid for this printed version. Playing the ukulele should be fun, but this book makes it quite a drag.

Great book for beginners or improvers. This book has got a great introduction and they cover all the basics. Before this, I taught myself some basic cords and some basic strum patterns. However, I'm really enjoying the practice exercises and the fact that this isn't a read from beginning to end type of book. You can jump around based on what you need to work on including things like strum patterns for blues, how to read tablature, different fingerings, how to read the fretboard, and plucking technique.It really is a great book for thoroughly understanding the ukulele and playing in general. I'm looking forward to the practice exercises the book does include references for reading music rhythm and fingering patterns. I'm able to gain a better understanding of the fretboard in general and how to improvise when playing with others.I'd recommend this book to anyone trying to get started in the ukulele or anyone looking to improve a particular aspect of their playing.There aren't any fingering charts that I see So I did have to pick up a book on cord fingering as well. Overall, this is highly recommended for anyone looking to get started or improve their playing. I'm looking forward to the practice section where I can improve my strumming technique.

I started learning to play the Ukulele recently, and wanted to expand my knowledge and skills further.Specifically. I am currently working on improving my strumming, which is why after some research. I purchased this book.It's really well laid out, with lots of great information all easily explained in plain language. You can work your way through the book from beginning to end, or go to a specific section, which is what I have been doing.All of the examples and exercises are available online also.Great value for money book, which I will be using and referring to for a long time.

I bought this as a present. I already own a copy. It deserves 5 stars for content but unfortunately this particular copy has been printed on inferior paper to my own copy and I'm not sure why it has been tampered with in that way.It is an excellent book and I recommend it on that basis. It is useful to beginners/inexperienced players and more proficient players alike.I've enjoyed playing the classical pieces because that's introduced me to an entirely new area of uke playing. I've been teaching a small group (5) people fingerstyle uke and they've all now bought their own copies.

This book contains exercises to improve your playing, as per it's title.It is not a basic Ukulele tutorial, neither is it a book of tunes. It never claims to be.The audio files are easily downloaded from the "Dummies" site, details of which are included in the book itself.If you have the basics of playing, but want to improve, get this it's ideal.

A bit technical, as I'm not naturally a very musical person. Bought a ukulele to learn along with my 13year old Grandson. I'm sure with this book I can eventually produce a tune, it seems a very comprehensive guide book and the exercises are essential and learning is made fun. With this book I WILL persevere and learn to play my Ukulele.

A lot of information for both beginner and more experienced ukulele player. Covers strumming and finger picking techniques with additional information on practicing and performing.Presented in easy 'chunks' that can either be followed in sequence or dipped in and out of.Goes well with the online ukulele course by the author.