This book and accompanying audio include twenty arrangements of Caribbean folk songs designed to be played on the soprano, concert or tenor ukulele. The pieces are arranged for solo playing in the chord-melody style. The collection includes two original songs by the author in the Caribbean style. Chords are provided if guitar accompaniment is desired. Players of any experience level will enjoy this book. Includes access to online audio.
In this collection of 23 melodies from the British Isles, award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist Ondrej Sarek treats the soprano ukulele as the lyrical solo instrument it can truly be. Along with fingerstyle arrangements of traditional airs, love songs, songs of home and longing, and the timeless melodies of Irish harpist Turlough O’Carolan, the book includes settings of a few original tunes by Mel Bay Publications president, William Bay. All arrangements appear in gCEA tuning in standard notation and uke tablature with suggested backup chords and occasional light fingering.
This book presents 37 pieces of Renaissance guitar music transcribed for solo fingerstyle ukulele together with the author’s recordings of every transcription. Moreover, a generous introduction provides a brief history of the Renaissance guitar, tips on period ornamentation and musicianship, recommended recordings, and invaluable resources for further research of your own. Throughout Europe, the Renaissance guitar was a popular instrument in the middle of the sixteenth century. Its composers left us a treasure-trove of music, from rustic dances to chansons and elaborate fantasias. Five-hundred years later, this music fits beautifully on the Renaissance guitar’s musical descendant, the ukulele. The Renaissance guitar and the ukulele share an almost identical tuning. As the transcriptions in this book are written in standard notation and tablature, any type of ukulele, from soprano to baritone—as well as the top four strings of the guitar— can be used to play them. Most of the pieces are in standard gCEA or GCEA tuning; the seven pieces in the second section of the book, however, require low-G tuning to render the counterpoint as written. It’s also possible for guitar and baritone uke players to read the tablature provided. The music will sound a perfect 4th lower than the notation, but as there was no standard pitch in the time of the Renaissance guitar, modern players should feel no obligation to play this music at fixed pitch. If you wish to read from the tablature and sound in the same key as the notation for ensemble purposes, guitar and baritone uke players merely need to place a capo at the fifth fret. With a certain sense of historical irony, the music of the Renaissance guitar is here reborn on modern fretted instruments.
This book presents 34 delightful Early Music melodies arranged for solo ukulele in gCEA tuning. The styles range from early Renaissance to Baroque, including lively dance tunes and sacred compositions, known for their beauty and vitality. Originally composed for lute or vihuela and often transcribed for classical guitar, these timeless pieces are now part of the ukulele repertoire. Written in standard notation and tablature, primarily for the intermediate to advanced player, but also for the determined novice.
This collection by David Coe contains 21 beautiful melodies by the world’s greatest composers. Included are songs by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and many more. Each selection is presented in both standard notation and tablature with chord diagrams included. The ukulele has a distinctive melodic voice and musicians of all levels will enjoy playing these timeless classics.
This book is devoted to playing the soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele tuned in perfect fifths as used by the string and mandolin families of instruments, as well as the cittern and tenor banjo. The book’s scores are all in tablature; you’ll have no trouble adapting to the tuning and playing in the book’s various styles. The 55 pieces in Play Ukulele in 5ths Tuning progress from simple to advanced and can be played fingerstyle or with a pick. To help you come to grips with the tuning, the book includes Classical-era studies originally written for instruments tuned in 5ths, followed by Scottish traditional tunes, bluegrass, blues, and early jazz pieces, and ultimately—Bach's gorgeous Baroque cello music. Includes access to online audio for every piece recorded by the author to facilitate your progress. Anytime you play with musicians who use instruments tuned in fifths, you can all use the same fingerings. As a result, the music can sound more "together". In addition, having played the uke tuned in perfect fifths, if you ever want to play any of those traditionally 5th-tuned instruments, you will have had a head start!
John Dowland (1563 – 1626), a contemporary of both William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I, was recognized as one of the greatest musicians of his time, writing songs, ensemble music and solos for the lute. Early music has long been part of the classic guitar repertoire and more recently, it has been adopted with enthusiasm by ukulele players. This book presents sixteen of Dowland's most beautiful lute songs that can be performed by ukulele players, with or without a vocalist. Two versions of each song – one easier and another more advanced—are offered in both standard notation and tablature for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles in re-entrant (gCEA) tuning. Various vocal ensemble renditions of the songs, as well as the author’s video performances of each solo arrangement are available online. For vocalists and their audiences, and for all musicians and songwriters to fully connect with the emotion of the songs, Dowland’s sublime lyrics are also included.
That’s right, the ukulele is a great instrument all by itself! This book contains 101 solos that let you play melody and accompaniment all on one ukulele. If you’d like to sing, go right ahead; lyrics are included for many of the solos. Each section starts with easy solos, complete with tips on ukulele technique and arranging. The music is written in tablature and standard musical notation, with suggested chords above the music for an optional second ukulele or guitar. Essential right and left-hand fingerings are shown in traditional classic guitar symbols and while most of the book is written in standard (aECG) tuning, a few tunes are offered in both drop-B tuning and drop-E-flat tuning. With selections ranging from country to classical, medieval to modern, and a Christmas section with seventeen traditional favorites, this ukulele collection includes music for every taste and season. A useful chord dictionary and access to online audio of the author’s beautiful renditions of each well-crafted solo arrangement are included.
This book presents 25 lyrical North American melodies scored for solo baritone ukulele in standard notation and tablature; occasional left-hand fingering suggestions are provided in these intermediate to advanced melody/chord settings. Selections include historical themes from the turbulent Civil War era, popular 19th century ballads, and modern pieces by William Bay. Along with the songs of several other known and unknown composers, any collection of American ballads would be incomplete without the timeless melodies penned by Stephen Foster; you will find Beautiful Dreamer, I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair, Darling Nellie Gray, and Stephen Foster's timeless Civil War classic Hard Times, Come Again No More in this collection. As the baritone uke is tuned the same as the top four strings of the guitar, guitarists can enjoy playing these satisfying arrangements on a second instrument!
Anyone can learn to play the ukulele, and play it well. No previous knowledge of music is necessary. Strum and pick both harmonies and melodies. First Lessons Ukulele provides a simple approach for learning how to play the ukulele without reading music. from the most basic necessities, such as holding the uke properly and forming simple chords, up to more advanced techniques, which include transposing, using second and third position chords, and picking and strumming melody solos. Companion CD included.•
