Learn to Play Fingerstyle Solos for Ukulele

I should say this is best for the intermediate MUSIC (not just uke) player, meaning someone with a basic understasnding of chord structures and intervals (harmonies) because there is no explanation of how chords are formed. For example, re. the very brief discussion of suspended chords suggesting the 4 note is suspended (meaning dropped). Not so! it's the 3 note that is always dropped in a suspended chord and if it's just a straight suspended chord, the 4 note is included (replaces the 3 note.) If it's a "sus 2" chord, the 3 note (again) is dropped and the 2 note substituted in. Whatever, point is, a few more techical explanations would benefit those weak on music structure/theory.More on the plus side, the commentaries for each song are very helpful and interesting although could benefit with a few more chord diagrams for new uke players (like myself). But the fact that many chord diagrams, plus tab, plus notation, are included is a big plus and should be a must for any self respecting song/fake book for the uke.Song selections are nice in a beaufiful way. Nothing very lively though: some good bluegrass stuff would be welcome.Lastly, the CD that comes with the book: quite nice playing on it , but the tone (sound) of the instrument is pretty dead. Sounds like it was recorded in a padded room with burlap sacks stuffed inside the uke, and gloves on the picking fingers! Well OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration! and the songs are OK as demonstrations. Next time, suggest getting a uke that rings and sings with some clarity!Book is recommended. Good for those who detest ONLY strummin' and singin' the uke! and want to explore the much more appealing finger pickin' possibilites of the instrument.Hope this helps.

I would recommend that you have some basics down before tackeling this book, but the challenge is worthwhile, if you are up to it. This book starts out like most music instruction books by teaching basic music notation. Then there is specific instruction on how to read and play from tabulature. This is not very difficult. However, I don't think the book adequately explains the concepts of "hammer-on", "pull-off" and "harmonics", so it is helpful to have this demonstrated by someone who plays guitar or the like, which is what I did.The music starts off with "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", in a finger style, but not too tough. After that there is a more complex version of the same song. Then I really enjoyed learning the song "All through the Night", and I usually warm up with it, in fact. I also enjoy the Hawaiian songs; they are so charming. I skipped around a little and am working on #10, Dona Nobis Pacem, and it is lovely and not too hard. Toward the end of the book, though, the author gets into some really advanced stuff, and so I am also working from other books, such as sing-and-strum-chord types and one that concentrates on note reading, hoping that I will eventually get up to that level.The CD is most helpful in learning these pieces. The solos sound very clean and nice, and they are played slowly enough to really help you "get" it. If you really like fingerstyle playing (notes and chords/melody and harmony), this book is a good choice.

I just started playing baritone 'ukulele three months ago and couldn't wait to give this book a shot. It is truly wonderful - I love the songs and arrangements. Less than half of the songs are arranged in such a manner that I can play them on baritone without making adjustments - players with soprano, concert, and tenor 'ukuleles will have no trouble (in fact, the author recommends tenor because of the extended fingerboard) - but it hasn't been a problem. When the score says play open G (4th string, D on bari), I just fret the third note on the 2nd string (one octave higher) and the melody sounds as it should. I cannot play along with the CD, because the baritone is tuned a fourth lower (songs written and played in F are in C on bari), but it is still pleasant to listen to and gives you an idea of how the song is supposed to sound. Since most players play sopranos or concerts, most won't have any trouble with this book at all. There's a nice variety of songs, including a generous number of Hawai'ian pieces. I can't recommend this more highly if you want to do more than strum and play single-line melodies.

Mark Nelson is a talented musician and a generous teacher (see you tube videos). The song selection, arrangements, TAB/notation, and teaching notes are excellent.The recording of these songs is worth listening to in its own right.Publisher Mel Bay has discontinued CDs in favor of downloadable audio files. I purchased two other of Mark Nelson’s instructional books, was unable to download the audio, and unable to get help from Mel Bay pubs. Eventually I figured out the download by trial and error. IMO not an improvement over a CD.

This book (and the companion Favorite Fingerstyle Solos for Ukulele) are much better than the Eric Cutshall Chord Melody Solos book. The arrangements start out at a beginner level (though more difficult than most of the songs in the Cutshall book) and progress nicely to fairly advanced ones. From the start the author uses full 4 note chords when feasible, and not the 3 note chords that Cutshall uses. The arrangements sound fuller and more interesting, and some I still have not been able to play up to speed. I also like the diversity of his song selection, with Hawaiian, Tin Pan Alley, near classical, folk, and even some blues/ragtime. The performance notes he includes for each song are useful to help determine the best way to play the chord positions. I actually like his 2nd book, "Favorite Fingerstyle Solos" a little better, because of the song selections, but both are great for anyone below the very advanced level.

I like fingerstyle ukulele. O need more books like this.

This is an excellent self-teaching aid if you have already mastered the basics. It would not be a good choice if starting from scratch. I had done one previous beginners book and played many tabs from the web before starting this book, and I think that was a good situation. For Nelson's book to work you need to be comfortable with both playing chords and playing from music- though he does provide both standard music and a tab for each song. For the first songs he also provides chord charts above the music, but purposefully drops these as you move on and replaces them with only the chord letter. There are many variations of each chord used so this makes more sense.The book is very well constructed, using songs that build your fingerpicking dexterity and technique as you progress. The songs will all challenge you- but also get easier with each repetition and as your style improves. I bought three other books after I'd progressed beyond a beginner, mostly song compilations, but found them essentially useless and no better than free tabs in both usefulness in learning, and appeal of the songs selected. Nelson's book has a very good selection of songs that are far beyond just good learning experiences- they are very Hawaiian focused and I will be playing them because I love the songs and how great they sound fingerpicked. I am not particularly skilled at playing the uke or guitar but found these lessons to be at just the right level. The book comes with a CD should you want to hear how they sound when Nelson plays them, and each song has a page or more of tips that give notes on how to make specific points in the song sound better- like a finger slide or a hammer-on. The style of writing is friendly and chatty and manages to convey both information and encouragement without sounding silly- a tricky balance. After working on this book I am a much better uke player and inspired to continue learning. Thanks Mark!

Hier wird jede/r fündig, garantiert!Denn in dem Buch ist für den Einsteiger, der gerade erst anfängt, ein paar Akkorde zu schrammeln, genauso Material enthalten wie für fortgeschrittene Spieler, die bereits Solospielerfahrung haben.Der Schwierigkeitsgrad der Stücke ist also recht breit gefächert, von ziemlich leicht erlernbar bis ganz schön happig. Ich halte das Buch durchaus für anfängergeeignet, ein paar Akkorde sollte man vielleicht schon spielen können. Wer Akkordwechsel halbwegs flüssig spielt, hat auch mit dem Level des Buches keine Schwierigkeiten.Erfahrene UkulelistInnen finden ebenfalls allerhand Anspruchsvolles und mit Sicherheit viele Stunden Übungsmaterial.Mark Kailana Nelson beginnt nach einigen Einführungen in das Spiel nach Tabs, Ukulelenauswahl usw. mit zwei Versionen von "Twinkle Little Star" (Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann) und kommt dann gleich zu ein paar hawaiianischen Stücken. Über Traditionals und Renaissance geht es zu zwei fetten Bluestracks und einer richtig coolen Version von "Over The Rainbow".Zu jedem Titel gibt es ein paar "Performance Notes", d.h. Hinweise zum Erlernen/Spielen des Stückes. Außerdem ist jeder Titel auf der beiliegenden CD zu hören. Bei allen Stücken findet sich neben der Standardnotation natürlich die bewährte Aufzeichnung per Tabulatur.Alles in allem ein Buch, das jeden Cent wert ist. Volle Punktzahl!

The only thing I found difficult was that I ordered tenor instead of a soprano that has smaller frets to fit my hands better. I didn't realize there would be a difference in the size of the frets.

Ein super Buch für alle die nicht nur 0815 Strumming sondern auch mal Fingerpicking auf der Ukulele spielen wollen.Das Buch ist auch für Spieler geeignet, die noch nicht so viel Erfahrung mit der Uke haben, da es auch recht leichte Stücke enthält. Grundkenntnisse sollten vorhanden sein, es ist kein Lehrbuch (wird ja auch nicht als solches angeboten).Das Buch ist auf Englisch, ich muß aber meinem Vorredner hier entschieden widersprechen. Die Tabs sind auch ohne Englischkenntnisse spielbar. Wie Tabs lesbar sind sollte man wissen, oder sich kurz darüber im Internet informieren, wenn man kein Englisch kann und es noch nicht weiß.Für Anfänger im Fingerpicking ist das Buch auf jeden Fall super. Ich hatte bisher noch kein besseres und einfacheres in der Hand.

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