`Ukulele Books Review

Best `Ukulele Chord Book

“Treasury of `Ukulele Chords” by Roy Sakuma

This reference book is the best because it has the most common chords all the way up to the fourth position, AND it gives you the feeling of each type of chord played.

Best Beginner `Ukulele Books

“Easy Ukulele Method Book I ” by Mary Lou Dempler

This music book does have a lot of melody playing. The songs are simple, and allows beginners to be beginners. Play all the songs with chords first.

“Empire Ukulele Method #58” by C. Romaine

Nice overview of holding and positioning of the `ukulele and correct hand positions. Simple songs, simple chords.

“Jumpin’ Jim’s Ukulele Country” compiled & arranged by Jim Beloff

 Once at a uke festival, I complained to Jim about the complicated chords in his `ukulele song books, and that these songs were terrible for a beginner. A beginner would get so frustrated at not being able to “hit” the four-finger chords that they would give up on the song.  This book however has simple songs with simple chords, with slower tempos. This book is ideal for a beginning `ukulele players, but advanced players would like it also.

Best Vocal Training Book

“Singing with the Stars” by Seth Riggs

This book is the best book/course for improving your vocal technique. You want to get the one with two CD’s in the book. You won’t believe how just a few of these techniques will improve your singing.

Best Book on the Human / Science Relationship of  Music

This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin

This book was recommended by my friend, Richard
Polishuk, from the MUW workshop. This book offers tremendous insight
into how we understand, love and learn music. It is not a pure
technical pursuit, but a nice balance of technical and novice
music peoples language in a non-threatening way.