Ukulele For Dummies^®, 3rd Edition

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Ukulele For Dummies®

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Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Introduction

About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here

Part 1: Getting Started with the Ukulele

Chapter 1: Exploring the Ukulele
1. Understanding the Uke’s Advantages
2. Sizing Up the Ukulele
3. Taking a Tour: The Anatomy of the Ukulele
4. Becoming a Well-Versed Ukulele Player
Chapter 2: Tuning Up to Sound Great
1. Knowing Some Musical Terms
2. Pitching into Tuning Basics
3. Unravelling Tunings for Your Instrument
4. Choosing a Tuning Method
Chapter 3: Discovering How to Handle Your Ukulele
1. Holding On to Your Ukulele
2. Developing Your Strumming
3. Pressing On to Fretting

Part 2: Starting Out with Chords and Strumming

Chapter 4: Playing Your First Ukulele Chords and Songs
1. Playing Music without Reading Music
2. Playing a Song Using Two Chords
3. Developing Your First Strumming Patterns
4. Discovering Seventh Chords
5. Practicing Minor Chords
Chapter 5: Drumming Up More Strumming Patterns
1. Pocketing the Ever-Useful Swiss Army Strum
2. Adding Pep with Some Strumming Variations
3. Strumming for Various Genres
4. Deciding on an Appropriate Strumming Pattern
Chapter 6: Meeting the Chords and Their Families
1. Getting to Know Chord Families
2. Practicing the Three-Chord Trick: The I–IV–V Progression
3. Fingering Barre Chords
4. Moving Chord Shapes
5. Inviting Round More Chord Families
6. Easing the Chord Changes

Part 3: Picking and Single-Note Playing

Chapter 7: Coming to Grips with Tabs and Notation
1. Tapping into Tabs
2. Reading Rhythms
3. Resting and Repeating
4. Putting Everything Together
Chapter 8: Discovering Fingerpicking Patterns
1. Introducing the Fingerpicking Technique
2. Picking Up Some Picking Patterns
Chapter 9: Combining Melodies and Chords When Playing Solo
1. Strumming Melody and Chords Together
2. Picking Out Melodies and Chords
Chapter 10: Picking Up Some Soloing Techniques
1. Getting Articulated on the Frets
2. Picking Your Way to Great Solos
3. Inventing Solos the Easy Way

Part 4: Discovering Genres and Styles

Chapter 11: Rocking Out with Your Uke
1. Rocking Out with Chords
2. Strumming Rock and Punk Rhythms
3. Making Your Uke Talk: Soloing Tips
Chapter 12: Playing the Blues to Lift Your Spirits
1. Playing Blues Chord Progressions
2. Turning the Blues Around
3. Leading the Blues
4. Soloing with the Blues Scale
Chapter 13: Saying “Aloha” to the Hawaiian Style
1. Strumming in the Hawaiian Way
2. Turning Around, Hawaiian-Style
3. Stretching Out to Play “Alekoki”
Chapter 14: Jazzing Up Your Uke Playing
1. Turning Around, Jazz-Style
2. Using Hot Jazzy Chords
3. Strumming in That Jazzy Way
Chapter 15: Strumming Up the Jawaiian Style
1. Starting Up Some Jawaiian Strumming
2. “Jamming” with Bob Marley
Chapter 16: Getting Classy: Classical Masterpieces for Ukulele
1. Strumming Up the Classics
2. Picking the Classics — Classical Guitar Pieces for Ukulele
3. Playing Campanella Style
Chapter 17: Ukuleleing the Holidays
1. Playing the Twelve Days
2. Ringing in the New Year with “Auld Lang Syne”
3. Making a Noise with “Silent Night”

Part 5: Buying and Looking After Your Ukulele

Chapter 18: Weighing Up Your Options When Buying a Ukulele
1. Buying Your First Uke
2. Deciding Where to Buy
3. Obtaining Your Second (and Third, Fourth, Fifth …) Ukulele
4. Plugging In: Electric Ukuleles
5. Lowering the Tone: Bass Ukuleles
Chapter 19: Splashing Out on Essentials and Accessories
1. Picking the Right Strings
2. Getting Hold of Optional Accessories
3. Going Mobile
Chapter 20: Restringing, Maintaining, and Adjusting Your Uke
1. Restringing Your Ukulele
2. Maintaining Your Ukulele
3. Diagnosing and Solving Uke Problems

Part 6: The Part of Tens

Chapter 21: Ten Ukulele Players to Know
1. Ernest Ka‘ai (1881–1962)
2. May Singhi Breen (1895–1970)
3. Roy Smeck (1900–1994)
4. George Formby (1904–1961)
5. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (1985–)
6. Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole (1959–1997)
7. Jake Shimabukuro (1976–)
8. Amanda Palmer (1976–)
9. James Hill (1980–)
10. Zach Condon (1986–)
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Get Involved in the Ukulele Scene
1. Joining a Ukulele Club
2. Visiting a Ukulele Festival
3. Making a Video
4. Playing Live
5. Going Online
6. Spreading the Uke News
7. Entering a Contest
8. Teaching Someone
9. Writing Your Own Songs
10. Seeing a Show
Chapter 23: Ten (or So) Tips for Improving Your Playing
1. Playing Very Slowly
2. Refusing to Rush Things
3. Recording Yourself
4. Playing with and for Others
5. Practicing in Sections
6. Knowing When to Stop Practicing
7. Stealing from Everyone
8. Varying Your Inversions and Verying Your Invarsions
9. Opening Your Ears
10. Enjoying Yourself
11. Busting a Rut
Chapter 24: Ten Greatest Ukulele Chords
1. Invigorating C (with a High Note)
2. Shimmering A Minor 7 (High Up)
3. Melancholy F Major 7
4. Complex G9
5. Chilled Out G6
6. The “Hawaiian” D7
7. Uncomfortable A Augmented 7
8. Jazzy C9
9. Menacing F Minor 9
10. Nostalgic E Diminished 7

Part 7: Appendixes

Appendix A: Chord Charts
Appendix B: Reading Standard Musical Notation
1. Grasping the Pitch of a Note
2. Discovering the Notes on the Fretboard
Appendix C: Audio Tracks
1. Discovering What’s On the Audio Tracks

Index

About the Author

Advertisement Page

Connect with Dummies

End User License Agreement

List of Illustrations

Chapter 1

FIGURE 1-1: A typical ukulele with parts indicated.
FIGURE 1-2: Geared tuners.

Chapter 2

FIGURE 2-1: Locating A#/B♭ on the piano.
FIGURE 2-2: The gCEA tuning.
FIGURE 2-3: Finding the right notes on a piano or keyboard.

Chapter 3

FIGURE 3-1: Holding the ukulele against your body (strumming arm).
FIGURE 3-2: Holding the ukulele in the crook of your fretting hand.
FIGURE 3-3: Sitting down position.
FIGURE 3-4: Strumming hand position.
FIGURE 3-5: Fretting hand, initial position.
FIGURE 3-6: Fretting hand, final position.

Chapter 4

FIGURE 4-1: Top five frets on the ukulele neck.
FIGURE 4-2: A sample chord diagram.
FIGURE 4-3: The C chord diagram.
FIGURE 4-4: How your fingers look when you’re playing the C chord.
FIGURE 4-5: The F chord diagram.
FIGURE 4-6: How your fingers look when playing the F chord.
FIGURE 4-7: “Li’l Liza Jane” simple chord chart.
FIGURE 4-8: Down-down-down-down strum notation.
FIGURE 4-9: Down-down-up strum.
FIGURE 4-10: “Li’l Liza Jane” chord chart.
FIGURE 4-11: The G7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 4-12: Your fingers look like this when playing G7.
FIGURE 4-13: The E7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 4-14: Your fingers look like this when playing E7.
FIGURE 4-15: The strumming pattern for “I’ll Fly Away.”
FIGURE 4-16: “I’ll Fly Away” strum notation.
FIGURE 4-17: The Am chord diagram.
FIGURE 4-18: How your fingers look when playing Am.
FIGURE 4-19: The D minor chord chart.
FIGURE 4-20: How your fingers look when playing D minor.
FIGURE 4-21: The E minor chord chart.
FIGURE 4-22: The “Wayfaring Stranger” strum pattern.
FIGURE 4-23: “Wayfaring Stranger” chords.
FIGURE 4-24: “Wayfaring Stranger” chord chart.

Chapter 5

FIGURE 5-1: The Swiss army strumming pattern.
FIGURE 5-2: Tied notation.
FIGURE 5-3: The A chord diagram.
FIGURE 5-4: What your fingers look like when playing the A chord.
FIGURE 5-5: The D chord diagram.
FIGURE 5-6: What your fingers look like when playing the D chord.
FIGURE 5-7: “What Did the Deep Sea Say?” chord chart.
FIGURE 5-8: “Shady Grove” strumming notation.
FIGURE 5-9: Half bar strumming notation.
FIGURE 5-10: “Shady Grove” chord chart.
FIGURE 5-11: Strong strumming notation.
FIGURE 5-12: 4/4 time notation.
FIGURE 5-13: 3/4 time notation.
FIGURE 5-14: 3/4 strumming notation.
FIGURE 5-15: The G chord diagram.
FIGURE 5-16: Your fingers look like this when playing the G chord.
FIGURE 5-17: The A7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 5-18: Your fingers look like this when playing the A7 chord.
FIGURE 5-19: “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” chord chart.
FIGURE 5-20: “House of the Rising Sun” strumming chart.
FIGURE 5-21: “House of the Rising Sun” chord chart.
FIGURE 5-22: The chnking position.
FIGURE 5-23: Chnking strum chart.
FIGURE 5-24: Shuffle time notation.
FIGURE 5-25: Chord chart for 12-bar blues.
FIGURE 5-26: Off-beat strum notation.
FIGURE 5-27: “The Banana Boat Song” chord chart.
FIGURE 5-28: Fret hand muting the strings.
FIGURE 5-29: The E♭ chord diagram.
FIGURE 5-30: Your fingers look like this when playing E♭.
FIGURE 5-31: The rock riff chord chart.
FIGURE 5-32: The roll strum.

Chapter 6

FIGURE 6-1: The C chord family.
FIGURE 6-2: “When the Saints Go Marching In” notation.
FIGURE 6-3: Initial position for a B♭ chord.
FIGURE 6-4: Full B♭ chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-5: Finger positioning for the full B♭ chord.
FIGURE 6-6: F7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-7: “Man of Constant Sorrow” notation.
FIGURE 6-8: D7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-9: “Irish Rover” notation.
FIGURE 6-10: Bm chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-11: B♭m chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-12: E♭7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-13: Rearranged F chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-14: F♯ chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-15: Rearranged Dm chord.
FIGURE 6-16: E♭m chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-17: G♯7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-18: E chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-19: E chord fingering.
FIGURE 6-20: Barred E chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-21: Barred E chord fingering.
FIGURE 6-22: Open E chord diagram.
FIGURE 6-23: G chord family diagrams.
FIGURE 6-24: F chord family diagrams.
FIGURE 6-25: A chord family diagrams.
FIGURE 6-26: D family chord diagrams.
FIGURE 6-27: Alternative fingering for a D chord.
FIGURE 6-28: Alternative fingering for the Em chord.
FIGURE 6-29: B7 chord using the Em shape.
FIGURE 6-30: B7 chord using the G shape.
FIGURE 6-31: Alternative D7 shape.

Chapter 7

FIGURE 7-1: An example of standard notation.
FIGURE 7-2: An example of tablature.
FIGURE 7-3: How tabs refer to the strings.
FIGURE 7-4: How tabs refer to the frets.
FIGURE 7-5: An open string in tab.
FIGURE 7-6: A sequence of notes in tab.
FIGURE 7-7: Tab showing pairs of notes.
FIGURE 7-8: An F chord in tab.
FIGURE 7-9: Strum notation in tab.
FIGURE 7-10: Quarter notes (crotchets) in standard notation (top) and tab (bott...
FIGURE 7-11: Half notes (minims) and whole notes (semibreves) in standard notat...
FIGURE 7-12: Quarter notes (crotchets), eighth notes (quavers), and sixteenth n...
FIGURE 7-13: Single eighth note (quaver) in notation (top) and tab (bottom).
FIGURE 7-14: Single sixteenth note (semiquaver) in notation (top) and tab (bott...
FIGURE 7-15: An example of dotted notes: notation (top) and tab (bottom).
FIGURE 7-16: An example of tied notes: notation (top) and tab (bottom).
FIGURE 7-17: Rests in standard notation.
FIGURE 7-18: Repeat from the beginning: notation (top) and tab (bottom).
FIGURE 7-19: A repeated section: notation (top) and tab (bottom).
FIGURE 7-20: Repeat with an alternative ending: notation (top) and tab (bottom)...
FIGURE 7-21: Segno symbol.
FIGURE 7-22: Coda symbol.
FIGURE 7-23: “London Bridge Is Falling Down” in standard notation and tab.
FIGURE 7-24: “I’ll Fly Away” in standard notation and tab.
FIGURE 7-25: “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” in standard notation and tab.

Chapter 8

FIGURE 8-1: Fingerpicking.
FIGURE 8-2: Picking pattern tab.
FIGURE 8-3: Up pattern tab.
FIGURE 8-4: Up pattern with chord progression.
FIGURE 8-5: Chord shapes for Figure 8-6.
FIGURE 8-6: Up pattern with unusual chords.
FIGURE 8-7: Up and down pattern.
FIGURE 8-8: Up and down pattern with chords.
FIGURE 8-9: Simultaneous picking pattern.
FIGURE 8-10: F chord inversion.
FIGURE 8-11: Simultaneous pattern with chords.
FIGURE 8-12: Simultaneous pattern with melody.
FIGURE 8-13: Simultaneous fingerpicking pattern.
FIGURE 8-14: Simultaneous fingerpicking pattern with chords.
FIGURE 8-15: Alternate thumb-picking.
FIGURE 8-16: Alternate picking pattern.
FIGURE 8-17: Alternate pattern with chords.
FIGURE 8-18: Variation 1 on the alternate picking pattern.
FIGURE 8-19: Alternate pattern variation with chords.
FIGURE 8-20: Variation 2 on the alternate picking pattern.
FIGURE 8-21: Variation 3 on the alternate picking pattern.
FIGURE 8-22: Variation 4 on the alternate picking pattern.

Chapter 9

FIGURE 9-1: “London Bridge Is Falling Down” melody and chords.
FIGURE 9-2: “Amazing Grace” melody and chords.
FIGURE 9-3: “In the Pines” melody and chords.
FIGURE 9-4: “When the Saints Go Marching In” melody and chords.
FIGURE 9-5: “I’ll Fly Away” melody and chords.
FIGURE 9-6: “Freight Train” melody and chords.

Chapter 10

FIGURE 10-1: An open-string hammer-on.
FIGURE 10-2: Open and fretted hammer-ons.
FIGURE 10-3: Chord hammer-ons.
FIGURE 10-4: Partial-chord hammer-ons.
FIGURE 10-5: Pull-off in tab.
FIGURE 10-6: Combining hammer-ons and pull-offs.
FIGURE 10-7: Sliding up in tab.
FIGURE 10-8: Sliding down in tab.
FIGURE 10-9: Phrase combining sliding up and sliding down.
FIGURE 10-10: A series of slides up into notes.
FIGURE 10-11: Phrase with slides in and out.
FIGURE 10-12: How your hands look while bending a string.
FIGURE 10-13: Half- and whole-step bends in tab.
FIGURE 10-14: Bend practice in tab.
FIGURE 10-15: Vibrato in tab.
FIGURE 10-16: Solo containing various soloing techniques.
FIGURE 10-17: Banjo-like run using finger- and thumb-picking.
FIGURE 10-18: Tremolo picking in tab.
FIGURE 10-19: Playing the phrase with strum blocking.
FIGURE 10-20: Solo using chord shapes.
FIGURE 10-21: Solo using notes from all the chords in the progression.
FIGURE 10-22: Scale box for C major pentatonic.
FIGURE 10-23: Tab for the C major pentatonic scale.
FIGURE 10-24: Scale box for D major pentatonic.
FIGURE 10-25: Scale box for C minor pentatonic.
FIGURE 10-26: Tab for the C minor pentatonic scale.
FIGURE 10-27: Scale box for D minor pentatonic.

Chapter 11

FIGURE 11-1: Three-chord punk chord chart.
FIGURE 11-2: Nirvana-style four-chord punk chord chart.
FIGURE 11-3: Power-chord diagrams.
FIGURE 11-4: Chord progression with power chords.
FIGURE 11-5: Suspended chord diagrams.
FIGURE 11-6: Rock progression using suspended chords.
FIGURE 11-7: Bo Diddley-style strumming pattern.
FIGURE 11-8: Iggy Pop-style strumming pattern.
FIGURE 11-9: Question and answer phrasing.
FIGURE 11-10: Tension-building phrase for the climax of a solo.

Chapter 12

FIGURE 12-1: Simple 12-bar blues in C.
FIGURE 12-2: Variation on the order of the 12-bar blues.
FIGURE 12-3: A♭7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 12-4: 12-bar blues with an added chord.
FIGURE 12-5: Chord chart for “Careless Love.”
FIGURE 12-6: Chord diagrams for “St James Infirmary Blues.”
FIGURE 12-7: Chord chart for “St James Infirmary Blues.”
FIGURE 12-8: Blues shuffle on the C chord.
FIGURE 12-9: 12-bar blues shuffle.
FIGURE 12-10: 12-bar shuffle with 7 chords.
FIGURE 12-11: 12-bar shuffle in the key of A.
FIGURE 12-12: Tab for the basic blues turnaround.
FIGURE 12-13: Tab for the blues turnaround with open A-string.
FIGURE 12-14: Tab for the blues turnaround with double stops.
FIGURE 12-15: Tab for the tricked-out blues turnaround.
FIGURE 12-16: Tab for “Memphis Blues.”
FIGURE 12-17: Scale box for the C blues scale.
FIGURE 12-18: Tab for the C blues scale.
FIGURE 12-19: Scale box for the D blues scale.
FIGURE 12-20: Scale box for the C blues scale in the second position.
FIGURE 12-21: Scale box for the A blues scale.
FIGURE 12-22: Blues solo using the C blues scale.
FIGURE 12-23: Blues solo using the A blues scale.

Chapter 13

FIGURE 13-1: Typical Hawaiian strum notation.
FIGURE 13-2: Chord diagrams for “Aloha Oe.”
FIGURE 13-3: “Aloha Oe” chord chart.
FIGURE 13-4: Hawaiian turnaround in C notation.
FIGURE 13-5: Hawaiian turnaround with triplet strumming notation.
FIGURE 13-6: Basic turnaround solo tab.
FIGURE 13-7: Advanced turnaround solo notation.
FIGURE 13-8: Double turnaround tab.
FIGURE 13-9: “Papalina Lahilahi” tab.
FIGURE 13-10: “Alekoki” tab.
FIGURE 13-11: “Alekoki” alternate bar 6 notation.

Chapter 14

FIGURE 14-1: The jazz turnaround in C.
FIGURE 14-2: Chords for “Darktown Strutters’ Ball.”
FIGURE 14-3: “Darktown Strutters’ Ball” chord chart.
FIGURE 14-4: Extended jazz turnaround.
FIGURE 14-5: Four-note chord family in C.
FIGURE 14-6: Chord progression using the four-note chord family in C.
FIGURE 14-7: Tab for “12th Street Rag.”
FIGURE 14-8: Split stroke tab.
FIGURE 14-9: Split stroke with melody.

Chapter 15

FIGURE 15-1: Touch strumming pattern.
FIGURE 15-2: Chord chart for “Linstead Market.”
FIGURE 15-3: Tab for an Israel Kama-kawiwo‘ole-style thumb ’n’ strum pattern.
FIGURE 15-4: Thumb ’n’ strum pattern with a melody line.
FIGURE 15-5: Chord shapes for the Bob Marley-style strumming pattern.
FIGURE 15-6: Bob Marley-style strumming pattern.
FIGURE 15-7: Bob Marley-style strum with muted strums.

Chapter 16

FIGURE 16-1: Tab for Brahms’s “Lullaby.”
FIGURE 16-2: Tab for “Greensleeves.”
FIGURE 16-3: Tab for “Romanza.”
FIGURE 16-4: Tab for Carulli’s “Andante.”
FIGURE 16-5: “The Star-Spangled Banner” standard version.
FIGURE 16-6: “The Star-Spangled Banner” campanella version.
FIGURE 16-7: “Gran Vals” standard version.
FIGURE 16-8: “Gran Vals” campanella version.

Chapter 17

FIGURE 17-1: Chords for “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
FIGURE 17-2: Tab for “Auld Lang Syne.”
FIGURE 17-3: Tab for “Silent Night.”

Chapter 19

FIGURE 19-1: A capo.

Chapter 20

FIGURE 20-1: Attaching a string to a tie-on bridge, Step 1.
FIGURE 20-2: Attaching a string to a tie-on bridge, Step 2.
FIGURE 20-3: Attaching a string to a tie-on bridge, Step 3.
FIGURE 20-4: Looping the string around the tuning peg.

Chapter 24

FIGURE 24-1: C chord with a high note.
FIGURE 24-2: Am7 chord shape up the fretboard.
FIGURE 24-3: Fmaj7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 24-4: G9 chord diagram.
FIGURE 24-5: G6 chord diagram.
FIGURE 24-6: Hawaiian D7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 24-7: A augmented 7 chord diagram.
FIGURE 24-8: C9 chord diagram.
FIGURE 24-9: F minor 9 chord diagram.
FIGURE 24-10: E diminished 7 chord diagram.

Chapter 26

FIGURE B-1: Notes between the lines of a stave.
FIGURE B-2: Notes on the lines of a stave.
FIGURE B-3: Notes under the stave.
FIGURE B-4: Notes above the stave.
FIGURE B-5: A sharp, a flat and a natural.
FIGURE B-6: Key signature for the key of A.
FIGURE B-7: Notes on the A-string.
FIGURE B-8: Notes on the E-string.
FIGURE B-9: Notes on the C-string.
FIGURE B-10: Notes on the g-string.

Introduction

I’d like to share with you the best piece of ukulele playing advice I ever read: “make a joyful noise…make a loud noise.” The aim of this book is to help you do both these two things. (In fact, the quote comes from the Bible (Psalms 98:4, King James Version), which I think proves beyond doubt that God plays ukulele.)

Most people who pick up the ukulele don’t do so with dreams of rock-star fame or recognition as a virtuoso, but simply to have fun making music. This book doesn’t go deep into the theory or insist on you practicing endless scales. Instead, you get the confidence and knowledge you need to start enjoying making music as quickly, joyfully, and loudly as possible.

About This Book

You don’t have to read Ukulele For Dummies, 3rd Edition, dutifully from cover to cover. Think of it more as a reference that allows you to dip in and find the help you need at the time and focus on the parts that interest you most. So if you don’t have a ukulele yet, you can skip straight to the buying information in Chapter 18. Or jump to Part 4 if you want to start with the musical genre that gets you most excited.

To take full advantage of the book, use all the following methods:

Read the charts. Songs in this book are presented in chord charts, which are a simplified way of presenting music that’s much more immediate than standard musical notation. The charts indicate how to play the chords in the song and the strumming rhythm.
Copy the photos. The position of your hands and fingers is really important for getting a good sound from your uke. The photos give you a better idea of what your fingers need to look like than just using the chord charts.
Listen to the audio tracks. Grasping what something should sound like from the written word alone is difficult, and so I include audio tracks to demonstrate the examples. I recommend listening to each exercise a few times before trying it yourself. Head to www.dummies.com/go/ukulelefd3e.
Watch the videos. Find helpful videos at www.dummies.com/go/ukulelefd3e — from how to hold your uke to alternate picking, I hope you find these free videos really useful.

Foolish Assumptions

The only large assumption I make is that you’re using a standard-tuned ukulele (soprano, concert, or tenor) rather than a baritone ukulele. The baritone ukulele is a very different instrument.

I don’t assume that you have any knowledge of the ukulele or of playing music in general. I don’t assume you’re able to read music. You’ll see some standard music notation in the early part of the book. This is just to show where the melody of the tune fits against the chords. You’re not expected to play it until a bit later.

Icons Used in This Book

This book uses the following icons to call your attention to information that you may find helpful in particular ways.

The information marked by this icon is important and worth remembering. This icon allows you to spot the info easily when you refer back to a chapter later.

This icon indicates extra-helpful information that can save you time or make something easier.

This icon marks places where technical matters are discussed. You can skip over this more technical material if you prefer because the book is designed to let you do so without missing out on anything essential.

Paragraphs marked with this icon call attention to common pitfalls that you may encounter or prepare you for techniques that may turn out to be difficult to master.

This icon indicates an audio track that demonstrates an exercise or tune.

Beyond the Book

In addition to the content in the print or e-book you’re reading right now, this book also comes with some access-anywhere goodies on the web. Check out the free Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com/art-center/music/ukulele/ukulele-for-dummies-cheat-sheet/. Most importantly, you can find the audio and video tracks at www.dummies.com/go/ukulelefd3e. Find free bonus articles at www.dummies.com/extras/ukulelefd3e.

The appendixes gather together loads of useful reference material that you’ll be dipping into for many years to come: Appendix A gives you chord charts for the most commonly used chords on the ukulele; Appendix B is an introduction to reading music in standard notation; and Appendix C provides you with a guide to the audio tracks that accompany the book.

Where to Go from Here

As with all For Dummies books, the chapters in Ukulele For Dummies, 3rd Edition, are written to be as self-contained as possible. In this way, you can devise and follow your own personal course through the book depending on your interests and skill level.

To help you plot your journey, here are a few pointers:

If you don’t have a ukulele yet, jump straight to Chapter 18 before you pry open your wallet. The sections contain lots of advice to ensure that you don’t waste your cash.
If you’re a beginner eager to get playing, head to Chapter 2 to tune up your uke.
If you’re the proud owner of a shiny new uke, check out Chapter 20 for how to keep it in tiptop playing condition.
If you’re a little more advanced and are comfortable with chords, go straight to the single-note playing chapters in Part 3.

Part 1

Getting Started with the Ukulele

IN THIS PART …

Kick-start your ukulele playing with all the background information you need.

Chapter ukulele terms and lingo.

Tune up your uke.

Know how to position your hands to be ready to play.