A SERIOUS Ukulele Method ?

[gitman]

Hi all, I'm looking for a Uke method book that doesn't just show easy tunes with three chords - I need one that covers the whole range i.e. the major strumming patterns/techniques, clawhammer picking, chords and their inversions, etc. The ones I find on amazon all cater to the campfire crowd , instant gratification-oriented. Does anyone have an idea ?

[medblues]

Look up our esteemed member Rob MacKillop on Amazon, he has at least 2-3 instructional books.

[Mick-7]

You'll find more advanced instruction books for the 4 string banjo, and most of the same techniques can be applied to playing the ukelele.

[mr. beaumont]

You'll find more advanced instruction books for the 4 string banjo, and most of the same techniques can be applied to playing the ukelele.

Though be careful, a lot of those will be for a non-synonymous tuning with uke.

[Boss Man Zwiebelsohn]

Do you know your drop-2 inversions on the top four guitar strings?

Then you know your uke chords.

EDIT: The exact tuning is different of course. But the grips are same.

[Boss Man Zwiebelsohn]

Have you taken a look into the Internet Archive?

There are 300+ results if you are looking for "ukulele" and media type "texts".

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

[Kenn]

I was wondering if you've ever tried using online sites as a main learning tool instead? I’m more of a hobbyist than a pro, but I’ve found that mixing books with online resources gives me a nice balance. Sometimes a book lays things out in a structured way, while sites let you jump straight into playing songs and practicing techniques. I’ve used Ukulele Tabs quite a bit for working through chords, strumming patterns, and song ideas — it’s not a full “method,” but it definitely helps keep practice fresh. Pairing that with a good method book could cover a lot of ground without feeling too stuck in the basics.

[Rob MacKillop]

I do have a dozen or so ukulele books published by Mel Bay, but I can’t think of one that will give you exactly what you are looking for.

As for the tenor banjo, Aquila sell ukulele strings for 5ths tuning. Put a set of CGDA tuning on a Concert or Tenor ukulele, and you have entered a world of possibilities for jazz playing. There are many serious jazz tenor banjo books out there. As ukes are not so expensive, you could have one dedicated to that tuning. Great for Bach too!

I did author a Mel Bay book called Play Ukulele In 5ths Tuning to get you started with a few styles.