This book and accompanying audio provide the most basic introduction to theukulele available. Starting with a chord that requires no left hand finger at all, the book introduces simple chords and easy rhythm strums using a number of well- known songs. Students who feel totally overwhelmed by other methods will find this approach quick and easy to understand. The music on the accompanying audio is played at a moderate tempo so that beginners can play along with ease. The book is catered to students of all ages and levels. Includes access to online audio.

The mountain dulcimer has a long and interesting history in the southern Appalachian mountains, and it's an instrument that so many of us enjoy playing. The book begins with the basics of tuning, strumming and finding notes on the dulcimer. The songs and tunes include favorites of dulcimer players, such as Boil That Cabbage Down, Old Joe Clark, Waterbound, Amazing Grace, Aura Lee and Are You Sleeping. The tracks in the accompanying online audio include count-ins and are played at easy-to-follow moderate tempos. 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 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!

(Ukulele). 15 of the best from the late country/folk singer-songwriter in standard G-C-E-A arrangements for ukulele. Inlcudes: Angels from Montgomery * Clay Pigeons * Crazy As a Loon * Fish and Whistle * Hello in There * Illegal Smile * In Spite of Ourselves * Long Monday * Paradise * Sam Stone * Spanish Pipedream * Summer's End * Sweet Revenge * That's the Way the World Goes 'Round * When I Get to Heaven.

This book and accompanying audio include 21 beautiful songs, old-time tunesand Christmas melodies arranged as duets for two ukuleles. The individual parts are single note melodies designed to allow players of all skill levels to play together. The pieces are arranged so the first ukulele plays the melody and the second ukulele plays the harmony above it. Regardless of your previousexperience, these arrangements, even played at slow tempos, will produce anattractive full sound. Audio available online

The title says it all: "Dirt Simple." This book and accompanying online audio are designed for a rank beginner who knows nothing about the hammered dulcimer, providing them the tools to make music right away. Starting with the fundamentals of how to hold hammers and tune the instrument, it delves deeper into mastery with posture, stand height/angle, and replacing strings to set up the beginner for a lifetime of good habits. Every concept introduced is simultaneously presented with illustrations and songs that demonstrate and reinforce. Whether the student reads music or plays by ear, the result is the same - music making right from the beginning! Dr. Mark Alan Wade is an experienced teacher with an undergraduate degree in music education and years of public school teaching experience. Now teaching music theory and dulcimer at Denison University, Dr. Wade offers a unique perspective on teaching hammered dulcimer and has three students who have also won the National Hammered Dulcimer Contest as evidence of his master teaching. It's all about the music! Dirt Simple Hammered Dulcimer is written so that the carefully selected tunes are the true teacher. Hands-on learning is made easy with the accompanying audio. Each song is played slowly for students to learn by ear in addition to reading notation. This also allows for the students to hear style traits such as swing, that aren't easily conveyed in written notation. With 29 songs, this book and online audio available for download are a year's worth of private lessons in one concise package!

Although designed for newcomers to the upright bass and bluegrass music in general, this unique approach to creating basslines has something for everyone! The first half focuses on bass-playing essentials, giving the reader a solid technical footing with the instrument. Then, using his own baritone voice and the classic bluegrass song, “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad,” author Nate Sabat reveals his creative process in crafting effective basslines from the song’s melody and chord progression. The second half focuses on bass playing within the specific context of complementing bluegrass vocals. Well beyond what you might expect from an introductory method, Nate tastefully guides the reader by presenting multiple composed bassline options for each of five well-known bluegrass songs: Rabbit in the Log, Don’t this Road Look Rough and Rocky?, Long Journey Home, I Am a Pilgrim, and Angel Band. Nate’s warm, pitch-perfect vocals can be heard on virtually every track, giving this method an undeniable musicality. A lightly accompanied vocal track with no bass is also provided, so you can be the sole upright or electric bassist in the band. You’ll not only want to back Nate up—but sing harmony with him too! The impulse to sing can’t help but influence your bass playing in a natural and positive way. Nate provides notated versions of the eight major scales most commonly used in bluegrass. Once you get them under your fingers, you’ll soon be able to play along with the book’s 50 companion online recordings. With its simple harmonic palette and repetitive nature, bluegrass music offers bassists the perfect opportunity to become musically literate. If you’ve hesitated to learn to read music, this is the time and place to eliminate that drawback. Working through these 46 pages will provide the tools and confidence needed to create your own engaging and musical basslines and hopefully, you’ll be inspired to continue your bluegrass bass journey for years to come. Includes access to online audio.

(Ukulele). 30 favorites to sing as you roast marshmallows and strum your uke around the campfire. Includes: Blowin' in the Wind * Drift Away * Edelweiss * God Bless the U.S.A. * Hallelujah * The House of the Rising Sun * I Walk the Line * Lean on Me * Let It Be * The Lion Sleeps Tonight * On Top of Spaghetti * Puff the Magic Dragon * Take Me Home, Country Roads * Wagon Wheel * You Are My Sunshine * and many more.

(Ukulele). 50 favorites for standard G-C-E-A ukulele tuning, including: All Along the Watchtower * Burning House * Can't Help Falling in Love * Don't Worry, Be Happy * Folsom Prison Blues * Ho Hey * I'm Yours * King of the Road * Lava * Rude * Stand by Me * Sweet Home Alabama * You Are My Sunshine * and more.