Customer Reviews

How to Play the Hawaiian Ukulele: 10 Easy Lessons

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am giving this book three stars as a beginner's book, and only one star as being representative of what it's really about. So the average is two stars.

This is NOT a book on playing Hawaiian ukulele music, which is what I thought it would be. It's a beginner's book on playing ukulele in general, the only thing Hawaiian about it is the cover and a few pictures of a Hawaiian woman holding a ukulele. I don't consider including Aloha Oe as one of the selections as making this a book on Hawaiian ukulele.

As a beginner's book, it's not bad, but there are better ones out there today that include DVDs, as well as a lot of free online instruction that covers these same basics. I am an intermediate player and I'm disappointed that there wasn't enough information about this book in the description because that would help in clarifying that this is a beginner's book that covers just regular folk songs and basic strums. I thought there would be sections on Hawaiian music (other than just Aloha Oe) and on things like Hawaiian turnarounds, etc.

I would only buy this if you are brand new to ukulele and have not played an instrument before. And even then, as I said there are better choices out there. It's also hard to use any book to learn an instrument when you're at a rank beginner's level without having some sort of interactive instruction with a real person who can evaluate your technique and give you feedback.

Great Book! Really easy to follow with plenty of good pictures of finger positions.

the title is kind of misleading - I expected more traditional Hawaiian songs & less "see spot run" type instruction -

This book was clearly written with easy to understand directions. A first time Uke learner could follow along easily.

Personally, this book did NOT help me learn how to play the ukulele. In some parts, it seems like you should know what certain things mean (such as music notes that are connected and so on.) Strumming is confusing, I wasn't sure if they meant to strum every string or just one or one and another! I found sites giving tips and info about how to play the ukulele and that gave me more info in less time and it helped me learn way more than the book. This book seems more helpful to people who have an understanding in what they are planning to do (they are "music savvy"). I honestly regret buying this book, but thats me personally.

Package received prior to Christmas even thought they couldn't promise early delivery... Outstanding! Package well wrapped to avoid water damage and prompt delivery.
Thank you!