Rob MacKillop - Posted - 07/12/2012:  13:31:57

This the sixth of my planned seven ukulele books being published by Mel Bay. The eBook is available for download now if you live in the USA, with the paper version rolling out across the planet over the coming weeks.

melbay.com/product.asp?Product...amp;next=

The Mel Bay front page has a video of me playing many of the tunes: MelBay.com

Most of my books are for fingerstyle playing, but for this one I use a pick.

Edited by - Rob MacKillop on 07/12/2012 13:47:46

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 07/15/2012:  15:05:44

There must be somebody here plays the uke ;-)

Banjo - Posted - 07/15/2012:  15:19:43

I have always wanted to get into it and I certanly appreciate your contribution. 

I bought a cheap Ukulele and regretted I didn't spend a bit more for some quality. 

bubbalouie - Posted - 07/15/2012:  15:39:26

Hi Rob!. I have a few ukes but can't play a lick on them. A resource like this makes me want to pick one up. I've heard your playing so I'm sure these are top notch. I had a lot of Mel Bay music when I took steel guitar lessons as a kid. Thanks for all you do!!.

Jim Yates - Posted - 07/15/2012:  16:02:13

I just linked this thread to the ukulele group and the Banjolele group.

heyjude - Posted - 07/15/2012:  19:07:04

I just ordered the book from Mel Bay. Thanks much for making available.

Jude

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 07/15/2012:  23:05:49

Thanks, guys! I knew you were here somewhere ;-)

Mimosa Banjo - Posted - 07/16/2012:  19:40:49

I am learning the uke.  I am building up a order from Elderly and will include this.  Thanks!

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 07/17/2012:  00:36:09

Cheers, Mimosa! Have fun with it.

figmo59 - Posted - 07/17/2012:  02:46:52

Uke ...id ah funny way of spellin ....banjo..


I dun't play 'em....but on you toob...i have listened to sum good players...

trapdoor2 - Posted - 07/17/2012:  08:11:49

I have noticed at our local jam that Ukes are becoming more and more common. A few weeks ago, there were three hovering around the edges of the jam and at least one banjolele.

The great thing about Rob's book is the tunes he chose. These are indeed very common (at least, around here) and oft played.

Well done, Rob! You continue to provide great 'outside the box' stuff that is relevant and fun. Keep 'em coming!

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 07/17/2012:  08:55:22

Thanks, Marc. I've been trying get inside the box for years, but never managed it. Actually, my first ever instrument, aged 8, was a Gretsch ukulele, and the Mel Bay "Fun With the Ukulele" book. Funny to think all these decades later I have seven Mel Bay ukulele books! Amazing.

privard - Posted - 07/23/2012:  10:58:00

I teach uke at Brickhouse Music in River Falls, WI, and we're ordering a couple of copies for stock. I plan to buy one of those myself, as I play all of those tunes on 5-string already and look forward to seeing what you've done for them on ukulele.

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 07/23/2012:  11:09:16

Thanks. Hope you like the arrangements!

dewbanjo - Posted - 07/27/2012:  08:03:16

Hey, just read over this information...just started to play the uke. I've been looking for a uke book with old tyme tunes. I am going to check Barnes' Noble web site. If they have this I will be ordering a copy.

dewbanjo

heyjude - Posted - 07/27/2012:  08:50:51

I got mine in the mail a couple of days ago.  A really nice CD is enclosed that makes for some good listening. A couple of things I would have liked to have seen; chord symbols for us that don't hear chord changes very well and fiddle friendly keys.

The keys and number of songs in each key are: A-3, Bb-1, C-6, D-2, F-7, G-1.  All tunes can be played on the first three strings which is good for those of us that swing both ways, ie low G and high G.

Jude

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 07/27/2012:  10:08:00

Choosing keys is not as straight forward as you might expect, as there are four basic pitches of uke: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Some people tune the soprano, concert and tenor ukes the same way, but many do not. I mention this in the intro. Plus add to the mix the use of capos, and it becomes impossible to keep everyone happy! And all that has an effect on chord boxes, as you might appreciate! So, my decision was to make the best arrangements I could for each tune - playable arrangements that folk will enjoy playing without having to dart all over the fretboard. I used a pick/plectrum because that generally provides greater volume than fingerstyle, and that should be beneficial if you are playing with other instruments. Choosing one tuning, and using that for fiddle keys, would have made life very awkward in many of the tunes, if not impossible. I must say I really, really enjoyed recording these arrangements, and I hope you do too.

privard - Posted - 08/14/2012:  07:18:52

Rob, I received the copies of your book and am working through it with two of my uke students. Nice, tight arrangements. The first two I chose were Arkansas Traveller and Black Eyed Susan, and neither disappointed. I appreciate the way your leads feature opportunities to pinch and strum as well as pick single notes. I have to say that I am a proponent of the use of the bare right hand on uke as that gives so many opportunities to change the dynamics of attack mid-song, or mid-lead, so I'm teaching your tunes as three-finger-picked opportunities. I'm also taking the liberty of teaching my students to look for opportunities for hammer-ons, slides and pull offs from time to time.

I'll make sure to send you a recording of one of your arrangements when I get one of my students up to speed and confident.