GOT A UKULELE - Ukulele reviews and beginners tips
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts

26 May 2017

Ukulele Basics by Lorraine Bow and Alex Davies - REVIEW

Kids and ukuleles. They are a match made in heaven. So I was delighted when Faber Music recently asked me to take a look at one of their ukulele books for teaching children called 'Ukulele Basics'

Ukulele Basics Book cover

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1 Nov 2015

Pre Christmas Sale on my Ukulele E-Books!

Been a while since I ran a promotion on my ukulele ebooks so by way of a pre-Christmas promotion, all of the Got A Ukulele beginners ebooks are on half price promotion in the Kindle Stores worldwide!




That means that the two original books (What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know and More What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know) can now be grabbed in Kindle format for only $1.99 (or £1.29 in the UK). The Chords book has also been price dropped.

The Omnibus edition (the collection of the first two books in one volume) is now only $2.99 (or £1.99)

These offers are a short term thing, so now may be the time to grab a bargain.

Think of them as costing ¼ of a pack of strings (or other such comparisons!)

You can grab each of the Barry Maz books on Amazon Kindle on the links below!

USA - SHOP HERE

UK - SHOP HERE

And its also available on the Amazon Kindle stores in Germany, Canada, Australia, Japan, Italy, France, Spain, Mexico too! Hurry - the price drop won't last forever!

Enjoy!

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12 Jun 2015

Gerald: A Ukulele Adventure by Jake Smithies and Nicole Ramsden - REVIEW

You will have heard me talk about Jake Smithies before on this blog. One half of Dead Mans Uke, the guy with the impossibly cool outfits and the double bass. Well, did you know he is also an artist and author? I picked up his latest book, Gerald: A Ukulele Adventure from the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival.


Gerald: A Ukulele Adventure


In fact Jake and his partner Nicole have prepared a number of books, and this is his second one featuring Gerald, prepared for the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival.


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19 Feb 2015

A Ukulele Handbook For Beginners by Aaron and Nicole Keim - REVIEW

I do like 'nice' things. You know, where somebody has gone that extra mile on presentation of something. That's what immediately came to mind when I opened the new ukulele guidebook by Aaron Keim - 'A Ukulele Handbook For Beginners'.


Aaron Keim Ukulele Book



Aaron is one of those performers quietly but widely admired in ukulele circles. Quietly seems apt as Aaron performs with his wife Nicole as an act called 'The Quiet American' playing 'old time American folk music for modern times'. I'm not sure if he took the name from the Graham Greene novel (but I certainly hope so!).... Anyway, get back on track Barry.


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3 Oct 2014

Get Plucky With The Ukulele by Will Grove-White - REVIEW

There have been a few ukulele books published over the last few years (dang, even I wrote some), but when you hear that a performer from the Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain is writing one, then my ears pricked up. He will KNOW what he is talking about. I've been lucky to have a look at an early copy and can tell you now that it comes highly recommended.


Get Plucky With The Ukulele


Get Plucky ( A reference to the inspired cover of Get Lucky that Will put out, complete with chicken noises) describes itself as a Quick And Easy Guide To All Things Ukulele. And that word 'All' is kind of important here. Sure there are chord books out there, tuition books, ukulele history books, but Will has chosen to squeeze in all bases in this beautifully presented tome. After a very nice foreword from the UOGB's George Hinchcliffe we are off with some background to Will, a brief introduction to the uke, a look back at the original ukulele greats (and yes Formby Fans, he's in there) but thankfully also looking to the stars of the present day

We have a look at ukulele history, the boom, the decline and the current revival and to the future in which Will describes the uke as being able to reinvent itself if the time comes for the nay sayers to claim it is dead and buried.

We look at celebrity uke players, and not just the usual faces,  but really interesting pieces about some names that I have to admit were new to me.

Get Plucky With The Ukulele Elvis


The book then switches to tutor mode, but throughout is done in a very simple and easy follow way. How to buy one, how to hold one, reading chord boxes. etc. We have some songs to play along to, and many one chord songs for absolute beginners. All are recognisable, but then some that I have never seen in a beginners song book for any instrument (Sweet Home Chicago, Midnight Special). And NO Folsom Prison! (Actually, there is a reference to Folsom Prison in the book, but its not what you think.. I won't spoil it for you though).  And as you progress you can move to the advanced section where Will looks at strumming variations, Inversions, alternate tunings and more.

Throughout it is written in plain english with an undercurrent of Wills wit and humour. As a grumpy blogger it is also refreshing to see Will prepared to speak his mind too (like me he thinks Hawaiian shirts should be kept to a minimum, knows that not everybody holds a special place in their heart for George Formby and that the term 'uke-tastic' is a crime against the ukulele), but then the book oozes encouragement and good humour so this is not a case of Will being argumentative.  Hmmmm, perhaps I should take notes.

Oh - and he also, like me, thinks there is no rule against plectrums.... but we've been over that on this site before....

As someone who seems to spend all my waking hours immersed in the ukulele, I learned much from this book and that pleased me immensely. The tuition sections are not prescriptive and throughout Will does not bark at the reader that it MUST me done this way - quite the opposite. He is clearly a champion for putting fun and making music above being a purist. My kind of guy.

Get Plucky With The Ukulele clubs


I really think there is something in here for everyone (and yes, in his Reference section he gives a plug to this very website calling it a 'Hive of Ukulele Activity' - I am just making that clear for when someone 'ah yes Barry but you WOULD say you liked it wouldn't you? - My answer to that is, 'Yes I would, because its a damn nice book'...)

And a final word on that term 'nice'. It's beautifully presented and illustrated throughout. Nice glossy pictures, beautiful cover and illustrative doodles by Jonny Hannah - hats off to him.

I started this review mentioning that there are a good few uke books out there, but no 'catch all'. Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned pro, I cannot think of a reason why you wouldn't like this one on your shelf. Highly recommended.


Get Plucky With The Ukulele by Will Grove-White is published by Cassell / Octopus Publishing and is released in the UK on 6 October and the US on 4 November priced £14.99. Available at all good retailers. Some Amazon links below who are taking pre orders plus a link direct to the UOGB which gives Will a fairer deal!

AMAZON.COM

AMAZON.CO.UK

UOGB Store


Will Grove-White with mini ukulele
Credit Will Grove-White


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10 May 2013

My Ukulele Omnibus shortlisted for an award

I didn't see this one coming, and not mentioned my ukulele books on here for a while - but my title The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know has been nominated for a book award!


The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know

Not sure how it was nominated, but it's up there in the DIY / Self Help Category at the eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards! But thanks if you did - your support, in fact support of anyone who grabbed it is MUCH appreciated!

You can grab the book on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk as well as on Nook, Kobo, iTunes and Sony book stores.

You can see all the nominees here and details on how to vote will follow soon.

Apparently it also allows me to use this badge!


Once again - thank you SO much!
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7 Mar 2013

It's nearly spring - ukulele book price cut!

Ah well, it's nearly spring, and things are looking up. So why not - have cut the price of my ukulele books on the Amazon Kindle store.


what ukulele players really want to know book cover

You can now get my first three books for the price of a couple of lottery tickets each, and my omnibus ukulele book, The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know for the price of a pint of beer.

You can grab the books via AMAZON UK and AMAZON.COM at the reduced prices until further notice. And on the left hand side of this blog you will also find direct links to each book on Amazon.

Can't say fairer than that? Enjoy!
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14 Feb 2013

Time for a ukulele book promotion!

OK, I am overdue a promotional price on some of my ukulele books, so for anyone who hasn't seen the books, this could be a good time to have a look.


For the next month, you can grab my omnibus edition The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know AND my chord book Chords That Ukulele Players Really Want To Know with 33% off the price (making them far cheaper than a pint of beer!)

The books are available in all popular ebook formats (including Kindle, ePub, pdf etc). Just click links above or on the book covers below and enter the promo codes listed below at the checkout to get the saving. Feel free to share these codes around too!

Enjoy

The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know
PROMO CODE - LT43L

Chords That Ukulele Players Really Want To Know
PROMO CODE - DK98F


Offers end 14 March 2013!
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25 Dec 2012

For those new ukers!

Hope you had a great Christmas Day today. The music shops tell me that the ukulele has become one of the biggest selling instruments this year - did you get your first today?




If so, I hope you found this site and it gets you on your way! Up at the top you will find some navigation links to various pages such as the Chord Chart Page (essential!), the beginners tips page for answers to many questions and, (because you want to get playing) a big list of songs with chords, most of which are easy for beginners to play right here.

The uke is a great gift to receive and I sincerely hope you stick with it, join a club, play with others, or just yourself, but most of all, MAKE MUSIC!

I am always here to help!

If you want more information, either email me, or you may like my range of ukulele beginners guides that are available on Amazon. They are not tutor books - there are far better teachers than I, but they are intended to be read alongside them, filling in the blanks that most tutor books miss out. In other words - Got A Ukulele? - Have a read!

The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know

Chords That Ukulele Players Really Want To Know


Available on Kindle, in paperback, and also on iTunes, Kobo, Nook and in other good booksellers!

Merry Christmas!

Baz
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22 Nov 2012

Ukulele eBooks rebrand!

Time for a change I thought, and therefore I now have new covers on all of my e-versions of the four ukulele beginners books I wrote.


No biggie, but I like them! What do you think? Couple of examples below.





All books are on Smashwords (in a variety of e formats), Amazon UK, Amazon.com as well as Kobo, Nook, Sony, iTunes and many other places!

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18 Oct 2012

Neglected Ukulele Book

Yesterday I had another instance where somebody who had sent me kind words about my first ukulele beginners book, What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know, didn't know that there was a follow up book.


More Of What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know

My second book - More of What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know was published about a year after the first book, and either I didn't mention it much, or dear old Amazon etc haven't done the right thing to let buyers of the first one know it was available!

Anyway - like the first, it is cheap to buy and expands on beginner tips, by moving into more general advice and support for a player who had gotten to grips with the basics. It includes advice on playing live, practice routines, starting clubs and the like and also introduces a bit of basic theory. I like it!

For those who bought neither book, the Omnibus edition is probably the place to go as this collects the first two books in one volume. But if you already bought the first one there is little point going to the Omnibus - cheaper to buy the second book as a standalone title.

Anyway, book plug over - reviews of it welcomed as always, and perhaps this will alert a few readers that it actually exists!

Baz
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31 Jul 2012

Complete Ukulele - at lower price for short time!

Hey, what the heck, it's summer, the Olympics are with us, so time for a special offer.

The Kindle edition of my new omnibus book (which brings together my first two ukulele beginners books) is at a cut price for a few weeks.

If you were in the market of buying both, this edition saves you over 35% off the cost!





It's available on Amazon.com and Amazon UK





- Posted using BlogPress
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30 Jul 2012

Time for a vote of ukulele thanks

It is quite some time ago now since I was persuaded to put my tips about learning ukulele into some books, and it's been quite a ride since.

My first book, What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know ended up being the number one selling music book on Amazon for a time, and since then it, and the other three books keep dipping in and out of the top 100 (and occasionally the top ten!). It's also very exiting to see my books for sale in the likes of WH Smith, Sears and Tower too!




I have my readers to thank for that, and I know that many of you (through kind words posted here and there) tell me that they now recommend the books to others they are encouraging with the uke. That is a great and humbling thing to hear. I'm just a blogger, not an international author and it's so pleasing to learn that I may have helped people starting out, however small a difference that may be.

The books are not just on Amazon, so Google them if you prefer a different store, but the complete sets are here on Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

If this is your first time to Got A Ukulele, I'd suggest you check out my omnibus edition of the first two books (it's better value that way), but if you use an ereader or an iPad you may also find the chord book handy to carry with you.

So, again, a big thank you. It is the nice comments and the supportive emails I receive so regularly that really help keep this all going. Some of those emails end up extending into long exchanges where I am asked advice on buying so don't be afraid to get in touch. One particular highlight example I remember was a back and forth 'Live' email exchange with someone buying a uke for her boyfriend in New York, ending with us exchanging emails on the fly whilst she was in the store!

Lots more exciting stuff on Got A Ukulele in the months ahead too with several more instrument reviews planned, more interviews and some cracking competitions. Watch this space!

Best wishes and keep strumming!

Baz



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12 Jul 2012

New ukulele paperback - in the flesh!

Sample of my new ukulele paperback - the omnibus 'The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know' has arrived. And it's a biggie! All 337 pages of it!





Currently available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk with other booksellers stocking it soon!



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4 Jul 2012

Ukulele Paperback

My new omnibus edition of my first two ukulele books, The Complete What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know is now available in paperback!


the complete what ukulele players really want to know
It is currently available at Amazon, Amazon UK and Createspace, but in due course will appear with other sellers.

It can be bought here, Amazon.com,  https://www.createspace.com/3927153 and on Amazon UK

And of course, the individual books are still available and will stay that way (see below)

Amazon.com
Amazon UK
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
itunes
Amazon.DE
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2 Jul 2012

A Ukulele thank you

At the time of writing this post I'm delighted to see that my new omnibus ukulele book (that collects together my first two books in one volume) has gone as high as top 100 on Amazon, and to number five (yes FIVE!) on Amazon UK in the music reference chart!




A huge thank you if you supported it, it is very much appreciated and I hope the book helps you out.

Available at Amazon UK and Amazon.com. If you don't use Kindle, it's also available for other ereaders at Smashwords

And don't worry if you grabbed one or the other of the individual books - they are still available individually and will remain to be!

Baz

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21 Jun 2012

Ukulele ebooks - the independent alternative

I don't say enough about Smashwords. When I first wrote my ukulele beginners books, the Amazon Kindle was the obvious first choice, but then you realise that a) not everybody has a Kindle and b) not everybody wants to give Amazon their money. Smashwords provides an independent alternative!




So, if you like the ebook format, you can grab all three of my books via Smashwords in Kindle, ePub, Sony, PDF, you name it, formats!

What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know

More Of What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know

Chords That Ukulele Players Really Want To Know

Give them a try! (oh and if you DO prefer Amazon, iTunes or paperback, that's cool, they are there too! ;-)

Baz



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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5 Jun 2012

Choices choices

Just surprised myself to discover how many other stores are listing my trio of ukulele books. I mainly talk about the obvious sources, Amazon, Barnes Noble, iTunes etc, but there are loads of other places too!





Angus Robertson (Australia)

Better World Books

The Book Depository

BAM

Booktopia

Indigo

Indie Bound

Powell's Books


Tower Books


Lots of choice!
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31 May 2012

Ukulele book half price deal ends soon

Just to let you know, my second ukulele book in Kindle format, More Of What Ukulele Players Really Want To Know will likely be reverting to normal price very soon. So grab it now whilst it's still only a dollar and a half!






Get it here - Amazon.com and Amazon UK

Enjoy!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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30 May 2012

Facebook pages for my ukulele books

Facebook - seems to have us all grabbed and hooked doesn't it? Anyway, I have set up book pages for each of my ukulele beginners books on FB, and if you were so minded as to give them a like, I would be most grateful! (Cheeky post this one eh?)






Oh, and of course - Got A Ukulele is on there too!

Thanks folks! 

Baz

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