More people than ever are playing ukulele today, and why not? It’s quick and easy to learn which makes it ideal for players of all ages. But what about those players who want to move beyond strumming those basic open chords?For players who want to advance their chops, Berklee Press, exclusively distributed by Hal Leonard, has published Berklee Solo Ukulele by Karen Hogg. The book will help players arrange and perform ukulele pieces unaccompanied. They’ll learn essential ukulele techniques to capture the instrument’s unique sonority and character, such as Campanella technique, clawhammer, tremolo, harmonics, and various fingerstyle patterns. Each concept and technique is supported by exercises and songs, including play-along demo audio tracks.
The accompanying audio is accessed through Hal Leonard’s popular MyLibrary system using the provided code. The audio can be streamed or downloaded and includes PLAYBACK+, a multi-functional audio player that allows you to slow down audio without changing pitch, set loop points, change keys, and pan left or right.
Karen Hogg is a multi-instrumentalist: ukulele, guitar, mandolin, and other stringed instruments. She is also an educator and author.
The book starts with some rudimentary material to ensure the reader has an understanding of foundational ideas and then delves into concepts to give them a solid foundation to begin creating or refining their own solo ukulele arrangements for a lifetime of performing great ukulele music.
Berklee Solo Ukulele retails for $16.99. It is available at halleonard.com or music retailers everywhere.
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