Description Possibly the best How To Play Ukulele DVD in the world!!!
This DVD is perfect for anyone who wants to improve their ukulele playing technique. Even if you have never played a ukulele before you will discover that Ralph Shaw (the King of the Ukulele!) will lead you through the basics and beyond so that you will learn tips, tricks and techniques that will have you sounding like a ukulele maestro!
Worth $10, not $30April 3, 2008 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought this based on the many rave reviews, but was disappointed. I've been playing the ukulele for about 2 months, and was looking for something to really accelerate my progress. In particular, I was hoping for good instruction on right-hand technique.
I really enjoyed learning the split strum. Unfortunately, although the section on right-hand strums covers the basic split strum slowly and in detail, all of the variations and embellishments are explained outside the context of the basic strum, then shown in context only at full speed. This made it very difficult to figure EXACTLY out how to incorporate embellishments such as the initial double strum, the thumb roll, etc. into the context of the basic technique. It would have helped tremendously if each new element was shown slowly and in close-up (in useful context).
The DVD format has tons of data capacity and potential for a great instruction disc. Why not at least have a section where each technique is shown in slo-mo?
DisappointedApril 2, 2008 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have seen videos elsewhere that showed the finger placement and even the tab right on the screen to help you. I was expecting this kind of help. Instead I get to watch Mr. Shaw do his thing and garnered very little. Complete?, Ha, barely and introduction.
Great Instructional DVDFebruary 8, 2008 I have been enjoying this instructional DVD for a few weeks now. Ralph Shaw is a great teacher and he apparently really enjoys playing and teaching the ukulele. I have more than gotten my money's worth so far. Also consider is next DVD called Essential Strums for the Ukulele.
Not much contentFebruary 6, 2008 18 out of 18 found this review helpful
Judging from prior reviews, some people really like this disk, so I'll try to explain the low score I have given it. By no stretch of the imagination is this a complete course. It is an introductory course for people who have never played a stringed instrument. In fact, with just three songs you can hardly call it a course. My main interest is Hawaiian music and so this DVD was not a good choice on my part since I should have known from the description that Mr. Shaw is more into 1920's style uke. Mr. Shaw is so darn pleasant that I hate to say anything negative so I will just try to be objective and tell you what you get on the disk. There's a very brief introduction about the uke followed by instructions on how to hold and tune it. He shows you how to play a few basic chords, demonstrates how to strum in 4/4, 3/4 and 6/8 times and demonstrates a few ornaments. He plays three songs, "Froggie Went a Courting", "Hello Ma Baby" and "Country Garden". The first two pieces are extremely simple (two and three chords, respectively) and the third piece is only slightly challenging for anyone with experience playing uke, guitar or similar instrument. The booklet is four pages long and has the lyrics and chords (but no chord diagrams) for the first two songs and detailed fingering diagrams for "Country Garden". At about the same time I bought this DVD, I also bought Hawaiian Style Ukulele (Vol.1) and Learn to Play Fingerstyle Solos for Ukulele both of which fit my needs much better. Kamisato's Hawaiian Style Uke is a lot of fun because you can play along with a decent band on the accompanying CD and all twelve songs are Hawaiian classics. The book has chord diagrams for all the songs and suggested strumming patterns for most of the songs. Nelson's Fingerstyle book also comes with a CD and contains a variety of genres including Hawaiian, folk and classical. The book has musical notation and tablature for all the songs as well as helpful supplemental material. This music is definitely more challenging to play and will keep me busy for many months.
Overall 2 starsDecember 14, 2007 6 out of 6 found this review helpful
With all honesty I was hoping that I could trust the fellow reviewers of this product, unfortunately my opinion differed that than the majority who like it. This course was taken basically in one shot . I didn't notice any editing, basically it was a camera on a tripod, and a guy sitting on a stool with a black backdrop, and he either read from queue cards or had a poster bored that listed the topics had to go over.
I was disappointed that there was never any zooming in on the fingers or any type of editing to stretch the course out for those who don't catch on after the first try of things. Honestly it felt as if this was a rushed course that had a deadline. I was very dissatisfied by it and am in search of a better ukulele teaching book/video.
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