21 Songs in 6 Days: Learn Ukulele the Easy Way: Book + online video (Beginning Ukulele Songs)

Great starter with many extras that enhance your learning experience. Love the orchestra assistance that makes me feel more confident.

I am fairly new to the ukulele (a little over a year) but have played piano and guitar for over 30 years. My musical background is comprehensive. I am also a private teacher of these instruments. I have looked at many, many "method" books for all 3 of these instruments over the past several years. When I started to read through this book, I was very pleasantly surprised. I was very happy to see how much was covered in a short amount of pages and that it was covered in a very logical order. A lot of the method books I have seen are not logical in my opinion. Not only does this book cover the concepts in a logical sequence, but each concept and techniques from the chapter before are reviewed before moving into the new concepts and technique. Having the videos examples for each of the songs and techniques and concepts was a very smart addition to the book. I have to think hard on how many standard method books actually have videos to watch for what they explain in their books. It is impressive that you are able to learn 21 songs in just 6 days, using just 5 basic chords. The suggested strum rhythms are logically suggested for the song rhythms. The chord changes are illustrated uniquely with font changes in the words for each change, but I thought this was a bit confusing, as I am used to having chords above the words for each line, so that I know what is next. With this method, I have to think a little harder on what chord is next and if I forget what chord goes with what font, I have to stop and check, whereas with a chord chart I can keep going. That's really my only "dissatisfaction" with this book, and didn't warrant affecting the rating. The basic introductory items on getting setup to play with getting an instrument, etc., was comprehensively covered, so you can get ready to start right away. Overall I thought this was very well done, a very fast read, and all explained in very simple ways rather than trying to understand alot of technical and theoretical jargon. I am looking forward to seeing the next one!

I waited until I had worked through this entire book/set of videos before leaving a review. The fact that I did work through the whole thing and finish it says something; when I was learning the harmonica a few years ago I started several instructional books that I never finished. For a true beginner with little to no experience in stringed instruments or reading music, I think this is a good book. It takes things very slow, and things are very well explained. The videos make it a great value, in my opinion. Sure, there are lots of free videos out there, but having a set of planned out (by someone with experience) lessons to follow that build on each other really helps. I hate the trend of calling one lesson one "day". It took me much longer than a day to really master some of the later lessons. That's probably good. If each lesson had realistically been something I could do in a day, and I finished it in less than a week I wouldn't have felt like it was such a great value. There are a limited number of chords covered in this book, but when you're done you know them really well. Same goes for the strumming patterns. I think this is a good thing generally, but when i try to play songs with G now I keep playing either G7 or and unholy hybrid of the two that sounds terrible. I think that will work itself out with a little practice. The bonus songs include 3/4 time and several strumming patterns not covered in the lessons, which at first really irritated me because I couldn't do them. But as I continued and kept with it, those songs gave me a challenge, something to reach for that I ultimately figured out, and I appreciated that. Even as someone with only a rudimentary knowledge of reading music, I like having the sheet music and not just chords for each song. I could use that rudimentary knowledge to help me figure out the strumming for 3/4 time in the bonus songs, and it helped my understanding of the songs and how to play them in other small ways. I generally liked that the songs were old folk songs/children's songs. I like folk songs, but also it gave me something to learn with that was simple and that I didn't have a deep attachment to. Practicing the rudimentary skills of ukulele one a song I actually really liked as I waited on this book to arrive kind of ruined that song for me. I can practice on songs like "Row Your Boat" and "A Ram Sam Sam" and it gets the job done of teaching basic skills without associating a beloved song with repeated failure and mind-numbing practice. :) I know they always say to learn with songs you love to motivate you, but it just didn't work that well for me.

I am 40 and have never played an instrument. But I’ve been wanting one for years. I decided on the banjolele. Not much books at all for teaching banjolele. So seeing that many ukulele players also can play banjolele easily I decided to buy this book. I’m impressed! I have had the book only 3 days. I have gone through a good bit of the book already. I definitely still need practice on the strumming, finger placement practice for chords (as I am not used to holding my fingers all those ways) and singing all in sync. But I feel confident I’ll be able to get it. The book along with all the videos makes the price well worth it! I plan to buy all 6 books in the future. Once I get this book down and feel confident that I get it, I’ll be getting the next book.

Peters and Bogart get you started “playing” right out of the gate without getting bogged down in music theory, counting beats, or the other details that might distract or confuse a novice. It’s great for a quick course designed for adult learners or younger players who want to get a fast start. The online videos are a nice extra. Some of the more traditional music teachers might not care for this method, but I recently sat in a classroom full of new students strumming in near perfect unison on day one, so it’s worth trying for a more casual instructional situation. Cost control was probably the reason that the authors used some rather tired or very obscure public domain songs, but that’s not an uncommon thing to see in beginner books. Don’t expect to be playing the latest hits or Beatles classics while using this book, but you can start here and a big ukulele STAR. Practice every day, even if you only have a minute or two to spare.

My only musical background is that I was able to play some very simple songs on guitar that my sister taught me when I was very little. I was never able to sing and strum at the same time. I was able to sing and strum in just a couple days with this book...even if it sounds terrible at least I can do it! I could play all the songs I knew the rhythm to in the first day, not well but I could do it!

Alles o.k.

It's a great book and video course but took me ages to get the videos. I had to contact them to get help to access the videos. Would give 5 stars if videos were more accessible.

I love this book and the videos. Really helpful instructions. A must have for a beginner.

This is a very good clear gentle introduction to playing a Uke, though it must always be remembered that you really do need internet access to access the video and audio. You can work just from the book but won't work as well. It takes things very slowly - the first three days are all one chord songs, then F/C7 C/G7 and finally C/F/G7 in day 6. But you can play a lot of songs with C,F,G7.... Even though both of the authors are musicians (pianists I think ?) and the course is well thought out, there's something about the videos especially that is entertainingly "amateurish", the videos look like one (sometimes two) people playing the Uke in their kitchen and enjoying it without being too serious. Possibly because that's what it is. This approach , rather than a formal precise one, I think encourages you to perform yourself, it just seems less embarrassing singing along with these one (or two). The light hearted approach, and that one of the players is a beginner herself, makes it seem achievable. Formal books may teach you more in technical skills, but not as much to enjoy yourself strumming away. Even though the title is 21 Songs, some of them are repeated, and some of them are American songs, though they are fairly easy to pick up. The course itself is verging on the unfailable, as it is very gently paced and if you struggle with something there are yet further breakdowns, if you struggle with this bit, try ...... If you do complete this there are other books in the series which are a little harder and a promised intermediate book, and you'll also feel comfortable accessing the many youtube videos which provide strumming and chords for songs ; I particularly like "Ukulele Mike" because he has a similar relaxed "enjoy yourself" approach. But start here. If you just want to try the Uke, this is recommended ; if you can play it a bit, but feel uncomfortable strum singing, it's also recommended.