The Daily Ukulele by Jim and Liz Belof (Hal Leonard, 2014)
The Daily Ukulele is the number one best selling book on Amazon for Ukulele’s and for good reason. In the book are the chords for 365 songs on the Ukulele (see lowest price). Some of these are traditional folk songs, some are kids songs, some are from classic groups like The Beatles and of course you have a selection of classic Hawaiian songs such as Mele Kalikimaka. The book is also strong and resilient and with the plastic comb edge it is very easy to flick to your page and keep that page open! Honestly, if you buy one song book for the ukulele, buy this one.
Buy The Daily Ukulele
Many centuries ago, before the time of YouTube, Twitter and Tumblr, ukulele players were enslaved. Guitarists and other musicians accused them of playing a baby or toy instrument. They said it wasn’t for real music and that ukulele players were inferior.
This lasted for many generations until finally a group of ukulele players helped free the others from their bondage by showing the power of the humble ukulele. Once they were led out of captivity 10 ukulele commandments came from Heaven for every ukulele player.
These 10 commandments for ukulele players were to help ukulele players live a full life and protect them from the evil and deadly path of becoming a condescending musician.
They were… (taken from the first book of Uke)
- Thou shalt hold no instrument above the Ukulele, for the Ukulele is a jealous instrument.
- Thou shalt not take the uke’s name in vain (and call it a mini guitar or not a real instrument).
- Thou shalt keep the National Ukulele Day holy (2nd of May).
- Thou shalt tune thy uke (no one likes an out of tune ear scratcher).
- Thou shalt share the joy caused by the Ukulele (play songs for others and teach others how to play too).
- Thou shalt not committee adultery and love another instrument more than the uke.
- Thou shalt not steal, credit for other people’s work (when you play a cover, let people know who did the original).
- Honour thy Ukulele fathers and mothers, listen and respect the work of Ukulele artists who have gone before you.
- Thou shalt play thy Ukulele regularly. Do not neglect thy instrument.
- Thou shalt not get too obsessed with list and commandments on the Internet.
And all the ukulele layers saw that the laws were good and there was much rejoicing and strumming.
If you’d like to pin or share a copy of the commandments, look below.
What are your ukulele player commandments?