Dave Belcher 
From Strumming to Fingerstyle Ukulele: Folk Songs That Help You Make the Shift Introduction Folk songs are a natural bridge from strumming chords to playing fingerstyle ukulele. The melodies are familiar and the chord progressions recognizable. Typically the songs follow a predictable pattern that is easy to follow. If you already know how to strum … Read more
Francisco Tárrega for Classical Ukulele From fundamentals to advanced music Spanish guitarist and composer Francisco Tárrega’s music is timeless and beautiful, and fits nicely on the ukulele. And yet, contrary to a popular opinion, his music is not well-suited for the beginner. In fact, his music serves as an entryway to advanced classical music on … Read more
Ferdinando Carulli in the Early Grades Ferdinando Carulli Ferdinando Carulli (1770–1841) was an Italian guitarist, composer, and teacher. Born in Naples, he first played cello and did not discover the guitar until he was twenty years old. He eventually settled in Paris, where he became known especially as a teacher and wrote many pedagogical works … Read more
Performance: Fernando Sor Study in G Lesson: Fernando Sor Study in G Sor Study 11 for Classical Ukulele Fernando Sor’s Op. 31, No. 3 comes from his 24 Progressive Lessons, Op. 31, a collection first published in Paris in 1828 under the title Vingt quatre leçons progressives pour la guitare. The original title describes the … Read more
Leyenda by Albéniz for Classical Ukulele Introduction Isaac Albéniz’s Leyenda is also known by titles such as Prelude and Asturias and was first published as a prelude in Chants d’Espagne in 1892. The piece is strongly influenced by the flamenco traditions of Andalucia, Spain. It follows the bulería form and rhythm, and the arrangement brings … Read more
Julia Florida by Barrios for Classical Ukulele Introduction Agustín Barrios composed Julia Florida in 1938 and dedicated it to his student Julia Martinez. Written during a difficult period in his life, the piece has a lyrical character that fits nicely on the ʻukulele. In this arrangement, the piece is set in G, allowing the melody, … Read more
Passacaglia by Weiss for Classical Ukulele Introduction Silvius Leopold Weiss’s Passacaglia brings one of the great Baroque lute traditions into a new setting for classical ukulele. Originally composed for lute in D major, this arrangement transposes the piece to G, placing the music in a range that suits low-G ukulele while preserving the repeating bass … Read more
Alman by Robert Johnson for Classical Ukulele Introduction Alman by Robert Johnson is a Renaissance-era piece originally written for lute and arranged here for low-G ukulele. Johnson was an English Renaissance musician, not to be confused with the blues guitarist of the same name. This piece is based on a German dance form and is … Read more
Tango by Isaac Albéniz for Low-G Ukulele Isaac Albéniz’s Tango is one of his most familiar works, and it adapts especially well to low-G ukulele. In this arrangement, it pairs naturally with La Paloma. The two pieces begin with the same D major chord phrase, and both rely on rhythmic contrast, including shifts between triplets, … Read more
La Paloma for Classical Ukulele La Paloma, which means “The Dove,” is the best-known work by Sebastián Yradier. Written in 1860 in the Basque countryside of Spain, it has remained in circulation for well over a century and continues to appear in many instrumental and vocal settings. This arrangement brings the piece to low-G ukulele … Read more
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