The Complete Ukulele Course taught by Ralph Shaw

The Complete Ukulele Course taught by Ralph Shaw
by Michael Gillette

List Price: ~~$29.99~~
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DVD details

Actor: Ralph Shaw
Director: Michael Gillette
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: NTSC
Running Time: 60 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-02-01
Studio: Ralph Shaw Productions

DVD Reviews of The Complete Ukulele Course taught by Ralph Shaw

DVD Review: Lacks content
Summary: 2 Stars

I am surprised at all the positive comments for this DVD. It is so incomplete. I don't plan to reference this "complete" dvd after the first viewing. I did like the song, "hello my baby." If you are a beginner UKE player, then I would recommend Mr. Shaw's DVD for Kids. I was more complete than this dvd, it had several chords and a book of songs. Good book and dvd for a total beginner.

DVD Review: Worth $10, not $30
Summary: 2 Stars

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?

DVD Review: Disappointed
Summary: 2 Stars

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 an introduction.

DVD Review: Great Instructional DVD
Summary: 5 Stars

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.

DVD Review: Not much content
Summary: 2 Stars

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.

Description of The Complete Ukulele Course taught by Ralph Shaw

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! Just some of the things you will learn in this 1 hour lesson include:

Beginners uke - including tuning, strumming & basic chords

How to use 'ornament'; notes

Play chords up the neck

How to play 4/4, 3/4 and jig time and develop right-hand techniques such as the syncopated 'split stroke' as used by George Formby

How to play Rolls and Triplets

The basics of melody chording In short this one DVD will set you up for a lifetime of fun and music with the world's greatest little instrument... The Ukulele!

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