Jolly Roger Ukulele Book 1
Foundations for Instrumental Ukulele and Baritone Ukulele
Stop! Seriously! I'm going to teach you all the possible ways of playing ukulele, so don't look down this page for something "cool" to play. These songs are mostly pretty bad, but they teach you the essential techniques you're gonna need to become a more advanced musician -- and they do it quickly and efficiently. Nobody wants you to play Three Blind Mice, but the skills it teaches are essential for playing better music down the road. So seriously ... don't waste time trying to find the cool stuff. Do EVERY LESSON on this page and start now.
Complete Book: Against my better judgment, I'm posting a student edition with everything stitched together from all 30 lessons in one PDF. You probably DON'T want the complete book since it's better to print each sheet as you go or download them into your iPad. A teacher's edition isn't quite ready, but will be availableby email at garyjugert@yahoo.com shortly after I take a break from drinking whiskey, picking fights, and wooing the ladies.
- Book 1 Complete Student Edition (everything for the first 29 lessons)
- Ukulele Version PDF ~ Update posted June 24, 2025
- Baritone Version PDF
- "Introduction to Ukulele" Basics (abbreviated version for one-day classes)
- I'm revising the order of lessons, so gimme a few days to repost.
- Ukulele Version PDF
- Baritone Version PDF
First Hour in Ukulele
Note to Teachers: When I'm invited to teach a one-hour face-to-face ukulele class (often at a library or corporate meeting), I always teach Lessons 2, 3, 6, and 7 without exception. In the packet, I also include Lessons 9 and 15 in the hope the class "gets it" faster than expected. If I have a two-hour class, I also take printouts of Lesson 26.
Lesson #1: Introduction to the Program
Lesson #2: Doing Ukulele Right!
Lesson #3: Tuning Your Instrument
Lesson #4: Practice Log
Lesson #5: Progress Tracker
The Most Important Song Ever
Let me underline an important point. I have never NOT taught this song to every student. It is the foundation of everything people need to do in fretted instruments and will make everything else flow smoothly. Do this lesson before you try anything else in ukulele.
Lesson #6: Frère Jacques
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Want to learn more about this song? It's on the blog.
Key of C (G for Baritone)
Lesson #7: My Spaghetti Monster
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Want to learn more about this song? It's on the blog.
Lesson #8: Three Blind Mice
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Want to learn more about this song? It's on the blog.
Lesson #9: Brahms' Lullaby
Lesson #10: Make a Better Bar Worksheet
Lesson #11: Yankee Doodle
Lesson #12: Key of C Arpeggiator (G for Baritone)
Lesson #13: The Fretboard and Scales
- Ukulele
- Baritone
Key of G (D for Baritone)
Lesson #14: Amazing Grace
Lesson #15: Happy Birthday
Lesson #16: All Through the Night
Lesson #17: La Cucaracha
Lesson #18: Home on the Range
Lesson #19: Key of G Arpeggiator (D for Baritone)
Key of F (C for Baritone)
Lesson #20: Simple Gifts
Lesson #21: Carnival of Venice
Lesson #22: Daisy Bell: Bicycle Built for Two
Lesson #23: Key of F Arpeggiator (C for Baritone)
Stretch Pieces
Lesson #24: Aloha 'Oe
Lesson #25: Scarborough Fair
Introduction to Strumming
Teachers Note: Don't be lured into teaching Key of C first just because you were taught that way. I promise doing the Key of A first will have better long-term results and students can play along with their guitar friends who hate the F chord. Also, I definitely wait 26 lessons before undertaking chords and strumming from pop tunes off the internet unless I'm teaching singers. Contrary to popular belief, strumming is mainly about the right hand, not chords, and having control over your technique is important if you want people to listen to you hacking away. Other stuff in this program does a much better job of teaching the necessary technique than giving you Over the Rainbow and hoping you won't quit when you realize how you don't sound anything like Iz. I survey most every class I teach and in the wild, only about 25% of people love singing, so teaching singing and strumming is going to push most of your students into oblivion.
Lesson #26: Key of A Strummers
Lesson #27: Key of C Strummers
Advancing Players
Lesson #28: Music Theory
- Chord Charts
Lesson #29: Song Writing
- Circle of Fifths
Final Exam
Lesson #30: Final Exam
- Send me an email when you've completed lesson #29 and I will send you your final exam.
Did you finish everything in Book 1? Time for Book 2!
