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 available by email 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 April 28, 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
Note, the progress tracker does not need to be completed in order, but you probably should.
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 to introduce chords, especially if your students are not vocal students.
Lesson #6: Frère Jacques
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Watch a recent instructional video HERE.
- Search the video archive for "Frère Jacques" for other classes.
- 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
- Performance Video Ukulele
- Lesson June 14, 2021
- Lesson January 12, 2021
- Want to learn more about this song? It's on the blog.
Lesson #8: Three Blind Mice
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson June 16, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson January 13, 2021
- Want to learn more about this song? It's on the blog.
Lesson #9: Brahms' Lullaby
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson June 21, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson January 14, 2021
Lesson #10: Make a Better Bar Worksheet
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- January 20, 2022: Class
- February 18, 2021: Class
- January 6, 2021: Class
Lesson #11: Yankee Doodle
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Performance Video Ukulele
- Live Class Video: Lesson June 22, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson January 18, 2021
Lesson #12: Key of C Arpeggio (G for Baritone)
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson June 23, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson January 21, 2021
Lesson #13: Getting to Know the Whole Fretboard
- Major Scales
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson April 5, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson Jan 7, 2021
- A Big Copy of the Fretboard
Key of G (D for Baritone)
Lesson #14: Amazing Grace
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson June 29, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson January 25, 2021
Lesson #15: Happy Birthday
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson June 30, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson January 26, 2021
Lesson #16: All Through the Night
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson July 2, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson January 28, 2021
Lesson #17: La Cucaracha
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson July 1, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson January 27, 2021
Lesson #18: Home on the Range
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson July 7, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson February 1, 2021
Lesson #19: Key of G Arpeggio (D for Baritone)
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson July 8, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson February 2, 2021
Key of F (C for Baritone)
Lesson #20: Simple Gifts
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson July 9, 2021
- Live Class Video: Lesson February 3, 2021
Lesson #21: Carnival of Venice
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson
Lesson #22: Daisy Bell: Bicycle Built for Two
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson
Lesson #23: Key of F Arpeggio (C for Baritone)
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson
Stretch Pieces
Lesson #24: Aloha 'Oe
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson
Lesson #25: Scarborough Fair
- Ukulele Solo PDF
- Baritone Solo PDF
- Live Class Video: Lesson March 25, 2021
Introduction to Strumming
Teachers Guide: 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. Also, yeah, I wait this long to do chords unless I'm teaching singers, because -- 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.
Lesson #26: Key of A Strummers
- Ukulele Ensemble PDF
- Baritone Ensemble PDF
- Search the video archive for "Strumming in the Key of A" for other classes.
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.