8 New Ukulele Books Reshaping the Music Scene in 2025

Elisabeth Pfeiffer's "Hawaii Etudes" springs from her rigorous academic research and deep passion for historic ukulele techniques, particularly those rooted in early 20th-century Hawaiian styles. You explore 15 solo pieces, each built around unique strumming patterns once popularized by figures like Ernest Kaai, offering a tactile link to the island's musical past. Chapters break down these complex rhythms with detailed instructions, chord diagrams, and accessible multimedia support, making it easier to internalize and apply. If you want to deepen your understanding of traditional Hawaiian strumming while enriching your pop and rock repertoire, this book offers an authentic, hands-on approach.

After decades as a session musician and educator, Jimmy McRay developed this collection to tackle a common issue many ukulele players face: stuck in repetitive strumming routines. The book offers 100 distinctive strumming patterns alongside 100 chord progressions, all supported by clear tabs, notes, and diagrams that demystify technique. You’ll learn to improve timing, rhythm, and musical creativity, with chapters dedicated to reading tablature and mastering 41 essential chords. This resource suits players eager to move beyond basics and inject variety and confidence into their strumming, though those seeking deep music theory might find it less focused on that aspect.

This tailored book explores the latest developments and trends in ukulele playing for 2025, focusing on your specific interests and goals. It examines cutting-edge techniques emerging in the ukulele community, from innovative strumming patterns to new fingerpicking styles, all matched to your background and skill level. By concentrating on fresh discoveries and evolving musical approaches, this personalized volume reveals how you can stay at the forefront of ukulele performance and creativity. Whether you want to deepen your technical skills or explore new genres, this book offers a focused learning experience that reflects the most current insights in ukulele artistry.

Unlike most ukulele books that stick to traditional strumming, Lil Rev's guide introduces you to the clawhammer technique—a distinctive string-picking style borrowed from banjo playing that brings a rhythmic, percussive flair to the ukulele. You’ll find detailed exercises and over 60 video lessons that walk you through mastering this approach, whether you're playing accompaniment, solo, or melody lines. This book suits beginners eager to explore beyond basic chords and develop a groovy, down-home sound adaptable across genres. For anyone looking to expand their ukulele skills with a fresh technique, this guide offers a focused, approachable path.

Ondrej Sarek's deep connection to Moravia's Boskovice region shines through in this collection of 34 ukulele arrangements that capture the area's folk heritage. Instead of focusing on lyrics, the book offers instrumental versions that highlight melody and technique, inviting you to explore traditional regional tunes in a fresh way. You’ll gain insight into adapting folk music for ukulele, enriching your repertoire with culturally authentic pieces. This collection suits ukulele players interested in folk traditions and those eager to expand their playing beyond contemporary styles.

Drawing from his deep appreciation of 17th-century Moravian folk traditions, Ondrej Sarek adapts 16 rare dance songs for the ukulele, illuminating a unique intersection of regional folklore and classical court music. This collection offers you a chance to explore melodies that historically bridged local culture with imperial Vienna's musical scene, preserved in an anonymous clavichord compilation. As you navigate these pieces, you gain insight into the evolution of folk influences within classical contexts, perfect for players interested in cultural music history and instrumental adaptation. While the book focuses on instrumental arrangements without lyrics, it invites you to experience the spirit of Hanakia dances through authentic, yet accessible ukulele interpretations.

This tailored ukulele mastery book explores advanced techniques and diverse playing styles designed specifically for your skill level and musical interests. It reveals step-by-step exercises and concepts that focus on the latest developments in ukulele playing as of 2025, ensuring you engage with fresh, relevant material that matches your goals. By concentrating on your unique background and desired areas of improvement, the book offers a tailored learning journey that deepens your understanding and hones your skills efficiently. This personalized approach encourages continuous growth by integrating emerging discoveries and innovative styles directly suited to your musical path.

Jeff Peterson, a dedicated ukulele arranger and musician, offers a pathway into Hawaiian music that goes beyond simple songbooks. This collection focuses on the high G tuning, guiding you through Hawaiian melodies from the Monarchy Era to modern times, while unpacking forms, techniques, and phrasing distinctive to the style. You’ll explore traditional progressions, chord shapes, and classic picking patterns, alongside nuanced elements like slides and harmonics, which bring the island’s musical heritage to life. Whether you’re expanding your repertoire or deepening your cultural understanding, this book suits players eager to connect authentically with Hawaiian sounds and expressions.

Andrea Colombari, an accomplished ukulele coach, draws on his extensive teaching experience to focus this book on mastering scales and arpeggios for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with a high G tuning. Through a series of progressively challenging exercises and studies that incorporate classical techniques, you’ll build both technical skill and musical understanding. The book’s structured approach, supported by tablature, standard notation, and supplementary video tutorials, makes it particularly useful if you’re looking to deepen your practice beyond basics. This method suits beginner and intermediate players aiming to expand their repertoire and improve finger dexterity, though those seeking purely self-taught routes might prefer additional guidance.

After exploring the unique challenges of baritone ukulele arrangements, Ellen S. Whitaker developed a collection that caters specifically to players seeking seasonal repertoire. This book offers 21 traditional Christmas tunes arranged for classical or fingerstyle baritone ukulele, balancing accessibility with musicality through easy to intermediate arrangements. You’ll find each piece presented in both standard notation and tablature, complete with a notation key to guide your reading. Whether you're looking to expand your holiday setlist or deepen your fingerstyle skills, this collection serves as a focused resource for baritone ukulele enthusiasts. It’s especially useful if you want music that’s enjoyable yet approachable without overwhelming complexity.