BOOKS || Lil' Rev's 101 Ukulele Licks

I have had my 101 Ukulele Licks Book for a week and took Lil' Rev's class on the same over at Michael DaSilva's Shop (www.ukemaker.com) on Feb 12, 2011. Lil' Rev has long been a favorite of mine. I make it a priority to own each of his books as they become available. They are all reasonably priced and come with a CD. This book with CD is less than $15 before shipping.

So you ask what is so special about this book? It is a book of musical historical knowledge. LR, as a student of music, has listened to and studied to many of the masters of acoustic music. He is a multi-instrumentalist and full time, earn-yur’-livin’-type musician. This book says 101 Ukulele Licks but truly there are closer to a thousand, perhaps more because many of these licks are just as movable as the movable chord. Rev is also a spectacular teacher. My buddy Chris E. and I were listening to LR’s instructions and realizing that the Lick book can be taken in small riff chunks, experimented with and played until they become natural addition your playing.

Blues Licks, Boogie Riffs, Jazzy Blues Licks, Movable Turnaround Licks, Country Licks, Bluegrass Licks, Rock 'n' Roll, and Old-Time music are mixed in with scales, historical anecdotes of the musicians that used them. The book is music, art and history all in one.

This book is great for baritone players too. Lil Rev's next project is a method book for baritone ukulele. So, my opinion is clear, I recommend everything that Lil' Rev produces but this book in particular can really give you the opportunity for your music to have some extra flair. It is a book that you will have for years and get something new from it each time.

Here's a recent example of Lil' Rev playing a tenor ukulele...



And here's Rev playing a Graziano Bari...