BOOKS || Baritone Ukulele Scales (Mel Bay) & Some Ideas Too

There IS a book that has some scale diagrams for DGBE baritone ukulele players. It is was designed by Lee "Drew" Andrews and published by Mel Bay books. There are approximately 15 pages and is very thin and the price is $5.99 on my book. I purchased mine from someone on eBay. Here's an example of a scale from the book.

So what does this diagram do? Well this one is one of the MINOR PENTATONIC SCALES shown on page 8 of the book. The "diamonds" indicate the root. So if you are at the "nut" (near the pegs) the root note is on the 3rd string (G string) and would be a G# or and Ab. If you move this shape up (towards the soundhole) one step you will have the Minor Pentatonic scale in A. Move up two more steps and you are in a B Minor Pentatonic scale.

Each page of the book has a different type of scale: Major, Minor, Blues, etc. Each scale has 3-different diagrams starting on the 4th string (D); 2-different diagrams starting on the 3rd string (G); and one-diagram starting on the second string (B).

This book is exactly what it says it is: Scales. There are no instructions. The two written paragraphs are about the author. I personally think that the book deserved a 2 to 4 page intro giving the novice some ideas for...

1) Practicing the scales. para exemplo El Maestro, Bueno Chen, said he would play a scale and shift up a fret, play scale, shift, as far as he could go. Benefits: develops knowledge and feel for the scale and improves finger dexterity. Now that Summer Vacation is here perhaps he'll have some time away from the University of Hawaii ukulele classes to share some of the good Bari scale knowledge with us.

2) Why scales are important and what they are used for. Another friend, Uncle Groovy (a.k.a. BajanPiedPiper from Barbados) likes to use them for Blues and Jazz improvisations. He has devoted quite a bit of time and energy creating interesting videos and a Google Site to encourage us all to experiment. He's quite a character and I think the monicker "Uncle Groovy" fits him quite well. [And if you kayak he has some REAL stories to share!]

3) Try this on-line Bari-Uke Scale Finder from Ukulele-Tabs dot Com

4) Well... why do I have to do all of the talking here? Do YOU have more ideas or know other sites that you could share with us? If so, please leave a comment.

[This is a response to a poppyblog request.]