Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer

Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position.

Published: 12 Jul 2006 Updated: 03 Jan 2020Visits: 280Code: UKEREAD1

Topic: Reading Instruments: Ukulele Leadsheet Subjects: Reading • Beginner • Basics • Fingerboard • Repertoire • Melody • Methods

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Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer

Product Code: UKEREAD1
Author(s): Curt Sheller
Publisher(s): Curt Sheller Publications
Published: Jul 12, 2006
Updated: Jan 3, 2020

ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-1-0
Size: 8.5 x 11
Pages: 80
Price: Hard Copy: $15.95
Price: PDF: $7

cover

Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position. It is a lot easier than you might think with this step-by-step easy to use approach. Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).

Reading music is not as hard as one might think. It may be new and unfamiliar but is not hard when you have a proper plan of attack.

Reading music on the ukulele is easier than reading music on guitar or piano. There are only four strings with a smaller range of possible notes.

Music in the key of C with all natural notes, no flats or sharps is pretty easy to play in open position on a ukulele. This would be the same as playing the white keys of a piano.

Standard music notation has been the Lingua Franco of musicians, both professionals and hobbyists for many centuries.

Reading standard music notation opens you up to vast world of published music.

Reading simple melodies in open position is the first step to reading music on the uke.

Ukulele - Reading Music Series: Reading Music in Open Position, Single Note Studies- Primer uses Chuck Anderson's Modular Phonetic Rhythm System.

Future books cover reading accidentals, the signatures, chords charts as well as reading in different positions up and down the ukulele fingerboard. As well as covering reading music in additional popular ukulele tunings: "G", Tuning and "D" Tuning.

Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).

Table of Contents

Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer

  • Introduction
  • Tuning Your Ukulele
  • Reading Rhythm
  • String One
    • Open A
    • B
    • C
    • A B and C
  • String Two
    • Open E
    • F
    • G
    • E F and G
  • String One and Two Review
  • String Three
    • Open C
    • D
    • C and D 40
  • String One, Two & Three Review
  • Alternate Note Locations
  • Ties and Rests
  • Drills & Exercises
  • String Four
  • String Four, High “G”
  • String Four, Low “G”
  • Songs
  • Preview

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Errata

Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer

  • 9/29/2006 - (20060930.1.3) Updated to reflect the changes to the Modular Phonetic Rhythm system.

The current PDF or eBook always has the latest changes and errata incorporated for the most up-to-date version of the file. If you downloaded the book from LearningUkulele.com you'll be notified when there is a new version of the book available or let me know if you need the lastest version.

Related Lessons

Related Lessons for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.

ML-basic-12

Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths and Fourths

Updated: 14 Jul 2022

There is a load of information in traditional "Key Signatures." Unlocking the principles in this circle leads to a better understanding of music and how things work. A key signature is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating the notes that are to be consistently played higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes.

ML00

Music Basics

Updated: 25 Oct 2022

This series of lessons lays the foundation for the understanding of how music works – “The Principles of Music”. The lessons include information on understanding intervals, steps, Enharmonic Equivalents, the major scale, key signatures.

MPR20

Modular Phonetic Rhythm

Updated: 01 Aug 2018

"Modular Phonetic Rhythm" by Chuck Anderson represents a significant advance in the teaching and application of rhythm. Eliminating many inefficient aspects of rhythm education, Modular Phonetic Rhythm streamlines the traditional educational approach, resulting in a reflexive reaction to rhythm. This approach is applicable to all ages and to all styles of music.

UKEREAD1P-PRO

Reading for `Ukulele - The Next Level

Updated: 15 Jan 2019

Congrats, you have finished the Reading Music on Ukulele - The Primer series. This next series of lessons will take your reading to the next level and have you reading like a pro.

UKEREAD1P

Reading Music on `Ukulele Series - Primer

Updated: 19 Jun 2014

There are a few things in music that students and players avoid. These are things like learning to read and knowing the notes of their own instrument. It is hard on guitar - but not so hard on ukulele. With the right guidance and plan of attack. IT IS EASY.

UL06

Playing by Ear - The Ultimate Goal

Updated: 08 Oct 2015

The ultimate goal for any musician when playing a musical instrument is to "Play by Ear". It’s true whether you’re singing, banging a drum, strumming a guitar, or our favorite instrument, the ukulele. If your fingers can already interpret and follow what your inner ear commands, you’ve obtained your goal and are "Playing by Ear."

UL09

Major & Relative Minor Key Signatures

Updated: 13 Feb 2020

A "Key Signature" is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating the notes that are to be consistently played higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes. Key signatures are generally written immediately after the clef at the beginning of a line of musical notation. Each major and minor key has an associated key signature that sharpens or flattens the notes which are used in its scale.

Related Book Files, Resources and Assets

Related Assets for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.

WEB_CONTENT_ONLY

Basic Ukulele Chord Chart

Updated: 11 May 2019

A chart of the most common ukulele chords in the most common keys of C, G, D, A, and E.

Related Books & Charts

Related Books for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.

MPRS-FW1

Modular Phonetic Rhythm, The Foundation and Workbook 1

Updated: 08 Dec 2021

Modular Phonetic Rhythm represents a significant advance in the teaching and application of rhythm. Eliminating many inefficient aspects of rhythm education, Modular Phonetic Rhythm streamlines the traditional educational approach, resulting in a reflexive reaction to rhythm.

Related Songs

Related Songs for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.

ANYSONG

Any Song Will Do

Updated: 07 Dec 2015

This is not really a song, but simply saying that for the purposes of a lot of the lessons and lesson series on this site ANY song will do for exploring the lesson's material and concepts presented in the lesson.

Related Lesson Series

Related Lessons Series for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.

Reading for Ukulele - The Next Steps

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

Reading can be thought of on many different levels. 1) the ability to slowly and painfully work out the written music. 2) the ability to hear the music by looking at the notation. 3) the ability to notate your ideas in standard music notation. 4) the ability to read music as you read a book or an article. 5) the ability to communicate with other musicians in the written language of music. 6) the ability to learn songs that you have never heard.

Reading Music on Ukulele - Primer

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

There are a few things in music that students and players avoid. These are things like learning to read and knowing the notes of their own instrument. It is hard on guitar - but not so hard on ukulele. With the right guidance and plan of attack. IT IS EASY.

Reading Standard Music Notation for Ukulele

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

Reading music on ukulele is all about learning what the notes look like and where they are on the instrument for your favorite tuning.

Related Workshops

Related Workshops for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.

Reading Music on the Ukulele - Primer

Updated: 07 Jan 2022

Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position. It is a lot easier than you might think with this step-by-step easy to use approach. Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).

Rhythm, Avoid at Your Own Peril

Updated: 11 Mar 2022

The often neglected and taken for granted subject of "Rhythm". Music is Melody, Harmony, and "Rhythm." We are drawn, initially to music by melody at a very early age, with the instrument of our voice. With ukulele you typically learn chords - the harmony and never really dive into learning rhythm. Unless you're a drummer we take rhythm for granted.

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