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Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer
Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position.

Category: Reading Instrument: Ukulele Subjects(s): Reading • Beginner • Basics • Fingerboard • Repertoire • Melody • Methods

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Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer
Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position.
Product Info

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*: ANSI A
Pages: 80
Hard Copy Price: $15.95
PDF Price: $7

cover

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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
Get The Latest Version

The current—latest PDF or e-book 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're most likely eligible to get the NEW version of the book FREE , or just let me know if you need the latest version.

Related Lessons
Related Lessons for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.
ML-basic-12
Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths and Fourths

Traditional key signatures provide a wealth of information that can enhance our understanding of music and its underlying principles.

ML00
Music Basics

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

"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

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

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

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

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 Lesson Series
Related Lessons Series for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.
Reading for Ukulele - The Next Steps

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

In the realm of music, there are certain aspects that students and players often tend to avoid. These include skills such as learning to read music and familiarizing themselves with the notes on their instrument. While these tasks may seem challenging, particularly on the fretted string instruments, they are comparatively easier on the ukulele. With the appropriate guidance and a well-defined plan, mastering these skills can be a smooth and achievable process.

Reading Standard Music Notation for Ukulele

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 Books & Charts
Related Books for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.
MPRS-FW1
Modular Phonetic Rhythm, The Foundation and Workbook 1

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.

A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.
These are Books & Reference Charts that apply to a majority of all lessons on LearningUkulele.com / Learning Ukulele with Curt.
Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

Finally, learn the names of the notes of the ukulele fingerboard in C tuning .

Six Secrets of the Ukulele Fingering

Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics. Book: Six Secrets of the Ukulele Fingering

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. Book: Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer

Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position is a lot easier than you might think. Book: Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer

Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele

An organized collection of daily practice and reference material for the contemporary ukulele player for developing the vocabulary and knowledge necessary for single note playing. Book: Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele

Checkout the Books & Reference Charts for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

Reference Charts
Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G - G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G – G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes

A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A) , A4

Checkout the Books & Reference Charts for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

Related Songs
Related Songs for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.
ANYSONG
Any Song Will Do

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 Book Files, Resources and Assets
Related Assets for Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer.
WEB_CONTENT_ONLY
Basic Ukulele Chord Chart

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

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