Playing in Every Key

What is it about playing in every key?

Published: 07 Dec 2022 Updated: 07 Dec 2022Visits: 0Code: UL44-EveryKey

Category: FingeringInstrument: Ukulele Subjects: Fingering

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Playing in Every Key


What is it playing in every, ALL keys?

For most instruments that have set fingerings for each scale, this is possible and somewhat manageable.

I've heard this all my musician life as a jazz guitarist (pre ukulele) — Learn in ALL keys. And this is the goal, to play any song in any keys. The hard part for instrument such as guitar and ukulele where you can play:

  • Melodies
  • Chords
  • Improvise: Scales, Intervals, Arpeggios, Sequences
  • Melody and Chords together

As you can see, for instruments that can only play single notes – they should know the chords, scale, etc. – this is more manageable.

The great teacher Dennis Sandole , a guitarist as his main instrument, who is well known as the teacher/mentor for John Coltrane and the who's who of jazz. Had ALL his students which included horn players, saxophone, piano, bass, even bagpipes, and guitarists. All but the guitarist had to play any of the melodic figures, scale, etc. that he wrote out as part of the lesson, play in ALL keys. All except guitar students, which I found out later did not have to play in all keys. They had to be able to play starting on any finger on any string – the Every Finger, Every String principle I use in my development and with students.

Here are a few of the lessons that demonstrate that concept that you should apply to anything melodic you are working on.

The QuickStart Scale & Arpeggio Series of books uses this principle.

The Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

This is the book and principles that are used for ALL the lessons and books mentioned.

Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight-reading. Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits not only to technique, but also to creativity. All fingering on the ukulele can be reduced to 6 principles of motion. Each principle has physical and musical characteristics that you can use to improve your playing.

Fingering is one of the universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight-reading.

Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits to technique and creativity. All fingering on the ukulele can be reduced to six principles of motion. Each principle has physical and musical characteristics that you can use to improve your playing.

Let the Work Begin

Granted, this is a lot of work and well worth the effort.

The A Lot of Work is not the ear – it's getting the fingers to execute what the ear wants. Of the mindhands – and ear, the hands are the part that take ll the work.

A great series of videos from Bob Miles, Miles of Music TV show on a panel recalling their interactions and lessons with Dennis Sandole.

Sign-IN — it's FREE — to view, un-blur any additional content for this lesson.

End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

Related Lessons

Related Lessons for Playing in Every Key.

UL6SUF-CMaj

Navigating the C Major Scale

Updated: 23 Nov 2022

The C Major Scale is typically the first Full Diatonic major scale that most players learn. It’s the first scale to learn when stating to explore music theory - the principles of music.

UL6SUF-CMaj-Low-G

Navigating the C Major Scale - Low G

Updated: 19 Sep 2018

The first lesson on Navigating the C Major Scale did not include string four when using C Tuning - High G. I mentioned that mastering the positions and scale using strings three, two and one would set you up for expanding any position to the lower string four.

UL1201

Every Finger, Every String

Updated: 14 Dec 2023

The benefits of being able to play melodies, lick, riffs starting on any finger on any string.

Related Lesson Series

Related Lessons Series for Playing in Every Key.

Six Essential Ukulele Scales

Updated: 08 Jun 2023

The "Six Essential Ukulele Scales" series is based on the fingering principles from my series of books in the "QuickStart Scale and Arpeggio Fingerings" series.

Related Songs

Related Songs for Playing in Every Key.

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 Books & Charts

Related Books for Playing in Every Key.

QSUAT-G

QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads G Tuning

QSUAT-C-AUGMENTED

QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Augmented Triad

QSUAT-C-DIMINISHED

QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Diminished Triad

QSUAT-C-MAJOR

QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Major Triad

QSUAT-C-MINOR

QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Minor Triad

QSUAT-C

QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, Triads C Tuning

QS1BASS4-BLUES

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Bass Guitar - Blues Scale

QS1-BLUES

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Lead Guitar - Blues Scale

QS1

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Lead Guitar - Volume I

QS1UKES-AEOLIAN

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Aeolian Scale

QS1UKES-BLUES

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Blues Scale

QS1UKES-DIMINISHED

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Diminished Scale

QS1UKES-IONIAN

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Ionian Scale

QS1UKES-MIXOLYDIAN

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Mixolydian Scale

QS1UKES-PENTATONIC

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Pentatonic Scale

QS1UKES-WHOLETONE

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - WholeTone Scale

QS1UKES

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning

QS1UKES-D

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, D Tuning

QS1UKES-G

QuickStartScale Fingerings for Tenor and Baritone Ukulele, Volume I, G Tuning

6SUF

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

6SUF-ARP-BLANK

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering Arpeggio Worksheet

6SUF-ARP-EXAMPLE

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering Example Arpeggio Worksheet

6SUF-SCA-EXAMPLE

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering Example Scale Worksheet

6SUF-INT-BLANK

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering Interval Worksheet

6SUF-SCA-BLANK

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering Scale Worksheet

6SUF-SEQ-BLANK

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering Sequence Worksheet

A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.

Books

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

Finally, learn the names of the notes of the fingerboard.

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics.

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.

Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer

Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position is a lot easier than you might think.

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.

Checkout the Books for ALL available books.

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

Key Signatures — 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 for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets

Related Assets for Playing in Every Key.

WEB_CONTENT_ONLY

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G

Updated: 11 May 2019

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G. Shows natural, sharp and flat notes for the ukulele fingerboard. This tuning can be used on a soprano, concert, tenor and baritone ukuleles.

WEB_CONTENT_ONLY

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for D Tuning, Low or High A

Updated: 31 Dec 2016

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for D Tuning, Low or High DG. Shows natural, sharp and flat notes for the ukulele fingerboard. This tuning can be used on a soprano, concert or tenor ukulele.

WEB_CONTENT_ONLY

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High D

Updated: 31 Dec 2016

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High D. Shows natural, sharp and flat notes for the ukulele fingerboard. This tuning can be used on a baritone or tenor ukulele.

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