Learning Ukulele with Curt
Chord a Day, February 24th - A+

Learn a new Ukulele chord every day of the year. The chord for February 24th is A+.

Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Authors(s): Curt Sheller
Category: Chords Instrument: Ukulele
Subjects(s): Chords
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Chord a Day, February 24th - A+

Learn a new Ukulele chord every day of the year. The chord for February 24th is A+.

Augmented chords ( aug or + ) are neutral chords with all the notes of the chord being an equal distance apart, a major third. Any note of the chord can be the root or letter name of the chord. The root will determine the names of the rest of the chord. For this lesson we just went with A as the root, letter name of the chord.

ULCAD0224

Root Position C♯m

Augmented Chord (+)

Augmented chords ( aug or + ) are neutral chords with all the notes of the chord being an equal distance apart, a major third. Any note of the chord can be the root or letter name of the chord. The root will determine the names of the rest of the chord. For this lesson we just went with A as the root, letter name of the chord.

An Augmented Triad consisting of 1 3 #5 of it's corresponding Major Scale based on the root of the chord. Visit and download the A Guide to Advanced Chord Series — Chord Building Chart for ALL 15 major scales and their intervals/chord tones.

Chord a Day, February 24th - A+ Lesson Video
Harmonic Function for: A+
The Harmonic Function of a chord is simply how a chord is being used in a harmonic context with other chords in a song or chord progression.
Here are the most common harmonic functions for today's chord.

Augmented triads as in today's chord do not show up in traditional major or their relative minor keys. They do show up in progressions and songs based on the Melodic Minor scale and key (rare).

Open Position Chords
Today's chord, A+ is an Open Position chord.
Open Position Chords are any chord in the first four frets that include at least one open string.
Learn a New Chord Each Day!!!
This Learn a New Chord Each Day!!! series of lessons was created and published in 2013 (13 yrs ago) and has been added to an expanded ever since. 2020 brought videos to the show. 2023 introduced more Harmonic information.
For a further exploration of this chord and its movable forms visit the
Movable Ukulele Chords Lesson Series page.
A+ is a Core Chord
A core chord is a basic chord that other chords can be derived from – creating new chords from your known chords. Your ever expanding set of core chords creates a solid foundation for playing music on ukulele or any instrument capable of playing chords. There are just far too many chord shapes to memorize all the possibilities. Some chords you can simply create on the fly as needed based on known information and how chords work.
Chord Type(s): Augmented
Chord Categories: Open Position Triad
ULCAD0224 Chord_grid_legand.png Understanding a Chord Diagram
Open Position chords typically do not show the location of the root or letter name of the chord, as these chords are the first chords a ukulele player learns. They are almost entirely learned by shape and sound–hopefully, the chord names. Later on, one develops the ability to determine the location of the chord root(s) or letter name within the chord.
Standard Music Notation and TAB
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Standard music notation and TAB for C Tuning, Low and High G variations
The same numbering notation used in TAB can be used to describe the open strings and frets to be played when using text-only notation or verbal communications. Using an open position C as an example, we can describe it as 0003, indicating open strings four, three, and two with fret (3) being fingered on string one. An open position, D7 , indicated as 2020 .
As you can see that are numerous ways to describe a chord, either verbally, Standard Music Notation , TAB , in text, graphically using a Chord Grid , etc.
Chord Spelling
Chord Spelling is simply knowing what the notes, the chord tones of a chord are.
The notes of all chords can be determined from its corresponding major scale based on the root of the chord and numeric formula.
The notes for A+ are:
A C# E#
The chord tones are the 1 3 #5 scale degrees of the parent A Major Scale .
Additional Information

A+, an augmented chord (aug or +) is a neutral chord with all the notes of the chord being an equal distance apart, a major third. Any note of the chord can be the root or letter name of the chord.

If you “REALLY” know the notes of the ukulele fingerboard you only need an open position augmented chord and it's movable form.

Today's chords augmented chords in addition to Aaug could also have been called C#aug, E#aug or Faug. All depends on what the root is.

Recommended Fingering(s)
LH_fingersAlthough additional fingerings are possible for many chords, fingering for any given chord depends on the science of how our fingers work and on the harmonic context the chord is being used in—what was the previous chord, and what's the next chord? The goal is to play all the notes right behind the frets when possible. Remember, longer fingers can reach the lower strings better, and finger two can stack on finger three, and finger three can stack on finger four.
Although you can play any chord with any finger as long as it's yours, the recommended fingering for A+ is:
Recommended Fingering
4 2 3 0
Alternate Fingering(s)
Here are a few alternate fingerings for today’s A+ chord depending on the context the chord is being used.
Alternate fingering(s) for A+:
  • - 0 3 0 4.
Fingering Notation
Fingering notation for a chord using text only, without using a chord grid, is typically done using the finger numbers from left to right, string four to string one (nose to toes). Here is the text notation for January 1st C chord.
A Typical text representation of a chord fingering without using a chord grid.
Note: A Zero (0) fingering notation represents an open string that doesn't require using a finger.
Fingering Chords
Additional alternate fingerings might be possible for selected chords. If there isn't an overwhelming musical reason for one fingering over another, let efficiency be the determining factor. Something as simple as longer fingers that can reach the lower strings four and three will go a long way to being efficient when switching chords.
Factors such as playing notes right behind the fret take less effort than in the middle of the fret. Less effort leads to overall efficiency; lower maintenance for maintaining your technique and efficiency leads to speed. This can help in determining what finger to use. Finger three can overlap finger four, and finger two can overlap finger three a little, allowing them to get closer to the fret.
Remember, the thumb's primary role is to support the fingers–not play notes. Think of the thumb as a Stagehand. He is unseen, doesn't get any lines, but is a critical member of the team. There are musicial situations where you might use your thumb but they mainly rhythmic / strumming reasons.
Chord Construction, Notes and Intervals
All chords can be constructed based on their intervals relative to the major scale of the root or letter name of the chord. The individual names of the notes of the chord can also be determined from the same scale.
The chord tones for A+ are: A C# E#
A+ is the 1 3 #5 of the A Major Scale based on the root (A) of the chord.
Next Steps
After memorizing today's A+ chord and when you able able to switch in time with other chords. The next step is adding various Strums , Fingerpicking patterns, and exploring the Movable Chord versions of today's chord, to your ukulele skills.
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art by Curt Sheller
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 Chord a Day, February 24th - A+.
Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords

Pick up any chord dictionary, and one thought that should go through your mind is - TOO MANY CHORDS There is now way to memorize all those shapes. It would be better off learning how they came up with all those shapes. Most chord dictionaries are also just like pages transposed to all possible keys.

Naming Chords on `Ukulele

A Chord can have alternate names based on how it is being used. A chord's function is an important determining factor in naming a chord. So unless you know the harmonic function of a given chord, you might not be able to accurately name it.

Movable `Ukulele Chords

A series of weekly ukulele lessons, originally presented throughout 2007 on movable ukulele chords as the Chord a Week Series. Based on my (Curt Sheller) Ukulele Chords book, it takes the open position chords and shows the movable form and the variations.

Standard Music Notation

Music notation or musical notation refers to various systems of writing music. Diverse systems of musical notation have developed in various cultures. In fact, many cultures simply do not notate their music in any form.

The Harmonized Major and Minor Chord Scale Charts

The "Major Scale" or Ionian scale is a diatonic scale, made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first one octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, (Do), the Do in the parenthesis at the end being the octave of the root.

Transposing Individual `Ukulele Chords

"Transposition" is the process of moving a note, chord, scale or any musical passage from one key to another key. All music can be transposed, from a single note to a complex musical score. This lesson deals with transposing chords on ukulele and transposing chords.

Related Lesson Series
Related Lessons Series for Chord a Day, February 24th - A+.
Triads - Traditional and Contemporary Triads

A triad is a three note chord. In traditional chord theory there are four traditional triad chord types: major, minor, diminished and augmented. And four contemporary triad chord types: sus2, sus4, add2 and add9.

Related Books & Charts
Related Books for Chord a Day, February 24th - A+.
UL700a-AGCCH-UKEC-BASIC
Basic Ukulele Chord Chart - C Tuning: G C E A, Low or High G

Basic Ukulele Chord Chart - C Tuning: G C E A, Low or High G.

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 the 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 It there in one thing that give a ROI (corporate speak for return in your investment)—it is this— learning the f*cking notes of your OWN instrument. Sorry for the tough talks—but it is sooooo true!
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.