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Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele
Melody, chords, licks and riffs all can be related back to scales.

Category: Scales Instrument: Ukulele Subjects(s): Intermediate • Scales • Advanced • Jazz

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Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele

A scale is simply a collection of pitches or notes, not really “this is a Jazz scale", “this is a Blues” or “this is a Rock scale”. It’s how a scale is used that really matters.

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Most music starts with a scale. The melody, chords, licks and riffs all can be related back to a particular scale or scales.

After you mastering the six essentials scales below and start to explore more advanced styles of music, especially jazz. There are a few more scales that are needed to cover the broader harmonic palette that a typical jazz tune draws from.

Checkout the Related Video below for Examples in C Tuning, Open Position .

Due to the rich harmonic content of songs and composition in the jazz repertoire the essential scale are, with their alternate names :

Scale Modes

  • Ionian (Major)
  • Dorian (Minor)
  • Phrygian
  • Lydian
  • Mixolydian (Dominant)
  • Aeolian (Natural Minor)
  • Locrian

Traditional Scales

  • Harmonic Minor
  • Jazz Minor - Descending Melodic Minor, Tonic Minor
  • Whole Tone
  • Diminished

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Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele…

Altered Scales

  • Mixolydian +4 (Lydian Dominant)
  • Mixolydian -2 -6
  • Whole Tone
  • Diminished

Contemporary Scales

  • Blues (Minor Pentatonic)
  • Pentatonic (Major Pentatonic)

And a few other altered and add note scales are common. After master the above scales is should be no problem deriving additional scales from these essential scales.

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End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

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

Videos

Related Videos for Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele.
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The Seven Scale Modes, Open Position Examples

The seven scale modes on ukulele in open postions with TAB and scale diagrams.

Related Lessons

Related Lessons for Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele.
UL25b

Diminished Scale for `Ukulele - C Tuning

The "Diminished Scale" is a symmetrical scale with a repeating pattern of whole steps and half steps. You only need three Diminished scales to cover all 15 keys.

UL25

Whole Tone Scale for `Ukulele - C Tuning

The "Whole Tone scale" is a symmetrical scale with an equal distance been each note or scale degree.

UL124

The Harmonized Major and Minor 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.

UL04p

A Practical Approach to Exploring Scales

On ukulele there aren't many positions where you can play a one octave scale from the root to octave. An instrument like the guitar with the additional lower strings five and six allows one to play a one octave scale in multiple positions in the basic 4-fret, 4-finger position. On ukulele there might be one or two depending on the scale and the key - and whether your using a low string four tuning. This lesson offers a practical approach to practicing your scales on ukulele.

UL04

Six Essential Scales for `Ukulele

The six essential scales are: Blues Major Pentatonic Mixolydian Dorian Aeolian and Ionian From the six essential scales, you can get through a wide variety of traditional and contemporary music. A scale is simply a collection of pitches or notes, not really a "this is a Jazz scale", "this is a Blues" or "this is a Rock scale". It's how a scale is used that really matters not its name.

UL04-modes-uke

The Seven Scale Modes, Open Position Examples

The seven scale modes on ukulele in open postion with TAB and scale diagrams.

Related Lesson Series

Related Lessons Series for Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele.

Six Essential Ukulele Scales

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.

The Seven Modes of the Major Scale

Pythagoras (569BC- 475BC) - discovered the numerical ratios which determine the intervals of the musical scale. Theses are the seven tones of the C Ionian or C Major scale.

Related Books & Charts

Related Books for Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele.
QS1UKES

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning

Learn to create exciting solos in a variety of contemporary styles! Scales are used to improvise, create melodies and riffs. With broad knowledge of the essential scales that are used in contemporary music and a mastery of the ukulele's fingerboard and fingering principles, you're well on your way.

QS1UKES-D

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, D Tuning

This book is out of print and has been replaced by the individual scale books covering each scale with additional information.

QS1UKES-G

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

This book is out of print and has been replaced by the individual scale books covering each scale with additional information.

6SUF

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

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.

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 fingerboard.

Six Secrets of the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

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 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 for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets

Related Assets for Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele.
WEB_CONTENT_ONLY

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering - Scale Worksheet

Scale fingering chart worksheet for exploring multiple and alternate pathways through a scale.

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This sit has ben profesionaly red. awl tpyos aree free and no aditonal chrge • I'm blaming it on “jazz” fingers. “Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
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