Chord a Day, January 3rd - G
Learn a new Ukulele chord every day of the year. The chord for January 3rd is G.
G is a primary chord in the common keys of G, C, and D.
G 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):
Major
Chord Categories:
Open Position
Triad
Related Lesson: 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 and are almost entirely learned by shape and sound - hopefully, the chords' name. 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
C Tuning - High 'G' and Low 'G' Tunings
Standard music notation and TAB for C Tuning, Low and High "G" variations
Chord Spelling
Chord Spelling is simply knowing what the notes of a chord are. The notes of all chords can be determined from its corresponding major scale based on the root of the chord.
The notes for G are:
G B D
These are the 1 3 5 scale degrees of the parent G major scale.
Recommended Fingering
All though additional fingerings are possible for many chords. Fingering for any given chord depends on the harmonic context the chord is being used in, what was the previous chord and what's the next chord.
Although you can play any chord with any finger as long as it's your, the recommended fingering for G is:
Recommended Fingering
0 1 3 2
Alternate Fingering(s)
Here are a few alternate fingerings for today’s G chord depending on the context the chord is being used.
Alternate fingering(s) for G:
- 0 1 2 1 - Finger is placed flat across strings one, two and three.
- 0 1 3 1 - Finger is placed flat across strings one, two and three. This is a variation of the above fingering.
- 0 2 4 3 - This fingering is good if you're going to move/transpose the chord up the neck and used finger one for string four.
Fingering Notation
Fingering of 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. Here is the text notation for January 1st C chord.
The Typical text representation of a chord fingering without a chord grid.
Note: A Zero (0) fingering notation represents an open string that no finger is required.
Photos •
Photos typically are NOT a good way to show a chord as they can't always show efficient chord fingering.
If you're using efficient fingering and keeping all the fingers over the fingerboard and ready to go and as close to the action as possible. You might not be able to see in the photo if a finger is actually being used to play a given chord. This is true for most chord photos
In the photos for the open position C chord I took for January 1. I kept the other fingers out of the way for the photo and that is not how I would actually play those chords.
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 can reach the lower string four and three goes a long way to being efficient when switching chords.
Factors such as playing notes right behind the fret takes less effort than in the middle of the fret. Less effort leads to overall efficiency in play, 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.
Chord Construction, Notes and Intervals
ALL chords can be be constructed based on the 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 G are: G B D
G is the 1 3 5 of the G Major Scale based on the root (G) of the chord.
Next Steps
After memorizing todays G chord and able to switch in time with other chords. The next step is adding various Strums and Fingerpicking patterns to your ukulele skills.
End of Lesson
Basic Ukulele Chord Chart
A chart of the most common ukulele chords in the most common keys.
Key Signatures - Cycle of Fourths and Fifths
A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatues.
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Basic Open Position `Ukulele Chord Chart
A core set of basic ukulele chords that ALL Ukulele players should know - at least - in the five common keys of C, G, D, A and E. As well as the seventh chords for common keys. The chart is organized in common keys and covers basic chords in these keys. Of the 15 possible major and relative minor keys in music. There are five common keys to get started with: C, G, D, A, and E. These keys allow you to play quite a few popular songs. There's more in common between songs that your might think.
Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords
Pick up any chord dictionary, and one thought that should go through your mind is. 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.
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.
A Guide to Ukulele Chords, 2nd Edition
A Guide to Ukulele Chords, Second Edition is designed as a guide to ukulele chords. Covering the basic ukulele chords that ALL ukulele players SHOULD know. A Guide to Ukulele Chords covers movable chord forms, rock chords, how to transpose chords, learning the ukulele fingerboard and includes an introduction to 4-part, a.k.a jazz chords and more...
No related lesson series for Chord a Day, January 3rd - G at this time.
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