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.
For a further exploration of this chord and its movable form visit the Movable Ukulele Chords series of lessons.
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
Learn a New Chord a Day Everyday
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.
For a further exploration of this chord and its movable form visit the Movable Ukulele Chords series of lessons.
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.
Recommended Fingering
All though additional fingerings are possible for many chords. Fingering for any given chord depends the science of how our fingers works and 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 yours, the recommended fingering for G is:
Recommended Fingering
0 1 3 2
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
Standard music notation and TAB for C Tuning, Low and High "G" variations
The same number notation of 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 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
The chord tones are the 1 3 5 scale degrees of the parent G Major Scale .
Additional Information
Recommended Fingering
All though additional fingerings are possible for many chords. Fingering for any given chord depends the science of how our fingers works and 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 yours, 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.
A Typical text representation of a chord fingering without a chord grid.
Note: A Zero (0) fingering notation represents an open string that doesn't require using a finger.
Chord Photos
Photos typically are NOT a good way to show a chord as they can't always show efficient, ergonomic chord fingering.
This following photos I'm sure where intended to show a chord and inadvertently shows several points of bad technique:
- A) Thumb too high in a non-supporting role.
- B) Too far from the fret.
- A) Knuckle collapsed. The end knuckle of the third finger is the weakest knuckle on the hand and needs more work.
- A) Too far from the fret. Right behind the fret is the position of least effort to get a clear note. Any further away from the fret and you need to press harder.
"Impolite Fingering" - Try not to flip people the bird as in the second photo above. Finger one, the index finger is the only finger that is really capable of a Full Barre across all the four strings.
* Fingers Not Over Fingerboard And Out Of Position. All the non chording fingers in the above photos are out of position. Most likely to show a chord fingering – but not good fingering and really drives home the point of why photos are not the way to show a chord.
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 or recommend to others.
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 , Fingerpicking patterns, and exploring the Movable Chord versions of today's chord, to your ukulele skills.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. - What does this mean?
Videos
Videos for Chord a Day, January 3rd - G.
Ukulele 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.
Additional Content Available for Paid Site Asses Plans Only
This content requires a Basic Access Paln and or enrolled in the Study with Curt - On-line or Private Lesson Program.
To view additional content for this page you'll need to either Sign In or Register for Premium Site Access or upgrade your current access level.
Login or SignUp to View Complete Page
Related Lessons
Related Lessons for Chord a Day, January 3rd - G at this time.
Related Books
Related Books for Chord a Day, January 3rd - G at this time.
Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets
Related Assets for Chord a Day, January 3rd - G at this time.
Site Access Plans for LearningUkulele.com
Basic Access - A limited selection of basic lessons — ( currently over 140 ) and 100+ songs for ukulele as well as basic general music reference material — Completely FREE — Simply Register/Signup. HOWEVER - I've been doing ukulele and LearningUkulele.com since 2003 and probably have given too much away already - as reflected in my income from the site in relationship to the time spent on the site. So help support this site and its continued development by signing up for one of the below Premium Access Plans or buy a few of my books. - Thanks, Curt
Forever Access - With Forever Premium Access you get Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources and related assets. As well as ALL books by Curt as FREE downloads. Pretty much everything on the site and NEVER worry about a subscription or surprise payment again. And jump the queue for my responding to any questions.
NOTE: Each higher access level includes ALL the benefits of the lower levels. Private Lessons include all the benefits of a Premium Access Plans as long as you remain a student on on the schedule.
Just browsing over both books, they look fantastic! I'm a guitarist and uke player for over 25 years and was thinking about writing a ukulele book but you've already written what I think are the best, most comprehensive and thorough books I've ever seen for the instrument. I just might end up buying every book you've written and I'll be giving my highest recommendation for your books to my friends and students. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such great books! — Peter Rhee
Aloha, Curt, All I can say is WOW! What you have accomplished is simply incredible! All the best — Glen Hirabayashi, The Aloha Boys
Folks, if you haven't stopped by Curt's site, do so right now! ..And get his books, they are fantastic. This guy knows his stuff and is able to pass it along too. — Alan Johnson Proprietor, The 4th Peg
I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books — I have four of them and they are excellent. — fatveg — Portland
Thanks for visiting and checking out the site!
Original Curtie Animation from 1987 for my first web site on a Macintosh II.
33 years ago.
“Built for myself (Curt), and sharing with the `Ukulele community!”
LearningUkulele.com has one of the largest collections of lessons, songs, and TABS, luthiers, ukulele builders, ukulele festival and club information, and, ukulele links on the web. I’ve been on the ®Internet since the early 1990's and This site just never stops growing!!!
Content is added and updated almost daily - so check back often.