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Types of `Ukulele Chords
Open position chords, movable form chords, 4-part "jazz" chords, and free form chords.

Category: Chords Instrument: Chords Subjects(s): Chords • Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced • Core

Types of `Ukulele Chords

That is what you'll be doing the most of when playing the ukulele - "Playing Chords".

Naturally, for ukulele, all chords need to be voiced using only the four strings available. You would think that this is limiting when in actuality it's quite liberating when you learn the makeup of chords. This lesson covers the types of chords possible on ukulele.

Chords can be categorized in to four categories: open position chords, movable form chords, 4-part - a.k.a. jazz chords, and free form chords.

Open Position Chords

Open Position chords are the basic first chords most players learn. There are the chords in the first one, two, three, and four frets of the ukulele, and they include at least one open string. Learn about 19 open-position chords, and you'll be able to play a load of songs.

Basic Movable Form Chords

Movable Form Chords are the basic open-position chords, re-fingered to allow transposition of the additional keys. The first movable form chord players typically learn is Bb.

Traditional and Contemporary Triads

Triads — At the heart of most chords, there is a major, minor, diminished, or augmented triad. These are the fundamental, traditional three-note chords that have been around for centuries. The basic major and minor Open Position and Movable Form chords were triads with a duplication of one of the notes in the chord.

“Jazz” Chords

These chords are simply 4-part Contemporary Chords used in a wide variety of music, and this is where you start to learn how chords are constructed and where they come from. Beyond a core set of chords, this is where you'll start to realize that there are too many shapes to memorize all the possible chord shapes. You need to build and derive all your chords from a core foundation of chords.

Free Form Chords

It’s just the notes!!!

Free Form chords are those chords that do not fall into one of the other categories. They typically don't show up in chord dictionaries or software programs. You can create these chords when you know the notes of the ukulele fingerboard, know how chords are constructed, and know the names of the notes in the chord and the intervals that make up the chord.

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

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UL42-misc-t
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.

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Understanding a `Ukulele Chord Diagram

There're a lot different ways to show chord shapes, diagrams and images on a fretted instrument. This is the basic chord diagram I use in all my lessons and book. In this lesson the basic chord diagram as used for ukulele is explained.

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Dominant Seventh Chords?

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What Finger is What?

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Basic Open Position `Ukulele Chord Chart

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Core Chords - The Big Six - Building a Solid Chord Foundation

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Building a Solid Jazz Chord Foundation for `Ukulele

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Movable `Ukulele Chords

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Upper Partial Chord Tones

Upper Partials or extensions for chords are the 9th, 11th, and 13ths of a chord. The 9, 11 and 13 can be altered chord tones depending on the type: e.g: b9, #9, #11, b13. These numbers, the 9, 11 and 13 refer to the scale tone/chord tone relative to the major scale used for building all chords.

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Diminished & Augmented Chords

Movable form "Diminished" and "Augmented" form chords.

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Creating Cool `Ukulele Chords

Cool Chords - These are the chords do not typically show up in chord dictionaries or song books. These are the chords players ask, "What is that chord?"

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Your First `Ukulele Chord

Your first ukulele chord is typically an open position "C Major Chord." It's only one finger and ukulele players love to show new players this, the easiest, usable ukulele chord for new players. Especially someone coming from guitar where an open position C major is three fingers and not that easy as the first chord.

UL700b
Basic Open Position `Ukulele Chord Chart for Lefties

A core set of basic ukulele chords that ALL Left Handed Ukulele players should know in the five common keys of C, G, D, A and E. With the possible seventh chords for the same common keys. The chart is organized in common keys and covers basic chords in these keys.

UL114a
Open Position Chords

The basic first chords most players learn. There are the chords in the first one, two, three and four frets of the ukulele and include at least one open string.

UL114b
Basic Movable Form Chords

Sometimes called barre chords, these chords venture beyond the third fret.

UL114c
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. Triads can be used harmonically, as chords and melodically, as single notes. Triads are a great way to get started with creating melodic solos and improvising.

UL114d
4-part Contemporary Chords, a.k.a. Jazz Chords

Core Chords is a series of lessons for building your 4-part chords. These chords commonly called jazz chords, are really just 4-part chords used in a wide range of musical styles. Beyond basic open position chords, basic movable form chords and a core set of 4-part chords. There are just too many chords shapes too memorize. Learning the principles of how chords are constructed and the ukulele fingerboard are the way to go. Then you can create more advanced chords like 9#11, 7#5-9, 13b5, 7+9 on the fly as needed.

UL114e
Free Form Chords

"Free Form" chords are those chords that do not fall into one of the other chord categories. They typically don't show up in chord dictionaries or software programs.

Related Lesson Series
Related Lessons Series for Types of `Ukulele Chords.
Basic Ukulele Chords Charts

Not so much a series - but the basic chords ALL ukulele players should know.

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.

Introduction to Soloing on Ukulele Using Scales and Triads Plus One

Intro to Improvisation using scales and and triads + 1 - lessons for developing the ability to improvise or "take a solo".

Related Songs
Related Songs for Types of `Ukulele Chords.
ANYSONG
Any Song Will Do

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 Types of `Ukulele Chords.
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A Guide to Ukulele Chords for Lefties

Covering basic ukulele chords that ALL uke players MUST know, movable chord forms, rock uke chords, how to transpose chords, learning the ukulele fingerboard and an introduction to 4-part jazz chords and more... FOR LEFTIES - Tunings: C, G, or D Tunings. Low or high string four variations.

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A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords - Volume I

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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...

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Exploring Jazz Chords on Ukulele

Exploring jazz chords using a variety of common chord progressions based on songs from the standard jazz repertoire. Core Chords are the basic set of chords needed to play a wide range of music, in a variety of styles. This set of chords includes basic open position chords, basic movable form chords and the core 4-part "jazz" chords.

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The Advanced Guide to Chord Progressions for Ukulele - Volume I

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Ukulele Chords - C Tuning

This chord book is a great addition to you music book library. Ukulele Chords covers basic open position and basic movable form chords.

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.

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

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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.

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

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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 Types of `Ukulele Chords.
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A Guide to Advanced Chords Series - Chord Building Chart

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Key Signatures - Cycle of Fourths and Fifths

A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatues. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized.

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Basic Ukulele Chord Chart

A chart of the most common ukulele chords in the most common keys of C, G, D, A, and E.

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Movable 7th Chords for Ukulele Chord Chart - C Tuning

A handy dandy single sheet chart showing the each voicing of the four, seventh chords Big Six seventh chord voicings.

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