Reading Music on `Ukulele Series - Reading in Open Position, Introduction

It is really quite easy on a uke. Starting with natural notes in in the open position you can finally check off the Reading Music to do item.

Learning to read standard music notation is really, really easy.

Reading is the ability to reproduce music from written notation. It includes five phases; note recognition / alternate note locations, rhythm recognition, fingering considerations, communication terminology and interpretation.

There are two levels of reading. One is sight reading, the ability to reading a piece of music on demand with out ever seeing it before. This is what studio and show musicians do all the time. The other is, to be able to read to figure it out and learn learn a piece of music for performance or reference.

Reading standard music notation in open position on the ukulele is a lot easier than on guitar. It only has four strings and a limited range. In open position in C Tuning with a high G for string four, the range is middle C on string three open to C above middle C on string one, fret three.

String Four

There are two common “C” tunings for ukulele. One with a high “G” string 4 and another with a low “G” string 4.

Here is a lessons that compares the two tunings:

• Comparing C Tunings
• Common Tunings

Alternate Note Locations

When using a high "G", C Tuning, string four contains alternate note locations for G A and B in open position. These are alternation locations of the G A and B notes found on strings two and one.