Getting Started with `Ukulele - Lesson Three

Published: 31 Oct 2013 Updated: 19 Nov 2021Visits: 166Code: ULB01-wk-3

INSTRUMENTS: Basics Main: Ukulele Others: Ukulele
Subjects: Beginner

Getting Started with `Ukulele - Lesson Three


For Lesson Three we'll add and build on the lessons and material from lesson two.

In lesson three you'll learn the following:

NOTE: Although these lessons are presented as a weekly series, you can and should take as long as you like to master each week's lesson as there is a lot of material in each lesson in the series.

The individual lessons in this series are viewable from the Lessons button bar above.

Learning the Fingerboard, Key Key Fret (7)

You might have noticed that the Fingerboard lesson is always the first topic we cover in each week’s lesson – it is that important.

The third of the key frets with no sharp or flat notes - only natural notes is fret (7) is D G B E from strings four to one. If you are coming to ukulele from guitar you might recognize these as the names of the thin four strings of a standard tuned guitar.

Recommended Lessons, Series & Resources

From this weeks fret (7) D G B E you get fret (8) D# G# C F and the fret (6) Db Gb Bb Eb.. We also go Fret (6) from fret (5) in week two’s lesson. Each fret on the ukulele can have more than one name depending on the context the note is being used. For the purpose of names the notes any correct name if fine.

Technique - Three Finger - Three Note Fingering Drills

The Ukulele Gymnastics series contains quite a few lessons for developing your finger strength and independence of the fretting hand. The fretting hand is responsible for playing chords and single notes. The fretting hand and plucking hand are responsible for getting the music out.

Recommended Lessons, Series & Resources

Primary Chords - G Major

The key of G major is on of the common keys that include C, G, D, A, and E. For guitar G is really common and a comfortable singing key for most males.

As we learned in week one’s lessons - the primary chords are the three major chords that are the main chords of the key. The primary chords create the tension and resolution in music that gives a chord progression emotion – a feeling of rest and resolution or consonance and dissonance.

Learn the G, C, D and D7 open position chords. With these four chords you can play countless songs in the key of G major.

Recommended Lessons, Series & Resources

Use The Quarter Note strum and focus on switching between G, C, D, and D7.

Ultimately any chord can go an any chord so practice all the following combinations:

  • G to C
  • G to D
  • G to D7
  • C to D
  • C to D7
  • C to G
  • D to D7
  • D to G
  • D to C
  • D7 to G
  • D7 to C
  • D7 to D

This will cover all possible connections. Practice switching at a SLOW tempo and slowly increase the tempo as you get comfortable with the chords.

Visualize the next chord while you are on the current chord.

With these three chords you can play a lot of songs. Try a few of the ones listed below.

Recommended Lessons, Series & Resources

Core Strumming Pattern One

After the basic Quarter Note strum there are four core strumming patterns that can get you started. These are four of the most used strums in contemporary music.

This is the first of the four core strumming patterns. Theses are some of the most famous strumming patterns used.

Recommended Lessons, Series & Resources

Understanding Intervals

An intervals is simply the distance from one single note to another single note. They have and name and distance.

Recommended Lessons, Series & Resources


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End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

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Learning the Fingerboard, C Tuning - Fret (7)

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Fret (7) is a Key fret. From the key and secondary key frets, adjacent frets can be memorized relative to that fret. Fret (7) is the same as the open strings in G Tuning.

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Learning the Fingerboard, C Tuning - Derived Frets from Key Frets

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Primary Chords - G Major

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Common Chord Progressions for the Key of G

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Common chord progressions for the key of G. Using the primary and seconday chords for the key explore these common chord progressions for the key of G.

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Understanding Diatonic Intervals

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Fingering an Open Postion D Major `Ukulele Chord

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Related Lessons Series for Getting Started with `Ukulele - Lesson Three.

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Common Chord Progressions and Remembering Songs

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Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection

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Harmonic Analysis (HA), also known as the study of chord relationships, is the method used to identify the harmonic role of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression refers to a sequence of chords, with each chord having a root note and belonging to a specific chord type. The function of a chord within a particular scale's tonality is determined by its relationship to that scale.

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Related Books for Getting Started with `Ukulele - Lesson Three.

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A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.

Books

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.

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

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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 ALL available books.

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

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Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Key Signatures — 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.

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Related Assets for Getting Started with `Ukulele - Lesson Three.

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Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G. Shows natural, sharp and flat notes for the ukulele fingerboard. This tuning can be used on a soprano, concert, tenor and baritone ukuleles.

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