Learning `Ukulele with Curt
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Traditional and Contemporary Triads
by Curt Sheller, Curt Sheller Publications
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.
In my personal experience and experience with students these are the first real challenging chords after the basic open position chords and movable basic chords.
Core `Ukulele Chords, Traditional and Contemporary Triads
A triad is a three note chord. In traditional music theory, there are four triad chord types: major, minor, diminished and augmented. Contemporary triads include sus, add, and modal.
On the ‘ukulele, triads occur on adjacent and non-adjacent string sets.
In music theory, there are four traditional triad chord types: major, minor, diminished and augmented. And four contemporary triad chord types: sus2, sus4, add2, add9, and Lydian.
Triads can be used harmonically as chords and melodically as single notes. Triads are an excellent way to get started with creating melodic solos and improvising.
For a major scale, I have students memorize this sequence of the triad types in a major scale: major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished. This sequence with knowing the notes of any major scale will get you the chords for that scale. For the C major scale, the chords are C, Dm, Dm, F, G, Am, Bdim. For Db major, the chords are Db, Ebm, Fm, Gb, Ab, Bbm, Cdim. This sequence works for any major scale or mode of a major scale. For D Dorian the chords are: Dm Em F G Am Bdim C. Simply start on the second chord theC major scale chord sequence.
You already know triads if you know the basic open position chords such as C, F, G, Am, Dm, etc... If there's no 7 or 5 in the name, they're most likely triads maybe with one or more of the notes doubled. An example would be typical open position C. C is C E G with the C doubled.
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A Guide to Advanced Chords Series - Chord Building Chart
A handle dandy reference chart for building fifteen (15) basic triads and 4-part chords.
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QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads C Tuning
QuickStart Scale Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads is a concise, well organized book ideal for any ukulele player beginning to explore the ukulele's full potential as a musical instrument. Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads keeps a sharp focus on essential arpeggios and their fingerings. All material is covered in every key.
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning - Major Triad
Scale Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Major Triad is a concise, well organized book ideal for any ukulele player beginning to explore the ukulele's full potential as a musical instrument. Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads keeps a sharp focus on essential arpeggios and their fingerings. All material is covered in every key.
Whether your interest is in Blues, Rock, Jazz, Country or somewhere in between Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele is a valuable addition to your musical library.
Master these fingerings and unlock your potential for improvisation.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
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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.
- Triads
- Major and Minor Triads, Strings 1 2 3
- Dim and Aug Triads, Strings 1 2 3
- Major and Minor Triads, Strings 2 3 4
- Dim and Aug Triads, Strings 2 3 4
- Major and Minor Triads, Strings 1 3 4
- Dim and Aug Triads, Strings 1 2 3 4
- Major and Minor Triads, Strings 1 2 3 4
- add Chords
- sus Chords
- 1 4 1 5 Progression in C Major
- 1 4 1 5 Progression in G Major
- 1 4 1 5 Progression in D Major
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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 lessons material and concepts in the lessons.
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