UPDATED
Apr 6, 2020
Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele
Melody, chords, licks and riffs all can be related back to scales.
PUBLISHED: Oct 5, 2012 UPDATED: Apr 6, 2020 • VIEWS: 44 • LESSON CODE: UL04j •
Instruments: ukulele Subjects: advanced • intermediate • jazz • scales
This Download is NOT part of your LearningUkulele.com membership level. Sign-up for a Site Access or Upgrade your current access level to download this PDF or your can purchase a copy for download.
Each PDF file is a formatted high resolution file that prints out great. You'll need Adobe Reader or a PDF viewing application to view your PDF file.
Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele
A scale is simply a collection of pitches or notes, not really “this is a Jazz scale", “this is a Blues” or “this is a Rock scale”. It’s how a scale is used that really matters.
Most music starts with a scale. The melody, chords, licks and riffs all can be related back to a particular scale or scales.
After you mastering the six essentials scales below and start to explore more advanced styles of music, especially jazz. There are a few more scales that are needed to cover the broader harmonic palette that a typical jazz tune draws from.
Checkout the Related Video below for Examples in C Tuning, Open Position .
Due to the rich harmonic content of songs and somposition in the jazz repertoire the essential scale are, with their alternate names :
Scale Modes
- Ionian (Major)
- Dorian (Minor)
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian (Dominant)
- Aeolian (Natural Minor)
- Locrian
Traditional Scales
- Harmonic Minor
- Jazz Minor - Descending Melodic Minor, Tonic Minor
- Whole Tone
- Diminished
Alterted Scales
- Mixolydian +4 (Lydian Dominant)
- Mixolydian -2 -6
- Whole Tone
- Diminished
Contemporary Scales
- Blues (Minor Pentatonic)
- Pentatonic (Major Pentatonic)
And a few other altered and add notes scale are common. However after master the above scales is should be no problem deriving addtional scales from these essential scales.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Download the lesson's PDF file for the latest, complete, and most up-to-date version of the lesson. As well as additional information not presented on-line.
Members and Active Students need to sign-in
to download this lesson's PDF for the complete lesson.
The Seven Scale Modes, Open Position Examples
The seven scale modes on ukulele in open postions with TAB and scale diagrams.
Additional Content Available for Premium Site Access Plans Only
This content requires a Premium / Gold Access Plan 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

The Harmonized Major and Minor Scale Charts • Updated: Sep 5, 2011
The "Major Scale" or Ionian scale is a diatonic scale, made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first one octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, (Do), the Do in the parenthesis at the end being the octave of the root.

A Practical Approach to Exploring Scales • Updated: Dec 21, 2019
On ukulele there aren't many positions where you can play a one octave scale from the root to octave. An instrument like the guitar with the additional lower strings five and six allows one to play a one octave scale in multiple positions in the basic 4-fret, 4-finger position. On ukulele there might be one or two depending on the scale and the key - and whether your using a low string four tuning.
This lesson offers a practical approach to practicing your scales on ukulele.

Six Essential Scales for `Ukulele • Updated: Apr 3, 2020
The six essential scales are: Blues Major Pentatonic Mixolydian Dorian Aeolian and Ionian From the six essential scales, you can get through a wide variety of traditional and contemporary music. A scale is simply a collection of pitches or notes, not really a "this is a Jazz scale", "this is a Blues" or "this is a Rock scale". It's how a scale is used that really matters not its name.

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning
Updated: Jun 24, 2006
Learn to create exciting solos in a variety of contemporary styles! Scales are used to improvise, create melodies and riffs. With a broad knowledge of the essential scales that are used in contemporary music and a mastery of the ukulele's fingerboard and fingering principles you're well on your way.

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering
Updated: Dec 22, 2020
Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight reading. Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits not only to technique but also to creativity.
Site Access Plans for LearningUkulele.com
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, related assets, and 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 responding to any questions.
If your anything like me (Curt) and getting Subscription overload with everything on-line wanting money from you once a month — I'm with you. For like-minded individuals, this forever plan is a pay once and your done.
The price for Unlimited Forever access is right around the cost of a few months of private lessons. I can guarantee that is more material on-line to keep you busy for a long, long time. And, you get all of my books for FREE. That along is more than the cost of this plan.
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
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 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. 34 years ago. Man, does time fly.
“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. I really do need to get out more ;-)