Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele

The Diminished Scale scale is a symmetrical scale with a repeating pattern of whole steps and half steps. You only need three Diminished scales to cover all 15 keys.

• C D Eb F Gb A Bbb Cb C'

• Db Eb Fb G Abb Bbb Cbb Db'

• D E F G Ab Bb Cb Db D'

Based on the major scale the Diminished Scale contains the following scale degrees: 1 2 b3 4 b5 6 bb7 b8 8

The theoretically correct spelling of the Diminished scale with the double flats (bb) are shown. However enharmonic note names can be used too make it a little easier to remember. Or simply use the repeating whole step and half step pattern.

The Whole Tone scale is a symmetrical scale with an equal distance been each note or scale degree.

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.

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.

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.

Most music starts with a scale. The melody, chords, licks and riffs all can be related back to a particular scale or scales.

The seven scale modes on ukulele in open postion with TAB and scale diagrams.