LESSONSeries : Playing by Ear












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Playing Melodies, Licks, Riffs, Motifs, and Single Note Lines by ear is all about getting your ear to recognize intervals and train the fingers to follow your inner ear and play these melodies on demand.
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This training involves the Mind, Hands, and Ear connection. Of the three, the hands need the most work.
Melodies come from four sources:
- Scales
- Intervals
- Arpeggios
- Sequences
All four of these can be addressed for training the ear and hands to work together.
Scales
There are Six (6) Essentials Scales for contemporary music to master and 17 for someone exploring the jazz repertoire. All melodies will be from one of these scales.
Intervals
An interval is the distance between two notes. Scale, intervals, and sequences are all made up of intervals. The most common intervals that are used for creating melodies are seconds and thirds. However, ALL common intervals of every scale need to be explored. This typically means seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, and octaves. These intervals all show up in melodies and improvisation.
Playing by Ear - Melodies…
Here are the six essential scales, in open position, the key of C. Check out this video The Seven Scale Modes, Open Position Examples to see the Ionian, Dorian, Mixolydian, and Aeolian scales played on ukulele in open position.

C Blues (Minor Pentatonic) C Eb F G Bb C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Pentatonic (Major) C D E F G A B C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Dorian (Minor) C D Eb F G A Bb C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Mixolydian C D E F G A Bb C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Aeolian (Natural Minor) C D Eb F G Ab Bb C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Ionian (Major) C D E F G A B C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
What IS a Scale?
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 Six Essential scales ( in no particulate order ):
- Blues (Minor Pentatonic)
- Pentatonic (Major Pentatonic)
- Dorian (Minor)
- Mixolydian (Dominant)
- Aeolian (Natural Minor)
- Ionian (Major)
There are two scales that can be the memorized and other essential scales referenced from these two. These two scales are the Major and Natural Minor scales. The Major and Natural Minor scales are traditional scales and common scales in all forms of contemporary music.
This lesson explores the Major and Natural Minor scales and their derivations.

QuickStart Scale and Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele
his lesson uses the same page format as the QuickStart Scale Fingering series of books.
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele 3 volumes.
C, G, and D tuning.
(QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele
)
The QuickStart Scale Fingerings Vol 1 covers the Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales.
Download the PDF file for the latest, complete, and most up-to-date version. As well as additional information not presented on-line.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
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Updated: 09 Nov 2021
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.

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Updated: 01 Jan 2003
Traditionally, a tetrachord is a series of four tones filling in the interval of a perfect fourth. In modern usage a tetrachord is any four-note segment of a scale or tone row including the augmented fourth (+4). The term tetrachord derives from ancient Greek music theory, it literally means four strings.
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Updated: 01 Jan 2003
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Reading for Ukulele - The Next Steps
Updated: 01 Jan 2003
Reading can be thought of on many different levels. 1) the ability to slowly and painfully work out the written music. 2) the ability to hear the music by looking at the notation. 3) the ability to notate your ideas in standard music notation. 4) the ability to read music as you read a book or an article. 5) the ability to communicate with other musicians in the written language of music. 6) the ability to learn songs that you have never heard.
QuickStart Scale and Arpeggio Fingering Series
Updated: 01 Jan 2003
QuickStart Scale and Arpeggio Fingering Series are a concise, well-organized series of books and lessons ideal for any ukulele, guitar or fretted string player beginning to explore scales and arpeggios. Unlike so many other instruction books on the market, QuickStart Scale and Arpeggio Fingering Series keeps a sharp focus on the six critical scales, their fingerings and their related chords. All material is covered in every key.
Related Songs
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This Old Man
Updated: 03 Jan 2023
This Old Man is an English language children's song, counting and nursery rhyme Presented here in two keys. The key of C Major in the open position and the key of D Major in position II. This is a simple melody that can be used as a reference fingering and position with the Playing by Ear series of lessons.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Updated: 08 Feb 2020
Row, Row, Row Your Boat is an English language nursery rhyme, and a popular childrens song, often sung as a round. Presented here in two keys. The key of C Major in the open position and the key of D Major in position II. This is a simple melody that can be used as a reference fingering and position with the Playing by Ear series of lessons.

London Bridge
Updated: 08 Feb 2020
Presented here in two keys. The key of C Major in the open position and the key of D Major in position II. This is a simple melody that can be used as a reference fingering and position with the Playing by Ear series of lessons. London Bridge Is Falling Down (also known as My Fair Lady or simply London Bridge) is a traditional nursery rhyme and singing game, which is found in different versions all over the world. It deals with the depredations of London Bridge and attempts, realistic or fanciful, to repair it.

Bingo
Updated: 10 Nov 2022
Bingo, also known as Bingo Was His Name-Oand There Was a Farmer Who Had a Dog, is an English language children's song of obscure origin. In most modern forms, the song involves spelling the name of a dog, and with increasing letters replaced with handclaps on each repetition.

Three Blind Mice
Updated: 30 Jul 2014
Three Blind Mice is an English nursery rhyme and musical round. Presented here in two keys. The key of C Major in the open position and the key of D Major in position II. This is a simple melody that can be used as a reference fingering and position with the Playing by Ear series of lessons.
Related Books & Charts
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