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Every Finger, Every String
The benefits of being able to play melodies, lick, riffs starting on any finger on any string. We've heard the benefit of “Every Key”, and if you are like me that is super challenging. I've for years thought this is what we had to do on guitar and hence ukulele. Then I heard that the world-famous jazz guitarist and teacher Dennis Sandole, has most famous student, was John Coltrane, among many, many others, had all his non guitar students play whatever they were assigned in their lessons to play in every key - yes, ALL 15 keys.
Just what is this Every Key, Every Finger, Every Key?
The concept of Every Key
has been widely discussed, and if you're anything like me, you'll find it extremely challenging. For years, I believed that playing in every key was a necessary requirement for mastering the guitar and even the ukulele.
However, my perspective shifted when I learned about Dennis Sandole , the late and highly esteemed jazz guitarist and instructor. Among his countless notable students, including the legendary John Coltrane, Sandole encouraged all his non-guitarist students, the horns, bassists, piano players and Dennis even had a Jazz Bagpipe student, they all had to practice their assigned pieces in every single key — YES — that's right, ALL 15 Keys .
The guitar students of Dennis Sandole
had to play whatever melodic device was part of their lessons, starting on Every Finger, Every String
. His non-guitar students had to play in ALL Keys
.
As musicians, we have heard in our musical development that we should be able to play in all keys. For instruments with set fingerings and very, if any, alternate fingerings for the same set of notes, this is a good goal. For string instruments, especially fretted string instruments such as the ukulele and guitar, where there ARE alternate locations for just about every note — this is a daunting task. Granted the very top, I mean top ukulele players and guitarists can possibly do this. It is most likely a direct result of exploring the Every Finger, Every String
concept — just as the students of Dennis Sandole and the teachers he directly influenced had to do. Myself included as I studied with Chuck Anderson for many, many years and was required to do this.
During my studies with Chuck we explored scales, intervals, arpeggios, and sequences — starting on Every Finger, Every String. A lot of work, but well worth it.
Where to Start?
The number one place to start that is the secret to this is — Learning the Names of the Notes of the Ukulele Fingerboard
. Without this you will NOT be able to even attempt this. And, the lessons and books, right here on LearningUkulele.com that show the solutions for scales and arpeggios using Every Finger, Every String
.
The Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering
Everything that you need to accomplish the task of Every Finger, Every String
on ukulele
IS
in The Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering books.
BOOK: The Six Secrets Fingering of Guitar and Ukulele • PDF & Hard-Copy Available
Basically, we are training our fingers to follow our ear to get the music out. Just as a singer does. The melodies are in there or on the page, and it needs to come out, in the case of a singer, via their voice. For us ukulele players, it is our fingers that are responsible for getting it out. That is a where are the work is.
So, Lets Get to Work!
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. All fingering on the ukulele can be reduced to 6 principles of motion. Each principle has physical and musical characteristics that you can use to improve your playing.
Examples of the Fingering Principles in Use:
QuickStart Scale & Arpeggios Fingering Series Books
The entire QuickStart series and the format of based on the fingering principles from The Six Secret Fingering of Guitar and Ukulele books.
There are numerous books to date in the QuickStart series. The majority of books are, naturally for Ukulele as this is a ukulele site. There several books got guitar and one for 4 string bass.
Start with these books to explore the benefits of Every Finger, Every String
. There is one solution for starting on each finger on every string. And, a lot more information on in the books including transposition to ALL keys.
- QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning • Six essential scales for Guitar. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales
- QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Lead Guitar - Volume I • Six essential scales for Guitar. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales
- QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Bass Guitar - Blues Scale - Blues Scale
Lessons & Lesson Series
Finger Gymnastics/Drills for developing and exploring the Fingering Principles covered in the The Six Secret Fingering of Guitar and Ukulele
- Slide Gymnastics for Ukulele • Beyond the basic four fret fingering position, it's on to the remaining fingering principles for navigating the fingerboard. The first in the series is the Slide.
- Pass Gymnastics for Ukulele • Beyond the basic four fret fingering position, it's on to the remaining fingering principles for navigating the fingerboard. The first in the series is the Pass.
Navigating the Major Scale
More on Dennis Sandole
Here is more information on Dennis Sandole
. I studied with Chuck Anderson
who studied with Dennis for 8 years. Check was directly involved in bringing Dennis's books, Guitar Lore to publication and the subsequent, non-published Scale Lore books. There is a long line of musician directly effected by Dennis's teachings and expertise.
(from Wikipedia) Dennis Sandole was John Coltrane's mentor from 1946 until the early 1950s, introducing him to music theory beyond chords and scales and exposing him to the music of other cultures. Sandole taught advanced harmonic techniques that were applicable to any instrument, using exotic scales and creating his own. He taught privately until the end of his life. His students included saxophonists James Moody, Benny Golson, Michael Brecker, Rob Brown, and Bobby Zankel; Trumpeter Art Farmer; pianists Matthew Shipp and Sumi Tonooka; guitarists Jim Hall, Joe Diorio, Pat Martino, Joe Federico, Tony DeCaprio, Jon Herington, Bob DeVos, Larry Hoffman and Harry Leahey and other musicians such as Rufus Harley and Frank Gerrard.
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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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Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard
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Learning the names of the notes on the fingerboard is indeed a crucial skill for any musician, especially those who play stringed instruments like the guitar, violin, or cello. Having a solid understanding of the notes on the fingerboard can significantly enhance your playing, improvisation, and overall musicality. Here's a step-by-step approach you can follow to learn the fingerboard:
Playing by Ear
Updated: 10 Jul 2023
Mastering the art of playing music by ear represents the pinnacle of achievement for any aspiring musician. The objective of this lesson series is to guide you towards attaining this goal. Whether it entails mastering melodies or chords, rest assured that it is within your reach.
Exploring Improvisation Using Tetrachords
Updated: 08 Jun 2023
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.
Related Songs
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Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele
Updated: 28 Sep 2021
Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele Player is an organized collection of daily practice and reference material for the contemporary ukulele player. This material can be used to develop the vocabulary and knowledge necessary for single note playing.
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, Triads C Tuning
Updated: 10 Jan 2020
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 Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning
Updated: 01 Apr 2024
Learn to create exciting solos in a variety of contemporary styles! Scales are used to improvise, create melodies and riffs. With 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: 04 Dec 2024
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.
A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.
Books
Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.
Reference Charts
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.
