Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords
Even memorizing a few hundred is time-consuming and not practical.
Published: Jan 2, 2005 Updated: Jan 12, 2019 Visits: 1
ukulele Subjects: beginner • intermediate • chords • basics
Showing 4 of 4 sample page(s). Premium members can click on images for larger, readable view.
Sign-In to access this download if you are already a site member or Sign-up for a LearningUkulele.com site membership.
Each PDF file is a formatted high resolution file that prints out great.
You will need Adobe Reader or a PDF viewing application to view your PDF file.
UL40
Too Many Chord Shapes!
Pick up any chord dictionary, and one thought that should go through your mind is. There is now way to memorize all those shapes. It would be better off learning how they came up with all those shapes. Most chord dictionaries are also just like pages transposed to all possible keys.
There is no way one can memorize ALL the possible chord shapes. Even learning a few hundred is time-consuming and not practical. Beyond the basic open position chords and basic movable form chords (major, minor and sevenths) – one needs to learn how to constructed chords when needed.
A chord shape is an only a function of a particular instrument and tuning. Knowing where chords come from as well as the notes of the ukulele fingerboard and you can build any chord you will ever need by moving or displacing a note or notes from a core set of basic chords. It's the notes NOT the shape.
What the Pros Do
Pro players build their chords on the fly when needed for the chords they do not use all the time. They can create ANY required chord from their core set of chords. If it's a one they need a lot it just gets memorized without much additional effort. It becomes part of an arrangement or voice leading situation.
A C chord is C E G, a D7 chord is D F# A C - it's not this shape or that shape. The actual notes of a chord are the smallest bit of information that is needed to memorize a chord.
Yeah, but John, if The Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don’t eat the tourists. Forget the fat lady! You're obsessed with the fat lady! Drive us out of here! Jaguar shark! So tell me - does it really exist? Hey, you know how I'm, like, always trying to save the planet? Here's my chance. - Jeff
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 the premium lesson PDFs for the complete lesson.
Related Lessons
Related Lessons for Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords at this time.
Understanding a `Ukulele Chord Diagram
There're a lot different ways to show chord shapes, diagrams and images on a fretted instrument. This is the basic chord diagram I use in all my lessons and book.
Cool `Ukulele Chords - G7
A non-traditional fingering for the G7 chord using the knowledge that the notes of a G7 chord are G B D F.
Creating Cool `Ukulele Chords
Cool Chords - These are the chords do not typically show up in chord dictionaries or song books. These are the chords players ask, "What is that chord?"
Altered Seventh Chords on `Ukulele
Beyond basic open position chords, basic movable form chords and a core set of 4-part chords. There are just too many chords shapes too memorize. Learning the principles of how chords are constructed and the ukulele fingerboard are the way to go. You can then create more advanced chords like 9#11, 7#5-9, 13b5, 7+9 on the fly as needed from your core set of chords.
Core Chords - The Big Six - Building a Solid Chord Foundation
Core Chords is a series of lessons for building your core, essential 4-part chords. These chords commonly called jazz chords, are really just 4-part chords used in a wide range of musical styles.
Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets
Related Assets for Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords at this time.
Basic Ukulele Chord Chart
A chart of the most common ukulele chords in the most common keys of C, G, D, A, and E.
Related Lesson Books
Related Books for Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords at this time.
Related Lesson Series
Related Lessons Series for Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords at this time.
Common Chord Progressions and Remembering Songs
Learning the similarities between chord progressions and songs helps you remember a lot of songs. There's a lot more in common between songs than one might think.
This series of lessons explores common chord progressions.
Remembering songs is lot like remembering the directions for a road trip. There are the turn-by-turn directions, road maps, signs and landmarks. Turn here, turn there, remember this and remember that landmark. With a songs it's the chords, the harmonic cells and form of the song.
With a few music tools and an understanding of the principles of how chords and chords progressions work. You can start unraveling what's going on in a song. There's a lot more in common between songs than you might think. Each song has it's own direction, signs and landmarks.
Related Songs
Related Songs for Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords at this time.
Related Videos
Related Videos for Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords.
Site Membership Plans
Basic Plan - 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 to access associated lessons, books, songs and their related assets.
Forever Premium Gold Plan - The Forever Premium Gold Plan gives you Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources and related assets. As well as ALL books by Curt Sheller as FREE downloads. Pretty much everything on the site and NEVER worry about a subscription or surprise payment due. And jump the que for my responding to any questions.
NOTE: Each higher membership level includes ALL the benefits of the lower membership levels. The Private Lesson Plans include all the benefits of a Premium Access Plans as long as you remain a student on 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 - 1987 for my first web site
32 years ago.
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.