E - Open Position and Movable Forms
Published: Dec 28, 2010 Updated: Mar 18, 2011
ukulele | Subjects: chords • beginner • intermediate • core
Open position E and its movable form and variations.
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Open Position Chord
Movable Form Chord
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Two Roots?
In the open position and movable forms of this chord there are two possible locations for the root or letter of the chord.
String three and string two both contain the root of the chord and can used for transposition purposes. Here I've elected to use the root on string three for no reason other than it' i's the string closet to me in the playing position. It is also the lowest root note in the chord if using a low "G" tuning.
The two roots for this chord are actually the same exact note.
Movable Chord Forms
Movable chord forms are chords containing no open strings. These chords are transposable to different keys by moving the chord form the same number of frets up and down the neck.
Each movable form is based on a common open position chord. These movable forms allow you to play chords not found in the open position.
Movable form chords allow you to play in any key and transpose chords, progressions and songs to any key. From basic movable form chords more advanced chords can be created.
The functional range of a movable form chord up the fingerboard of your ukulele depends on the ukulele's size (soprano, concert or tenor), the number of frets to the body (10, 12, 14, etc) and whether you have a cut-away for access to higher frets. Not all chords can be transposed a complete octave (12 frets).
Movable form chords can be used along with open position chords. As you learn more movable form chords you'll have a variety of alternate voicings for any given chord.
Movable form chords can be transposed up and down the fingerboard using the root of the chord and a transposition chart.
Transposing Movable Form Chords
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These lessons use the root of a chord to transpose to different keys.
Determine what string the root is on or would be on if not present in the chord's voicing.
Chord Transposition Chart
This transposition chart can be used for any chord where the root, or letter name of the chord is on string E.
The root is on string 2, the E string.
Use the Root or implied root of the chord to transpose to different keys.
A larger sized transposition chart is available in my book Ukulele Chords. This
is the book these chord lessons are based on.
Chord Tones - E G# B
The chord tones of an E major chord are the 1st, 3rd and 5th scale degrees of the E Major Scale ( E F# G# A B C D# E' ) or E G# B
- 1 - the Root or letter name of E is E
- 3 - the third of E is G#
- 5 - the fifth of E is B
Chord Fingering
Chord fingering is dependent on several factors. The chord your on, the previous chord, the next chord, your hand and fingers. All chord fingerings shown are recommended fingerings and not mandatory. Most chords have alternate fingerings dependent on the context. The same chord might even be fingered one way in one part of a song or progression and an alternate fingering in another part.
Power Five Chord
A power 5 chord is not practical with his voicing.
add2/add9 Chords
Technically the add 2 and add 9 are different chords. Both the 2 and the 9 are the same letters but in different octaves. For all practical purposes, you can treat both the add2 and add9 chords as the same. Depending on whether you are using a low "G" or high "G", C tuning the added ninth might be a second. Whether you call it an add9 or add2 depends on whether the added note is in the same octave as the root of the chord.
Chord Progressions
12 Bar Blues in Key of "A" Major
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12 Bar Blues in Key of "E" Major
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If you ukulele does not allow access to the higher frets for a particular chord, then substitute another movable form chord or an open position chord.
PRACTICE NOTE: To gain the most from these chord lessons and the practice progressions, memorize the location of each chord and the name of the chord.
I've pulled this trick question on a few of my private students after they have played a chord in a lesson. Typically this happens at the beginning of a lesson before we actually get into the lesson. I'll ask them to play a chord that I just saw them play. I'll say; "Play a D chord." Some will say they don't know chord so and so and yet it's a chord they just played it. Don't let a chord get lost in a particular song or progression. Know it name and it belongs to you.
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