Whoo!!!, Too Many Chord Shapes to Memorize!!!
Where is Today's Chord?
"Whoo!!!, Too Many Chord Shapes to Memorize!!!"
Congrats on making it through three months of A Chord A Day
. You should know a lot about plenty of chords at this time.
Hopefully, that is something you might have realized three months into the Chord a Day saga, that – After a core set of Basic Open Position Chords
, a few Movable Form Chords
, and Jazz
Chords
— it's learning how chords are created and how to derive new chords from your core set of ever-expanding existing chords.
Next Steps … on to Your 4-part Jazz
Chords
Exploring Jazz Chords on Ukulele using a variety of common chord progressions based on songs from the standard jazz repertoire. Core Chords are the basic set of chords needed to play a wide range of music, in a variety of styles. This set of chords includes basic open position chords, basic movable form chords and the core 4-part "jazz" chords. These "Jazz" chords are advanced chords that find their way into a wide range of music.
Series History
It never was the intention to do a whole year's worth of chords. Started in 2013, I'm surprised it went three months (January, February, and March). And, in 2020 videos for each chord for 91 videos were added. 2023 brought the addition of the common harmonic functions for each chord. The three months of the series covered the Basic Open Position Chords
, Movable Form Chords
, a few Free Form Chords
, and a start of 4-part Jazz
Chords
in March. Quite a series for reviewing your chords and learning a lot of new chords.
Although I did miss one really popular chord that should have be included. It's a basic 4-part chord that I was shocked I had missed. Here is a hint: '5500'. I did add it as The Forgotten Chord below.
It's time to get out and start using all these new chords and really learn how they are used and what you can do with them.
See You Next Year!!! • 2025
So what's next? Here are a series of lessons to get you going towards that ultimate goal of being to play any chord you ever need. Or, at least say that you can create any chord you ever need.
- Basic Open Position Chords - These are the core set of chords that the January covered. These are the basic chords that every ukulele player should know.
- Movable Chords - movable form of the open position chords
Jazz
Chords - these chords all start with the Big Six core chords.Free Form
Chords – this is where you know how chords are created, constructed and used and don't fit into one of the above categories. With a low G, C tuning, these chords are a kin to closed voicing chords, where all the notes are within one octave - just like most of the chords with a high G, C tuning.
The Forgotten Chord
Fmaj7 — The Forgotten Chord. Fmaj7 should have been in January or February somewhere. I actually play this chord a lot, and it's a big part of my and most players chord vocabulary.
This is a great voicing as a substitute for this Fmaj7 voicing below, which tends to be a bit dissonant when used out of a voice leading harmonic context.
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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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Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords
Pick up any chord dictionary, and one thought that should go through your mind is - TOO MANY CHORDS 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.
Learning the `Ukulele Fingerboard (Finally!!!)
Most players struggle with learning the names of the notes of the ukulele fingerboard. There doesn't seem to a pattern and notes repeat. There is an easy way and "it's easier that you think." Most players know the names of the open strings for their favorite tuning.
Movable `Ukulele Chords
A series of weekly ukulele lessons originally presented throughout 2007 on movable ukulele chords as the "Ukulele Chord of The Week Series". Based on the Ukulele Chords book by Curt Sheller (me). It takes the open position chords and shows the movable form and the variations.
Reading Ukulele TAB - Alternate Notation
"TAB" or "Tablature", is an alternate form of musical notation, which tells players where to place their fingers on a particular instrument rather than which pitches to play. TAB is sort of a secret language between guitar players and ukulele players. Although a shortcut to getting started it actually serves to alienate one from the rest of the music world.
The Learning Process - The Mind, Hands and Ears
For music and learning an instrument like the ukulele or guitar, it's all about the making the connection between your Mind, your Hands, and your Ear. When listening to music, we enjoy it at the tempo the composer or artist intended, in real time. Only the ear is involved in listening. This is passive listening and you're simply enjoying the music. This is what we do every day and it's what draws us to want to learn a musical instrument.
The Harmonized Major and Minor Scale Charts
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.
Transposing Individual `Ukulele Chords
"Transposition" is the process of moving a note, chord, scale or any musical passage from one key to another key. All music can be transposed, from a single note to a complex musical score. This lesson deals with transposing chords on ukulele and transposing chords.
Related Lesson Series
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Related Books & Charts
Related Books for Whoo!!!, Too Many Chord Shapes to Memorize!!!
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A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords - Volume I
Updated: 13 Feb 2020
Beyond learning basic Ukulele chords, most players struggle with advanced chords. Commonly called "jazz" chords, these more sophisticated voicings find a wide use in all forms of music. A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele - presents a highly organized and efficient approach to the mysterious subject of advanced chords. Chord dictionaries are not the answer.
A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele A to Z
Updated: 22 May 2024
The Blues are at the heart of all American music. It has influenced Country, Rock, Folk, Jazz, Bluegrass and just about every form of American music we listen to today. 26 blues progression in C and G tuning, progressing from basic to advanced jazz progression, with chord grids and substitutions explained.
A Guide to Ukulele Chords for Lefties
Updated: 10 Jan 2020
Covering basic ukulele chords that ALL uke players MUST know, movable chord forms, rock uke chords, how to transpose chords, learning the ukulele fingerboard and an introduction to 4-part jazz chords and more... FOR LEFTIES - Tunings: C, G, or D Tunings. Low or high string four variations.
Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - C Tuning
Updated: 18 Jan 2023
Finally, learn the names of the notes of the fingerboard. Learning the notes of your instrument allows you the flexibility of not having to remember so many shapes. There are simply way too many chords, scale and notes patterns, and shapes to remember. It all comes down the notes.
A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.
Books
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
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