Learning Ukulele with Curt
Page Updated:
12 October 2025
12 October 2025
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Chord a Day, January 22nd - Eb
Learn a new Ukulele chord every day of the year. The chord for January 22nd is Eb.
Chord a Day, January 22nd - Eb Lesson Video
Harmonic Function for Eb
The Harmonic Function of a chord is simply how a chord is being used in context with other chords in a song or chord progression.
Here are the most common harmonic functions for today's chord.
Eb is the Dominant chord in the keys of Ab, Abm. A chord truly functioning as a Dominant chord is a
V
chord and Full Diatonic .
Eb is the
VII
chord in the F Mixolydian scale/mode. Think Sweet Home Alabama's D C G (original key) chords, Taking Care of Business, 'Sweet Child of Mine, 'Hey Jude. The C is the
VII
(
b7
) in D Mixolydian (D E F# G A B C D`). This is actually a Common Chord Progression and often misidentified as in a major key.
Secondary Dominant
Secondary Dominants are a cornerstone of popular music and jazz in the 20th century.
Eb can a also function as a Secondary Dominant chord in
five (5) major keys: (
V
of
IV
,
V
of
V
,
V
of
VI
,
V
of
II
,
V
of
III
) and
three (3) minor keys: (
V
of
IV
,
V
of
V
,
V
of
VI
). For more information checkout (wikiwand);
Secondary Chord
(wikiwand);
A Secondary Dominant (also applied dominant, artificial dominant, or borrowed dominant) is a major triad or dominant* seventh chord built and set to resolve to a scale degree other than the tonic, with the dominant of the dominant (written as V/V or V of V) being the most frequently encountered. The chord that the secondary dominant is the dominant of is said to be a temporarily tonicized chord. The secondary dominant is normally, though not always, followed by the tonicized chord. Tonicizations that last longer than a phrase are generally regarded as modulations to a new key (or new tonic).
*NOTE: Dominant IS a harmonic function not a chord type.
In a Blues chord progression a seventh chord can function as the
I IV
and/or
V
— a tonic, sub-dominant, or dominant role.
In a Blues progression a Seventh chord can also function as the Tonic
I
chord, a
V of IV
or a Sub-Dominant
IV
. The book, A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele A to Z thoroughly explores the blues.
Harmonic Analysis, Scales, and Modes
All harmonic and scale analysis utilizes Roman Numerals related to the major of the current tonality (key) (
I II II IV V VII VII
, the
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
of the major scale).
Technically, the modes are numbered the same (
I II II IV V VII VII
, the
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
of the major scale) but for comparison they can be numbered relative to major scale of the same root. Example: C Mixolydian mode (
I II II IV V bVII VII
, the
1 2 3 4 5 6 b7
)
Open Position Chords
Today's chord, Eb is an Open Position chord.
Open Position Chords are any chord in the first four frets that include at least one open string.
Learn a New Chord Each Day!!!
This Learn a New Chord Each Day!!! series of lessons was created and published in 2013 (13 yrs ago) and has been added to an expanded ever since. 2020 brought videos to the show. 2023 introduced more Harmonic information.
For a further exploration of this chord and its movable forms visit the
Movable Ukulele Chords Lesson Series page.
Movable Ukulele Chords Lesson Series page.
Eb is a Core Chord
A core chord is a basic chord that other chords can be derived from – creating new chords from your known chords. Your ever expanding set of core chords creates a solid foundation for playing music on ukulele or any instrument capable of playing chords. There are just far too many chord shapes to memorize all the possibilities. Some chords you can simply create on the fly as needed based on known information and how chords work.
Chord Type(s):
Major
Triad
Chord Categories:
Open Position
Understanding a Chord Diagram
Open Position chords typically do not show the location of the root or letter name of the chord, as these chords are the first chords a ukulele player learns. They are almost entirely learned by shape and sound–hopefully, the chord names. Later on, one develops the ability to determine the location of the chord root(s) or letter name within the chord.
Standard Music Notation and TAB
Standard music notation and TAB for C Tuning, Low and High
Gvariations
The same numbering notation used in TAB can be used to describe the open strings and frets to be played when using text-only notation or verbal communications. Using an open position C as an example, we can describe it as 0003, indicating open strings four, three, and two with fret (3) being fingered on string one. An open position,
D7
, indicated as
2020
.
As you can see that are numerous ways to describe a chord, either verbally, Standard Music Notation , TAB , in text, graphically using a Chord Grid , etc.
Chord Spelling
Chord Spelling is simply knowing what the notes, the chord tones of a chord are.
The notes of all chords can be determined from its corresponding major scale based on the root of the chord and numeric formula.
The notes for Eb are:
Eb G Bb
The chord tones are the
1 3 5
scale degrees of the parent Eb Major Scale .
Recommended Fingering(s)
Although additional fingerings are possible for many chords, fingering for any given chord depends on the science of how our fingers work and on the harmonic context the chord is being used in—what was the previous chord, and what's the next chord? The goal is to play all the notes right behind the frets when possible. Remember, longer fingers can reach the lower strings better, and finger two can stack on finger three, and finger three can stack on finger four.Although you can play any chord with any finger as long as it's yours, the recommended fingering for Eb is:
Recommended Fingering
0 3 4 1
Alternate Fingering(s)
Here are a few alternate fingerings for today’s Eb chord depending on the context the chord is being used.
Alternate fingering(s) for Eb:
- 0 2 3 1
Fingering Notation
Fingering notation for a chord using text only, without using a chord grid, is typically done using the finger numbers from left to right, string four to string one (nose to toes). Here is the text notation for January 1st C chord.
A Typical text representation of a chord fingering without using a chord grid.
Note: A Zero (0) fingering notation represents an open string that doesn't require using a finger.
Fingering Chords
Additional alternate fingerings might be possible for selected chords. If there isn't an overwhelming musical reason for one fingering over another, let efficiency be the determining factor. Something as simple as longer fingers that can reach the lower strings four and three will go a long way to being efficient when switching chords.
Factors such as playing notes right behind the fret take less effort than in the middle of the fret. Less effort leads to overall efficiency; lower maintenance for maintaining your technique and efficiency leads to speed. This can help in determining what finger to use. Finger three can overlap finger four, and finger two can overlap finger three a little, allowing them to get closer to the fret.
Remember, the thumb's primary role is to support the fingers–not play notes. Think of the thumb as a Stagehand. He is unseen, doesn't get any lines, but is a critical member of the team. There are musicial situations where you might use your thumb but they mainly rhythmic / strumming reasons.
Chord Construction, Notes and Intervals
All chords can be constructed based on their intervals relative to the major scale of the root or letter name of the chord. The individual names of the notes of the chord can also be determined from the same scale.
The chord tones for Eb are: Eb G Bb
Eb is the 1 3 5 of the Eb
Major Scale based on the root (Eb) of the chord.
Next Steps
After memorizing today'ss Eb chord and when you able able to switch in time with other chords. The next step is adding various
Strums ,
Fingerpicking patterns, and exploring the
Movable Chord versions of today's chord,
to your ukulele skills.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
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 Chord 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.
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