Riptide by Vance Joy is an energetic song ideal for learning the ukulele. Using four chords and an easy strumming pattern, its four chords will provide the basis of this upbeat tune.
Counting one, two, three and four will help keep the rhythm when changing chords. Practice until you can do it quickly while keeping a steady beat.
Am
Triad chords are among the simplest form of musical chords, featuring only three notes to form its structure. Used across all styles of music genres and used as building blocks of chords themselves, triads can be divided into four different kinds – major, minor, diminished and augmented triads are available.
Musical scales are essential in understanding how triads function. When one note is played, its harmonics create new notes; this process continues as more harmonics are added – increasing chord complexity as you go along.
An extended triad chord can be created by adding a perfect fifth, which is seven frets or three and a half tones higher than its root note. This creates a major chord, consisting of 3 unique notes – any time any are doubled over, it no longer belongs to this category of chords.
G
Vance Joy, an Australian singer-songwriter, made headlines after his hit song Riptide won Triple J Hottest 100 in 2013. The track boasts an infectious melody and lively drum beat that gives it an upbeat, catchy edge that resonates across Australia.
This song’s main section uses Am, G and C chords while its bridge utilizes an F chord – adding this F chord will allow you to practice 16th note strumming techniques, making your songs sound even more engaging!
To play an F chord, begin by placing your index finger on the B string first fret and moving your second and third fingers up one string each until they form an F shape. When this has become second nature to you, move both second and third fingers up a string each for proper shape. Once this has become second nature to you, try switching between it and other open chords using quarter-note strums; once this becomes routine for you, start switching chords about 80 percent of the time until your strumming patterns increase in complexity.
C
A chord consists of three distinct notes and can be organized in any of four forms: major, minor, diminished and augmented. Each type has a distinctive sound which can change both the way a song sounds and how it’s played.
One of the most prevalent applications of chords in songwriting is in bridge sections to break up repetitive verses and choruses; Vance Joy’s global hit Riptide features such an effect.
Fmaj7 provides an opportunity for change while moving things along in an engaging and exciting fashion.
C and G bridge chords are both triads (made up of three notes). Like their minor counterparts, these have the same structure but with a more subdued sound; furthermore they are much simpler to play than Fmaj7 because additional fingers only need be placed on the fretboard to complete these chords.
F
Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy made headlines worldwide in 2013 with his catchy folk pop track Riptide, making an international splash. Riptide is one of the easiest guitar songs to learn because it uses just four chords throughout its entirety (including bridge). F chord only appears once; otherwise A minor, G major and C major chords may be used instead.
Once you have learned to play these Riptide chords, try switching between them rhythmically with a quarter-note strum to keep a beat while playing them and make learning other songs in that key easier. This will also allow for greater access to songbooks!
Once you feel confident strumming the Riptide chords, practice them in a jam session with other musicians. Participating will not only help accelerate your improvement faster but it’s also much more fun! JamBase provides information about open mics and jam sessions in your area.