Learning guitar chords ukulele may initially seem complex. However, if you are already used to reading chord charts on standard guitars then learning ukulele should not present much difficulty.
Ukulele chord charts resemble guitar ones in terms of illustration; strings run vertically while frets run horizontally. Furthermore, some charts may also display dots with numbers to represent which fingers should be used: an “1” would represent your index finger while “2” represents middle finger use etc.
Major
Understanding the major scale is integral when playing ukulele chords. While a single chord shape may only span a few frets, that same shape can be used to produce an entire octave of notes on every string.
If you’re unfamiliar with what a whole step or half step means, take a look at a piano keyboard – each white key with black keys in between is considered one semitone.
Notably, even though ukulele chords appear similar to guitar D chords, they are actually G chords. To make them, simply add the flatted seventh (F) fret 3 of string 2. Over time, your fingers may begin “remembering” these shapes so you can play them without looking at a diagram.
Minor
One of the greatest aspects of playing the ukulele is its adaptability compared to playing guitar; most chords that don’t use fifth or sixth strings will translate directly.
Be sure to review your ukulele chord chart, and ensure that any open strings aren’t being muted by your fingertips – this is a common error made by novice players, which can affect the tone of a chord.
Minor ukulele chords differ in that their third note has its frequency flattened by one whole step to produce a darker sound – giving minor chords their somber tone.
Blues
Ukulele chords use the same finger placements as guitar chords, with four strings instead of six and an open string (an “O”). No fretting fingers needed!
The blues scale stands out among its peers by not fitting neatly into any diatonic, chromatic or symmetric patterns; rather it inhabits its own category – making for some interesting soloing options with major and minor chords alike.
Blues chords rely on what’s known as a barre chord, which requires holding down two or more strings simultaneously with one finger. One such bar chord is B major chord which contains E, G sharp (F#), and A notes – giving your ukulele some real edge!
Jazz
Even though the ukulele fretboard is smaller and only has four strings, mastering chord shapes on this instrument can still be challenging. This is particularly true when switching between chord types; while C or C7 chords require just one finger to achieve, B minor requires either three fingers or even a barre depending on where you come from.
Chord charts are designed to assist in learning the finger placement for each string on an ukulele, from G to C to E and A. Additionally, there are dots which indicate which fingers should be used when fretting each string; 1 indicates your index finger while 2 or 3 indicate middle and ring fingers respectively.
Rock
Like guitar chord shapes, ukulele chord shapes can be applied across many genres of music. While certain chords don’t translate well to guitar, most can be learned simply by moving them around on the fretboard – for instance a power chord can be played both ways using just different chord forms but maintaining its notes.
Some ukulele chord charts include numbers in each dot that indicate which fingers should be used for fretting; “1” refers to index finger, “2” is middle finger and “3” should be your ring finger.
Most ukulele chords require three fingers to play effectively; however, some chords can also be performed using only two or one. When playing chords on your ukulele, always ensure that one string doesn’t accidentally mute by accidentally muzzling its sounding string.