Chords are groups of notes you can play together to form a song; many ukulele songs utilize chord progressions for this purpose.
Sometimes to play chords effectively, you will require fretting more than one string with each finger – these are known as barre chords. For instance, an A major chord requires your index finger pressing down on the first fret of C string while middle finger pressing down on second fret of G string.
A Major
This major chord has a cheerful sound, and is used in numerous popular songs like Suzanne Vega’s ‘Luka’. Additionally, it serves as an excellent introduction to learning other chords with similar shapes like D and G chords.
To play this chord, use your index finger to barra for both E and A strings at their first frets, with another finger placed across both strings at their second frets to partially barre. Alternatively, create a partial bar by placing one finger between both strings at their second frets.
B Major
Once you have the C, G and F major chords under your fingers, it is time to move onto B major – an easy chord to play that uses what is called a barre chord.
A barre chord occurs when one finger holds down two or more strings at once. At first, this may prove challenging but with practice it will become second nature – just keep at it until it doesn’t pinch and squeeze!
C Major
C Major is typically one of the first chords musicians learn, as all major scales do not require any sharps or flats and contain natural notes without accidentals (no black keys).
C major triad is composed of the notes C, E and G; its main distinction from A minor lies in their respective interval disposition.
There are multiple methods to create this chord on the ukulele, such as: partial barre wherein your index finger touches two strings at 2nd fret, full barre which involves both middle and ring fingers on one top string at 3rd fret and fingerstyle techniques with index fingers only on strings 1 through 2, either partial barre or full barre
D Major
D major is an easy chord to play and adds an inviting sound to your ukulele arsenal. Additionally, this chord allows you to practice fingering techniques on the fretboard.
As you study major chords, it’s essential to keep in mind that each has an equivalent minor chord located half a step lower in its key signature – something which can greatly alter how each sounds.
Finger this chord by placing your index finger on the second fret of the A string, and your middle finger on the second fret of the C string.
E Major
Beginners to ukulele often find E Major to be one of the first challenges on their path, since this major chord moves across five frets.
There is a simple method for playing this chord successfully: instead of barring all three strings at fret 4 with your first finger, just fret the A string’s second fret with that finger instead. This allows the chord to sound more like an open E major chord.
F Major
F Major is one of the easiest chords to learn on a baritone ukulele and features an appealing sound, making it appealing to many players.
This guitar features a highly useful moveable F shape at the first fret that makes playing cross-neck more convenient and accommodating to other shapes or fingering techniques.
Note the open circles indicate an open string; do not place fingers on these strings. Also, this chord only has three notes but by adding A and E strings to it you will create an orchestral soundscape.
G Major
G major chords can add an exciting flair to songwriting. Based on jazz drop 2 chords, these versatile chords make playing G major chords easy even for beginners.
This shape can be more difficult to master on a soprano ukulele, but with practice it becomes simpler. It uses what is known as a barre chord; to play this chord at the 10th fret’s E and A strings using your index finger as you barre them with your index finger.
A Minor
A chord consisting of B, D and F sharp (F#), this ukulele chord adds an unnerved sound to an otherwise upbeat instrument. Additionally, you can practice techniques like string muting and syncopated strumming while developing these techniques further.
Chords are comprised of three-note groups called triads, and their composition determines whether they sound major or minor. An easy way to play an ukulele minor chord is by barring its strings at the 7th fret with your index finger before fretting its eighth and ninth frets with middle and ring fingers respectively.