When writing ukulele chords in standard notation or tablature, they often include a frame to represent the fretboard – where vertical lines represent strings while horizontal ones indicate frets.
If a string has a circle atop it, this indicates that it should be played open without fingered playing (also called muting).
A Major Chord
Doing ukulele covers of your favorite songs is an exciting endeavor and takes some practice, but don’t become frustrated if it takes some time! Don’t feel discouraged if it takes some time before becoming proficient at every tune – practice makes perfect!
To play this chord, place your finger over the fifth fret of every string; this is known as your bar. Strumming only the highest five strings will complete this chord.
The A Major Chord is one of the easiest chords to learn on ukulele, boasting a bright sound that pairs nicely with slower songs. This chord also is amongst your first steps towards mastery of chords with multiple octaves.
When looking at a chord diagram, if you see a thick horizontal line with multiple small circles on top, that represents the nut of an ukulele. Each circle represents open strings – meaning no pressing down of any string should take place to keep your instrument in tune.
B Major Chord
The B major chord can be found in songs across genres. Its use ranges from transitioning from one chord to another or simply to add urgency and excitement to songs.
Four easy chords are all you need to play this lively classic: C, G and Em are easy on the ukulele and work seamlessly with its regular DD UU strumming pattern.
Minor chords use the same formula of root notes and flattened thirds to produce their dark tone, similar to major chords. But unlike major chords, minor chords typically involve all strings muted for playback. Practising these chords and using the appropriate finger positions will help develop muscle memory so it becomes easier for you to pick up new chords as your ukulele skills advance; more practice means faster progress from beginner ukulele chords into advanced ones!
C Major Chord
C is often the first chord learned on a ukulele. It is simple and sounds fantastic; making it an excellent starting point for learning other chords.
Beginners tend to place their index finger on the lower E string at 1st fret while their ring finger on its 2nd fret, creating a triangle shape with both strings. This can make it hard to keep low E quiet; an effective solution may be pivoting the wrist holding your index finger around so as to swivel or pivot it on it’s own axis.
There are over 40 ways to play a C Chord on an Ukulele Fretboard; check out the Chord Variations lesson series for more information.
D Major Chord
D major is one of the more frequently-used ukulele chords. It can be found in popular songs as well as being an excellent beginner ukulele chord; just push your index finger onto the first fret of A and place middle and ring fingers on second and third frets of G and C strings respectively (muting low E string may help avoid too much volume).
There are various variations on this chord. For instance, you could try playing it as a partial barre by placing your index finger at the second fret on both top two strings (being careful not to mutes your open A string!), or use closed D chord voicing by only fretting three inside strings.
E Major Chord
E major is an excellent chord to build up to for beginners who own Ukes with good intonation up the neck. Beginners can use this chord to practice finger bending on smaller frets – something which may prove challenging otherwise.
When writing out ukulele chords on a chart, there will typically be a thick horizontal line which represents the nut at which strings attach to the instrument, followed by vertical lines which represent each fret on each string’s fret board and are often marked with dots or numbers to indicate where fingers should go when playing specific chords. Small circles or an “o” above the nut may also indicate when one string should be played open instead of fingered.
Strumming Dolly Parton’s classic hit “La Bamba” using this chord can be both fun and upbeat! Plus it sounds fantastic on an Uke!
F Major Chord
F major chord is one of the easiest ukulele chords to play, although you may encounter difficulty when trying to achieve its full sound. A common issue when performing this shape is getting the notes ringing cleanly due to improper finger positioning or hitting too shallow an angle against strings.
When playing this chord, make sure that your thumb is placed appropriately behind the neck of the ukulele instead of pressing up toward the body of the instrument. This will keep your fingers positioned correctly and reduce fatigue for improved results.
The F major chord is composed of three notes – its root (F), third (A), and fifth (C). As with all major triads, this one produces an upbeat sounding chord.
G Major Chord
The G Major chord is an exceptionally flexible chord, used in 44% of all tracks analyzed by Hook Theory and found across genres and music styles ranging from rock classics like Girlfriend in a Coma by The Smiths to explosive Drum ‘n Bass and Trap tracks like Flosstradamus – Prison Riot by Flosstradamus; making it suitable for soppy ballads as well as uptempo dancefloor fillers alike.
Standard fingering for the G Major Chord requires that you barre (press down) three strings. Although this may appear daunting at first, once you get used to its shape it should become quite natural to play; just remember your pinkie on the high E string!
G Minor Chord
G minor chords can be heard in songs across a wide variety of genres and subgenres, from surfer-pop numbers like The Beach Boys’ “California Girls” to Cherry Glazerr’s “Had Ten Dollaz.” Their somber sound can evoke feelings of distress or despair.
G minor chords are formed using the same formula as major chords, except with an altered flattened third note lowered a half step – giving them their dark, somber tone. By adding additional chord tones to this basic triad you can create different variants of G minor chords for different musical purposes.
Add another note 7 notes above the root, F, in G minor to create a power chord by placing your index finger on the 2nd fret, middle finger on 3rd fret, and pinky on 4th fret of this G minor triad.
A Minor Chord
Minor ukulele chords lend songs an atmospheric, deep quality when used alone or as part of an arpeggiated progression. Like major chords, they consist of three notes – root note, minor third, and perfect fifth – each producing its own distinct harmonic sound.
To play a minor ukulele chord, simply place your middle finger on the second fret of the lowest G string and leave all other strings open. This chord is very easy to learn and works particularly well when played using D DU strumming pattern.
Make sure that when strumming, no strings are muted as this will produce a muffled sound. Listen carefully as you play each chord, and adjust your fingers if necessary. Ukulele chord charts show where to position your fingers for each chord – numbers indicate which string needs fretted while circles or crosses indicate whether any string notes should be muted.
B Minor Chord
The B minor chord is an extremely versatile chord used in many songs. Beginners may find it challenging to play as it requires you to use your first finger simultaneously to bar both strings five and one at once with one finger – this problem can be solved by “rolling back” your first finger so its knuckle points towards the nut rather than away from it.
Once you understand the B minor triad, adding it to your repertoire should be simple. As this chord shape can also be found in many other ukulele chords, becoming proficient at it is key.