Open Position D Major and Its Movable Form (6_D.shtml) | Updated: 04-Sep-2008 - 20:34
C Tuning (gCEA and GCEA)
G Tuning (dGBE and DGBE)
- "G" Tuning
The "G" tuning with a low "D" is the same as the higher four strings of a standard tuned guitar. Ukulele Chords, "G" Tuning coming at a later date.
See the related books below for a good source of "G" tuning chords.
Movable Form Chords

Movable chord forms are chords containing no open strings. These chords are transposable to different keys by moving each note of the chord the same number of frets up and down the neck.
Each movable form is based on a common open position chord. These movable forms allow you to play chords not found in the open position.
Movable form chords allow you to play in any key and transpose chords and chord progressions to any key. From these basic movable form chords more advanced chords can be created.
Open Position Chord

Movable Form Chord
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One Root
Un-like the chords in the previous lessons. This chord contains only one root and is on string three.
This movable form chord, based on the open position chord and can be transposed up and down the fingerboard using the root of the chord and the transposition chart to the right.
The functional range of a chord up the fingerboard of your ukulele depends on the ukulele's size (soprano, concert or tenor), the number of frets to the body (10, 12, 14, etc) and whether you have a cut-away for access to higher frets. Not all chords can be transposed a complete octave (12 frets).
Movable form chords can be used along with open position chords. As you learn more movable form chords you'll have a variety of alternate voicings for any given chord.
Transposing Movable Form Chords
These Ukulele Chord of the Week lessons use the roots of a chord to transpose to different keys. Note what string the root is on or would be on if not present in the chord's voicing.
Chord Tones
5
1
3
5
- 1 - Root or letter name of the chord
- 3 - the third (major third) of the chord
- 5 - the fifth (perfect fifth) of the chord
The chord tones come from the scale degrees of a major scale based on the root of the chord. Generically a major chord's chord tones are the 1, 3, 5 scale degrees of a major scale and in the case of the above D major chord the chord tones are: D F# A.
Knowing the notes or chord tones of the chord can lead to deriving other chords from known chords. This is what we have been doing when creating the additional chords each week.
See the UkuleleLesson on D Major for the variety of fingerings that this voicing can have..
Transposing Chart
This transposition chart can be used for any chord with the root, or letter name of the chord on string 3.
Use the Roots (1) of chords to transpose to different keys.
A larger sized transposition chart is available in my book Ukulele Chords. This is the book that these lessons are based on.
Related Books

Exploring "Jazz" Chords on Ukulele
Exploring "Jazz" Chords takes the core chords from A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele and shows their use over a variety of common chord progressions based on songs from the standard jazz repertoire.

A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele
If your goal is to expand your chord vocabulary, The Advanced Guide to Ukelele Chords Series is your answer. Commonly referred to as "jazz" chords. A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords Volume I provides detailed information on voicing 4-part chords.
Related Ukulele Lessons
See the UkuleleLesson on Chord Spelling.
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The Chord Tones are shown below each additional chord form. This chord tone is based on the scale degree of the chord's corresponding major scale starting on the root of the chord.
Suspended or Supension Chords
A sus chord implies the suspension of the third of a chord. The most common and historical use of this supension has been by raising the third of a chord to the fourth (sus4). In some contemporary music the suspension in done by lowering the third to the second (sus2).
Sus 4
Raise the third (3) of the chord one fret.
Add 2 ADD 9 Chords
Technically the add 2 and add 9 are different chords. Both the 2 and the 9 are the same letters but in different octaves. For all practical purposes on the ukulele you can treat both chords as the same.
Depending on whether you are using a low "G" or high "G" C tuning the added ninth might be a second. Whether you call it an add9 or add2 depends on it the added note is in the same pcate as the root of the chord.
Power Five Chord
Raise the third third a major chord of the chord three frets. Or the third of a minor chords four frets.
Technically not a chord that fits the three notes or more chord definition. A power five chord is really an interval or dyad. A power five chord does not contain a third, So there is no such thing as a Am5.
Add 9
Raise the 1 or root of the chord two frets.
Add 2
Raise the 1 or root of the chord two frets.
If you ukulele does not allow you access to the higher frets for the a particular chords then substitute another movable form chords or an open position chords.
PRACTICE NOTE: To gain to most from these chord of the Week lesson and the practice progressions. Memorize the location of each chord and the name of the chord. If you can not name a chord that you are playing it it locked in to the situation that you are using the chord in and can not be used elsewhere.
I've pulled this trick question on students after they have played a chord. Typically this happens at the beginning of a lesson before we actually get into the lesson. I'll ask tjem to play a chord that they just played. I'll say play me a D chord. Some will say they don't know chord so and so and it is the chord they just played it.
12 Bar Blues in Key of "C" Major
12 Bar Blues in Key of "G" Major
12 Bar Blues in Key of "D" Major
12 Bar Blues in Key of "A" Major
12 Bar Blues in Key of "E" Major
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Ukulele Chord of the Week - Open Position D Major and Its Movable Form (6_D.shtml) | Updated: 2008 Sep 04 - 20:34
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