Evaluating Your Ukulele Music Knowledge...

Taking a survey of your ukulele music knowledge is a start to creating a well rounded plan for development and furthering your ukulele enjoyment.

Evaluating Your Ukulele Music Knowledge... (studyPlan.shtml) | Updated: 04-Sep-2008 - 20:34

Take the ukulele skills survey click to show or hide section

Taking a survey of your ukulele music knowledge is a start to creating a well rounded plan for development and furthering your ukulele enjoyment.

I've been asked many times to put together a plan of attack for getting beyond the basics. These lesson pages are intended to provide material for developing your ukulele skills and expanding your music knowledge.

Music..., regardless of you instrument, involves these elements: Melody, Harmony and Rhythm, and putting it all together, Arrangement

Most players have a few holes or gaps in the music knowledge or technical skills, some more than others. Being able to identify those are a first step to improving or updating your skills on your instrument of choice.

James Hill uses the analogy of, loose change lying around.

I like to use the analogy of a recipe. You want to bake a cake you need a specific list of ingredients to have the cake turn out and taste good. If you are missing of few ingredients or don't know how to use them, you run to the store and get what you need and learn how to use them. A song is a recipe, it tells you what notes, chords, rhythms, etc. you need to create a performance.

WARNING: This material has been developed over the past 30 years of studio teaching and performing. And It WORKS!!!.

Reformed Guitar Players ;-) click to show or hide section

Coming to the Ukulele from Guitar?

There is a whole web site dedicated to guitar players: www.UkuleleForGuitarPlayers.com and a book.

Sample page from: Ukulele for Guitar Players

Ukulele for Guitar Players is a guide to transferring the accumulated experience and knowledge gained as a guitar played to the ukulele. Or exploring the possibilities that the ukulele offer. Covers chords, scale and an introduction to reading standard music notation on ukulele. (link)

Ukulele for Guitar Players

A guide to transferring the accumulated experience and knowledge gained as a guitar played to the ukulele.

$17.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Chords & Chord Progressions click to show or hide section

The harmonic structure of a song or progression.

Chord - A group of three or more different notes sounded together or almost together. These three note chords are called triads. Two notes are called an interval or dyad. Chords with four notes are called a tetra-chord or 4-part chord, six a hexachord, etc. Every chord can be given a specific name, based on the notes that constitute the chord and the distances, or intervals, between them and its harmonic function within a tonality or chord progression.

Chord Progression A series of chords played in order.

WidipediA link

Do you know a basic set of open position chords in your tuning and common keys?

Sample page from: A Guide to Ukulele Chords

A Guide to Ukulele Chords (link) Takes the mystery out playing and understanding chords on the ukulele, whether it is a standard, concert, tenor or baritone ukulele in “C”, “D” or “G” tuning, low or high string four.

A Guide to Ukulele Chords

Covering basic ukulele chords that ALL uke players MUST know, movable chord forms, rock uke chords, how to transpose chords, learning the ukulele fingerboard and an introduction to 4-part “jazz” chords and more...

$14.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

FREE Baritone Chord Chart

Here is a FREE chart of basic Baritone chords.

Additional FREE ukulele charts can be found on the Charts page.

Basic Open Position Chords

In the common "C" tuning (gCEA or GCEA) this would be some of the same chords a beginning guitar student would learn. E Em E7 A Am A7 D Dm D7 C C7 G G7 B7. Learning these chords will allow you to play simple songs in the common keys of C G D A and E.

Some very simple songs only have two chords. And in the common keys listed above the chords would be:

  • Key of C - C and G or G7
  • Key of G - G and D or D7
  • Key of D - D and A or A7
  • Key of A - A and E or E7
  • Key of E - E and B or B7

Theory Note: These are commonly called a I V progression. The I and V refer to the chords's harmonic function within a tonal center. The book "Edly's Music Theory for Practical People By Ed Roseman" is one of the best books on the subject of music theory. It is the book that I reccommend to students or anyone wanting to learn a little theory. Don't let the cartoon like cover throw you off, Its a great book!!!

Edly's Music Theory for Practical People - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com

Edly's Music Theory for Practical People By Ed Roseman, author; Peter Reynolds, illustrator. This edition: Second Edition. This book proves that music theory need not be dreary. Soft Cover Book. Size 8.5 x 11. 160 pages. Published by Musical Edventures. (ED02)
See more info...

Can you play movable form chords?

A movable chord is any chord without open strings.

Sample page from: A Guide to Ukulele Chords

A Guide to Ukulele Chords (link) Takes the mystery out playing and understanding chords on the ukulele, whether it is a standard, concert, tenor or baritone ukulele in “C”, “D” or “G” tuning, low or high string four.

A Guide to Ukulele Chords

Covering basic ukulele chords that ALL uke players MUST know, movable chord forms, rock uke chords, how to transpose chords, learning the ukulele fingerboard and an introduction to 4-part “jazz” chords and more...

$14.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Can you play 4-part contemporary chords?

These chords are sometimes called "jazz" chords. But are just advanced chords that find their way into a wide range of music styles.

A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele

Commonly referred to as "jazz" chords. A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords Volume I provides detailed information on voicing 4-part chords.

$19.95 - Buy Now

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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.

$19.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

The Advanced Guide to Chord Progressions for Ukulele - Volume I

Volume I features the priniciples of voice leading applied to chord progressions. These priniciples are explained using chords from volume I of The Advanced Guide to Ukulele Chords. Chapters with common major and minor full diatonic, partial diatonic and chromatic chord progressions are also included to further explore voice leading.

$19.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Lesson: Building A Solid Jazz Chord Foundation

Sample page from: Advanced Guide to Ukulele Chords

A complete system for building any 4-part chord can be found in my book
Advanced Guite to Guitar Chords (link)

Can you play a common 12 bar blues chord progression from memory?

The blues progression is one of the most common chord progression used. By learning this progression you will be learning quite a few songs.

A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele A to Z

The volume covers the key of C major and C minor, including detailed accompanying text explaining the principles behind each progression and the chord substitutions. In “C” and “G” tuning

$17.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Common keys for Folk, Rock, Country and Pop are: C G D A and E. And their relative minor keys.

Common keys for Standards and Jazz are: C F Bb Eb Ab Db and G. And their relative minor keys.

Blues Lesson 1: Blues Progressions for Ukulele

Blues Lesson 2: Blues Progressions for Ukulele

Sample page from: A Guide To Blues Chord Progressions For Ukulele A to Z

26 different blues chord progressions in the key of C and Cm for ukulele in "C" tuning (low or high) and "G" tuning (link)

Scales & Improvisation click to show or hide section

The source material for creating music.

Improvisation is the ability to spontaneously create melodies over a predetermined chord progression. Making it up as you go. It involves scales, alternate fingerings, arpeggios, sequences, intervalic development, embellishments, superimposition, rhythm, motifs, development techniques and idiomatic considerations. Jazz and Bluegrass are well know for using Improvisation.

WidipediA link

Do your know the essential scales used for the type of music your are interested in and play them in several positions?

There are six essential scales that would be considered a basic requirement for blues, rock, country and folk. an seventeen for jazz.

The six essential scales are: Blues or Minor Pentatonic, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian. Aeolian and Ionian. There scales are also known as Minor Pentatonic, Major Pentatonic, Minor, Dominant, Natural Minor and Major.

The order of learning (mastering) your scales depends on the type of music you are most interested in.

Most people find the Blues and Pentatonic scales, being only five note scales relatively easy to learn and use.

Sample page from: QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele.

6 essential scales for guitar improvisation (link). Available in "C", ""G" and "D" Tuning.

Reference Material

Scales
  • QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele 3 volumes."C", "G" and "D" tuning. (link)

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, Key of “C” Tuning

Six essential scales for C tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys with fingerings.

$19.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Arpeggios
  • QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele 3 volumes."C", "G" and "D" tuning. (link)

QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads “C” Tuning

Major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios fingerings in all keys for C tuned ukuleles.

$19.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Online Lessons

The Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

Learn the principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard.

$19.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Reading Music click to show or hide section

Managing those pesky little black dots…

Can you read music?

Reading is the ability to reproduce music from written notation. It includes five phases: note recognition, alternate note locations, rhythm recognition, fingering considerations, communication terminology and interpretations.

WidipediA link

Here is what Chuck Anderson has to say regarding Reading vs. Sight Reading

Reading vs. Sight Reading

I receive many questions on sight reading. The implication is that it is a special skill with tricks. The reality is that sight reading is nothing but a high level of reading. Guitar players are infamous for their lack of reading skills. Starting with sight reading is akin to wanting to go for your Doctorate before your Bachelor's degree.

Reading encompasses the following skills:

1) Note Recognition and Execution 2) Note Location 3) Fingering Solutions 4) Rhythm Recognition and Execution 5) Ability to follow the "roadmap" - a series of written instructions that moves you from one section of a piece to another and indicates something of the interpretation of the piece.

Putting these together is reading. Putting these together without preparation, just as you would read a book or magazine, that's sight reading!

Chuck Anderson - www.ChuckAndersonGuitar.com

Learning to read and write the language of music is well worth the time and effort it takes. Reading music opens you to a wealth of published music in standard music notation.

Here is a series of UkuleleLessons on Reading Music on the ukulele.

Do you know the names of the notes of the Ukulele fingerboard?

The better you know the names of the notes of the neck the less you have to rely on TAB or chord grids. There are just too many shapes to memorize.

Reading is Note and Rhythm Recognition, Fingerboard Note Location (name, string and fret) and Fingering Choices based on economy of motion or musical reasons.

Ukulele - Reading Music Series

Learn to read in the first-open position. It is a lot easier thatn you might think with this step-by-step east to use approach.

$15.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Tipbook - Music on Paper - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com Tipbook - Music on Paper Basic Theory. Book (not sheet music). Size 4.2x8.25 inches. 134 pages. Published by The Tipbook Company. (330974)
See more info...
Pocket Manual Guides: How To Read Music - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com Pocket Manual Guides: How To Read Music By Len Vogler. Book. Published by Music Sales. (AM948960)
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The Basic Guide To How To Read Music - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com The Basic Guide To How To Read Music By Helen Cooper. Book. Published by Music Sales. (AM34893)
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The Musician's Guide to Reading & Writing Music - Revised 2nd Ed. - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com The Musician's Guide to Reading & Writing Music - Revised 2nd Ed. Book (not sheet music). Size 4.7x8 inches. 110 pages. Published by Backbeat Books. (330474)
See more info...

Can your count Rhythms and play music in time?

Rhythm is the variation of the duration of sounds or other events over time. When governed by rule, it is called meter. It is inherent in any time-dependent medium, but it is most associated with music, dance, and the majority of poetry. All musicians, instrumentalists and vocalists, work with rhythm...

WidipediA link

Strums a.k.a. Rhythm click to show or hide section

A Strum is the execution of a specific rhythmic pattern. These patterns are based on particular styles of music.

What is a strum?

A Strum is the execution of a specific rhythmic pattern. These patterns are based on particular styles of music.

Here is a series of UkuleleLessons on Strums and Rhythmic Patterns for the ukulele.

A Guide to Ukulele Strums

Learn a variety of strums and rhythmic patterns in wide range of musical styles.

AVAILABLE NOW!!! - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Look inside this title
Basic Guitar Strumming and Fingerpicking - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com
Basic Guitar Strumming and Fingerpicking By Nori Kelley. For Guitar (Flatpicking & Fingerpicking). Methods. Value Line. All Styles. Level: Beginning. Book/CD Set. Size 8.75x11.75. 40 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (98098BCD)
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Basic Jazz Rhythm Guitar: Comping in the Freddie Green Style - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com Basic Jazz Rhythm Guitar: Comping in the Freddie Green Style By Corey Christiansen. For Guitar (All). Rhythm/backup. In the Pocket. Jazz. Level: Intermediate. DVD+Chart. Size 8.75x11.75. 3 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (20365DP)
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Look inside this title
Ten Favorite Hawaiian Songs - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com
Ten Favorite Hawaiian Songs By Hideo M. Kimura. For Ukulele (Soprano). Solos. Hawaiian. Level: Beginning. Book. Size 8.5x11. 64 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (98233)
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Look inside this title
Famous Solos & Duets for the Ukulele - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com
Famous Solos & Duets for the Ukulele Edited & arranged by John King. For Ukulele (Soprano). Solos. Hawaiian. Level: Beginning-Intermediate. Book/CD Set. Size 8.75x11.75. 48 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (20250BCD)
See more info...
Look inside this title
Sing and Strum: 7 Hawaiian Favorites for Ukulele - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com
Sing and Strum: 7 Hawaiian Favorites for Ukulele By Hideo M. Kimura. For Ukulele (Soprano). Solos. Hawaiian. Level: Beginning. Book. Size 8.5x11. 48 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (98234)
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Beginning Chords and Strumming - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com Beginning Chords and Strumming Star Licks Beginning Video (Foundation-building instructional video). Video cassette. Size 4.7x8 inches. Published by Star Licks. (320044)
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Technique click to show or hide section

How are your “Chops”?

Technique is the physical control and coordination need to play an insrument or sing. It involves position, effeciency of motion and effort, as well as exercises to develop specfic skills.

WidipediA link

My personal philosophy on technique is... “Technique is like money, you would like to have more than you will ever need to be comfortable”. You don't want go for something musically and fall short with your technique. Even if your goal is NOT to be the next Pat Martino Chuck Anderson Jake Shimabukuro or James Hill it still would be nice to have the chops they have. Most great playing technique is based on efficient and economical motion. Doing as little as possible for best results. Getting the most bang for your buck.

How are your "Chops"?

Do you fell your technique is holding you back? You go for something musically and miss.

Learning what a virtuoso instrumentalist knows.

By using what a virtuoso musician has learned regarding technique you to can develop the technique or "chops" for playing as well.

Technique is like money - you want to have more than you are ever going to need to be comfortable.

Look inside this title
Classic Guitar Technique - Volume I - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com
Classic Guitar Technique - Volume I Written by Aaron Shearer. Instructional book for classic guitar. Revised edition. With introductory text, instructional text, illustrations, instructional photos, musical examples and standard guitar notation. 82 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing. (AP.FC01937)
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Classic Guitar Technique, Volume II - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com Classic Guitar Technique, Volume II By Aaron Shearer. Classical Guitar Method or Supplement. Shearer series. Book. 168 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing. (FC02325)
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Theory click to show or hide section

The priniciples behind music.

Music Theory is the body of priniciples behind music. It includes scales and chord building, intervals, progressions, resolution, harmony, motion, power, color, chord substutition, keys and time signatures, rhythm, melody, etc...

WidipediA link

Can you name the notes of a C chord (C = C E G)?

Can you name the notes of any chord?. Start with the major and minor triads. Think of them as spelling words, most that can't be pronounced.

TIP: Most chords are built in thirds. These are the names of the lines and spaces that everyone learned in music class as a kid. "Every Good Boy Does Fine" (E G B D F). and "Face" F A C E.

Combining the lines and spaces in a sequence we get E G B D F A C E ....

Cycle of Thirds

Here is a link to a GuitarLesson on Chord Spelling for learning to spell any chord.

What are the notes of a G major scale (G major = G A B C D E F# G')?

Edly's Music Theory for Practical People - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com

Edly's Music Theory for Practical People By Ed Roseman, author; Peter Reynolds, illustrator. This edition: Second Edition. This book proves that music theory need not be dreary. Soft Cover Book. Size 8.5 x 11. 160 pages. Published by Musical Edventures. (ED02)
See more info...

A Player's Guide to Chords and Harmony - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com A Player's Guide to Chords and Harmony Music Theory for Real-World Musicians. Book (not sheet music). Size 8.5x11 inches. 198 pages. Published by Backbeat Books. (331173)
See more info...

Can you name the triads of a Harmonized C Major Scale?

C Dm Em F G Am Bdim

Can you name the 4-part chords of a Harmonized C Major Scale?

Cmaj7 Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bm7b5

Recommended Books

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.

$19.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Mastering the Modes

Mastering the modes is an outstanding way to expand your concept of harmonic and melodic tonality. Key writing and improvising are important but limited. Modes provide a way of creating

$19.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Ear Training click to show or hide section

The development of the active and passive capability to relate to music aurally...

Ear Training is the development of the active and passive capability to relate to music aurally. This includes the ability to recognize melodic and harmonic intervals, chords, chords progressions, rhythm, melody and harmony.

WidipediA link

Using intervals from famous melodies we can train our ear to recognize melodic intervals.

Here is my Ear Training page.

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.

$19.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

Repertoire click to show or hide section

Developing a repertoire, learning songs, chord progressions, creating performance…

Repertoire includes the songs within your performance abaility. These songs may be memorized or read. They may be literal reproductions or creative interpertations.

WidipediA link

Musical Idioms (Music genre) is the study of music musical style it involves well developed categories as; Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, Bluegrass, Classical, Folk, Urban and Fusion. It also includes subdivisions of specializations.

WidipediA link

Interpretation involves the ability to perform a song or composition in a unique and personal way.These skills involve a interrelated set of disciplines which include, theory, ear training, technique, dynamics, embellishments, phrasing, and rhythmic flexibility.

WidipediA link

Songwriting Songwriting is the creation of original music based on a single melodic line with a chord progression. Lyrics may or may not be included.

WidipediA link

Can you play a song all the way through?

Starting guitar at an early age my Dad tells a story that he had to come out and see me perform before he ever hear me play a song all the way through.

You can work on the pieces but at some point it would be nice to play a song from start to finish. Look inside this title
The Real Book - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com

The Real Book (Sixth Edition) For C instrument. Format: fakebook (spiral bound). With melody, standard notation and chord names. Jazz. Series: Hal Leonard Instrumental Fake Books. 512 pages. 8.5x11 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.240221)
See more info... Look inside this title
The Standards Real Book - C Edition - sheet music at www.sheetmusicplus.com

The Standards Real Book - C Edition For C instrument and voice. Format: fakebook (spiral bound). With vocal melody, lyrics, chord names, black & white photos and introductory text. Standards. 574 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Sher Music Company. (SR.SRBC)
See more info...

For a big list of fake books click here.

fleabagcover.gif

The Fleabag Songbook

The Fleabag Songbook, a collection of ten public domain songs arranged for the ukulele, was created through the volunteer efforts of a handful of ukulele playing musicians, artists, and teachers. The project is inspired by the need for a common collection of ukulele tunes to allow players of all levels to play together at ukulele events (like the Ukulele Expo!).

The Fleabag Songbook is published by the Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum and offered for sale in a print version, and as a free download on their site.

MORE INFO and Download...

Can you handle different styles of songs?

Latin, Rock, Bossa Nove, Jazz Waltz, Reggae, Cut Time, etc...

Can you improvize over different types of progressions?

The understanding of a chord's function within a chord progression is the first step in the process of scale selection for improvisation and creating melodies as well as applying the principles of chord and scale substitution.

Reference: Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution (link)

Can you create an intro and ending to a song?

Here is a link to UkuleleLesson available here on Intros & Turnarounds and a lesson on Classic Endings.


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Curt Sheller is the author of over 30 books on guitar, ukulele and music. A jazz guitarist and educator with over 40 years playing experience and 20 years teaching. Curt's JazzGuitarResources.com and UkuleleResources.com web sites are considered the top resource for jazz guitarists and ukulele players. Get a FREE subscription to Curt's newsletter.

Curt Sheller is available for clinics, workshops and concerts. Visit CurtSheller.com for details.

All Curt Sheller lessons are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.

Online Lessons - Ukulele Study Plan (studyPlan.shtml) | Updated: 2008 Sep 04 - 20:34

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