Online Lessons - Ukulele

Lessons, TABS, Chords, Scales, Repertoire, Reading, Strums, Theory, Play-alongs, Ear Training

lessonsUke.shtml | Updated: 02-Jul-2009 - 12:07

Updated and Improved Lesson Pages

Updated and Improved UkuleleLessons by Curt Sheller, me.

The Lessons pages have gone through a massive update and re-organization.

Check out the New, Improved and Updated Chord & Chord Progressions and Essential Scales & Modes Lesson pages

I've added content and video to a few of these lessons to start with and will be added more all the time. If there are any specific lessons topics that you would like me to tackle just drop me an eMail at: curt @ curtsheller.com

“If you don't practice one day, you'll know it. If you don't practice for two days, your friends and fellow musicians will know it. If you don't practice for three days, everyone in your audience knows it!.” - Georg Van Eps

Contents

 

Lessons are grouped in to the categories with some lessons showing up in multiple categories where appropriate.

Enjoy, and look for more lessons in the future. I'm adding and updating lessons all the time. Curt

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Survey Your Ukulele Music Knowledge

Start by accessing your current knowledge about music and the `ukulele.

Survey of Your Music Knowledge

Taking a survey of your music knowledge is a great start to creating a well rounded plan for further development and increasing your music 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 skills and expanding your music knowledge.

Study Plan Surveys

Ukulele Lessons -Start Here

Access where your are, compare tunings and learn the ukulele fingerboard.

Survey of Your Ukulele Knowledge

Lesson Info

Taking inventory of your current music and ukulele knowledge and skills will go a long way in setting of a quality learning program.

Re-entrant and Common Ukulele Tunings

Lesson Info

The ukulele can support a wide range possible tunings. Here are a few of the most common tunings and the unique re-entrant of the ukulele.

Comparing C Tuning, High "G and Low "G"

Lesson Info

Finally Learn the Ukulele Fingerboard

Lesson Info

Really knowing the names notes of the ukulele fingerboard and a little music theory can be a liberating musical moment. It is on of the Ah Ha!!! monements where you say., "This makes things a little easier."

Practice Cycles and Sequences

Lesson Info

Chords and Chord Progressions

Chords, Progressions, Introduction, Turnarounds, Endings, Cool Chords, Triads, Jazz Chords and more…

Ukulele Chord of the Week Club

Each week in late 2007 and early 2008 I presented a series of online lessons titled Ukulele Chord of the Week Club. Taking a basic open position chord from my book Ukulele Chord. I presented some variations, its movable form and practice progressions.

Introductions and Turnarounds

Lesson Info

A guide to creating introductions and turnarounds for songs.

Intros are a composed or improvised piece of music that introduces a song or composition. An introduction or intro for short, is used in all types of music. For the purposes of this UKULELELESSON focuses on contemporary music which includes pop, rock, blues, country, folk and jazz styles.

Common Song Endings

Lesson Info

Famous and classic endings to spice up your ukulele arrangements. Ending like the Count Basie ending, Two Feel, Single, Double, Triple Tag Endings, Chromatic, ‘A’ Train Ending, Shave and a Haircut, Lawrence Welk Ending and more…

Cool Chords

Lesson Info

Cool Chords - These are the chords do not typically show up in chord dictionaries or song books. These are the chords players ask, “What is that chord?”

Using Triads

Lesson Info

Triads are a great resource for creating simple melodies and solos...

Building a solid chord foundation - Core Chords - Level 1, Part 1

Lesson Info

Building a solid foundation of 4-part chords..."

Beyond learning open and barre chords, most guitarists struggle with advanced chords. Commonly called "jazz" chords, these more sophisticated voicings find a wide use in all forms of music.

Building a "core" set of basic 4-part chords will allow you to create ANY, yes ANY chords you ever encounter.

Chord Shapes and Learning Chords

Lesson Info

Breaking the "Learning more chord shapes...

Transposing Chords

Lesson Info

Transposing Chords chord progressions and scales. Explore additional keys for your favorite chords, chord progressions, scale and songs.

Getting Beyond Ukulele Chords Shapes

Lesson Info

Although this article appeared in a jazz guitar magazine the principles apply to any string instrument like the bass and ukulele.

Beyond learning basic guitar chords, most guitars players struggle with advanced chords. These more sophisticated voicings, commonly called “jazz” chords, find a wide use in all forms of music and styles. These 4-part chords are the bread and butter of jazz.

Chord Spelling

Lesson Info

What are those chords tones? Learn more then the root or letter name of the chord. Be able to spell any chord in any key...

What Determines a Chord Name?

Lesson Info

What is the name of this chord?? Learn how to determine the name of an individual chord...

Scales & Modes

Learn essential scale and modes for creating melodies and improv.

Learning the Blues Scale

Lesson Info

Learning this essential Blues Scale

One of the first scales typically learn by beginning players. This is the most common scale used in rock music.

The Whole Tone Scale

Lesson Info

"C" tuning, low or high "G"

The Diminished Scale

Lesson Info

"C" tuning, low or high "G

Reference Scales

Lesson Info

From just two scales you can derive your basic set of scales that are used in a wide variety of music.

Strums & Rhythmn

A Strum is the Execution of a rhythmic pattern in a particular style as tempo. Learn more on strumming your ukulele.

Strums & Rhythmic Patterns main page

Lesson Info

Exploring Music Theory on Ukulele

Learning the principles behind music goes a long way in mastering your chosen instrument.

Theory is the body of principles behind music. It includes scales and chord construction, intervals, sequences, progressions, resolution, harmony, motion, power, color, chord and scale substitution, keys and time signatures, rhythm, melody, etc... Notice I did not say any particular instrument. Theory is NOT "Ukulele Theory, Guitar Theory or insert any other instrument Theory. It is not instrument specific. How you can apply it to your particular instrument is another story.

Take an instrument like a trumpet that can only pay single notes. Would it be beneficial for that musician to study chords, chord progressions, harmony. The resounding answer is YES!!! Knowing how music works and how to apply it to you instrument is what is all about.

Could a drummer benefit from knowing how chord progressions work?

Which Way is Up?

Lesson Info

What is up, down, higher, lower, top, bottom, ascending, descending on a ukulele?.

Enharmonic Equivalents

Lesson Info

Alternate Note Names - Any note on the ukulele fingerboard can have up to five different names.

An Enharmonic Equivalent is where a music pitch can have different names depending on the context in which it is functioning. An example is G# producing the same pitch as Ab. Different note but the same pitch.

Enharmonic Equivalents are used for the correct spelling and notation of keys, melodies, intervals, scales and chords.

Intervals

Lesson Info

Reading Music on Ukulele

Standard

C Tuning

The ukulele fingerboard in standard music notation

Lesson Info

C Tuning comes in two common variations. High "G" and low "G".

This tuning is common for Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukuleles.

G Tuning

The ukulele fingerboard in standard music notation

Lesson Info

G Tunings comes in two common variations. High "D" and low "D". With the low "D" variation the most common and the same as the thin-high four string of a standard tuned guitar.

G Tuning with a high "D" is one of the tunings that Lyle Ritz uses the most.

This tuning is common for Tenor & Baritone ukuleles.

D Tuning

The ukulele fingerboard in standard music notation

Lesson Info

D Tuning comes in two common variations. High "A" and low "A".

This tuning is common for Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukuleles.

This is a common tuning in Canada.

Reading Basics ( coming soon )

Lesson Info

The basics of reading. Clefs, time signatures, repeats, dynamics and more...

Reading Music on Ukulele

Reading in First Position - Part 1

Lesson Info

Reading Standard Music Notation in first or open position. Very easy songs to get one started on the read to reading music to be played on the ukulele.

Enharmonic Equivalents

Lesson Info

Alternate Note Names - Any note on the ukulele fingerboard can have up to five different names.

An Enharmonic Equivalent is where a music pitch can have different names depending on the context in which it is functioning. An example is G# producing the same pitch as Ab. Different note but the same pitch.

Enharmonic Equivalents are used for the correct spelling and notation of keys, melodies, intervals, scales and chords.

Alternate Music Notation

Lesson Info

Alternate Music Notation - Reading TAB and Chord Grids on the ukulele

The Trouble with TAB

Lesson Info

TAB, short for tablature is a form of musical notation using numbers and letters on a staff that that corresponds to the number of strings of fretted string instrumen. Theses number tell a player which fret to place their fingers on rather than which pitches to play.

TAB has a history with lute music from centuries ago and has found wide use in the music publishing industry catering to the guitarist who can’t or doesn’t want to learn to read. TAB doesn’t exist in mainstream music, primarily by some music magazines and on the internet.

Developing Technique

 

Fretting Hand Finger Gymnastics, Basic Single Note Drills

Lesson Info

It is critical that you develop the finger strength and independence to explore your full musical potential. By developing a great left hand you will be able to explore more challenging musical situations.

2, 3 and 4 Note Gymnastics

Lesson Info

Fretting Hand Finger Gymnastics, Advanced Single Note Drills

Lesson Info

More advanced and tougher drills for developing finger strength and independence.

Plucking-Pickin' Hand

Lesson Info

More Ukulele Lessons, TAB and Play-along Tracks

 

Ukulele - Melody & Chord Arrangements, with TAB

All ukulele repertoire is available with a downloadable PDF version of the arrangement.

Some songs can be played using the Scorch plug-in from Sibelius

These solo arrangements are presented For educational purposes only

Working on Melody & Chord Ukulele Arrangements for:

  • Classical Gas
  • Aloha Oe
  • Amazing Grace
  • I'll Remember April
  • My Favorite Things
  • Spanish Flea
  • Tijuana Taxi
  • While My Guitar Gently Weeps Std Notation & TAB

    With the popularity of Jake Shimabukuro this George Harrison song. I thought I'd tackle it in the original key of A minor/A major. I perform this song in a medley with Here Comes the Sun in concert.

  • Eleanor Rigby Std Notation, Chord Grids & TAB
  • Eleanor Rigby
  • Here Comes the Sun
  • Image
  • Norwegian Wood
  • Penny Lane
  • Strawberry Fields Forever
  • Yesterday NEW Std Notation & TAB

    Here is my solo ukulele arrangement of this classic Paul McCartney, Beatles song.

Play-Along MP3 Tracks

All Play-Along lessons are available with MP3 backing track, PDF lead sheet and tips and tricks for learning the song.

Over the course of time I'll be releasing (for FREE) a collection of songs that I had recorded as backing tracks. There are great track for learning tunes, how arrangements are created and a source of material to improv over.

These are the same tracks that I've used in the past for live gigs. (songs in italics coming soon)

Here is a partial list of the songs that will be posted. I have close to 60 of these tracks that I created many moons ago ($$$$)

Here are a few of the tracks that I recorded guitar over awhile back.

Recorded on a Gibson Wes Montgomery L5

Chord of the Week Club

I constantly read online and hear. "Is, where, what site, what software is there for this or that chord or all the chord voicings." Well camper! It's not here. Chord dictionaries, software, web sites are not the answer. Even chord theory does not offer any insight into unraveling the complexity of chord voicings.

Learning basic open position chords and the basic movable form chords presented in the Chord of the Week Club will set you up for the more advanced chords, typically called “jazz” chords.

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

You'll need a copy of Adobe®: Acrobat® reader (version 3.0 or higher) to view or print the PDF file. If you don't already have a copy, or if you have an older version, you can get the latest reader for free from Adobe.

Most online lessons on this site are "Get it FREE now and pay later if you like it" type. So if you really like them and have gotten a benefit from them. You can help defray the cost of running this site by buying one of my books or donating whatever you would like.

With the cost of a private lesson anywhere from $15 an half hour to $50 or more for an hour, these lessons are a bargain.

Thanks for your support!

Lessons are intended FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

FREE Reprint Rights - You may publish any of these articles in your e-zine or on your web site or blog -- as long as the following author bio/blurb is included:

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.

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Content is always being added and updated. So check-in often. Curt Sheller

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