Al Wood writes about ukulele chords and offers advice on how to buy a ukulele and how to play ukulele.
<!-- @page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } -->
When people start playing the ukulele they can get a little intimidated by the difficulty of some of the chords they have to play. But there are plenty of easy ukulele chords out there - ones that can often be substituted for those that are a little two difficult to be played for a beginner. There is also a need for beginners to play more 'jazzy' chords. Often they are too intimidated to tackle these chords. However, they can often be easier to play than the standard chords. So, in this article I'll be going through a number of chords that use only one finger to play them and even two chords that require no fingers at all.
The C Chord
The first chord that most new ukulele players learn to play is the C chord. This chord is played just by putting your ring finger on the A string (i.e. the one nearest the floor) at the third fret. You should put your finger on the string between the second and third fret bar from the neck end of the ukulele. The other strings are all played in the open position (i.e. not fretted at all). In ukulele terms, this chord is written like this: 0003
The Am Chord
The Am chord (short for A minor) is played by placing your middle finger on the second fret of the G string (the one nearest your head. The other strings are left to play open. This is written as 2000
Open String Chords
If you are feeling particularly lazy, you can strum all the strings open. This will give you a chord which can be seen in two ways. It can be a C6 chord or in can be an Am7 chord. Which of these chords it is depends on the context. The chord makes a great substitute for the C chord (when it is a C6) and for Am (when it is an Am7). So if you see either a C or an Am listed in a chord chart you can play all the strings open and it will give you a more jazzy sound. It will also give your fingers a rest!
The A7 Chord
The A7 chord is another standard ukulele chord that can be played using just one finger. You need to place your index finger (or pointer if you prefer) on the first fret of the C string (the second string down). The A7 chord makes for a great substitute for the A chord in songs that are in the key of D.
The Fsus2 Chord
Fsus2 is a very jazzy sounding chord, so you have to be quite careful how you use it. It is played by putting your index finger on the first fret of the E string. The best way to use it is to switch between F and Fsus2 whilst playing. This is a trick that Zack Condon of Beirut often uses.
The easy ukulele chords in this article should be no trouble to master. There's nothing that should stop you physically playing them. So have a go at building them into your chord playing repertoire.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Ukulele Tabs: Learn To Play Clementine
- Ukulele Tab: Learn To Play Jingle Bells
- Learn To Play Happy Birthday To You On Your Ukulele
- Ukulele Chords: Learn To Play Chord Progressions In C
- Easy Ukulele Chords You Can Play With One Finger
- Ukulele Chords: Learn To Play Chord Changes
- Learn To Play Tom Dooley With Ukulele Chords
- Ukulele Tab: Learn To Play Tom Dooley On Your Ukulele
Top Three Played Out 80s Songs
By: Kasan Groupe | 07/12/2009This whole 80s nostalgia thing is getting a bit out of hand people. There are lots of other 80s songs out there you can use to open your concert with or end your television show with, why pick a song that has been played to death both on the radio and on television? Here is a list of the top three played out 80s songs that need to be officially retired.
Most Anticipated Albums of Early 2010
By: Kasan Groupe | 07/12/2009After the busy Christmas shopping season there is still a lot of new movies and music coming out in early 2010. Even some of the big name artists are saving their releases for after Christmas so they don’t have to compete with some of the tough competition. Others like the independent record labels could care less about holiday season and choose to promote their records slowly and put the finishing touches on in time for an after-holiday release. Here are a few anticipated albums coming out in e
Three Underrated Rappers
By: Kasan Groupe | 07/12/2009The rap game is all about respect. If MTV or The Source puts out a list of the top 10 rappers it becomes a huge debate about who wasn’t included, who should have been included, who shouldn’t have been on the list, ad infinitum. There are a lot of underrated rappers out there that don’t show up on these lists because either they aren’t on the mainstream radar or they don’t fight to get themselves noticed like others. Here is a list of some of the most underrated rappers in the game.
Three Underrated Rappers
By: catherine preth | 07/12/2009The rap game is all about respect. If MTV or The Source puts out a list of the top 10 rappers it becomes a huge debate about who wasn’t included, who should have been included, who shouldn’t have been on the list, ad infinitum. There are a lot of underrated rappers out there that don’t show up on these lists because either they aren’t on the mainstream radar or they don’t fight to get themselves noticed like others. Here is a list of some of the most underrated rappers in the game.
Three Underrated Rappers
By: catherine preth | 07/12/2009The rap game is all about respect. If MTV or The Source puts out a list of the top 10 rappers it becomes a huge debate about who wasn’t included, who should have been included, who shouldn’t have been on the list, ad infinitum. There are a lot of underrated rappers out there that don’t show up on these lists because either they aren’t on the mainstream radar or they don’t fight to get themselves noticed like others. Here is a list of some of the most underrated rappers in the game.
Guitar Lessons That Work ©
By: Steve I Roulette | 07/12/2009Why do YOU want to learn how to play guitar? Do you want to play for personal pleasure? Play in a band? Write and perform your own songs? Whatever your reasons are, Jamorama WILL work for you, and it's FAST and FUN! With Jamorama you learn how to play guitar using free lessons, step by step course materials, jam tracks and famous songs!
Playing The Guitar ©
By: Steve I Roulette | 07/12/2009If you are new to guitar and don't know where to begin, you have come to the right place. This information will work for you and you will be AMAZED by how quickly it works! There are probably hundreds of songs that you want to learn how to play on guitar, and you're probably using ineffective methods of learning how to play them without even knowing it!
Learn To Play Guitar ©
By: Steve I Roulette | 07/12/2009You are about to discover amazing methods to learn how to play guitar and play virtually any guitar song you hear. Whether you want to start a band, perform at clubs, write your own original songs, or just become a great guitarist and play for your own enjoyment...
Easy Ukulele Chords You Can Play With One Finger
By: Al Wood | 15/02/2009 | MusicThis article will guide you through the easiest chords that you can play on the ukulele: those that only require the use of a single finger.
Gogo Crazybones: What Every Parent Needs to Know
By: Al Wood | 29/07/2008 | ParentingA parent's guide to the UK's latest playground craze: Gogos Crazy Bones.
Buying a Jet Ski: What Should You Keep in Mind
By: Al Wood | 29/07/2008 | Extreme SportsThis article will walk you through some of the areas you should think about when you are looking to buy a jet ski.
Xbox Overheating: How to Prevent it
By: Al Wood | 18/07/2008 | HardwareHave you had the dreaded problem of an Xbox 360 overheating? Here's a solution for you.
Ukulele Practice Tips: Set Goals for Your Playing
By: Al Wood | 16/07/2008 | MusicThe secret to ensuring that your ukulele playing is constantly improving.
How to Play Fast Ukulele
By: Al Wood | 16/07/2008 | MusicLearn the number one secret of improving your ukulele playing.
What's the Right Way to Tune a Tenor Ukulele?
By: Al Wood | 16/07/2008 | MusicLearn how to tune your tenor ukulele.