The in-between notes are named with sharps (#) and flats (b). On the ukulele, each fret is only “half a step,” or half a note, apart. Together, they complete the 12 note set that is described as an “octave.” Once you complete the 12 notes, you’ll start over with the same notes, just an octave higher or lower. In between most of these notes there is a sharp and flat. This 12 note set starts with seven “pure notes.” The pure notes of the scale are: A – B – C – D – E – F – G It’s also commonly used as a teaching tool in elementary music classes. You may have heard the chromatic scale explained in the “do-re-me-fa-so-la-ti-do” song, from the movie The Sound of Music. This scale consists of the 12 notes standard in Western style music. When playing a note, you’ll want to place your finger as close the fret as possible, without being directly on the fret.Ĭheck out the diagram below to get more familiar with the different parts of the ukulele –Įach note that you’ll learn to play on the ukulele will be a part of what is known as the chromatic scale. The fretboard is typically played with the left hand. Ukulele frets are markers that help you find the notes on the fretboard, AKA the “neck” of the instrument. A fret on the ukulele (also found on guitars) is a raised line that goes across the neck of the instrument. You should also understand some of the basic parts of the ukulele before playing notes. For example, strumming the G string alone will make a G note. These are the notes the strings will play when you play them “open,” in other words, when you play the string without any fingers on the fretboard. The G is the “top” string, (the one that is closest to your face while holding the ukulele), and then you have C, E, A in descending order. Standard tuning for the ukulele is G-C-E-A. It’s important to understand that other tunings will alter the notes on the fretboard. We’ll start by explaining ukulele notes for standard tuning – the most common way to tune a ukulele that most beginners start with. There are multiple ways to tune a ukulele. A Comprehensive Guide to Ukulele String Notes How Tuning Affects Notes Now that you know a little more about the ukulele, let’s take a look at the notes of this favorite instrument in this comprehensive guide. Today, the ukulele is used by both novice and professional musicians to play a variety of music, ranging from modern tunes to older favorites such as Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” Hawaiians named their version of the four-string instrument a ukulele, which literally translates into jumping flea as they adored the way musicians’ hands jumped across the strings as they played. Here, Hawaiian locals feel in love with their small guitars or machetes that they use to relax after a hard day or work in the fields. The ukulele has a history that dates back to the 1800s, when Portuguese immigrants came to the Hawaiian Islands to work on the sugarcane plantations. Then we’ll list a ukulele note chart for each of the most common tunings on the ukulele.īut before we start, let’s understand a little bit more about what is a ukulele? What is the History of the Ukulele? In this article, we’ll discuss different ways to tune your ukulele, and the chromatic scale as it applies to learning ukulele notes. These individual ukulele notes are also necessary for learning how to play licks or riffs. Once you’ve mastered the individual notes, you can use them to build chords, and chords quickly turn into songs. As you learn to navigate the notes on the fretboard, you’ll build an understanding of the basics – so you can start playing tunes in no time! An excellent starting point for all beginners is to learn their notes on the ukulele.
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