Published:
2009-01-02
Updated:
2017-12-05
Learning Ukulele with Curt
A Guide to Ukulele Chords
A Guide to Ukulele Chords - covers the basic ukulele chords that ALL ukulele players SHOULD know. Plus, an introduction to movable chord forms, rock chords, how to transpose chords, jazz chords and more.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Code: BC1UKE
Main Category: Chords Main Instrument: Ukulele
Subjects: Chords, Repertoire, Beginner, Intermediate, Basics
24 June 2026
Is Not Available at This Time • Either Out of Print, Being Edited, in development, or replaced with a new edition.
Product Info
- Product Code: BC1UKE
- Author(s): Curt Sheller
- Publisher(s):
- Published: 2 January 2009
- Updated: 5 December 2017
- ISBN-13: NA
- Size*: ANSI A
- Pages: 54
- Hard Copy Price: NA
- PDF Price: $9.00
More info: A Guide to Ukulele Chords
From a few core, basic chord shapes and a understanding of how chords are constructed. Your chord vocabulary can be dramatically increased without memorizing countless chord shapes. There are too many chord shapes to memorize.
This book will take the mystery out playing and understanding chords on the ukulele, whether it is a standard, concert, tenor or baritone ukulele in C tuning, low or high string four.
Foreword
“There are too many chord shapes to memorize,” writes Curt Sheller in his new volume A Guide to Ukulele Chords. No doubt, memorization can be limiting if it isn’t grounded in understanding. So, how are chords made and how are they named? Over the course of the chapters ahead, Mr. Sheller draws on his wealth of musical experience, offering answers to these questions and more. Beginning with the most accessible chords and progressing to the more challenging ones, the lessons that follow are of value to both rookie and veteran players.
A Guide to Ukulele Chords is well organized, informal yet informative and promotes understanding over memorization. “A chord dictionary,” as Mr. Sheller writes, “is not the answer.” A concise guide to understanding chord structure, however, just might be.
James Hill Canada’s Ukulele Virtuoso www.UkuleleJames.com
Introduction
After playing jazz guitar for 20 years, I rediscovered the ukulele. Then I learned that ukulele players struggle (like guitar players) with movable chord forms and the more advanced chords, commonly called “jazz” chords. There was no clear, concise, organized book for guiding an aspiring ukulele player through this maze of chords, so I decided to write one.
This book is a guide to the basic chords all ukulele players should know. It introduces the ukulele fingerboard, movable chord forms and 4-part jazz chords, all in three common ukulele tunings. You can build your new skills on the simplest chords. You can also learn, rock chords and chordal transposition. In addition to doing extensive research, I have tested and improved these materials during several years of studio teaching.
From a few basic chord shapes and an understanding of how chords are constructed, your chord vocabulary can be dramatically increased without endless memorizing. In fact, this book will take the mystery out of playing and understanding ukulele chords on a standard, concert, tenor, or baritone ukulele, using “C” tuning, low or high string four.
Tunings: C Tunings. Low or high string four variations.
Lefties of the world! Don’t feel left out. There’s a version for you: A Guide to Ukulele Chords for Lefties
- Forward
- Introduction
- Open Position Chords
- The Ukulele Chord Diagram
- “C” Tuning Open Position Chords
- “D” Tuning Open Position Chords
- Baritone Open Position Chords
- Open Position Chord Summary
- Movable Chord Forms
- “A/Bb” Movable Form Chords
- “C/Db” Movable Form Chords
- “G/Ab” Movable Form Chords
- 4-Part Movable 7th Chord Forms
- “C” Tuning - Soprano, Concert & Tenor • (G C E A)
- “D” Tuning - Soprano, Concert & Tenor • (A D F# B)
- “G” Tuning - Tenor & Baritone • (D G B E)
- Generic • All Common Ukulele Tunings
- Additional 7th Movable Chord Forms
- Tips for Remembering Chords
- Diminished & Augmented Chords
- Rock Uke
- Power 5 Chords
- sus Chords
- Add 9 Chords
- 4-Part “Jazz”” Chord Forms
- What is a Chord?
- A Few Chord Building Rules
- Creating the 4 Basic Chord Types
- Building More Advanced Chords
- Scale Interval Formula Chart
- Suggested Learning Order
- Scale Interval Chart
- Transposing Chords & Progressions
- Practice Chord Progressions
- Orlando Blues
- WC Swing
- Learning The Ukulele Fingerboard
- Common Tunings
- Key Frets
- "C" Tuning Natural & Sharp Notes
- "C" Tuning Natural & Flat Notes
- "D" Tuning Natural & Sharp Notes
- "D" Tuning Natural & Flat Notes
- "G" Tuning Natural & Sharp Notes
- "G" Tuning Natural & Flat Notes
- 8/20/2008 - No content changes just some minor font tweaking.
- 6/2/2006 - Updated ISBN number to new ISBN-13 number.
- 1/14/2006 - (20060114.1.10) - Change the form name of the movable chords on page 18 to G/Ab Movable Form Chords. Thanks to Christie Weiser for pointing this out.