Published:
2012-10-05
Updated:
2020-04-06
Learning Ukulele with Curt
Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele
After you mastering the six essentials scales below and start to explore more advanced styles of music, especially jazz. There are a few more scales that are needed to cover the broader harmonic palette that a typical jazz tune draws from.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: UL04j
Main Category: Scales Main Instrument: Ukulele
Categories: Blues, Chords, Jazz, Scales, Theory, Melody, Rock, Advanced
2026-08-23
Number of Pages: 6
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A scale is simply a collection of pitches or notes, not really “this is a Jazz scale", “this is a Blues” or “this is a Rock scale”. It’s how a scale is used that really matters.
Most music starts with a scale. The melody, chords, licks and riffs all can be related back to a particular scale or scales.
After you mastering the six essentials scales below and start to explore more advanced styles of music, especially jazz. There are a few more scales that are needed to cover the broader harmonic palette that a typical jazz tune draws from.
Checkout the Related Video below for @svg('video', 'text-brand-400') Examples in C Tuning, Open Position @svg('arrow-circle-down', 'text-brand-400')@svg('link', 'text-brand-400 ml-1') .
Due to the rich harmonic content of songs and composition in the jazz repertoire the essential scale are, with their alternate names :
Scale Modes
- Ionian (Major)
- Dorian (Minor)
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian (Dominant)
- Aeolian (Natural Minor)
- Locrian
Traditional Scales
- Harmonic Minor
- Jazz Minor - Descending Melodic Minor, Tonic Minor
- Whole Tone
- Diminished
More Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele
content below, continue exploring...
More Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele
Altered Scales
- Mixolydian +4 (Lydian Dominant)
- Mixolydian -2 -6
- Whole Tone
- Diminished
Contemporary Scales
- Blues (Minor Pentatonic)
- Pentatonic (Major Pentatonic)
And a few other altered and add note scales are common. After master the above scales is should be no problem deriving additional scales from these essential scales.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
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