Playing in Every Key

For most instruments that have set fingerings for each scale, this is possible and somewhat manageable.

I've heard this all my musician life as a jazz guitarist (pre ukulele) — Learn in ALL keys. And this is the goal, to play any song in any keys. The hard part for instrument such as guitar and ukulele where you can play:

• Melodies
• Chords
• Improvise: Scales, Intervals, Arpeggios, Sequences
• Melody and Chords together

As you can see, for instruments that can only play single notes – they should know the chords, scale, etc. – this is more manageable.

The great teacher Dennis Sandole , a guitarist as his main instrument, who is well known as the teacher/mentor for John Coltrane and the who's who of jazz. Had ALL his students which included horn players, saxophone, piano, bass, even bagpipes, and guitarists. All but the guitarist had to play any of the melodic figures, scale, etc. that he wrote out as part of the lesson, play in ALL keys. All except guitar students, which I found out later did not have to play in all keys. They had to be able to play starting on any finger on any string – the Every Finger, Every String principle I use in my development and with students.

Here are a few of the lessons that demonstrate that concept that you should apply to anything melodic you are working on.

• Navigating the C Major Scale
• Navigating the C Major Scale – Low G

The QuickStart Scale & Arpeggio Series of books uses this principle.

• QuickStart Series Books

The Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

This is the book and principles that are used for ALL the lessons and books mentioned.

• The Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight-reading. Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits not only to technique, but also to creativity. All fingering on the ukulele can be reduced to 6 principles of motion. Each principle has physical and musical characteristics that you can use to improve your playing.

Fingering is one of the universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight-reading.

Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits to technique and creativity. All fingering on the ukulele can be reduced to six principles of motion. Each principle has physical and musical characteristics that you can use to improve your playing.

Let the Work Begin

Granted, this is a lot of work and well worth the effort.

The A Lot of Work is not the ear – it's getting the fingers to execute what the ear wants. Of the mind – hands – and ear, the hands are the part that take ll the work.

A great series of videos from Bob Miles, Miles of Music TV show on a panel recalling their interactions and lessons with Dennis Sandole.

• Dennis Sandole – Show 1 of 3
• Dennis Sandole – Show 2 of 3
• Dennis Sandole – Show 3 of 3