Learining The Ukulele Fingerboard

Learning

the

Ukulele

Fingerboard

by

Curt

Sheller

Curt Sheller Publications

2050 Orlando Rd., Suite 101 Pottstown, PA 19464-2348



Copyright © 2004 by Curt Sheller

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information, contact Curt Sheller Publications.

Curt Sheller Publications

2050 Orlando Rd., Suite 101 Pottstown, PA 19464-2348

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

ISBN 10: 1-60321-013-X ISBN 13: 978-1-60321-013-3

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

3

Introduction

Memorizing the notes of the ukulele fingerboard is not as hard as one would think. Although there doesn't seem to be any pattern and the same letter can be found on every string. There is a systematic approach that can be used to help remember the notes for each of the tunings.

There are four different sized ukuleles in common use today using any one of three different tunings.

Soprano Concert Tenor Baritone

These ukulele tunings are tuned to the same relative intervals. Meaning each string is the same distance or interval from each other string. This makes the three ukulele tunings presented in this book the same relative tunings but in different keys and a little easier to remember.

Introduction

The concept of this book is based on the theory behind “Unlocking

the Guitar : Notes of the Neck”. This book is available on my web site

at www.CurtSheller.com. It is also available at www.ChuckAndersonJazzGuitar.com.

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

5

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction ...3

Common Tunings ...7

“C” Tuning - G C E A ... 7 “D” Tuning - A D F# B ... 8 “G” Tuning - D G B E ... 8

“ C” Tuning ...11

Learning the Frets ... 11

Transposing to “D” Tuning ... 14

Transposing to “G” Tuning ... 14

“ D” Tuning ...15

Learning the Frets ... 15

Transposing to “C” Tuning ... 18

Transposing to “G” Tuning ... 18

“ G” Tuning ...19

Learning the Frets ... 19

Transposing to “C” Tuning ... 22 Transposing to “D” Tuning ... 22

Enharmonic Equivalents ...23

Sharps to Flats ... 23 Flats to Sharps ... 23

Fingerboard Charts ...25

“C” Tuning Sharps and Natural Notes ... 26

“C” Tuning Flats and Natural Notes ... 27

“D” Tuning Sharps and Natural Notes ... 28

“D” Tuning Flats and Natural Notes ... 29

“G” Tuning Sharps and Natural Notes .. 30

“G” Tuning Flats and Natural Notes ... 31

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

7

Common Tunings

There are three common tunings used on the various sizes of ukuleles. For the Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukuleles the "C" and "D" tunings are common as well as a low "G" variation of the "C" tuning and a low "A” variation of the "D" tuning. These variations do not affect the names of the notes, just the pitch of string four.

The Tenor ukulele can also be tuned using the “G” tuning with a high or low “D” string four.

The Baritone ukulele always uses a "G" tuning with a low "D". This tuning is the same as the high four strings of a standard tuned guitar.

Here are the common tunings* for the ukulele:

“C” Tuning - G C E A

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G C E A

Common Tunings

8

Common Tunings

“D” Tuning - A D F# B

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A D F# B

“G” Tuning - D G B E

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D G B E

All the above tunings are the same, containing the same relative intervals. G to C for the “C” tuning is the same distance or interval as A to F# for the “D” tuning and D to G for the “G” tuning.

Common Tunings

* “G” Tuning, Low “D” Variation is shown one octave higher than sounded.

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

9

Common Tunings

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

11

“C” Tuning

This tuning is common for the Soprano, Concert and

Tenor ukulele. When string four is tuned to a low “G”, it

is referred to as a “Low G” tuning.

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G C E A

Learning the Frets

In addition to the open strings (and fret twelve) which most ukulele players seem to remember there are two other frets that are easy to remember that have no sharps or flats.

open G C E A

For a ukulele using the "C" tuning, the open strings and frets (5) and (7) have no sharp or flat notes.

fret (5) C F A D

fret (7) D G B E

“ C” Tuning - G C E A and g C E A

“ C” Tuning

12

“C” Tuning

Frets (1), (4), (6) and (8) can be referenced relative to the open strings, fret (5) and fret (7) by flatting or sharping all the notes of those frets.

open G C E A fret (1) G#* C# E# A# fret (4) Cb Fb* Ab Db fret (5) C F A D fret (6) C# F# A# D# fret (6) Db Gb Bb Eb fret (7) D G B E fret (8) D# G# B# E#

“ C” Tuning - G C E A and g C E A

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

13

“C” Tuning

Frets (2) and (10) have one sharp each.

fret (2) A D F# B

fret (10) F A# D G

Frets (1), (3), (9) and (11) can be referenced relative to fret (2) and fret (10) by flatting or sharping all the notes of the those frets. fret (1) Ab Db F Bb fret (2) A D F# B fret (3) A# D# G B# fret (9) Fb A Db Gb fret (10) F A# D G fret (11) F# B D# G#

That is ALL the notes of the ukulele fingerboard in “C” tuning, low or high “G”.

14

“C” Tuning

“ C” Tuning - G C E A and g C E A

Transposing to “D” Tuning

To determine what fret the same notes appear at in “D” tuning subtract 2* from the “C” tuning fret number.

In “C” tuning

fret (5) C F A D In “D” tuning

fret (3) C F A D

Transposing to “G” Tuning

To determine what fret the same notes appear at in “G” tuning add 5* to the “C” tuning fret number.

In “C” tuning

fret (5) C F A D In “G” tuning

fret (10) C F A D

* If the starting or ending fret is 12 or greater, then subtract 12. Example: Fret 15 are the same names as fret 3 but one octave lower.

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

15

“D” Tuning

This tuning is common for the Soprano, Concert and

Tenor ukulele. When string four is tuned to a low “A”, it

is referred to as a “Low A” tuning.

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A D F# B

Learning the Frets

In addition to the open strings (and fret twelve) which most ukulele players seem to remember, there are three other frets that are easy to remember that have no sharps or flats.

open A D F# B

For a ukulele using the "D" tuning, frets (3), (5) and (10) have no sharp or flat notes.

fret (3) C F A D

fret (5) D G B E

“ D” Tuning - A D F# B and a D F# B

“ D” Tuning

16

“D” Tuning

fret 10 G C E A

Frets (1), (2), (4), (6), (9) and (11) can be referenced relative to the open strings and fret (3), fret (5) and fret (10) by flatting or sharping all the notes off those frets.

open A D F# B fret (1) A#* D# G B# fret (2) Cb* Fb Ab Db fret (3) C F A D fret (4) C# F# A# D# fret (4) Db Gb Bb Eb fret (5) D G B E fret (6) D# G# B# E# fret (9) Gb Cb Eb Ab fret (10) G C E A fret (11) G# C# E# A#

“ D” Tuning - A D F# B and a D F# B

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

17

“D” Tuning

In addition to the open strings which has one sharp, fret (8) has one sharp as well.

fret (8) F A# D G

From fret (8) we can get fret (7) and fret (9).

fret (7) Fb A Db Gb

fret (8) F A# D G

fret (9) F# B D# G#

That is ALL the notes of the ukulele fingerboard in “D” tuning, low or high “A”.

18

“D” Tuning

“ D” Tuning - A D F# B and a D F# B

Transposing to “C” Tuning

To determine what fret the same notes appear at in “C” tuning add 2* to the “D” tuning fret number.

In “D” tuning

fret (3) C F A D In “C” tuning

fret (5) C F A D

Transposing to “G” Tuning

To determine what fret the same notes appear at in “G” tuning add 7* from the “D” tuning fret number.

In “D” tuning

fret (3) C F A D In “G” tuning

fret (10) C F A D

* If the starting or ending fret is 12 or greater, then subtract 12. Example: Fret 15 are the same names as fret 3 but one octave lower.

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

19

“G” Tuning

This tuning is common for the Tenor and Baritone ukulele. When string four is tuned to a low “D”, it is referred to as a “Low D” tuning and is the same tuning as the high four strings of a standard tuned guitar.

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D G B E

Learning the Frets

In addition to the open strings (and fret twelve) which most ukulele players seem to remember there are several other frets that are easy to remember. These easy to remember frets have no sharps or flats.

open D G B E

For a ukulele using the "G" tuning, the open strings and frets (5) and (10) have no sharp or flat notes.

fret (5) G C E A

fret (10) C F A D

“ G” Tuning - D G B E and d G B E

“ G” Tuning

* “G” Tuning, Low “D” Variation is shown one octave higher than sounded.

20

“G” Tuning

Frets (1), (4), (6), (9) and (11) can be referenced relative to the open strings, fret (5) and fret (10) by flatting or sharping all the notes of those fret.

open D G B E fret (1) D#* G# B# E# fret (4) Gb Cb Eb Ab fret (5) G C E A fret (6) G# C# E# A# fret (9) Cb Fb Ab Db fret (10) C F A D fret (11) C# F# A# D#

“ G” Tuning - D G B E and d G B E

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

21

“G” Tuning

Frets (3) and (7) have one sharp each.

fret (3) F A# D G

fret (7) A D F# B

Frets (2), (4), (6) and (8) can be referenced relative to fret (3) and fret (7) by flatting or sharping all the notes of those frets. fret (2) Fb A Db Gb fret (3) F A# D G fret (4) F# B D# G# fret (6) Ab Db F Bb fret (7) A D F# B fret (8) A# D# G B#

That is ALL the notes of the ukulele fingerboard in “G” tuning, low or high “D”.

22

“G” Tuning

“ G” Tuning - D G B E and d G B E

Transposing to “C” Tuning

To determine what fret the same notes appear at in “C” tuning subtract 5* from the “G” tuning fret number.

In “G” tuning

fret (10) C F A D In “C” tuning

fret (5) C F A D

Transposing to “D” Tuning

To determine what fret the same notes appear at in “D” tuning subtract 7* from the “G” tuning fret number.

In “G” tuning

fret (10) C F A D In “D” tuning

fret (3) C F A D

* If the starting or ending fret is 12 or greater, then subtract 12. Example: Fret 15 are the same names as fret 3 but one octave lower.

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

23

Enharmonic Equivalents

Enharmonic equivalents are where the same pitch can have multiple names.

Sharps to Flats

A#

is the same pitch as

Bb

B#

is the same pitch as

C

C#

is the same pitch as

Db

D#

is the same pitch as

Eb

E#

is the same pitch as

F

F#

is the same pitch as

Gb

G#

is the same pitch as

Ab

Flats to Sharps

Ab

is the same pitch as

G#

Bb

is the same pitch as

A#

Cb

is the same pitch as

B

Db

is the same pitch as

C#

Eb

is the same pitch as

D#

Fb

is the same pitch as

E

Gb

is the same pitch as

F#

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

25

Fingerboard Charts

Fingerboard Charts

"C” Tuning

“D” Tuning

“G” Tuning

26

same as open strings

G

C

E

A

G

_s

C

_s

F

A

_s

A

D

F

_s

B

A

_s

D

_s

G

C

B

E

G

_s

C

_s

C

F

A

D

C

_s

F

_s

A

_s

D

_s

D

G

B

E

D

_s

G

_s

C

F

E

A

C

_s

F

_s

F

A

_s

D

G

F

_s

B

D

_s

G

_s

3

1

4

2

open

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

STRING

Frets

“C” Tuning Sharps and Natural Notes

same as open strings one octave higher

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

27

same as open strings

“C” Tuning Flats and Natural Notes

G

C

E

A

A

_f

D

_f

F

B

_f

A

D

G

_f

B

B

_f

E

_f

G

C

B

E

A

_f

D

_f

C

F

A

D

D

_f

G

_f

B

_f

E

_f

D

G

B

E

E

_f

A

_f

C

F

E

A

D

_f

G

_f

F

B

_f

D

G

G

_f

B

E

_f

A

_f

3

1

4

2

STRING

same as open strings one octave higher

open

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Frets

28

3

1

4

2

open

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

STRING

Frets

“D” Tuning Sharps and Natural Notes

A

D

F

_s

B

A

_s

D

_s

G

C

B

E

G

_s

C

_s

C

F

A

D

C

_s

F

_s

A

_s

D

_s

D

G

B

E

D

_s

G

_s

C

F

E

A

C

_s

F

_s

F

A

_s

D

G

F

_s

B

D

_s

G

_s

G

C

E

A

G

_s

C

_s

F

A

_s

Fingerboard Charts - “D” Tuning

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

29

3

1

4

2

open

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

STRING

Frets

“D” Tuning Flats and Natural Notes

A

D

G

_f

B

B

_f

E

_f

G

C

B

E

A

_f

D

_f

C

F

A

D

D

_f

G

_f

B

_f

E

_f

D

G

B

E

E

_f

A

_f

C

F

E

A

D

_f

G

_f

F

B

_f

D

G

G

_f

B

E

_f

A

_f

G

C

E

A

A

_f

D

_f

F

B

_f

“D” Tuning - Fingerboard Charts

30

3

1

4

2

open

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

STRING

Frets

“G” Tuning Sharps and Natural Notes

D

G

B

E

D

_s

G

_s

C

F

E

A

C

_s

F

_s

F

A

_s

D

G

F

_s

B

D

_s

G

_s

G

C

E

A

G

_s

C

_s

F

A

_s

A

D

F

_s

B

A

_s

D

_s

G

C

B

E

G

_s

C

_s

C

F

A

D

C

_s

F

_s

A

_s

D

_s

Fingerboard Charts - “G” Tuning

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard

31

3

1

4

2

open

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

STRING

Frets

“G” Tuning Flats and Natural Notes

D

G

B

E

E

_f

A

_f

C

F

E

A

D

_f

G

_f

F

B

_f

D

G

G

_f

B

E

_f

A

_f

G

C

E

A

A

_f

D

_f

F

B

_f

A

D

G

_f

B

B

_f

E

_f

G

C

B

E

A

_f

D

_f

C

F

A

D

D

_f

G

_f

B

_f

E

_f

“G” Tuning - Fingerboard Charts

32

Fingerboard Charts

20050627.1.2

Fingerboard Word Search

Turns out there are a few words throughout the ukulele fingerboard that can aide in remembering the frets.

Here are the fingerboard charts, without the frets.

Sharps & Natural Notes

G C E A G_s C_s F A_s A D F_s B A_s D_s G C B E G_s C_s C F A D C_s F_s A_s D_s D G B E D_s G_s C F E A C_s F_s F A_s D G F_s B D_s G_s Flats & Natural Notes

G C E A A_f D_f F G_f A D G_f B B_f E_f G C B E A_f D_f C F A D D_f G_f B_f E_f D G B E E_f A_f C F E A D_f G_f F B_f D G G_f B E_f A_f