Monday, October 11, 2010

Ukulele: B-flat and other "movable chords"

Movable Chord Shapes

I recently posted a new video on Youtube explaining how to play a song by Never Shout Never called First Dance. I show two ways to play it: using the chords in the original key of the song followed by how to play those chords in the correct positions on the neck so it sounds exactly the way you hear it on the recording.

1) Using the actual chords in the key the song was recorded in is important if you want to play along with the CD. I always recommend doing this because it will really improve your rhythm and timing and it's fun because you feel like you have your own backup band!

2) Using a movable chord shape based on the B-flat chord (shown in the picture) - great thing about this is you can take just one chord shape and play entire songs by just shifting it up and down the ukulele neck.

For example, a song with the chords F, B-flat and C can be played with this chord shape at the 8th, 1st and 3rd frets respectively. Similarly, a song with the chords G, C and D can be played with the same chord shape at the 10th, 3rd and 5th frets. Notice how the chord is named after the note you're covering on the top/1st/A string. Consult the fretboard diagram I handed out in class to see those notes. If you don't have a diagram, email me and I'll send it to you.

Lots of rock songs like You Really Got Me, Anarchy in the UK, Jessie's Girl, etc, were written on the guitar using this concept of movable chords.

Check out the video and let me know what you think by leaving a comment on the page below it. Also, be sure to become a subscriber to my channel if you're not already, so you can be updated whenever I upload new lessons.

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