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Ukulele Lessons: Basic Chord Shapes

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[MUSIC]
All right,

in this little snippet
we're gonna be introducing

the different chords that you'll
typically see in songs, and

how to play them with the correct fingers,
or right shapes.

So again,
we're gonna start off with the C chord.

The C chord, again,
is gonna be open on the G, open on the C,

open on the E, and
third fret on the A string.

So open, open, open, three.

Or zero, zero, zero, three.

[SOUND] Okay then we have C7.

The only thing that changes is the ring
finger, the three, drops to a one.

So we have zero, zero, zero, one.

[SOUND] Again, open, open, open, one.

Now C minor, we're gonna bar
the third fret with our index,

ring finger is gonna jump out to
the fifth fret of the G string.

Again, this is where we talk about
how the swivel will really help, and

reaching out with that ring finger.

So we have now 5, 3, 3, 3.

So again, I'm barring,
you can either bar all four, or

you can bar just the bottom three strings.

Ring finger jumps out to the G string.

[SOUND]
Okay so C major, let's try this together.

One, two, three, four.

C7 drops to the 1.

One, two, three, four,

C minor, barring the third fret.

Reaching out with the ring finger
to the G string on the fifth fret.

One, two, three, four

[MUSIC]
All right,

now the D chord.

The D chord is played
a couple of different ways.

And again,
it's gonna be whatever works for you.

The variation that I like to
teach is using three fingers.

And you're gonna put your index on the G
string second fret, middle finger on

second fret of the C string, ring finger
on the second fret of the E string.

A string will be open, so
it's gonna be two, two, two, open.

One more time, two, two, open.

Now, if you notice my fingers
are again angling down that fretboard.

If they're up and down,
straight up and and down like a piano,

they will be fighting over that fret for
that space.

Again, I'm angling them, so I have a lot
more room to squish those fingers down,

although you can still see I am still
actually in this little notch here.

So again, reaching over my pointer
on the second fret on the G,

second fret of the C with my middle,
second fret of the E with my ring finger.

A is gonna be open.

Now these three guys will typically be

much easier to hold down than
this A string being open.

Sometimes our finger will touch that
A string because it's not flatted out.

We wanna make sure we have that nice
curve, so that we leave space for

that A string to ring.

And again, if you notice, because I
am starting from that notch there.

This diagonal is allowing my
index finger to completely

skip that first fret of the A string,
and allowing it to ring.

Good, now if you notice also, I am not
straight across with these three fingers.

I actually do have them starting
on the side of my fret here and

going diagonal across those frets.

So that I can really squish as
much of my fingers in as possible.

Again, if you try to line
them up too straight,

they will be fighting
over that same space.

So even within that second
fret of those three strings,

you'll see how they're nice and angled.

Just to give me as much
space to play as possible.

So aain it is gonna be two,
two, two, open.

Good, now the D minor,
all I'm gonna do, I'm gonna take my

pointer finger off, bring my middle and
ring, up one string.

So my middle is on the G string,
second fret.

Ring finger on the C string, second fret.

And I'm gonna take my pointer finger and

place it on the first
fret of the E string.

So it's gonna be two,

two, one, open.

[MUSIC]
Now again,

you want these guys as flat as possible.

If you have this guy crunched up too high,
you'll see how these fingers,

when they're up there like that they
don't have as much support or power.

And they kinda freak out again,
whether they should concave or not.

So again, just enough fingers to come over
that fret board to have a nice solid top.

And it's gonna cause this nice arch
to happen and give us space for

that A string to ring.

So again, from a D Major,
two, two, two, zero.

To a D minor,
pointer comes off, middle and

ring come up to the G and the C string.

Pointer finger would drop
to the E string on the one.

So it'll be two, two, one, zero.

One, two, three, four, and we have a D7.

Now the D7, your typical D7 shape will
consist of barring that second fret and

having a finger on the third
fret on the A string.

Now some people prefer to play
the D7 with their index barring and

having the middle finger
on that third fret.

Again, you're gonna play
whatever's easiest for you.

For me, I actually have an easier
time barring with my middle finger,

which is my longest finger.

And use my ring finger on
the A string on that third fret.

[MUSIC]
Compared to taking my longest finger and

squishing it all the way up here.

But again in context sometimes,
I'll play it this way,

it all depends on which corner I'm going
to next or what shape I'm going to next.

So I want you to be able to play both
ways just to give you that versatility.

But if you're struggling with the shape
for now, I would suggest trying this in

the middle finger for the bar and
ring finger on the third fret of the A.

[MUSIC]
Again, I am pulling back quite a bit,

I can actually play this without my thumb.

[MUSIC]
Because of how much I'm pulling back with

my left hand.

All right, so we have D major two,
two, two, open.

D minor we're gonna bring these two
guys up, pointer drops to the E string.

Two, two, one, open and

then the D 7 that we reference is
gonna be barring the second fret.

Ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A.

[MUSIC]
Now there is gonna be a Hawaiian in D7

that we're gonna reference later.

For the Hawaiian D7,
there is such a thing,

it's gonna be the second fret of the G
string, second fret of the E string.

So we're gonna stretch with our
middle finger, G string 2nd fret,

open on the C, 2nd fret on the E string
with the ring finger, and the open A.

So it's gonna be two, zero, two, zero.

And we're gonna talk
about a little bit later,

why this is referenced as the Hawaiian D7.

But we will be using this shape a lot, so

I wanted to make sure we introduced
it as early as possible.

So again D major, two, two, two, zero.

D minor, two, two one, zero.

D7, barred version two, two, two, three.

Hawaiian D7 two, zero, two, zero.

All right, so a variation for

the D major if these three
guys aren't working for you.

There's two other ways,
one is actually one of my hardest

ways of doing it is actually try [LAUGH]
try to bar a finger on the 2nd fret,

but lifting off just to
let that A string ring.

Lot of people had an easier
time with this than I do,

but is gonna be two, two, two, zero.

But again, making sure that this
finger does not touch the A string.

[MUSIC]
For me, it's a little awkward, but

for some people that
are sometimes double joints or

have more flexibility than I do, this is
actually a very easy alternative for them.

But again, you can try it out.

One variation on that, well the third
variation total is actually taken that

we're kind of a bar and squeezing
your ring finger on the E string.

So we do have two, two, two, zero, and

this guy is only responsible for
the G and C.

And ring finger is just responsible for
that E string.

So again, it's a half bar,
half [LAUGH] open A.

Again, for a lot of people,
this is how they love to play the B chord.

Now for me, I'm gonna always
recommend using this guy here,

because as we go along further we
will have a lot of voicing variations

where we're gonna wanna
manipulate that A string.

So we wanna be able to take it off,
put it back down, or squeeze it up.

[MUSIC]
So for me, I'd recommended

practicing with the three finger version.

But again, some of you might actually have
an easier time doing it with a half bar or

with a full bar with
that A ring open on top.

[MUSIC]

[MUSIC].

Okay, and one of the most dreaded chords,
the E chord, on the ukulele.

Just like the D chord, there are a couple
of different variations on how to do this.

Now, the E chord is utilizing
the fourth fret of the G [SOUND],

of the C [SOUND], and the E [SOUND],
with the second fret on the A [SOUND].

So numbers wise,
it’s gonna be four [SOUND], four [SOUND],

four [SOUND], two [SOUND].

Okay [SOUND],
that's a lot of frets [LAUGH].

Now, you could be like me and I'm gonna
push always for this four-finger version,

where we have one finger per string.

Four [SOUND], four [SOUND], four [SOUND],
two [SOUND] using the middle [SOUND], ring

[SOUND], pinky [SOUND], and index will
be on the A string on the second fret.

So four [SOUND], four [SOUND],
four [SOUND], two [SOUND].

[SOUND] For me,
this is a little bit easier,

because I do have one finger
responsible for each string.

Now again, if this doesn't work, a lot of
people will, just like that D major shape,

have that half bar with the ring
finger on the E string [SOUND], and

letting go, just enough to let my A string
ring on that second fret [SOUND].

Not the most comfortable shape for me,

some people actually
will have an easier time.

Definitely [SOUND] it's one to try out if
you're struggling with that initial shape.

Now, the last shape, again,
referencing that D chord,

we're gonna take our ring finger,
bar across all four frets.

Then lifting off, just enough,
to let that A string ring,

and we're going to put that index
finger on that second fret of the A.

So again,
as I would start it with the bar,

slowly lifted off just enough on
the A string to put my index on the two.

So I have four [SOUND], four [SOUND],
four [SOUND], two [SOUND].

Again, the trick is lifting it up
enough for that A string to ring.

Not my favorite shape but for
some people, they love the shape, so

that's one way of doing it.

Again, I'm always gonna push using
all four fingers, doing four [SOUND],

four [SOUND], four [SOUND], two [SOUND].

Okay, now, so let's do E major [SOUND],
four, four, four, two [SOUND].

Then we have an E7, much easier,
one, two, zero, two.

So put index on the one, on the G [SOUND].

Middle finger on the two,
on the C [SOUND].

E string open, [SOUND].

A string, second fret.

A string, second fret, [SOUND].

Yep, [LAUGH] with the ring finger.

So one [SOUND], two [SOUND],
zero [SOUND], two [SOUND].

[SOUND] Ahhh, it's so much easier [SOUND].

All right, now, E minor.

The easiest way to play E minor
is gonna be open on the top,

on the G [SOUND], and
then we're gonna think of stairs.

We're gonna use our ring finger, start on
the fourth fret of the C string [SOUND].

And we're gonna complete the stairs by
middle finger on the third fret [SOUND],

pointer on the second fret [SOUND].

So zero [SOUND], four [SOUND],
three [SOUND], two [SOUND].

See the nice stairs going down?

[SOUND] All right, so
of all the different voicings right now,

the E major is the hardest one.

E7 is not so bad, E minor is not so bad.

Let's try this one more time.

So E major, four, four, four, two.

So four [SOUND], four [SOUND],
four [SOUND], two [SOUND].

E7, one, two, zero,
two [SOUND], look like that.

Good, good, good.

It's a nice and straight wrist,
thumb on the side.

One [SOUND], two [SOUND],
zero [SOUND], two [SOUND].

[SOUND].

E minor, zero, four,
three, two, or the stairs.

Zero [SOUND], four [SOUND],
three [SOUND], two [SOUND].

Now, even for the E minor, you should be
nice and rested on the side of your index.

And you should have these fingers pointed
down or angled, toward that bridge there.

[SOUND] All right.

[MUSIC]

All right, the F chord.

F chord is a lot easier on
the ukulele than it is on guitar.

Now the F chord,
again starting from the notch here.

We're gonna take our pointer finger,
have a nice curl, and

we're gonna be on the first
fret of the E string.

Middle finger reach all the way
across to the A string.

Your thumb should be nice and
rested on the side of the neck.

So we really wanna focus on
having that nice, flat top.

Okay, so it's gonna cause us to have
a nice opening and curl for the bottom.

[SOUND] So again,
it's gonna be two on the top on the G.

[SOUND] Zero, [SOUND] one on the E,
[SOUND] and zero [SOUND].

Two, zero, one, zero.

Really focusing on using
the very tips of your finger.

That's gonna really
help create that curve.

Again, if you're seeing too much
finger over the fretboard and

having that point, that means it's
too much in that little pocket there.

You want it to be where
your index meets your palm.

So again, just enough finger over
the fretboard to make that nice flat top.

[SOUND] All right, F7.

So F is two, zero, one, zero.

F7, we're gonna keep that major shape.

And we're gonna take our ring finger,

place it on the third
fret of the C string.

And then pinky on the third
fret of the A string.

So again, take your basic F shape.

Ring finger on the third
fret of the C string,

which is the second string
closest to your face.

Pinky on the third fret of the A string.

The A string is, again,
closest to your feet.

[SOUND]
So two, three, one, three.

Two, three, one, three.

[SOUND] Okay, so
we have F major, [SOUND] F7.

[SOUND] Good, now does that look familiar?

That's part of the spider exercise,
the three and four versus one and two.

All right, same kinda deal.

[SOUND] All right, so F to F7.

Then we have F minor.

Now F minor, our pinky will be on
the third fret of the A string.

And we're gonna take our pointer finger,
put it on the one on the G string.

Open C, middle finger, one on the E.

So if we're going from the G string,
it's gonna be one, [SOUND] zero, or open,

then one [SOUND] and three [SOUND].

One, zero, one, three.

[SOUND] Again, it should be nice in
this notch, right up there, nice curve.

[SOUND] All right, so F,
two, zero, one, zero.

[SOUND] F7 Just adding the ring and

pinky down on the C and
the A string on the third fret.

[SOUND]

Now F minor, one, zero, one, three.

[SOUND]
Great job.

[MUSIC]

[MUSIC]
All right,

the G chord.

The G chord is, we talked about
this a little bit earlier but

the G chord is gonna look
like a little triangle.

Again your finger should be nice and
rested on the side there.

Thumb on the side of the neck.

Now, I usually started with putting my
ring finger on the E string, third fret.

And my pointer and my middle finger were
gonna surround and complete the triangle.

So what I'm doing again,
ring finger third fret of the E string.

Then taking my pointer and middle finger
we're gonna place them on the strings

surrounding the ring finger and completing
that triangle on the second fret there.

So it's gonna be zero, two, three, two.

Again, zero, two, three, two.

[MUSIC]
Great.

Now, G7 is actually gonna
be an opposite triangle.

Where these two guys,
these two frets will stay the same, but

I'm gonna be using different fingers.

Because the triangle would
now flips pointed that way.

Okay, so this is G major.

Now for
G7 I'm gonna take my pointer finger.

On the E string first fret,
then take my middle and ring and

surround it just like I did the G cord,
right around the A and the C string.

And now my triangle is point up.

So it's going to be zero, two, one, two.

[MUSIC]
Okay, so

let's try that transition one more time.

So we have a G major using ring
finger from the third fret of the E

surrounding it by the pointer and middle.

Zero, two, three, two.

[MUSIC]
Then I put my pointer finger on

the E string first fret surrounded
with my middle and ring.

Triangle pointing up.

[MUSIC]
Zero, two, one, two.

G major, triangle
[MUSIC].

Flip the triangle and G7
[MUSIC].

Back to the G major
[MUSIC].

Flip it to the G7
[MUSIC].

Great.
Now G minor.

G minor looks very similar to the G7 but
what we are going to do is form

the G7 shape we are going to flip that
ring finger form the A string second

fret to the the third fret of the E,
just like the G major actually.

And take a pointer and
drop it to the A string.

So it's going to be open on the G.

[MUSIC]
Two on the C.

[MUSIC]
Three on the E.

And one on the A.

[MUSIC]
So zero, two, three, one.

Again it should be nice and
rested in that notch.

Zero.

Two.

Three, one, and a nice flat top.

All right, so we have G major,
triangle pointing down.

[MUSIC]
G7, triangle pointed up.

[MUSIC]
G minor, zero two three and one.

[MUSIC]

[MUSIC]
All right,

lastly is the A chord.

A chords are fun.

They're nice and easy.

We're going to be doing two,
one, zero, zero.

So again, middle finger,
second foot on the G string,

pointer finger index on the one on
the C string and then open, open.

So two, one, open, open,
this is your A major.

[SOUND] Now, A seven.

All you have to do,
this is really hard, all right?

So you've gotta really pay attention.

[LAUGH] All you have to do is
just take the middle finger off.

[MUSIC]
Okay, really easy,

so middle finger back down for A major.

Two, one, zero, zero.

To get to an A7, all you have to
do is take the middle finger off.

Zero, one, zero, zero.

Now let's put it back on for A major.

Now if you want to do A minor we're
going to take off the other finger.

So pointer finger comes off.

And it's gonna be two, zero, zero, zero.

So that's your A minor.

Two, zero, zero, zero.

All right so let's try and
play through this.

A major, two,one, zero, zero.

Let's do two strums.

One, two, good.

A seven, middle finger comes off for
zero, one, zero, zero.

Two strums.

[MUSIC]
Good.

Now A minor, middle finger stays on,
pointer finger comes on.

So it's two, zero, zero, zero.

Two strums.

[MUSIC]

[MUSIC]
>> All right, B flat.

So we talked about this
a little bit earlier.

But again, B flat is gonna be third fret
of the G string, [SOUND] second fret of

the C string, [SOUND] and then we're going
to take our second from the C strings,

and then we're going to bar the first
frets of the E and the A strings.

So it's going to be three, two, one, one.

Now, if you had an easier time actually
barring that entire first fret to

make your B-flat, that's gonna benefit
you when you go to the B-flat 7.

All you have to do,
if you're barring that entire first fret,

is lift off that ring finger.

So it's gonna be one, two, one, one.

So again, even as I'm playing this chord,
I am pulling it back a bunch with my

left hand, and compensating that pull
by pushing with my forearm this way.

So again,
there's a lot of pressure between my arms.

Now again B flat with the entire bar.

Three, two, one, one.

Then letting go of that ring finger, one,

two, one, one, [SOUND] okay.

Now, the B flat minor looks very similar

to that C minor that we
just played earlier.

So C minor was the bar three,
with the ring finger on the five.

This B flat minor will
be three one one one, so

I'm gonna bar the first
fret with the index,

ring finger jumps up to
the third fret on the G string.

[SOUND] So you can either bar all four,
or you bar the bottom three strings.

[SOUND] So again, we have B flat,
three, two, one, one.

You can either bar all the way across or
just the bottom two strings.

Let's try four of those,
one, two, three, four.

Then ring finger comes off,

making sure I'm barring all the way across
with that pointer now, one, two, one, one.

Let's try that four times.

This is the B-flat-7, one,

two, three, four.

Now, we're gonna go to the B-flat minor,

which is bar bottom three
strings on the one or all four.

And then ring finger jumps
to the G string third fret,

one, two, three, four.

Now, if some of the songs that you've
already been trying to fool around

with have the B major chord or B7 or
B minor, all you need to do is reference

the B flat, B-flat 7 and B-flat minor,
and bring it up one fret.

For example, for the B flat,
three, two, one, one.

If you needed a B major chord,
all you have to do is take your hand and

drag it up one fret, and
that's your B major, [SOUND] okay?

Now, let's go back to B flat.

If you want, going from the B flat 7,
[SOUND] if you needed a B7,

you just again,
slide that whole shape up one fret.

[SOUND] And that's now your B7.

Same thing with the B-flat minor.

[SOUND] If you needed a B minor take
that shape, move everything up.

[SOUND] So that's your B minor.

So B major is actually gonna be four,
three, two, two.

B7 two, three, two, two.

And B minor, four,

two, two, two.

[MUSIC]

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