Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice

By Ted Fong, January 2016

!
Table of Contents
1.! The Major Scale ........................................................................................................ 2!
2.! Chords Defined ......................................................................................................... 3!
3.! Intervals ..................................................................................................................... 4!
4.! Chord Symbols ......................................................................................................... 4!
5.! Ukulele Chord Shapes .............................................................................................. 5!
6.! Chord Functions........................................................................................................ 7!
7.! Chord Functions Applied to Pearly Shells ............................................................. 8!
8.! Chord Progressions in Different Keys ....................................................................... 9!
9.! Chord Shapes Applied to Common Chord Progressions: ...................................... 10!
10.! Chord Shapes Applied to All of Me .................................................................... 13!
11.! Inversions ................................................................................................................ 14!
12.! Circle of Fourths ...................................................................................................... 15!
13.! Chord Progressions Along Circle of Fourths ........................................................... 16!
14.! Identify These Shapes ............................................................................................. 17!

Introduction
This handbook contains knowledge, insights, and practice habits I picked up teaching ukulele
at the Chinese Community Church in the past five years. Its far from complete as far as
teaching methods go, but its a good start for intermediate players who want to take their
playing to the next level. I present a lot of music theory. If youre put off by this, keep in mind
that our ultimate goal is to play ukulele by ear. Learning theory and practicing these exercises
will really help. It will promote your creative side and develop your intuition in a wide range of
musical situations. Playing ukulele will be more fun than ever before!

If you want to help me offset the cost of developing this and other teaching materials, you can
make a $5 donation at tinyurl.com/uke1234. Thank you for your support!

Ted Fong
Sacramento, CA
January 2016

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 1

1. The Major Scale
The major scale is the source of all chords in modern music. It is defined as the following
sequence of whole steps (W) and half steps (H):

Piano

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do

C D E F G A B C

!! ! W W H W W W H !
Ukulele
A C D E F G A B C
E
C
G

W W H W W W H

Using this formula, a major scale can be built starting from any note, giving rise to a tonal
center that the ear recognizes as a key. For example, when you play a major scale starting
on A, you play the notes A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#-A. The ear recognizes this as a major scale in the
key of A. It sounds the same as a C major scale, but in a different range.

Other major scales can be constructed as follows:

Key Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
C C D E F G A B C
G G A B C D E F# G
D D E F# G A B C# D
A A B C# D E F# G# A
E E F# G# A B C# D# E
F F G A Bb C D E F
Bb Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
Eb Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
Ab Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
!
We use Do, Re, Mi to identify the sound of each note in the major scale rather than actual
letters. Letters will change with each key, but the basic major scale sound will not. Julie Andrew
describes this perfectly in the Sound of Music, When you know the notes to sing, you can sing
most anything. Watch video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps52qEFiLbg. Thank you Julie!

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 2

2. Chords Defined
Chords are formed by combining alternating notes of a major scale:
F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B

C Major Scale C D E F G A B C

Containing the chords: Interval from chord root:

C C E G 1 3 5
Dm D F A 1 b3 5
Em E G B 1 b3 5
F F A C E 1 3 5 maj7
G G B D F 1 3 5 b7
Am A C E G 1 3 5 b7
Bdim B D F 1 b3 b5

Keyboard visualization:
4-note chords
C"Maj7" Dm7" G7"

!C !D !E !F !G !A !B !C! D !E !F !G !!!A!! !B! !C !D !E !F !G !A !B !C! D !E !F !G !A !B !C !D !E!

C" Am" F" Dm" B"dim" G"

3-note chords

Chords have a certain sound quality depending on the intervals (described in next section) that
define them:

Chord Type Example Quality Defining Interval

Major C, Cmaj7, C6 Happy, bright, majestic Major 3rd
Minor Cm, Cm7 Cm7b5 Sad, dark, mysterious Minor 3rd
Dominant C7, C9, C7b9 Tense, dissonant, bluesy Minor 7th
Diminished Cdim Tense, dissonant, unstable Minor 3rd and Flat 5th

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 3

3. Intervals
Common intervals:

Interval Other names # Half # Whole Examples

Steps Steps
2nd Major 2nd 2 1 C-D A-B Eb-F
Minor 3 rd
flat 3 or b3 3 1.5 C-Eb A-C Eb-Gb
3 rd
Major 3 rd
4 2 C-E A-C# Eb-G
4 th
Perfect 4 th
5 2.5 C-F A-D Eb-Ab
5 th
Perfect 5 th
7 3.5 C-G A-E Eb-Bb
6 th
Major 6 th
9 4.5 C-A A-F# Eb-C
Minor 7th flat 7, b7, dominant 7 10 5 C-Bb A-G Eb-Db
7 th
Major 7 th
11 5.5 C-B A-G# Eb-D
Octave 12 6 C-C A-A Eb-Eb

Combining intervals to make chords:

Chord Example Notes Combines

major chord or major triad C C-E-G major 3rd + minor 3rd
minor chord or minor triad Cm C-Eb-G minor 3rd + major 3rd
major 7th chord Cmaj7 C-E-G-B major 3rd + minor 3rd + major 3rd
minor 7th chord Cm7 C-Eb-G-Bb minor 3rd + major 3rd + minor 3rd
dominant chord or 7th chord C7 C-E-G-Bb major 3rd + minor 3rd + + minor 3rd
diminished Cdim C-Eb-Gb-A minor 3rd + minor 3rd + minor 3rd
!

4. Chord Symbols
Chord symbols define which notes make up a chord (but not their stacking order). They are
based on intervals described in the last section, although idiosyncrasies do exist.

Chord Symbol Interpretation Notes

C C major chord or triad C-E-G
Cmaj7 Add a major 7 to a C major chord
th
C-E-G-B
C7 Add a dominant 7 to a C major chord C-E-G-Bb
Cm7 Add a minor 7 to a C minor chord C-Eb-G-Bb
Cm7b5 Add a flat 5 to a Cm7 chord
th
C-Eb-Gb-Bb
C6 Add a 6 to a C major chord
th
C-E-G-A
C9 Add a 9 to a C7 chord
th
C-E-G-Bb-D
C7#11 Add a 9 and a sharp 11 to a C7 chord
th
C-E-G-Bb-D-F#

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 4

5. Ukulele Chord Shapes
A ukulele chord shape is a pre-defined hand position that can be moved up and down the fret
board to facilitate transposing (playing in a different key) and playing inversions of open
chords. An inversion is a re-stacking or rearrangement of the notes in a chord. For example, C
E G and E G C are inversions of the C major chord.

Basic Shape
Go+a"Know" Derived Shapes
Good"to"Know"
!
G"Shape" G7"

2" 2"
R" R"

b7"

C"Shape" Cm7" C7" C9" Cm7b5"

b5"

3" R" 3" b7" b3" R" 3" b7" R" 3" b7" 3" b7" b3" R"

9"

D"Shape" Dmaj7" D7"

2" R" 2" R" 2" R"

b7"
M7"

R"

F"Shape" F7" Fmaj7"

3" 3" b7" 3"

M7"

R"
!
!
!
!
!

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 5

 Go,a"Know" Good"to"Know"
A7#Shape# Amaj7# Am7# Am7b5#

2# R" 2# R" 2# R" 2# R"

b7" b7" b3" b5" b7" b3"

M7"

Fm7#Shape# Fm7b5#
1# b3" R" 1# b3" R"
b5"

b7" b7"

F9#Shape# F7b9# F7b9b13#

2# 3" 2# 3" b9" 2# 3" b9"

b7" 9" 5" b7" 5" b7"
b13"

Diminished#
Shape#

R" R"
R" R"

!
! !

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 6

6. Chord Functions
The function of a chord refers to the harmonic role that a chord plays in a song. It is denoted
by a Roman numeral and associated with a certain sound that a good ear can recognize. The
Roman numeral refers to the distance from the root of the chord to the key of the song. For
example, an F chord in the key of C functions as a IV chord (four chord), because the root of
the chord is F, the fourth note in the key of C. A D minor chord in the key of C functions as a ii
chord (two chord), because the root of the chord is D and its the second note in the key of
C. An upper case Roman numeral means that the chord is a major chord. Lower case means
that the chord is a minor chord.

Earlier we saw this diagram that shows how chords form naturally when you build a chord on
alternating notes of the major scale, in this case, a C major scale (all the white keys on a piano).
!
C Major Scale C D E F G A B C

Chord Chord Function Interval from chord root:

C I C E G 3 5
Dm ii D F A b3 5
Em iii E G B b3 5
F IV F A C E 3 5 maj7
G V G B D F 3 5 b7
Am vi A C E G 3 5 b7
Bdim vii B D F b3 b5
!
!
Each chord can be assigned a chord function based on the position of its root relative to C. A
column labeled Chord Function has been added to this table to show this.

Notice that the I, IV, and V chords are major chords, and the ii, iii, and vi chords are minor
chords. This phenomenon occurs naturally in all major keys! This table below provides further
illustration.
A$system$of$idenAfying$chords$based$on$their$harmonic$purpose$within$a$given$key.$

Chord&Func+on& I& ii&& iii& IV& V& vi& vii&

Major&or&
Chord&Type& Major& Minor& Minor& Major&
Dominant&
Minor& Dim&

Key$of$C$Major$ C& Dm& Em& F& G&or&G7& Am& Bdim&

Key$of$D$Major$ D& Em& F#m& G& A&or&A7& Bm& C#dim&

Key$of$E$Major$ E& F#m& G#m& A& B&or&B7& C#m& D#dim&

Key$of$F$Major$ F& Gm& Am& Bb& C&or&C7& Dm& Edim&

Upper$case$denotes$major$or$dominant$chord,$i.e.$$I,$$IV,$$and$V.$Lower$case$denotes$minor$or$diminished$chord,$i.e.$ii,$iii,$vi,$and$vii.$
!

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 7

7. Chord Functions Applied to Pearly Shells

A I-chord tends to sound like its resting. A V-chord projects tension and often resolves to a I
chord or a IV chord.

G (resting)
Pearly shells from the ocean
C
Shining in the sun
A7 D7 (tension)
Covering the shore
G G7 (a V chord to C)
When I see them
C Cm7
My heart tells me that I love you
G (resting) D7 (tension) G (resting)
More than all the little pearly shells

All the chords in the song can be assigned a chord function:

Chord Function I ii II7 iii iv IV V7 vi vii

FufunFunction
Chord G Am A7 Cm C D7 Em7

Notes:

A7 and Cm do not follow the general rule that the ii-chord is minor and the IV chord is
major. This is done purposely to create musical interest.
G7 on line 4 functions as a V chord to C on line 5, creating tension and release.

Other chord functions have their own signature sound. The next section on Chord Progressions
will give you a chance to explore the sound of chords when they function in different
contexts.

Why is all this information about chord functions important? Our ultimate goal is to play by ear.
The training process goes much faster if you can identify what you are hearing and put a name
to it. You want your left brain (analytical) to inform your right brain (creative), and vice versa.
Overtime, your right brain will take over most of your musical processing and create the art that
we call music.
!

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 8

8. Chord Progressions in Different Keys
!
1. Function I IV V I
2. Function I vi ii V

Type Major Major Dom Major Type Major Minor Minor Dom

Key of C C F G7 C Key of C C Am Dm G7
Key of G G C D7 G Key of G G Em Am D7
Key of D D G A7 D Key of D D Bm Em A7
Key of A A D E7 A Key of A A F#m Bm E7
Key of F F Bb C7 F Key of F F Dm Gm C7
Key of Bb Bb Eb F7 Bb Key of Bb Bb Gm Cm F7

3. Function ii V I 4. Function I V vi IV

Type Minor Dom Major Type Major Major Minor Major

Key of C Dm G7 C Key of C C G Am F
Key of G Am D7 G Key of G G D Em C
Key of D Em A7 D Key of D D A Bm G
Key of A Bm E7 A Key of A A E F#m D
Key of F Gm C7 F Key of F F C Dm Bb
Key of Bb Cm F7 Bb Key of Bb Bb F Gm Eb

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 9

9. Chord Shapes Applied to Common Chord Progressions:
!
Practice these up and down the fret board, while identifying the chord names:

V I V7 I
1. 2.

I IV V IV
3.

I IV V IV
4.

I vi IV V
5.

I iii IV V

6.

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 10

 I IV V I
7.

I IV V I
8.

I V7 IV V7
9.

I vi IV V7
10.

I iii ii V7
11.

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 11

 I ii iii IV V vi
12.

ii V I ii V I

13. 14.

II7 V7 I II7 V I
15. 16.

I #Idim ii V9

17.

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 12

 10. Chord Shapes Applied to All of Me
!
Shown: Shape | Fret

))
)IV) INTRO!!!!!!!C!!!!!!!!!!C#dim!!!!!!!!Dm7!!!!!!!!G7!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!C|3!!!!!!!!!!!!!Dim|3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Cm7|5!!!!!!!!F9|4!
!C! !
5 !C|3! C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!E7!
C|3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!G|7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!C7|7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!D7|4!
!C!
All!of!me.!why!not!take!all!of!me..!
2 !C|3!
!!
!D! A7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Dm!!A7!!!Dm!
4 !C|5! G|4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Cm7|5!!!!G|4!!!Cm7|5!
Can't!you!see!I'm!no!good!without!you,!
!F! !!
5 !F|3! E7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Am!!!!E7!!!!!Am!
D7|4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!C7|7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Fm7|5!!D7|4!!!Fm7|5!

)V) Take!my!lips..I!want!to!losethem,!
!
!A! D7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Dm!!!G7
C7|5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Cm7|5!!!!G|2!
!
2 !G|4!
Take!my!arms!I'll!never!use!them.!
!A7! !!
2 !A7|4! C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!E7!
C|3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!G|7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!C7|7!!!!!!!!!!!!!D7|4!
Your!goodbyesthey!leU!me!with!eyes!that!cry,!
!!
A7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Dm!!A7!!!Dm!
G|4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Cm7|5!!!!!!G|4!!!!Cm7|5!
3 !!
How!can!I!get!along!without...you,!
!!
3 !! F!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Fm7!!!!!!!!!!!!C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!A7!
D|5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Cm7|8!!!!!!!!!!!!!G|7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!G|4!
You!took!the!part!that!once!was!my!heart,!
!!
!!!!!!D7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!G7!!!!!!!!C!!!!!C#dim7!!Dm7!!G7!
!!!!!!!C7|5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!G2!!!!!!!!!C|3!!!!!!!!!dim|3!!!!!!!!!Cm7|5!!!F9|4!
5! So!why!not!take!all!of!me.! !
! ! !
!
2!

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 13

11. Inversions
!
An inversion is a re-stacking or rearrangement of the notes in a chord. For example, The C
chord contains the notes C-E-G. Inversions of the C chord are E-G-C and G-C-E. Playing
different chord shapes for the same chord is a natural way of producing inversions.

Inversions are useful for adding musical interest and constructing chord melodies where the
note on the top of the chord is the same as the melody note.

Chord Inversions (Shape-Fret)

C C-Open C-3 F-10

D D-Open D-2 C-5 G-9
D7 D7-2 C7-5
Dm Dm-Open Cm7-5
E F-2 D-4 G-11
E7 E7-Open D7-4 C7-7
Em7 Em-Open Cm7-7
F F-Open F-2 D-5 C-8
G G-Open G-2 F-5 D-7
A A-Open G-4 F-7 D-9
Bb C-1 G-5 F-8 D-10
!

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 14

12. Circle of Fourths
!
The Circle of Fourths is a sequence of 12 notes or chords that are separated by a 5 half steps
The"Circle"of"Fourths"is"a"sequence"of"12"notes"or"chords"that"are"separated"by"a"5"half"steps"or"a"
or 4th.""Much"of"Western"music"is"based"on"chord"progressions"along"the"Circle"of"Fourths.""
a 4th. Much of Western music is based on chord progressions along the Circle of Fourths.
! "
4th" 4th" 4th" 4th" 4th"

Bb Eb Ab Db Gb

A"""""B""""C""""D"""""E"""""F"""""G""""A""""B"""""C""""D"""""E"""""F""""G"""""A""""B""""C"""""D""""E"""""F"""""G""""A""""B"

4th" 4th" 4th" 4th" 4th" 4th" 4th"

Memorize"the"sequence!""""B"""E"""A"""D"""G"""C"""F"""Bb"""Eb""Ab"""Db"""Gb"

4ths"Progression"or"
4th" 4th"
Circle"of"Fourths"
(5ths"Progression"
or"Circle"of"5ths)" F#,"C#"
1" F" Bb"

F#,"C#,"G#" F#"
D" 2"

A" G 3" G" C"

F#,"C#,"G#,"D#"
E" " C" 4"

5" A" D"

Chord"Root""
B" or"Key" F" Bb"
6" 000"
F#,"C#,"G#,"D#,"A#" 7" B" E"

Gb" Bb" 8"

Db" Eb" Bb,"Eb"

9" Db" Gb"
Bb,"Eb,"Ab,"Db,"Gb,"Cb""
Ab" 10"

11" Eb" Ab"

Bb,"Eb,"Ab"
Bb,"Eb,"Ab,"Db,"
Gb""
Bb,"Eb,"Ab,"Db"
!
!
! !

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 15

13. Chord Progressions Along Circle of Fourths

1." Start"
2." Start" 3." Start"
Am# D7# G A" D7# G7 A" D" G7
E" " C" E" # C# E" # C7#

B" ii5V5I" F" B" II5V5I" F" B" II5V5I" F#

Gb" Bb" Gb" Bb" Gb" Bb"
Db" Eb" Db" Eb" Db" Eb"
Ab" Ab" Ab"

4." 5." Start" 6."

Am# Dm# G7# A7# D# G" A" D7# G7#
Start"
E" C# Em7# C" E" C7#
B" I5vi5ii5V" F" Bm7# I5vi5ii5V" F" B" I5VI5II5V" F#Start"
Gb" Bb" Gb" Bb" Gb" Bb"
Db" Eb" Db" Eb" Db" Eb"
Ab" Ab" Ab" !

A D G
7. We Wish You A Merry Christmas E C
G (G-2) C (C-3) A (G-4) D (C-5)
We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, B F
B (G|6) Em7 (Cm7|7) Am (Fm7|5) D7 (C7|5) G (F|5) Gb Bb
We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy.. New.Year. Db Eb
Ab

A D G
8. Aint She Sweet E C
C (C-3) E7 (D7-4) A (G-4) D7 G (G-2) C (C-3) B F
Now, I ask you very.....confidentially, aint she sweet?
Gb Bb
! Db Eb
Ab
9. Little Grass Shack
B7 (C7-2) E7 (D7-4) A D G
I can hear the old guitars playing, on the beach at Hnaunau E C
A (G-4) D7 (C7-5)
I can hear the old Hawaiians saying, Komo mai no kua i ka hale welakahao B F
G (D-7) A (D-9) Gb Bb
It won't be long till my ship will be sailing back to Kona Db Eb
Ab

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 16

14. Identify These Shapes
!
1"b3" R"
2" 2" R" 2" 3"
R" b7" 9" 5" b7" 3" b7" b3" R"
M7"
b7"

2" 2" R" 2" R" 2" R"

R" 3" b7"
M7" M7"
R"

1"b3" R"
2"
3" b7" b3" R" 3" b7" b7" R" b7" R"

2" R"
3" 3" R" 3" b7" R" 3"
M7"

R" R"

2" R" 2" R" R" R" 2" R"

b7" b3" b7" R" R" 3" R" b7"

Ukulele Chord Theory & Practice | 2016 Edition 17