Demystifying Jazz Chords on Ukulele

A large part of playing jazz on ukulele is understanding the underlying harmony. Looking up chords only tells us where to place our fingers, not how the music works. Let’s put those chord charts away and work this out together on ukulele. With a little knowledge, you can learn to take chords that you already know and begin to mold them into new sounds.
Throughout this beginner jazz ukulele lesson we’re going to look at how to take a G major chord and turn into a host of other chords to better understand how chords themselves work.
Check out the full lesson at ukulelemagazine.com.
Lesson by Christopher Davis-Shannon (@untitledtopher)

[@gailalice2000]

I knew the bits and pieces, but you put it together in such a logical way; a progression rather than individual ideas. Thanks!!

[@gilbertachsen4734]

Wish I had lessons like this one years back. Thanks much for clarifying the theory.

[@Ukulelemag]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevewheeler6672]

I've picked up a fair amount of this information over the past decade, but your presentation is more organized and logical, and pulls it all together much better. I'll have to watch this again a few times to make certain I haven't missed anything.

[@Banjoleletinman]

Thanks, steve! Glad this was helpful for you

[@alanbraithwaite3394]

A great leap forwards in my understanding music journey. Thank you.

[@Ukulelemag]

So glad it was helpful for you. Thanks for watching!

[@57raytay]

wonderful lesson

[@georgeandyrose]

Very clear, very cool!

[@longtalljay]

First step to making jazz and jazz harmony/chords less scary is to realize that they are all over American/British popular music from 1910s to 1970s. Many of "your" favorite Tin Pan Alley and country songs use those chords and progressions. We should first learn what's afoot, harmonically, in the songs that already play in our heads, generally in perfect pitch!

[@3345646]

I think the next issue folks need to get a handle on is ……….
How the same fingering of a chord can function more than one way. It can change depending on what pitch is implied by a bass player. etc. Once you start subtracting the root and the 5th the 3rd and seventh now become the foundation

[@TheChristinemsmith]

Excellent tutorial!!!! TYVM!!!

[@one-handstrumman4616]

This is a great lesson. I hadn't thought of the chord breakdowns like this. Thank you for sharing

[@Banjoleletinman]

Thanks, Karl! Always enjoy seeing your tunes over on Facebook!

[@one-handstrumman4616]

@@Banjoleletinman thank you. These jazz progressions have been tricky to figure out. This helped immensely

[@stevenmay7269]

I discovered that I am drawn to the sound of jazz chords. This came by accident when I first started playing the uke 2 years ago. I would find them by mistake when I was trying to play something else. I would then draw them out because I could not usually find them on a chord chart. I would go back and create my own little tune using them. Thank you for sharing. I am a patreon and enjoy your videos. The lessons are always a stretch for me, but I still enjoy the learning process.

[@Banjoleletinman]

Thanks Steven! I always think exploring on the instrument and finding the sounds you gravitate towards is the best way to learn

[@Banjoleletinman]

Thanks for giving the opportunity to nerd out a little bit!

[@Ukulelemag]

Our pleasure! 🤓❤️🙌

[@FourInchCats]

Another outstanding lesson, thank you!

[@Banjoleletinman]

Thanks Morgana :)

[@carloszamora923]

Nice lesson. I'm thinking of taking it up ukulele but a lot of the music I listen to uses extended chords, so it's good to know that they can be at least approximated on the instrument. I was also wondering if you could use arpeggios rather than strumming in order to pick up some of the extra notes.

[@Ukulelemag]

Arpeggios is a good way to get all the notes you want into a phrase, as it chord melody. Check out Lyle Ritz and Benny Chong for great examples of jazz uke. Here's a lesson as well: ukulelemagazine.com/lessons/how-to-play-jazz-on-your-ukulele-a-primer Happy Ukeing!

[@stanleysokolow]

The scale notes on the staff begin with "low G", which is the G below middle C of the piano. But Christopher is playing with a high g string. This could be confusing to people who don't understand the difference.

[@skbrandhofer9950]

Hi Chris- i am Part of the Tin man Club - is there a written summary of this very comprehensive Lesson ? I am always at war with Music theory - the Video is too fast for me 😅

[@Ukulelemag]

Yes, you can read the lesson here: ukulelemagazine.com/lessons/demystifying-jazz-chords-on-ukulele