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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| baritone uke chords | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 07:59 pm |
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1st Post |
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luleblue Approved 
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I am a total 'newbie' to the uke, and not too smart when it comes to music/notes either but have picked up a little bit playing my Q-Chord. I've always wanted to play guitar and could never get the hang of getting my fingers around all 6 strings, so thought I'd try the baritone uke. Just got it last week and I've been looking at the chord charts on 'ezfolk.com'. Not sure I understand, but does what they show for each chord mean that there are that many different ways to play that chord? like 9 to 11 in some instances? Hope I'm not showing too much ignorance here. Also it seems there are a lot more sites with info on chording/playing etc. with the uke chorded as GCEA? Any other good ones you may know of?? Thanks for any help. luleblue
____________________ Lu Le Blue |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 08:38 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Will Approved 
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Unlike a keyboard, where is one unique key to play each musical note, on a fretted instrument like a baritone uke (or guitar) there are multiple places on the fretboard to play the same note. There are thus many alternate chord shapes for the same chord name; each version of the chord has a different sound (called "voicing"). However, if you are learning as a beginner, you will be using what are called "first position open chord" shapes which are concentrated on fretting near the end of the neck. The chord shapes usually have one or more unfretted (called "open") strings, so it is usually unncessary to fret all four strings on most chords. If you are playing chords on a baritone uke, you are playing modified guitar chords without the low E and A strings. Some baritone uke song books will contain small fretboard diagrams along with the chords, showing you how to make the chord shapes. Last edited on Thu Mar 6th, 2008 08:39 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 04:43 am |
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3rd Post |
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ezmember Approved
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I'm getting the impression that the three other kinds of Ukes (Soprano, Concert, Tenor) are more popular for "uke" playing...that higher pitched sound. Hence, the GCEA tuning and the greater number of chord charts and song tabs/chords for those ukes. The Baritone is a wonderful instrument, its sound is simply more like that of a guitar. You may want to just start collecting them all, like the rest of us.  And it's very do-able compared to playing the guitar. You'll catch on quick. Stick around here and read all the old posts, they're full of good information for beginners and everybody else too.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 07:45 pm |
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4th Post |
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luleblue Approved
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I saw two ladies just recently at an RV park jam session with baritone ukes, and I THOUGHT they said you could play the chords on the uke with one finger on the left hand. That is why I ran out and bought one, thinking I could handle that. But from what I'm seeing on the chord chart, that is not the case. So of course I'm very disappointed. I'm afraid I'm still going to have the same problem I had trying to play the guitar. So I'm a little discouraged already. luleblue
____________________ Lu Le Blue |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 08:21 pm |
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5th Post |
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Will Approved
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luleblue wrote: I saw two ladies just recently at an RV park jam session with baritone ukes, and I THOUGHT they said you could play the chords on the uke with one finger on the left hand. That is why I ran out and bought one, thinking I could handle that. But from what I'm seeing on the chord chart, that is not the case. So of course I'm very disappointed. I'm afraid I'm still going to have the same problem I had trying to play the guitar. So I'm a little discouraged already. luleblue You can play only ONE common chord with one finger on a baritone uke, G major. The only other instrument I know of where chords can be played with one finger is the autoharp, which is the first string instrument I learned how to play. You push a chord button down with a finger on your left hand and you strum across the strings with a thumb pick on your right hand. When you press down on a chord button on the autoharp, felt pads come down and mute the non-harmonizing strings, so that you get a perfect chord in several octaves. A autoharp can be purchased for well under $200. The 21-chord model is easier to play than the slightly cheaper 15-chord model. If this sounds like an instrument you would be interested in, visit the Autoharp Forum here at ezFolk: http://www.ezfolk.com/forums/forum49/ http://www.music123.com/LMI-21-Chord-Chordharp-470071-i1145055.Music123  http://www.music123.com/LMI-15-Chord-Chromaharp-470069-i1145053.Music123 \ 
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 10:43 pm |
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6th Post |
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rskelley Approved
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Tune the baritone (or any uke) to an open chord shape and one can play a chord with one finger. I don't think you won't find a chord diagram for open chord tuning though.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 05:42 am |
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7th Post |
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Will Approved
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If you tune the high string of your baritone lower from E to D, you will get what is called an open-G tuning. Simply strumming all 4 strings without pressing down on the strings is called an open chord. You can shorten the length of the strings if you lay your left index finger (called a "barre") with your thumb on the back of the neck; barre across all 4 strings at different fret positions. This will give you only major chords, and will not give you minor, 7th, or other chords. Barre on fret #: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Major open chord:G Ab A Bb B C Db D Eb E F F# G
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Fri Mar 14th, 2008 02:22 am |
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8th Post |
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luleblue Approved
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Hello again, thanks for your help, although I'm not sure I totally understand your last post. Are you saying that if I hold down all 4 strings at one time on one fret, going down the frets, beginning with the top being G, that I can get each chord that way? I had a problem doing that, but when I did try it the E string didn't sound right. Also, I was wondering about the chords on the ezfolk.com site. For instance on C chord, there are a few of the charts that have a dotted line on the upper or the lower string. Does that mean you don't strum that string? I know that it takes C, E, and G to make the C chord, and sometimes it will show two E's or two G's, is that giving you a choice of which fret/string you want to use? And the number at the end of the chart, is that the finger number? Sorry for so many questions, but I didn't see any explanation to these things. The music sounds right when I play it following these ideas, but just want to be sure I'm doing it right, before I go too far. Thanks again. luleblue
____________________ Lu Le Blue |
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| Posted: Fri Mar 14th, 2008 04:20 am |
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9th Post |
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Will Approved
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luleblue wrote: Hello again, thanks for your help, although I'm not sure I totally understand your last post. Are you saying that if I hold down all 4 strings at one time on one fret, going down the frets, beginning with the top being G, that I can get each chord that way? I had a problem doing that, but when I did try it the E string didn't sound right. Also, I was wondering about the chords on the ezfolk.com site. For instance on C chord, there are a few of the charts that have a dotted line on the upper or the lower string. Does that mean you don't strum that string? I know that it takes C, E, and G to make the C chord, and sometimes it will show two E's or two G's, is that giving you a choice of which fret/string you want to use? And the number at the end of the chart, is that the finger number? Sorry for so many questions, but I didn't see any explanation to these things. The music sounds right when I play it following these ideas, but just want to be sure I'm doing it right, before I go too far. Thanks again. luleblue I was trying to follow up on rskelley's post, who suggested that if you were finding it difficult to fret different strings for chords, that an open tuning would allow you to at least play major chords by using the same exact fingering pattern (a "barre" finger laid across all 4 strings at different frets). This ONLY works if you DON'T follow the standard tuning for baritone uke; instead of tuning DGBE, tune it to DGBD. That is, tune the high string so that it is one note LOWER than E. DGBD are all notes within the G major chord, so that you can strum all 4 without using your fret hand, but other chords would require changing the length of all of the strings in a uniform manner, but using the barre finger. If you choose to play open tuning, you will not be able to use the baritone uke chord charts.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 01:09 am |
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10th Post |
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BartlebysUke Approved 
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Lule, boy oh boy do I ever feel for you. I was in the same kind of place just two years ago. All of the stuff online seemed overwhelming, and four strings was starting to seem just as bad as six. The breakthrough for me came when I sat down with another player—who wasn't that much morer experienced than I was—who was I was able to mimic and observe and talk to. We didn't even spend that long at it; maybe one session of 20-40 minutes. But it was the difference between success and failure. Seriously, if I can play the Ukelele, anyone with fingers on their left hand can. Don't give up on yourself. But do find another player to help you get started. It will be worth it, I swear. I don't think I have ever been so glad about trying something new in my whole life.
____________________ exegi monumentum aere perennis. |
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| Posted: Sun Nov 23rd, 2008 11:26 pm |
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11th Post |
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Dave Alexander Approved 
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Luleblue: Take Douglas Adam's (Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy) best advice: DON"T PANIC. Start with three easy chords: G, D and G7. Two of these only use one finger on the first string. The other uses three fingers in a really tight pattern, but here's plenty of room for your fingers on a bari fretboard. Swing between these three, and it almost sounds like a song. Practice the heck out of them. After a while, look up the C. Then D7. After a while it begins to get easier. Again, just noodle around with these, and look to see what songs you can find on in simple baritone uke or guitar books. From the chatter on these forums, you'll hear lots of complicated stuff -- but most folks here say the baritone uke is far easier than a guitar (fewer strings, more space between strings.) By the way, yes there are lots of ways to form some chords. They sound very much alike to most folks....so play the easiest. Look at A7. I can play it with two fingers on two strings, or put my whole first finger down over 4 strings and reach another finger on top of another string. Um, I'm gonna choose the first way. And as always, if you're not havin' fun....come here for a boost. And if you really aren't having fun, send that uke my way.
____________________ "My ukulele playing IS entertaining. Just not always to others." -- Dave Alexander |
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27th, 2008 02:41 am |
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12th Post |
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Dave Alexander Approved
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Will: I don't want to hijack his thread, but is that how those blues guys play with bottleneck sliders? Tune it open G and barre the strings with a bottleneck? (Lule - Sorry to jump in and hijack, but my question barely warrents a thread. Keep people up on your progress. Don't give up. The bari uke is very accessable for beginninrs. If I can play, anyone can.)
____________________ "My ukulele playing IS entertaining. Just not always to others." -- Dave Alexander |
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27th, 2008 06:49 am |
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13th Post |
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Will Approved
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Yes, slide playing (with a hollow steel or glass tube) and steel playing (with a solid steel bar - i.e. Hawaiian lap steel or bluegrass dobro) on a guitar are usually done with an open tuning, but it's not quite as easy as that. In order to play other than major chords, such as minors and 7ths, it is often necessary to play partial chords (because it would be impossible in open tuning to play all of the notes of certain chords, so only the "important" notes are played) by slanting the slide or bar.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27th, 2008 12:22 pm |
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14th Post |
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Dave Alexander Approved
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Cool. Thanks.
____________________ "My ukulele playing IS entertaining. Just not always to others." -- Dave Alexander |
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| Posted: Wed Dec 31st, 2008 01:32 pm |
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15th Post |
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Latro Approved
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If you go to the website Chordie They have nearly every guitar song known to man. If you register (free) you can access beginner songbooks and create your own collection. Best of all, if you pull up a guitar song, if you look to the right of the page, you can change it from guitar to baritone uke and the chord fingerings will change. It has been invaluable to me. Eric Mart
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| Posted: Wed Oct 28th, 2009 06:26 pm |
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16th Post |
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Dulcauke Approved
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If you really want to play music and songs and are worried about learning the Ukulele, look into a Strumstick there many of them out there and they are so easy to play. You don't have to read music and you can learn to play them by ear. You almost can't hit a wrong note and can learn to make up your own little songs. I play my ukulele's and my Strum sticks every day for at least and hour or so and it relaxes me. It's hard to beat music for an out let.........
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| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Baritone Uke > baritone uke chords | Top |
