Chords for The Most Unusual Ukulele Chord - James Hill Ukulele Tutorial
Tempo:
120.1 bpm
Chords used:
G
Ab
C
Am
D
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
In this tutorial I'm going to show you how to play a very unusual chord that can make your ukulele sound like a Japanese koto, like this.
[Am]
Now this really is a unique chord.
There's no other chord like it on the ukulele fretboard.
And here's how you play it.
It starts with an open [G] fourth string.
Nothing to do on the G there.
On the C string, put your middle finger [Ab] on the 8th fret.
On the next string over, the E string, put your ring finger also on the 8th fret.
So far we have an open string and two fingers at the 8th fret.
Now the finishing touch is the first finger that's going to reach back to the 5th fret of the A string, giving us a D note.
And here they are one at a time.
[Ab] [G]
And if I play them a little bit faster, with a brush of my thumb, I get this sound.
Isn't that a wonderful sound?
Almost like the ukulele has a secret identity.
You know, it doesn't even sound like a ukulele.
I will say one thing, and that is you won't get this sound exactly unless you have the high 4th string.
You have to have the high G.
The, my dog has fleas, tuning.
If you have the low 4th string, my dog has fleas, then it won't quite sound right.
It won't have that Japanese koto kind of feeling about it.
Now we could finish the lesson right there because, well, you know how to play the koto [C] chord.
But [G] if you know me, you know that I'm always looking for something special that's going to take whatever skill I'm teaching to the next level.
And this lesson is no different.
To finish off, I'm going to show you how to play a right hand roll using four of your fingers on the right hand that will make this chord sound like a million bucks.
If you've never done a roll before with the right hand, it's a pretty simple idea.
Instead of playing all the notes of a chord at the same time, we're going to play them one after another, using a different finger for each string.
So we start with the thumb on the G string.
The index finger on the right hand is going to handle the [Ab] C string.
Middle finger is going to pick the E string.
[G] And the ring finger is going to pick the A string.
Like that.
The secret here is that you want to have all your fingers ready before you start the roll.
So they should all be in contact with the strings, all perched and ready to release once the roll begins.
Now I call this the seven string roll.
And in just a moment you'll understand why, even though I'm playing a four stringed instrument, I call this the seven string roll.
Here's step one.
We roll through, starting from the thumb, ending on the ring finger, like this.
[D] Pretty standard.
[C] [G] One finger per string.
[Ab]
And if you've done a lot of right hand rolls before, this will feel very familiar.
But here's the best part.
Instead of finishing there, with the ring finger on the right [D] hand, this time I want you to draw the ring finger across the strings, backwards, toward the ceiling, [Ab] [G] when you finish the roll.
So instead of finishing the roll in the conventional way, [Ab]
right here you're going to keep your ring finger in play and pull it back across [G]
all four strings, like that.
So when you have those two together, you go forward roll, [Ab] and then right [G] into the ring finger dragging itself backwards across the strings.
When you put those two steps together, with a little bit of practice, you get this.
You hear that?
One more time.
And it sounds, I think it confuses the ear.
It makes the ear think that the ukulele actually has more strings than it has.
You hear more than four notes, but it all seems to come from one strum.
And if we count them up, we get one, two, three, [Cm] four, five, [Abm] six, [G] seven.
And that's why I call this the seven string roll.
I hope you've enjoyed this lesson.
Don't forget to check out [Fm] theukuleleway [A].com.
That's where I'm giving lessons [C] on the art and science of solo ukulele.
[Am] In [G] other words, how to play melody, harmony, and rhythm simultaneously [C] on one instrument.
We've got [C] an active community of learners, [F] people all around the world, helping each other toward their musical goals.
I hope you'll come and be a part of it.
It's free to sign up.
You have nothing to lose.
[C] So I hope to [Db] see you there.
Also [G] check out some [Gb] of my other YouTube [G] tutorials.
And until the next
[Am]
Now this really is a unique chord.
There's no other chord like it on the ukulele fretboard.
And here's how you play it.
It starts with an open [G] fourth string.
Nothing to do on the G there.
On the C string, put your middle finger [Ab] on the 8th fret.
On the next string over, the E string, put your ring finger also on the 8th fret.
So far we have an open string and two fingers at the 8th fret.
Now the finishing touch is the first finger that's going to reach back to the 5th fret of the A string, giving us a D note.
And here they are one at a time.
[Ab] [G]
And if I play them a little bit faster, with a brush of my thumb, I get this sound.
Isn't that a wonderful sound?
Almost like the ukulele has a secret identity.
You know, it doesn't even sound like a ukulele.
I will say one thing, and that is you won't get this sound exactly unless you have the high 4th string.
You have to have the high G.
The, my dog has fleas, tuning.
If you have the low 4th string, my dog has fleas, then it won't quite sound right.
It won't have that Japanese koto kind of feeling about it.
Now we could finish the lesson right there because, well, you know how to play the koto [C] chord.
But [G] if you know me, you know that I'm always looking for something special that's going to take whatever skill I'm teaching to the next level.
And this lesson is no different.
To finish off, I'm going to show you how to play a right hand roll using four of your fingers on the right hand that will make this chord sound like a million bucks.
If you've never done a roll before with the right hand, it's a pretty simple idea.
Instead of playing all the notes of a chord at the same time, we're going to play them one after another, using a different finger for each string.
So we start with the thumb on the G string.
The index finger on the right hand is going to handle the [Ab] C string.
Middle finger is going to pick the E string.
[G] And the ring finger is going to pick the A string.
Like that.
The secret here is that you want to have all your fingers ready before you start the roll.
So they should all be in contact with the strings, all perched and ready to release once the roll begins.
Now I call this the seven string roll.
And in just a moment you'll understand why, even though I'm playing a four stringed instrument, I call this the seven string roll.
Here's step one.
We roll through, starting from the thumb, ending on the ring finger, like this.
[D] Pretty standard.
[C] [G] One finger per string.
[Ab]
And if you've done a lot of right hand rolls before, this will feel very familiar.
But here's the best part.
Instead of finishing there, with the ring finger on the right [D] hand, this time I want you to draw the ring finger across the strings, backwards, toward the ceiling, [Ab] [G] when you finish the roll.
So instead of finishing the roll in the conventional way, [Ab]
right here you're going to keep your ring finger in play and pull it back across [G]
all four strings, like that.
So when you have those two together, you go forward roll, [Ab] and then right [G] into the ring finger dragging itself backwards across the strings.
When you put those two steps together, with a little bit of practice, you get this.
You hear that?
One more time.
And it sounds, I think it confuses the ear.
It makes the ear think that the ukulele actually has more strings than it has.
You hear more than four notes, but it all seems to come from one strum.
And if we count them up, we get one, two, three, [Cm] four, five, [Abm] six, [G] seven.
And that's why I call this the seven string roll.
I hope you've enjoyed this lesson.
Don't forget to check out [Fm] theukuleleway [A].com.
That's where I'm giving lessons [C] on the art and science of solo ukulele.
[Am] In [G] other words, how to play melody, harmony, and rhythm simultaneously [C] on one instrument.
We've got [C] an active community of learners, [F] people all around the world, helping each other toward their musical goals.
I hope you'll come and be a part of it.
It's free to sign up.
You have nothing to lose.
[C] So I hope to [Db] see you there.
Also [G] check out some [Gb] of my other YouTube [G] tutorials.
And until the next
Key:
G
Ab
C
Am
D
G
Ab
C
In this tutorial I'm going to show you how to play a very unusual chord that can make your ukulele sound like a Japanese koto, like this. _ _ _ _ _
_ [Am] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ Now this really is a unique chord.
There's no other chord like it on the ukulele fretboard.
And here's how you play it.
It starts with an open [G] fourth string.
Nothing to do on the G there.
On the C string, put your middle finger [Ab] _ on the 8th fret.
On _ the next string over, the E string, put your ring finger also on the 8th fret. _
So far we have an open string and two fingers at the 8th fret. _
Now the finishing touch is the first finger that's going to reach back to the 5th fret of the A string, _ giving us a D note.
And here they are one at a time.
_ [Ab] _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _
And if I play them a little bit faster, with a brush of my thumb, I get this sound. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Isn't that a wonderful sound?
Almost like the ukulele has a secret identity.
You know, it doesn't even sound like a ukulele.
I will say one thing, and that is you won't get this sound exactly _ unless you have the high 4th string.
You have to have the high G.
The, my dog has fleas, tuning.
If you have the low 4th string, my dog has fleas, then it won't quite sound right.
It won't have that Japanese koto kind of feeling about it. _ _ _
Now we could finish the lesson right there because, well, you know how to play the koto [C] chord.
_ _ But [G] if you know me, you know that I'm always looking for something special that's going to take whatever skill I'm teaching to the next level.
And this lesson is no different.
To finish off, I'm going to show you how to play a right hand roll using four of your fingers on the right hand that will make this chord sound like a million bucks. _ _ _ _ _
_ If you've never done a roll before with the right hand, it's a pretty simple idea.
Instead of playing all the notes of a chord at the same time, we're going to play them one after another, using a different finger for each string.
So we start with the thumb on the G string. _ _
The index finger on the right hand is going to handle the [Ab] C string.
Middle finger is going to pick the E string.
_ [G] And the ring finger is going to pick the A string.
_ Like that.
The secret here is that you want to have all your fingers ready before you start the roll.
So they should all be in contact with the strings, _ all perched and ready to release once the roll begins.
Now I call this the seven string roll.
And in just a moment you'll understand why, even though I'm playing a four stringed instrument, I call this the seven string roll.
Here's step one.
We roll through, starting from the thumb, ending on the ring finger, like this.
_ [D] _ _ _ Pretty standard.
_ [C] _ _ [G] _ One finger per string.
[Ab] _ _ _ _ _
And if you've done a lot of right hand rolls before, this will feel very familiar.
_ _ _ But here's the best part.
_ Instead of finishing there, with the ring finger on the right [D] hand, this time I want you to draw the ring finger across the strings, backwards, toward the ceiling, [Ab] _ _ [G] _ _ when you finish the roll.
So instead of finishing the roll in the conventional way, [Ab] _
right here you're going to keep your ring finger in play and pull it back across _ [G] _
_ all four strings, like that.
_ So when you have those two together, you go forward roll, _ [Ab] and then right [G] into the ring finger dragging itself backwards across the strings.
When you put those two steps together, with a little bit of practice, you get this.
You _ _ hear that?
One more time.
_ _ _ _ And it sounds, I think it confuses the ear.
It makes the ear think that the ukulele actually has more strings than it has.
You hear more than four notes, but it all seems to come from one strum. _
_ _ And if we count them up, we get one, two, three, _ [Cm] four, five, [Abm] six, _ [G] seven. _ _
And that's why I call this the seven string roll.
I _ _ _ _ hope you've enjoyed this lesson.
Don't forget to check out [Fm] theukuleleway [A].com.
That's where I'm giving lessons [C] on the art and science of solo ukulele.
[Am] In [G] other words, how to play melody, harmony, and rhythm _ simultaneously [C] on one instrument.
We've got [C] an active community of learners, [F] people all around the world, helping each other toward their musical goals.
I hope you'll come and be a part of it.
It's free to sign up.
You have nothing to lose.
[C] So I hope to [Db] see you there.
Also [G] check out some [Gb] of my other YouTube [G] tutorials.
And until the next
_ [Am] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ Now this really is a unique chord.
There's no other chord like it on the ukulele fretboard.
And here's how you play it.
It starts with an open [G] fourth string.
Nothing to do on the G there.
On the C string, put your middle finger [Ab] _ on the 8th fret.
On _ the next string over, the E string, put your ring finger also on the 8th fret. _
So far we have an open string and two fingers at the 8th fret. _
Now the finishing touch is the first finger that's going to reach back to the 5th fret of the A string, _ giving us a D note.
And here they are one at a time.
_ [Ab] _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _
And if I play them a little bit faster, with a brush of my thumb, I get this sound. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Isn't that a wonderful sound?
Almost like the ukulele has a secret identity.
You know, it doesn't even sound like a ukulele.
I will say one thing, and that is you won't get this sound exactly _ unless you have the high 4th string.
You have to have the high G.
The, my dog has fleas, tuning.
If you have the low 4th string, my dog has fleas, then it won't quite sound right.
It won't have that Japanese koto kind of feeling about it. _ _ _
Now we could finish the lesson right there because, well, you know how to play the koto [C] chord.
_ _ But [G] if you know me, you know that I'm always looking for something special that's going to take whatever skill I'm teaching to the next level.
And this lesson is no different.
To finish off, I'm going to show you how to play a right hand roll using four of your fingers on the right hand that will make this chord sound like a million bucks. _ _ _ _ _
_ If you've never done a roll before with the right hand, it's a pretty simple idea.
Instead of playing all the notes of a chord at the same time, we're going to play them one after another, using a different finger for each string.
So we start with the thumb on the G string. _ _
The index finger on the right hand is going to handle the [Ab] C string.
Middle finger is going to pick the E string.
_ [G] And the ring finger is going to pick the A string.
_ Like that.
The secret here is that you want to have all your fingers ready before you start the roll.
So they should all be in contact with the strings, _ all perched and ready to release once the roll begins.
Now I call this the seven string roll.
And in just a moment you'll understand why, even though I'm playing a four stringed instrument, I call this the seven string roll.
Here's step one.
We roll through, starting from the thumb, ending on the ring finger, like this.
_ [D] _ _ _ Pretty standard.
_ [C] _ _ [G] _ One finger per string.
[Ab] _ _ _ _ _
And if you've done a lot of right hand rolls before, this will feel very familiar.
_ _ _ But here's the best part.
_ Instead of finishing there, with the ring finger on the right [D] hand, this time I want you to draw the ring finger across the strings, backwards, toward the ceiling, [Ab] _ _ [G] _ _ when you finish the roll.
So instead of finishing the roll in the conventional way, [Ab] _
right here you're going to keep your ring finger in play and pull it back across _ [G] _
_ all four strings, like that.
_ So when you have those two together, you go forward roll, _ [Ab] and then right [G] into the ring finger dragging itself backwards across the strings.
When you put those two steps together, with a little bit of practice, you get this.
You _ _ hear that?
One more time.
_ _ _ _ And it sounds, I think it confuses the ear.
It makes the ear think that the ukulele actually has more strings than it has.
You hear more than four notes, but it all seems to come from one strum. _
_ _ And if we count them up, we get one, two, three, _ [Cm] four, five, [Abm] six, _ [G] seven. _ _
And that's why I call this the seven string roll.
I _ _ _ _ hope you've enjoyed this lesson.
Don't forget to check out [Fm] theukuleleway [A].com.
That's where I'm giving lessons [C] on the art and science of solo ukulele.
[Am] In [G] other words, how to play melody, harmony, and rhythm _ simultaneously [C] on one instrument.
We've got [C] an active community of learners, [F] people all around the world, helping each other toward their musical goals.
I hope you'll come and be a part of it.
It's free to sign up.
You have nothing to lose.
[C] So I hope to [Db] see you there.
Also [G] check out some [Gb] of my other YouTube [G] tutorials.
And until the next