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Six Essential Scales for Ukulele
A scale is just a collection of pitches or notes, not really "this is a Jazz scale", this is a Blues or "this is a Rock scale" scale. It's how a scale is used that really matters.
Most music starts with a scale. The melody, chords, licks and riffs all come can be related back to a particular scale or scales.
You can base your essential scales on the Major (Ionian) and Natural Minor (Aeolian) scales. From theses two scales you can derive other essential scales by raising or lowering a note or by adding and removing notes.
Here are the six essential scale, in open position, the key of C.
Check out the video tab 
above to see the Ionian and Aeolian scales played on ukulele.
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Six Essential Scales for Ukulele
Printable Lesson PDF: FREE
Six Essential Scales for Ukulele
Printable Lesson PDF: FREE
Video Example - Ionian and Aeolian Scales
A few Notes and Tips about the video
The Ionian Scale is the same as the Major scale. The Aeolian scale is the same as the Natural Minor scale.
Technique Tip: that I'm trying to keep the fingertips pointing to the strings even when they are not playing notes. Try and eliminate any unnecessary motion that is not directly related to producing music.
Related Lessons
Here a few lessons that might be of interest to the topic and principles covered in this lesson.
7 Lesson(s)
Lesson content icons: | |||
 | Diminished Scale for Ukulele - C TuningThe Diminished scale is a symmetrical scale with a repeating pattern of whole steps and half steps. You only need to learn the Diminished scale in three keys to cover all 15 keys. UL25b: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 8, 2012, 12:52 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Harmonic Analysis - Scale SelectionHarmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale ..... MLRMA18: Published: April 6, 2012, 9:31 pm | Updated: April 7, 2012, 2:16 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Learning The Blues Scale on UkuleleLearn the Blues and Pentatonic scales on ukulele. A practical approach to learning theses two essential scales using the Blues scale. Scales like chords, are typically ..... UL13: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 9, 2012, 9:05 am | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Six Essential Scales for UkuleleThe six essential scale are: Blues, Major Pentatonic, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, and Ionian. There are two scales that can be the memorized and all other essential scales referenced from these two. These two ..... UL04: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 14, 2012, 8:48 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Ukulele Doodling - An Introduction to Scales and Soloing on UkuleleAn Introduction to Scales and Soloing on Ukulele using the C Pentatonic Scale Licks, riffs, leads, spontaneous melodies, solos... In the guitar world, this is called Lead Guitar. In the ukulele ..... UL107: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 14, 2012, 10:10 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
 | What is the different between a Scale and a Mode?A scale and mode can contain exactly the same notes. So when it is a scale and when is it a mode? This lesson explores the content that determine when a scale is a mode. UL110: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 12, 2012, 7:48 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Whole Tone Scale for Ukulele - C TuningThe Whole Tone scale is a symmetrical scale with an equal distance been each note or scale degree. Each scale degree is a whole step from the previous. You only need two whole tone scales to cover all ..... UL25: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 8, 2012, 12:52 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
Audio
Related Books
All book sizes are 8.5" x 11" unless noted and music stand friendly, "lay flat" coil binding.
HARD COPY
QS1UKES
Hard Copy Book Not Available
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning
Six essential scales for C tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys with one octave scale fingerings starting on any finger.
The QuickStart series of scale fingering books are available in a variety of tunings for ukulele, guitar and bass guitar.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-6-5 Published: September 2003 Pages 98
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eBook
QS1UKES
Printable eBook/PDF: $4.95
NOW - With quick download after payment.
HARD COPY
QS1UKES-G
Hard Copy Book: $14.95
QuickStartScale Fingerings for Tenor and Baritone Ukulele, Volume I, G Tuning
Six essential scales for G tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys with fingerings.
The QuickStart series of scale fingering books are available in a variety of tunings.
Tunings: G with low or high D - (DGBE or dGBE).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-5-8 Published: March 2004 Pages 98
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QS1UKES-G
Printable eBook/PDF: $4.95
NOW - With quick download after payment.
HARD COPY
QSUAT-C
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QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads C Tuning
Major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios fingerings in all keys for C tuned ukuleles.
Available in C and G tunings.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-016-4 Published: November 2005 Pages 96
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QSUAT-C
Printable eBook/PDF: $4.95
NOW - With quick download after payment.
HARD COPY
QSUAT-G
Hard Copy Book: $14.95
QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads G Tuning
Major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios fingerings in all keys for G tuned ukuleles.
Available in C and G tunings.
Tunings: G with low or high D - (DGBE or dGBE).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-017-1 Published: November 2005 Pages 96
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QSUAT-G
Printable eBook/PDF: $4.95
NOW - With quick download after payment.
HARD COPY
6SUF
Hard Copy Book: $14.95
Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering
Learn the principles to navigating the ukulele* fingerboard.
Fingering is one of the most universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight reading.
Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits not only to technique but also to creativity. All fingering on the ukulele can be reduced to 6 principles of motion. Each principle has physical and musical characteristics that you can use to improve your playing.
* The fingering principles in the books are suitable for ANY ukulele tuning.
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-041-6 Published: March 2006 Pages 42
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UKEREAD1
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Ukulele- Reading Music Series - Primer
Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position. It is a lot easier than you might think with this step-by-step easy to use approach.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-1-0 Published: July 2006 Pages 80
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Printable eBook/PDF: $4.95
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-2-7 Published: January 2003 Pages 90
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RMA1
Printable eBook/PDF: $4.95
NOW - With quick download after payment.
HARD COPY
MPRS-FW1
Hard Copy Book: $29.95
Modular Phonetic Rhythm, The Foundation and Workbook 1
Modular Phonetic Rhythm represents a significant advance in the teaching and application of rhythm. Eliminating many inefficient aspects of rhythm education, Modular Phonetic Rhythm streamlines the traditional educational approach, resulting in a reflexive reaction to rhythm.
ISBN-13: NA Published: September 2008 Pages 74
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eBook
MPRS-FW1
PDF/eBook Not Available
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UL04_SIX_ESSENTIAL_SCALES.PHP | Updated: Friday, 30th March, 2012 @ 04:36pm