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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
 Posted - 04/12/2007 : 6:56:13 PM
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I would venture to guess that more then 90 percent of uke players make the open G major chord by placing the pointer finger on the 2nd fret of the C string, the middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string and the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the E string. I have never made that chord that way in the 12 years that I have been playing. Switch your pointer with your middle finger and you are making it like I do. I finger the open D major chord on the guitar the same way. It is a more natural way for the fingers to be placed on the fretboard. I teach all my new students to make it that way. I don't insist, but I encourage other players to change. There are many advantages to making it that way. Some people don't want to change or think it difficult to change after years of playing. But, it's a mental thing.
I am curious to know how many people, if any, play it my way.
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Stay Tuned... |
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wdf
Ha`aha`a
USA
1154 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 8:05:09 PM
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| Actually, I like using middle finger on third string, second fret and ring finger on first string, second fret and pinkie on second string , third fret. That way its a snap to switch to G7 by lifting my pinkie and fretting the second string, first fret with my pointer. |
Dusty |
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Tonya
Lokahi
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 06:04:14 AM
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| Although I'm with the majority of (unthinking? stuck in the old pattern?) folks on that G shape, I've had workshop teachers tell me Dusty's "method" is good because it frees up your index finger to become a barred finger for moving the shape up the neck. I think it might be good training, too, to get that little (often uncoordinated/weak) pinkie into the act even on the open position chords because it will help with barred chords later on. Hmmm...something new to think about today....But then again, I'm just an enthusiastic player--not a talented one. |
http://www.uketreasures.com
http://www.ukuleletonya.com |
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Absolute
Lokahi
275 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 2:03:24 PM
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You have to put all THREE fingers on the strings - AT ONCE????
(Just kidding.) |
Thank you. |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 2:47:37 PM
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| You have to put STRINGS on the instrument? Oh, man... |
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sandman
Lokahi
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 5:57:02 PM
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| Sure changes things a lot! |
Leap into the boundless and make it your home.
Zhuang-zi |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2007 : 03:49:12 AM
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I don't play uke, but on guitar I play it using both fingerings. Dusty's way allows an easy change to D7, plus, I can use the index finger on the 6th string second fret for an extended D chord, or to walk the bass down from the D chord to the A chord. Using the other fingering allows you to extend the pinky to the 1st string 5th fret. It's the same chord , just duplicating the 3rd string note an octave higher for variety. Or make an added 4th chord by placing the pinky on the 1st string 3rd fret. Options are a good thing.Plus as Tonya said, get that pinky involved. No free rides here!
Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
Edited by - rendesvous1840 on 04/14/2007 03:52:59 AM |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2007 : 07:57:14 AM
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I like to use the familiar chord forms up and down the neck. So I don't play the "first position" G Major chord like that at all. I play is as a F Major chord form with a barre at the second fret. If I want the low G (I have a low G tenor) I make it a partial barre over the first three strings and open the low G. That way I can play the key of G Major all at the same barre position and only moving two fingers from G to C and then D7 (the vast majority of Hawaiian Mele are in this I-IV-V7 song structure.
The G is an F chord form with a barre at 2.
The C Chord is a Bb chord form with a barre at 2.
the D7 Chord is a C7 Chord form with a barre at 2.
I guess this is the "lazy man's" way to transpose from the key of F to G.
For that matter I also play the D Major chord as a barre chord (essentially the open position C Major chord (3rd fret, first [A] string) with a barre at 2. It is too hard for me to "scrunch-up" three fingers on the second fret, strings 2-4. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2183 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2007 : 06:14:47 AM
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The guy who taught me slack key also taught me some ukulele chords. His comment was, "Only need 2 fingers mostly" So I learned G6 for G, C6 fo C etc.
My Dad used to tell me, play it clean, don;t hurt yourself. |
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