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Ukulele George

@ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social

190 followers 84 following 1.5K posts

Bald, quite possibly mad, builder of ukuleles. Accordion proselytizer. Unicyclist. Jackie Coogan stunt double. Posts uke chords & accordions, likely too much.

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Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · Feb 4

PSA
If you're looking for sensible chords, you're probably following the wrong account. If you appreciate a little bit (or a lot) of ludicrousness in your life & ukulele playing, you've definitely come to the right place.
As time allows, I'm working on a ukulele jazz chord dictionary.
Strum on!

1 9

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 1d

Today's chord is F#7, the 6 in our 6-2-5-1 in A. Based on an open E7, our 3(A#)/b7(E) pair is on strings 4 & 3, our root(F#) is on string 2, & our 5(C#) is on string 1.
Groove on!

1 1

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 1d

When it comes to ukulele chord theory, the 2 most important things to remember are:
1.) Chords aren't real.
2.) If it sounds good, it is good.
I will gladly die on this hill.
So, what sounds good? Tension & release. Let's add some tension to our 6-2-5-1 by using all 7th chords.

1 3

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 3d

While putting together a video for our 12 bar blues turnaround example, I realized I would probably actually add our turnaround like this:
A|A|A|A
D|D|A|A
E7|D|A-F#|B-E7:||
or
1|1|1|1
4|4|1|1
5|5|1-6|2-5:||
Try both & see which you prefer.
Groove on!
youtu.be/mqHhcd6NIrs

Blues in A with a 6-2-5-1 Turnaround 2

YouTube video by Ukulele George

youtu.be

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 3d

Here's a 4 chorus video with roots for our 12 bar blues:
youtu.be/_1on6IcfukI

Blues in A with a 6-2-5-1 Turnaround 1

YouTube video by Ukulele George

youtu.be

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 3d

Have fun, explore, & remember, mistakes are how you learn!
youtu.be/PQmaE-VQXO4

3/

VI-II-V-I in A Backing Track to Explore Rootless Chord Voicings

YouTube video by Ukulele George

youtu.be

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 3d

at the top of the form.
Our new form looks like this:
A|A|A|A
D|D|A|A
E7|D|F#m-Bm|E7:||
or like this if you want to transpose:
1|1|1|1
4|4|1|1
5|5|6-2|5:||
Also try it anywhere you have 2 successive bars of A by playing each chord for 2 beats.
2/

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 3d

Here's the full progression.
Let's dig it in a simple 12 bar blues. Our basic form:
A|A|A|A
D|D|A|A
E7|D|A|A
We are going to substitute our 6-2-5-1 for bars 11 & 12. We'll play our 6 & 2 chords for 2 beats each in bar 11, our 5 chord for 4 beats in bar 12, & our 1 chord will be bar 1...
1/

1 2

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 3d

Today's chord is A, the 1 in our 6-2-5-1 in A. One of the main triad shapes to form moveable chords, our root(A) is doubled on strings 4 & 1, our 3(C#) is on string 3, & our 5(E) is on string 2.

1 1

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 5d

for all intents and purposes.
6-2-5:
youtu.be/l_9mkOIptlg
* I know it says 2-5-1 in E, but those are the same roots as a 6-2-5 in A.
2/

ii-V-I in E Backing Track to Explore Rootless Chord Voicings

YouTube video by Ukulele George

youtu.be

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 5d

Today's chord is E7, the 5 in our 6-2-5-1 in A. One of the 4 main 7th chord shapes, our 3(G#)/b7(D) pair is on strings 4 & 3, our root(E) is on string 2, & our 5(B) is on string 1.
I know I said this would be all triads, but when used as a 5 chord, I consider it's 7th chord version a triad...
1/

1 1 4

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 5d

Thing popped by for a visit. Scared me so bad my beard fell off.

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 6d

P.S. A full bar across fret 2 isn't strictly necessary, but it's easier for me to play it that way.

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 6d

Today's chord is Bm, the 2 in our 6-2-5-1 in A. Based on an open Am triad, our root is doubled on strings 4 & 1, our b3(D) is on string 3, & our 5(F#) is on string 2.
6-2 roots:
youtu.be/wuZS6OBEVYI
*I know it says 2-5 in E, but it's the same root notes.
Strum on!

1 1

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 6d

Today's chord is F#m, the 6 in our 6-2-5-1 in A. Our b3(A) is on string 4 & 1, our 5(C#) is on string 3, & our root(F#) is on string 2. I thought we'd use all triads for this so you can get a feel for it in its simplest form.
I dig that this is basically an open G7 shifted to strings 2-4.
Groove on!

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 6d

I thought we'd look at a couple 6-2-5-1 progressions. The 6 chord (not to be confused with 6th chords) is a great way to extend a 2-5-1 progression. 6-2-5-1 progressions also make great turnarounds. We'll be in the alluring key of A.

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 7d

Groove on!
youtu.be/l_9mkOIptlg
2/

ii-V-I in E Backing Track to Explore Rootless Chord Voicings

YouTube video by Ukulele George

youtu.be

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 7d

Here's the full progression.
Due to the open strings, this 2-5 isn't nearly as brutal as it would be if played up the neck. I love this 5-1 because while there is a hand shift, our finger placement stays the same relative to the strings. The 9 & #5 also give it an expectant sound that I dig.
1/

ii-V-I in E Backing Track to Explore Rootless Chord Voicings

YouTube video by Ukulele George

youtu.be

1 1

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 7d

Today's chord is Emaj9#5, the 1 in our 2-5-1 in E. Based on the Dread Fmaj7™, our 3(G#)/7(D#) pair is on strings 4 & 3, our root(E) on string 2 is moved up 2 frets to become our 9(F#), & our 5(B) on string 1 is moved up 1 fret to become our #5(B#).
Root:
youtu.be/-kngT6JGVXk

1 1

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 9d

Today's chord is B9, the 5 in our 2-5-1 in E. Based on an open A7, our b7(A)/3(D#) pair is on strings 4 & 3, our 5(F#) is on string 2, & our root(B) on string 1 is moved up 2 frets to become our 9(C#).
Root:
youtu.be/Iq5bO7ZrGTc
2-5:
youtu.be/wuZS6OBEVYI

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 10d

Today's chord is F#m7, the 2 in our 2-5-1 in E. Based on an open Gm7, our root(F#) on string 4 is moved up 3 frets to double our b3(A), our 5(C#) is on string 3, & our b7(E)/b3(A) pair is on strings 2 & 1.
Groove on!
Root:
youtu.be/zrWZYESUJy4

1 2

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 11d

the chords multiple times.
Groove on!
youtu.be/Ik7HuRYQAYQ
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ii-V-I in B Backing Track to Explore Rootless Chord Voicings

YouTube video by Ukulele George

youtu.be

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 11d

Here's the full progression.
Just a quick shift to get from our 2 to 5 chord. If you'd like a more static 2-5, try F#13 as 3446, but I digress.
To get from our 5 to 1 chord we have another quick shift up and we play almost the same shape as our 2 chord, making this easy to cycle through...
1/

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 11d

Today's chord is Bmaj7, the 1 in our 2-5-1 in B. Based on an open Gmaj7, our root(B) is on string 4, our 5(F#) is on string 3, & our 7(A#)/3(D#) pair is on strings 2 & 1.
Root:
youtu.be/Iq5bO7ZrGTc

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 13d

Today's chord is F#9, the 5 in our 2-5-1 in B. Based on an open E7, our 3(A#)/b7(E) pair is on strings 4 & 3, our root(F#) on string 2 is moved up 2 frets to become our 9(G#), & our 5(C#) is on string 1.
Keep it grooving!
Root:
youtu.be/zrWZYESUJy4
2-5:
youtu.be/4wjSF6DPkNA

Ukulele George @ukuleleg3orge.bsky.social · 14d

Today's chord is C#m13, the 2 in our 2-5-1 in B. Based on an open Am7, our b7(B)/b3(E) pair is on string 4 & 3, our 5(G#) on string 2 is moved up 2 frets to become our 13(A#), & our root(C#) on string 1 is moved up 2 frets to become our 9(D#).
Groove on!
youtu.be/LMkPyHrZRFI