Lesson 3.1
The following information and quiz are in regards to the chords you have learnt through the first two terms of Year 7 Music.
Chord chart basics
Ukulele chord charts or chord diagrams show four vertical lines, with each line representing a ukulele string. The first, or leftmost vertical line represents the topmost string on the ukulele (G string). Imagine you are looking at the ukulele’s fretboard with the headstock on top.
The horizontal lines represent the frets on the neck of the ukulele. The top horizontal line is usually thicker or marked by a double line. This line represents the guitar’s nut. If the chord diagram shows frets higher than the fourth fret, the top horizontal line will not be in bold or marked by a double line. You will see numbers at either the left side or the right side. These refer to a particular fret number when a chord is played higher up or beyond the fourth fret.
Ukulele chord charts or chord diagrams show four vertical lines, with each line representing a ukulele string. The first, or leftmost vertical line represents the topmost string on the ukulele (G string). Imagine you are looking at the ukulele’s fretboard with the headstock on top.
The horizontal lines represent the frets on the neck of the ukulele. The top horizontal line is usually thicker or marked by a double line. This line represents the guitar’s nut. If the chord diagram shows frets higher than the fourth fret, the top horizontal line will not be in bold or marked by a double line. You will see numbers at either the left side or the right side. These refer to a particular fret number when a chord is played higher up or beyond the fourth fret.
There are also black circles or dots on the lines on the chord charts. A dot on the string means this should be fretted, or pressed down to the fretboard using a finger. Some chords may show a “0” or “o” at the top of some strings, this means these strings are played open or are not to be fretted.
This represents how it should be held and strummed on the ukulele, as seen in the picture below:
Do you see how both pictures are representing the same thing - the F Chord? Now using this knowledge, as well as your previous sheets from Year 7 Music in your music folder, you can attempt the following quiz:
You may need to reference some of your sheets that you have been given to answer these questions.