Open position chords are the basic, first chords most ukulele players learn. These chords are played in the fret one, two, three and four area of the ukulele and include at least one open string in the chord.

Here are the common FREE basic open position chords to get you started in C tuning, high or low "G".

Two Approaches to Learning Chords

The Song Approach is to pick a song that you would like to learn and those are the chords you need to learn. Look them up, ask a friend or take a lesson or two. Then practice away.

A song is like a recipe, it contains ingredients: the chords, lyrics, and melody. The style and arrangement can be like the original recording or your own arrangement.

For basic open position chords in a few common keys, this approach will get you started. Simply memorize the shape and sound of the chord.

Another approach is to learn the common chords that show up in common keys and songs. This is especially helpful for occasions where you might have never played a particular song before or are reading the chords as you go. This happens a lot at jam sessions and club play-a-longs. Still, just memorize the shape and should of the chord.

All you really need is to know one of each chord you might encounter.

For Folk, Rock, Pop, Country and and Bluegrass common major keys are C, G, D, A, and E.

Here are the common FREE basic open position chords to get you started in C tuning, high or low "G". For most simple songs the chords all are from the main key and stay in that key.

Common Chords for Common Keys

The chords for a key, come out of the major scale for that key. If we number each scale degree of the major scale from 1 to 7 we have the chord's position and harmonic function within that key. When talking about chords these position numbers are typically indicated using the roman numerals: I II III IV V VI VII. This position will help with transposing to other keys and to recognize similarities between songs and chord progressions. There a quite a few common chord progressions that are used in popular music.

Using triads, three note chords, the chords for all major keys are:

1. major
2. minor
3. minor
4. major
5. major
6. minor
7. diminished

On the ukulele these triads are commonly played with one of the notes doubled. Giving us a four note chord that matches perfect with the four strings of the ukulele. Allowing you to strum all the strings.

The key of C major is one of the most common keys. It's sometimes called the learning key as it corresponds to the white keys if the piano. It's a good place to start.

The basic chords are:

1. C major
2. D minor
3. E minor
4. F major
5. G major
6. A minor
7. B diminished

The diminished chord rarely is rarely used and a G7 is substituted for it. A Diminished Seventh chord can also substitute fo the diminished chord..

With major chords being the most common chord the "major" part of the chord is typically not said or notated. If you say play a C chord, it's understood to mean "C Major". The minor chord type is shortened to "min" or "m". The diminished notation is shortened to "dim" or a degree sign. Leaving use with an easier to read list.

1. C
2. Dm
3. Em
4. F
5. G
6. Am
7. B°

Any one of the chords can be a seventh chord: C7, D7, E7, F7, G7, A7, and B7. These are 4-part chords containing four notes with no duplicate notes. All but the G7 are chords outside of the key of C major but common.

Here are all the possible open position seventh chords. For the chords that do not have an open position form their basic movable form is shown.

See the Key Signatures series of lessons for the common chords to all 15 major keys.

The second approach, which is almost required with movable form and "jazz" chords is to have a core set of chords and a systems for deriving additional chords from those known chords. And, knowing where and how chords are created and used.

Movable chord forms are chords with no open strings. Sometimes called barre chords, these chords are transposable by moving each note of the chord the same number of frets up and down the neck.

Each movable form is based on a common open position chord. Movable forms allow you to play chords not found in the open position and in any key.

Here is a series of 21 lessons chord lessons, taking basic open position chords and showing their movable forms. Each lesson contains practice progressions, additional derived chords with tips and tricks for remembering the chords. Beyond the basic open position chords that are way too many chord shapes to memorize. Even on the ukulele. It's better to start learning where chords come from and how to derive chords from a core set of chords.

Beyond learning open position and barre chords, most ukulele players struggle with advanced chords. Commonly called "jazz" chords, these more sophisticated voicings find a wide use in all forms of music. Building a "core" set of basic 4-part chords will allow you to create ANY, yes ANY chords you ever encounter.

From these four movable form 4-part chords, more advanced chords can be created.