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Six Essential Scales for Ukulele

A scale is simply collection of pitches or notes, not really "this is a Jazz scale", "this is a Blues" or "this is a Rock scale". It's how a scale is used that really matters.

Most music starts with a scale. The melody, chords, licks and riffs all 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.

UL04_six_scales

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The Six Essential scales (in no particulate order):

  • Blues (Minor Pentatonic)
  • Pentatonic (Major Pentatonic)
  • Dorian (Minor)
  • Mixolydian (Dominant)
  • Aeolian (Natural Minor)
  • Ionian (Major)

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Six Essential Scales for Ukulele

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Six Essential Scales for Ukulele

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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.

Six Essential Scales for Ukulele

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Six Essential Scales for Ukulele

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UL04_SIX_ESSENTIAL_SCALES.PHP | Updated: Friday, 19th April, 2013 @ 10:01pm

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