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.

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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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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
Lessons directly related to Six Essential Scales for Ukulele.
| Related Lesson Title | |
| Whole Tone Scale for Ukulele - C Tuning The Whole Tone scale is a symmetrical scale with an equal distance been each note or scale degree. | |
| Learning The Blues Scale on Ukulele A practical approach to learning the Blues scale on ukulele. The Blues scale is one of the first scale most plays whatn to learn. It's a great to build on for your additional essential scales. | |
| What is the different between a Scale and a Mode? The term scale and mode are used interchangeably and in a strict theory sense there is a big difference between a scale and a mode or modal scale. They are NOT the same, even if they are the same notes. A scale and mode can contain exactly the same notes. | |
| Harmonic Analysis - Modes Harmonized Chord Charts Modes Harmonized Chord Charts used for while doing a Harmonic Analysis. Shows triads and 4-parts chords for ALL 15 major and minor keys. | |
| Upper Partial Chord Tones Upper Partials or extensions are the 9th, 11th, and 13ths of a chord. The 9, 11 and 13 can be altered chord tones depending on chord type: examples b9, #9, #11, b13 | |
| The Major Scale Not called the learning scale for a reason. The major scale is a great scale for learning how music and chords work. It's a core scale from which a majority of your core, essential scales can be derived. There are 15 major scales. |
Six Essential Scales for Ukulele
Books directly related to Six Essential Scales for Ukulele.
| Related Book Title | |
Six essential scales for C tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys. | |
Six essential scales for D tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys. | |
Six essential scales for G tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys. | |
If your goal is to finally learn the names of the notes on the ukulele fingerboard. Then Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard is your answer. Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - C Tuning, has a step by step approach to finally mastering the ukulele fingerboard. | |
Learning the ukulele fingerboard will finally get the names of the pesky notes under control. | |
Learning the ukulele fingerboard will finally get the names of the pesky notes under control. | |
Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. |

















