Intermediate Tuition

Playing in Different Keys

Music is written in different keys to suit the voice or other instruments. When performing, it is a good idea to choose songs written in different keys and different tempos to give variation. Different keys allow music to be played or sung by different instruments and voices. A tune in one key may be too high or too low for your voice but it may be just right in another key. Sometimes music is too difficult to play on an instrument in one key so it is rearranged in another easier key. Another method is by altering the tuning of an instrument as we often do with the Ukulele Banjo.

George Formby generally had four Ukulele Banjos available on stage, which allowed him to play in many different keys to suit his voice and the orchestration, and also allowed him to play the ‘Formby’ technique on the first five frets.

Although very little musical knowledge is required to be an accomplished player, when playing to accompaniment, either ‘live’ or ‘backing tracks’, it is absolutely essential to know which key you are playing in and ensure that your instrument is correctly tuned

I am sure that you are all familiar with a piano keyboard. It consists of white notes called Naturals, and black notes called Sharps or Flats.

A Sharp note, denoted by a #, is half a tone HIGHER than its related Natural note whereas a Flat note, denoted by a ‘b’ is half a tone LOWER than its related Natural note.

An OCTAVE covers EIGHT notes of any scale, which is a series of notes in alphabetical order, starting and ending with the KEY note after which the scale is named.

The easiest Key to remember is the Key of C Major, since there are only WHITE notes in this.

Note ! Major chords are generally bright and cheerful sounding whereas Minor chords sound mournful and sad.

Key of ‘C’ Major - C D E F G A B C

Key of ‘D’ Major - D E F# G A B C# D

Key of ‘F’ Major - F G A Bb C D E F

Key of ‘G’ Major - G A B C D E F# G

We all normally play our Ukulele Banjos using TWO sets of CHORDS, therefore, the KEY that you are playing in is dependant on how your instrument is TUNED although some of our more experienced players can play in several different keys on the same instrument.

One set of CHORDS are related to the ‘ONE FINGER CHORD’ and a second set of chords in a different key are related to the ‘TWO FINGER CHORD’.

TUNING	GCEA	ADF#B
KEYS	C & F	D & G

Most players have TWO instruments, one tuned in C & F and the other in D & G.

Remember, the chord shapes are always the same irrespective of the key to which your instrument is tuned.

Syncopation

Means ‘breaking up the rhythm’. Effective use of the right and left hand techniques create this syncopation to make the sounds produced more interesting.

Right Hand Technique

1) Simple use of the Thumb

Used by many players to strum the strings gently whilst singing

2) Use of the First Finger

a) Using this instead of a plectrum - but imagine you are holding one with the thumb supporting the first finger.
b) Use fingernail for DOWN strokes
c) Use the pad of the finger for UP strokes
d) Position hand so that fingernail strikes the strings at a right angle
e) Only use short strokes up and down. This economises the action for faster play.
Note that this is facilitated by holding the instrument correctly.
f) Play only in the playing area (See previous diagram)

3) Thumb and First Finger

On a down stroke, open up the thumb and first finger so that the first finger strikes the strings followed by the thumb, then an up stroke and a down stroke with the first finger. The sound produced should be like the 1234 of a train wheel going over a joint in the track.

4) The Split Stroke

As explained below

5) Five Finger Roll

With the fingers and thumb opened up, sweep them across the strings in a downward motion. This can usually be used to emphasise the start of a solo break.

6) The Circle

This stroke has a circular motion striking the strings downwards, first with the little finger followed by the thumb and as the hand circles catching the strings with the first finger with the hand closed on the upward motion.

Left Hand Technique

1) Tapping or Finger Lifting

As explained on the opposite page. This can be used with many chords in conjunction with the Split Stroke adding flavour to the sound.

2) Sliding

When a chord is formed, particularly on all four strings, the whole chord can be moved along the fingerboard in a sliding motion backwards and forwards over a single fret or a number of frets.

3) Using the thumb

Used to play the fourth string of chords such as Ab7 where the triangle part of the chord is formed normally and the thumb pressing the string from the other side of the fingerboard.

4) Melody Playing

This is where the left hand actually picks out individual strings and frets to play the melody of the tune, with the right hand fingers picking out the individual strings of the song as well as playing the background chords.

The Split Stroke

It appears that most learners once having achieved the ability to strum a few chords particularly desire to learn the SPLIT STROKE.

However, the Split Stroke (With the Right hand) is generally combined with the FINGER LIFT (with the Left hand).

If the FINGER LIFT is mastered first, then the SPLIT STROKE almost comes naturally.

The FINGER LIFT

Sometimes called the TAP STROKE because you are actually tapping the strings with the fingers of the left hand as you play the chords.

1) With the third finger (Left Hand) on the third fret of the first string strum downwards across all the strings with the nail of the (first) index finger (Right Hand).

2) Lift the third finger (L.H.) and bring the pad of the index finger (R.H.) upwards catching the 1st and 2nd strings.

3) Strum downwards again, but only catching the 4th and 3rd strings with the nail of the index finger.

Repeat this and practice, counting for each stroke and complete cycle - 123, 123, 123

You are now following a sequence of DUD, DUD, DUD DUD, DUD, DUD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

THE SPLIT STROKE

If you now modify the sequence of Up/Down movements slightly, by missing out the NINTH DOWNSTROKE in each sequence, tapping the first string as indicated by the arrows on the 1st, 4th and 7th Downstroke and counting to eight as follows, you will be playing the basic SPLIT STROKE

That’s all there is to it!!
Just keep practicing, hour after hour, to perfect it.
Try different chords and watch a few George Formby films to see how the Master did it.