Memorize Songs Using The Circle of 5ths

jimdville

jimdville

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Ukuleleblues,

I'vr played guitar and ukulele for years and whenever I see something on the Circle of Fifths, I'll read up a little on it but don't find that practical use moment. I do understand the major-minor relationship, especially when you look at chord shapes.

So when this thread came up, again, I decided to do some searching, even looked at the Dummies stuff. But I found the link below that actually has some practical use in understanding the if-I-have-this-chord-what-do-I-play-next stuff. I don't know if it will help but...

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/forum/index.php?/topic/5079-the-circle-of-fifths/

John
 
For an easy to understand explanation of the Circle of 5ths, starting from the beginning, go the The Circle archives on my site (right-hand column and scroll down. Also, if anyone has any basic questions about applying Circle of 5ths knowledge to their playing, I'd be more than happy to answer them. http://playukulelebyear.blogspot.com
 
Aloha Jim,
As always good stuff....I appriciate you sharing it with all of us...Many thanks and happy strummings..MM Stan
 
Ukuleleblues said:
Jim,

I've been trying to get our club to deep six the paper for years. Any suggestions? Also do you have a simple explaination of the Circle of 5ths I could share with them?
Click to expand...

I met Jim a few years ago and he was preaching to get out of the book. I so identified with his mission that I too work with folks to ween themselves from the paper.
It is a tireless mission and is met with much resistance. My hint to you is to make arrangements with Jim to come visit your club (Jim, Charleston is a nice place).

I have Jim coming to Ventura 7/10/2011 for a workshop and hopefully assist with the mission.
 
Ukuleleblues said:
Jim,

I've been trying to get our club to deep six the paper for years. Any suggestions? Also do you have a simple explanation of the Circle of 5ths I could share with them?
Click to expand...
An easy way to get folks excited and learning about the circle is to simply show them the I to V7 to I relationships and how to play simple two-chord songs in any key (C-G7-C, G-D7-G, D-A7-D etc. a 5th up at at time all the way around the circle). That's the first step.
 
I have musicians scotch tape this to the top side of their ukes:

Key_Chord Progression.......................Key...Vamp

C - ..C.....C7....F....Fm....G7....C...........C -...D7...G7...C....

F - ..F......F7....Bb..Bbm..C7....F............F -...G7...C7...F....

A - ..A.....A7....D....Dm...E7.....A...........A -...B7....E7...A...

G - ..G....G7....C....Cm...D7....G...........G -...A7...D7...G...

D - ..D....D7....G....Gm...A7....D............D -...E7...A7...D...

I show them how to playing each line straight through. This familiarizes them with common chords in common keys. There are many who feel the need for songsheets. To them, I say "Cool!!". Not everybody's wired the same way - NO SHAME! When it comes to playing by ear - some will, some won't, so what?!

Circle of 5th's:

http://ukuleletonya.com/files/transposing_wheel.pdf

When I see videos of groups like Yesterukes and CC Strummers performing at retirement homes or by themselves, using songsheets, I also see the smiles on the faces of their audiences:

http://www.calirose.com/calendar.html

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cc+strummers&aq=f

http://yesterukes.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=yesterukes&aq=f

That's the kind of musical experience that makes the hairs on your arms stand straight up! Don't misinterpret my message, here. I'd like to see as many as possible play ukulele by ear as I do, but I'm equally O.K if they prefer songsheets. Ric
 
70sSanO said:
Ukuleleblues,

I'vr played guitar and ukulele for years and whenever I see something on the Circle of Fifths, I'll read up a little on it but don't find that practical use moment. I do understand the major-minor relationship, especially when you look at chord shapes.

So when this thread came up, again, I decided to do some searching, even looked at the Dummies stuff. But I found the link below that actually has some practical use in understanding the if-I-have-this-chord-what-do-I-play-next stuff. I don't know if it will help but...

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/forum/index.php?/topic/5079-the-circle-of-fifths/

John
Click to expand...

John, are you in San Onofre? If so, come on down to:

http://www.meetup.com/ukulelesundays

Ukulele Sundays 5PM - 7PM every Sunday
Hulaville
2720 Camino Capistrano
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949)369-1905
 
I am still going to need song sheets for lyrics. I have lots of song lyrics memorized, but these ukulele groups have introduced me to many songs that are kind of familiar, but not really memorized. Also, some of the old-timey songs have a lot of "extra" uke chords that add a lot of interest. I would like to get to the point where I could anticipate those changes too.

–Lori
 
I find it just takes a day or two to memorize a song from a sheet. But there are a couple of songs that I cannot find chords for and I am not musical enough to figure out the chords. Or even the key.
 
Canuke said:
I find it just takes a day or two to memorize a song from a sheet. But there are a couple of songs that I cannot find chords for and I am not musical enough to figure out the chords. Or even the key.
Click to expand...
I'll be posting something soon about how to find the key of a song.
 
Thank you for these articles, they are superb. I've bought the first dvd download, going to pick up the second, too. Great stuff!

-Scott
 
As someone who has played guitar for over 50 years, and now uke seriously for about four years, I'm finding it a real challenge...and treat...to be working up Ellington, Goodman, Reinhardt, Carmichael, etc. on uke...and not cheating by dumbing down the changes. I'm doing lead sheets in GoChords, then making sure I like the key...and that the singer in my band can sing in the key...and then I'm custom making chord charts of the inversions I need to play real chord melody parts.

Jim's work with instruction is outstanding, and learning things like the circle of 5ths will ultimately demystify a lot...especially transpositions from one key to another.

Another thing that helps is the "Nashville Number System".

When working up arrangements, I now scour the Internet for the music...and often find that the guitar tab or chord arrangements simply do not work or are flat out wrong. At least they are a start.

As far as finding the key goes, well, there's nothing quite like simply learning to play the basic melody single string style, then find appropriate chords one at a time. You'll find the key if you can play the melody unless it's something really outside. Ditto on finding the chords; play the melody single string, then add a second string harmony part, and you're literally at least half-way there. Sometimes the melody will be on top of the chord, sometimes it's at the bottom, but except for passing notes, the chords will be derived from the melody.

BTW, YouTube is invaluable for learning material...as long as you don't mind learning in some perhaps inconvenient keys.

Also, while open strings are nice, they're also a deadly trap. Try taking some familiar tunes and transposing them one half step at a time. Learn to get along without relying on open strings; learn those other inversions of the chords; and don't be afraid of going up the neck.
 
Well, unfortunately, that's what I'm talking about! The first tune I looked for, Django Reinhardt's "Nuages" is not in the key found on the YouTube version I'm working from (F), and the changes themselves are not what I hear as appropriate under that melody. Django used a lot of diminished chords...and sometimes they were implied as extensions of minor 7ths, but that diminished sound is pure Django. Some of it's also in working the voicings and inversions appropriately to carry the melody through.

But it's another resource that I'll certainly use for cross-reference, and they've got the right material there.
 
Rick Turner said:
Well, unfortunately, that's what I'm talking about! The first tune I looked for, Django Reinhardt's "Nuages" is not in the key found on the YouTube version I'm working from (F), and the changes themselves are not what I hear as appropriate under that melody. Django used a lot of diminished chords...and sometimes they were implied as extensions of minor 7ths, but that diminished sound is pure Django. Some of it's also in working the voicings and inversions appropriately to carry the melody through.

But it's another resource that I'll certainly use for cross-reference, and they've got the right material there.
Click to expand...

I think that's pretty much they way it goes with lead sheets, and figuring out your own harmonic substitutions will always be a bit of an art. But they do have buttons to transpose to C, Bb, or Eb.
 
What great information!! I am still baffled that our club members are so resistant to even learning 1 song by heart. Even a 2 chord song like Jambalaya. It's so weird to be in a room with 10 people staring at sheet music and agonizing over the chord changes when it is only a C and G.

Folks in the group keep on saying "I want to get better at picking and playin" and I say deep-six the sheet music and they don't. Maybe I should say "Eat Granola for Breakfast and have pure thoughts." We have classes with different teachers, they pay for them and they go over simple theroy (I IV V) and they ask for more sheet music ("Can you write that down?"). I am about to give up. I started calling the "Jams" "Paper Jams". Maybe it's time to move on.
 
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