Reading Chord Diagrams

What are chord diagrams?

Chord diagrams are illustrations that tell you where to put your fingers for each chord. Once you know how to read chord diagrams then you can play any song - with a little practice, of course!

You'll find lots of resources online for chord diagrams and lots of songbooks use them too. Let's review how to read a chord diagram.

In a chord diagram, the vertical lines, represent the strings. Reading from left to right - G, C, E, and A. The horizontal lines represent the frets. The black dots are where your fingers should press the strings.

Let’s start with chords you already know: C, G7, and F. 

So, for the C chord diagram, you will put your finger on the 1st string (A), at the 3rd fret. Try using your ring finger or your pinky finger.

For the G7, you’ll put your third finger on the 1st string, at the 2nd fret; then the index finger on the 2nd string, at the 1st fret; and the middle finger on the 3rd string at the 2nd fret. It looks like a triangle.

For the F, you’ll put your index finger on the 2nd string, at the 1st fret, and the your middle finger on the 4th string, at the 2nd fret.

Looking at a chord diagram tells you where to put your fingers on the strings. What they don't typically tell you is which fingers to use. So how do you know which finger goes where? 

Finger Positions for Chords

There are many ways to finger chords and the way you choose to finger a chord depends on the chords you're changing to and from. We will explore chord fingerings throughout the Uke Camp series each time you learn a new chord.

Just as there are multiple ways to finger chords, there are also several ways to smooth the changes from chord to chord. We can slide into some chord positions, we can anchor to help smooth the change or just move one finger to create the next chord.

As you become more flexible and your fingers get stronger, you'll find preferred positions for most of the chords you play. For now, use the fingering that is the most comfortable for your hands.  

Fake Books and Chord Finders

It's important to note that not all chord diagrams are the same. While a chord name can tell you which chord to play, the chord diagram is instrument-specific.  You'll need chord diagrams written specifically for the ukulele. One of the best ways to find ukulele chords for songs is with a ukulele “Fake Book”. 

A “Fake Book” is, basically, the simplest version of sheet music available. It is a collection of songs written with only the melody, lyrics, and chord changes over the appropriate beats. Usually, there is no arrangement, no fancy solos or endings, and no specific instructions on "how" to play the song. Hence, the word "fake" – musicians are supposed to take the basic information and simply "fake" it.  

There are many good Fake Books on the market with a selection of songs from every genre. The two that are quite popular that we keep in our shop:

The Ukulele Fake Book by Hal Leonard 

The Hal Leonard Fake Book has over 400 songs with excellent chord choices.

The Daily Ukulele Songbook by Liz and Jim Beloff  

A good selection of all types of songs along with a chord vocabulary section.

Both offer an interesting selection of songs with chord diagrams and standard music notation. Sometimes the chord choices sound great, sometimes they sound "not quite right". If you consider that many songs are written on the piano, it's not surprising that the uke transcription might not be "quite right!" Nonetheless, Fake books are invaluable for learning a lot of songs without spending a fortune on sheet music. 

Another great resource for chord diagrams is a Chord Finder, like the Ukulele Chord Finder published by Hal Leonard. These books are directories of chords and show different ways to play a chord as well as suggestions on which fingers to use. If you're downloading lots of song sheets that don't have chord diagrams, a Chord Finder is a huge help.