FullScan University

Playing a standard ukulele (G-C-E-A tuning) is musically equivalent to playing the top four strings of a guitar with a

capo on the 5th fret. Consequently, every chord "shape" you know from the guitar sounds a perfect fourth higher on the ukulele.

Guitar Shape to Ukulele Chord Chart

If you use these familiar guitar chord shapes on a ukulele, this is the actual chord sound you will produce:

Guitar Chord Shape Ukulele Chord Sound

G Major C Major

C Major F Major

D Major G Major

A Major D Major

E Major A Major

F Major Bb Major

Am (A minor) Dm (D minor)

Em (E minor) Am (A minor)

Dm (D minor) Gm (G minor)

Key Summary

Key of G Shapes on Guitar = Key of C on Ukulele

• • Guitar progression: G – Am – F – G

  • Ukulele sound: C – Dm – Bb – C

Key of C Shapes on Guitar = Key of F on Ukulele

• • Guitar progression: C – Am – F – G

  • Ukulele sound: F – Dm – Bb – C

Note for Baritone Ukuleles: If you are playing a baritone ukulele (tuned D-G-B-E), the shapes are identical to the guitar, so a G shape still sounds like a G chord.

"That moment when you first really played the guitar (*or any instrument) is kind of like the first time you actually rode a bike without training wheels or swam all by yourself. At first, it feels awkward and you’re not really sure what you’re doing—your fingers fumble on the strings just like your legs wobble on the pedals or your arms flail in the water. But then suddenly something clicks. You hit a chord that sounds right, or you find your balance on the bike, or you float without sinking, and it hits you—you actually did it. It’s a mix of surprise and pride, and that’s when it stops being just practice and starts feeling real."    2025 perplexity.ai

Where are you now with your music, and where do you want to be in a year?

Here are some frequent answers:

1. I’m learning chords on guitar or keyboard, and I want to be able to accompany myself (and others) singing.  I’d also like to get into writing my own songs.

Start with the playlist below for your primary instrument.  Don't let it overwhelm you.

Developing the timing, muscle memory, and musical knowledge takes months.

Guitar: watch the first 7 videos once (only the 2nd one is long) then go back

to the first one and start playing along.  

*You might prefer to pursue open tuning(s) instead of standard tuning/chords.

  Keyboards: watch the first 4 videos once then go back to the first one

and start playing along.

  Bass or Drums:  watch the first 5 videos but feel free to skip around

depending on the instrument you're trying to learn.

2. I want to play in a band (rock/pop/blues/country/etc).  I’d like to have the play-along skills & get the right equipment (amps, PA system, guitar/bass/keyboard/drums/etc.) to practice, play, and blend with the other band members.  *requirement = playing at intermediate level

3. I’d like to be a solo artist playing both melody and chords.  I want to be able to do this both by ear and reading music. I would also like to accompany myself and others singing. *advanced level

4. I’m all about producing music with loops.  I want to know enough music theory to successfully arrange the loops into fully formed songs, and also make my own loops (adding instrumental solos, chords, and melodies).

If you're on an iPhone and have never done looping then start with GarageBand (free).

2 ways to start: 

[1] grab some loops from the built-in Apple Loops and put them on the timeline.  

Start listening and dragging/arranging them until you get something you like.

[2] record your own loops using the virtual instruments or AutoPlay.

List of songs you can play with just 4 chords (*there are hundreds more)