By Brad Bordessa
Whether you are an intermediate player looking for your first guide to understanding the fretboard or a seasoned pro in need of a complete reference to complex harmonies, there’s no more detailed and comprehensive a book than Brad Bordessa’s ʻUkulele Chord Shapes.
With in-depth and easy-to-understand explanations of chord theory and applications, this method can quickly expand your chord vocabulary twelvefold.
“Brad has created the best ukulele chord book I’ve seen to date.”
Andrew Kitakis, Owner of Hawaiʻi Music Supply
A good ʻukulele chord chart is one of the most important learning tools you can have. Unfortunately, many other chord books waste time and pages showing the same repeating diagrams – often with very little information explaining them!
ʻUkulele Chord Shapes is different. It presents a streamlined view of chords, eliminating extraneous memorization and clutter.
This reduces your mental workload by 12x when learning new chords and shapes, freeing up space for useful background information about how chords work and using them on the fretboard.
The Method:
ʻUkulele Chord Shapes presents chords in a different light than other books: as movable shapes. In this way you can reduce mental clutter and make learning chords 12 times more efficient.
Each shape in the book shows a highlighted root that easily allows you to move a single chord shape into all twelve keys.
“If you have questions about ukulele chords, ʻUkulele Chord Shapes has the answers.”
James Hill
But ʻUkulele Chord Shapes is a lot more than just a reference book. It’s also an in-depth look at the theory and concepts that drive intelligent chordal playing.
Learn how to build chords via easy, step-by-step instructions, how to finger them, and how to select the appropriate shapes for your music.
With ʻUkulele Chord Shapes You Get:
- Descriptions, symbols, and formulas for each chord type
- Straightforward content that’s easy to read and use
- A mobile-friendly PDF delivered almost instantly
- A plain-English chapter on chord theory
- A detailed guide to using the book
- Big, user-friendly chord diagrams
- 34 diverse chord families
- 173 chord shapes
- 55 pages
“…if I could only own one ukulele-related book, this would be it. I use it all the time.”
David Lund – Staatsburg New York
What Other People Are Saying:
FAQs:
What level player is this book for?
ʻUkulele Chord Shapes is not a chord book for newbies and will be a confusing place to start for someone just seeking diagrams for A, D, and E7 type chords. It’s a method for understanding the fretboard better and requires some background knowledge to get the most out of. I recommend it for advanced-beginner and up players and those with musical backgrounds.
As for advanced players, there aren’t many pros that use even 75% of the chords in this book. So, unless you’re a chord weirdo like Benny Chong, it will be a lifetime resource.
What chords families are in the book?
Each chord family presented in ʻUkulele Chord Shapes has at least four moveable shapes (many have a few more). This gives you arrangement options for any situation.
- Major
- Major 6th
- Major 6/9
- Major 7th
- Major 7(b5)
- Major 7(#5)
- Major 9th
- Minor
- Minor 6th
- Minor 6/9
- Minor 7th
- Minor 7(b5)
- Minor 7(#5)
- Minor (Major 7th)
- Minor 9th
- Minor 11th
- Dominant 7th
- Dominant 7(b5)
- Dominant 7(#5)
- Dominant 7(b9)
- Dominant 7(#9)
- Dominant 9th
- Dominant 11th
- Dominant 13th
- Dominant 13(b9)
- Altered*
- Suspended 2
- Suspended 4
- Suspended 7th
- Add 9
- Add 11
- Diminished
- Diminished 7th
- Augmented
- Slash Chords*
* = Special detailed section.
Do I need to know theory to understand the book?
I sure hope not! The moveable shape concept is a simple spatial pattern that should be easy for even a play-by-ear musician to understand.
If you want to dive deeper there is a section on theory guiding you step-by-step through all that is required to build and understand chords. Essentially, you’ll be able to reverse-engineer any ʻukulele chord by the time you’re done.
Where do I get the print version?
Right here >>> Buy from Amazon for $19.99
What’s up with the money-back guarantee?
It’s simple. ʻUkulele Chord Shapes is written to be hands-down the most extensive and useful chord resource available to ʻukulele players.
If you’re not happy, I don’t want your money.
Just drop me a line if you aren’t satisfied with your purchase and I will send you a full refund – no questions asked.
Having Trouble?
If you need a hand purchasing the book or are struggling with the download, send me an email:
liveukulele@gmail.com