NOTE: If you registered for the spring 2026 session, you can enter the course by clicking the button below.
Are you curious about what a chord actually is? Or how to play a song in a different key (usually to suit your voice better)? Or even what we mean when we say a song is in a key? Do you want to take your ‘ukulele playing and knowledge to the next level?
I will be offering a 4-week course on basic music theory for ‘ukulele players. We’ll meet on Zoom for ninety minutes.
Spring 2026 dates: 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, and 2/18, 1:30-2:30 ET.
My plan for the course is the following:
- Week 1: scales and melodies
- Week 2: chords and chord progressions
- Week 3: song form
- Week 4: meter and rhythm
Each week we’ll learn a basic concept and apply it to songs. I’ll give you optional homework to continue to explore the concepts. By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Name and play the notes of the scale in the common keys (C, G, D, A, and F).
- Name and play the primary chords (I, IV, V, ii, and vi) of the common keys and name the individual notes in each of those chords.
- Transpose the chords of a song in one key to another key.
- Hear a melody, map it out, and play it on your ‘ukulele.
- Hear and identify the chord progression in a song.
- Hear and identify the form of a song.
- Identify the meter of a song.
- Clap prominent rhythms of a song.
- Select an appropriate strum pattern for a song.
The sessions will be recorded and all registered students will have access to the recordings for 3 months.
This course is best suited for people who can play comfortably in the keys of C, G, D, and A. You do not need to be able to read standard music notation, but don’t be surprised if some notation-reading skills slip into your knowledge banks!
Registration is required. This is a pay-what-you-will class (which could be $0–I won’t be offended). When you register, you will receive the Zoom link and my Venmo link. This is the only time that the class will be offered as pay-what-you-will.
I’ll be announcing the dates and times in the next couple of weeks. If you want to get on the mailing list to hear more about this, fill out this form.
Spring 2026 dates: 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, and 2/18, 1:30-2:30 ET.
If you registered for the spring 2026 session, you can enter the course by clicking the button below.