This article is going to teach you about the ukulele fretboard, the primary source of creating different notes and sounds on the ukulele.
Written by Shaylie M / Published September 20, 2024
Last updated: September 14, 2024
Many times when we begin something new, such as learning to play the ukulele, we want to know how to play a song right away. Admittedly, I am far too familiar with this reality.
However, if we want to build our skill set up as musicians, we want to be able to understand numerous concepts that will help us develop our knowledge base. Learning the ukulele fretboard is one of those concepts we need to understand to properly grasp how to play the instrument.
What Are Frets?
Frets can be described as the raised, silver lines on the ukulele fretboard. The raised silver lines help players to navigate where the correct spot is to put their finger.
The spaces between the frets can be given a number to help us easily find where we want to play a specific string or chord to create notes.
What Are Notes?
Notes in music are what create different pitches of sounds. Without different notes, music would sound like a long, monotone sound and it would be very boring.
What About Left-Handed Ukuleles?
Ukulele playing is usually geared toward those who are right handed, with the right hand being used to strum the strings and the left hand being used to play different notes on the fretboard.
Feeling left out?! While it is not common, there are left-handed ukuleles that might be useful for someone who is left handed! In this article, the frets will not change regardless if the ukulele is left or right handed.
Identifying Ukulele Frets
An important piece to working within the ukulele fretboard is to understand how to identify different frets. Using the fretboard, we can create different notes and sounds by pressing on the strings within the different frets.
Each fret is given a number for identification. The first fret will always be the fret at the very top of the fretboard next to the tuning pegs. The fret right underneath that fret would be numbered as the second fret. This continues all the way down until the very bottom of the ukulele fretboard.
Depending upon the size and brand of the ukulele, the number of frets can vary. For example, on a soprano ukulele there are usually about 12-15 frets. However, when we look at a bigger ukulele, such as the baritone, it might have 18 or more frets.
Using the soprano ukulele fretboard in the example, there are a total of 12 different frets.
Inlaid Frets
You’ll notice on frets 5, 7, and 10 the text had to be moved over because there are white dots there. These dots are called inlay fret markers and their purpose is to make it easier to find what you’re looking for as you play the instrument.
It is common to also see an inlaid fret marker on 12 – this just depends on the brand. Some ukulele fretboards could have no inlaid frets. Neither is better or worse and it will not affect the quality of the sound.
Notes on the Ukulele Fretboard
Once we have a basic understanding of the fretboard, we can begin to understand the ukulele fretboard notes that go with. Over time, the goal is to memorize the notes on the fretboard.
Now here’s where it could get a little tricky, but stick with me!
How to Remember Ukulele Note Names on the Fretboard
Hopefully you have the names of the strings memorized: G, C, E, A. We can recall this information by using a mnemonic device or acronym, such as “Good Cats Eat Anchovies” or “Great Cheetahs Exercise Acceleration”. Use whatever sticks in your brain best!
As you move down the chart, there are some blank or open spots. This is because those notes are flats or sharps. For our purposes, we want to first become familiar with natural notes, or the notes that do not have a sharp or a flat.
Eventually the goal is to have this chart memorized. This will serve you as you gain more knowledge about intervals, building triads and chords.
One helpful exercise is to practice writing out the note names on a blank ukulele fretboard to test your memory. You can find blank ukulele fretboard templates to download here.
Inlaid Fret Notes
The inlaid frets would be the next best place to memorize our ukulele fretboard notes since there are visible markers. To make it easier, both the 5th and 7th inlaid frets have four notes going across, one for each string.
The notes across the 5th fret are C, F, A, D. Similar to our open strings, you can create your own mnemonic device. An example of one is “Can’t Fight Angry Dogs”.
Looking at the 7th fret the notes are D, G, B, E. A mnemonic device to remember this inlaid fret is “Don’t Get Bad Energy”. Again, you can have some fun with it and create your own mnemonic device. What is one you came up with? Share in the comments!
The 12th Fret
The 12th fret is labeled in a different color in the diagram shown above. If you look closely, do you notice any patterns?
The 12th fret is the exact same as the open strings! Notes at the 12th fret are exactly one octave higher than the open string notes. The pattern then simply repeats for frets after the 12th fret.
This means you really only need to know the notes on the first 12 frets as you work toward memorizing your ukulele fretboard.
Patterns in the Musical Alphabet
Another way to begin memorizing this chart is to look at the patterns. If you take a look at the first string, or open G, and read down through the ukulele fretboard notes, it naturally completes the musical alphabet – from G through to G (an octave higher).
Similarly, all of the other strings follow this pattern where the musical alphabet can be tracked down the instrument. Notice that there is only a semitone, or one fret difference notes B and C, and E and F. All the rest are a whole tone, or 2 frets apart.
This might be another way that will make it easier to retain these notes over time.
Conclusion
As you become more familiar with playing the ukulele, you will naturally start to remember where certain frets and note names are. This will help you build your skills, and become more confident in creating your own music. The ukulele fretboard and notes may seem overwhelming at first, but give it time and you’ll soon be able to commit each to memory.
Shaylie M
WriterShaylie has shared a love for music for as long as she can remember. Since completing her degree in Music Education, she has quickly found the ukulele to be her favorite instrument to teach her young students in her role as an elementary music teacher.
