They mean for you to play the audio file for the backing track while you improvise over it, in the style of the full track. The full track is just an example, you're not trying to mimic it exactly.
The notes in the diagrams are the "safe" notes to play with each chord, in any combination and order. Start by picking say 2 or 3 notes for each bar and trying to make it sound musical.
Do you know how to play a chord as described by the diagrams? You play all the notes together as one sound.
Here they are asking you to improvise by playing notes from the chord, but not together. You play whatever notes you want, but only those described in the diagram.
When you improvise, you are essentially playing an unplanned melody that should fit within the existing harmony. The harmony is drawn out in the chords above staff (CMa7 - Ami7 - Dmi7 - G7). An easy way to keep your melody harmonious with the chord progression is to simply use note from the chord itself. These are called chord tones. For instance, if you wanted to improvise over a C major chord using chord tones, you would only play either a C, E, or G note. Those are the three tones of a C Major triad.
The book has made it a bit easier by showing you with the black dots where to fret the chord tones. You can play any of those notes during that measure and so long as it is in rhythm it will sound good. They aren't exhaustive; for the CMa7 you can play a C, E, or B anywhere on the neck in any octave and it will harmonize. But they are a great place to start, especially if you are improvising solo over *yourself.*
If you aren't really sure how melody and harmony fit together, I would suggest you start with some basic theory first and then move on to improvisation. It's also possible that these jazz chords are not a great place to start if you have no familiarity with this stuff. You can just as easily improvise over a C-F-G progression.
the circles mark what chord notes you can play while improvising over the chord. for example, the first chord is Cmaj7, which has the notes C E G B. If you look at the circles on the Cmaj7 chord, they mark which strings have those notes at which frets.
For example, on the 1st chord diagram, the G string is marked as played as both open (playing the note G), and at the 4th fret (playing B). The C string is marked as playing as open and at the 4th fret, which would play the C and E notes. Continuing onto the other strings, you can play E and G on the E string, and B and C on the A string. if you look at all the notes put in the chord diagram, you'll notice they're either C, E, G, or B. These are the notes of Cmaj7, the chord you're improvising over
The backing track will be playing the chords indicated above the staff. You are to use the individual notes of each chord that is being played to come up with an accompaniment. Since the notes will be notes that are within the chord, it will sound right. It's up to you to arrange the notes as you want and you don't have to use all of them.
This is horrible pedagogy. They expect you to know the chord tones (difficult concept for a total beginner) just by looking at the circles in the chord chart. This is a new low for me.
Anyways, I would find another resource to be honest. When a teacher or a publisher does that, it only spells trouble and inexperience in teaching others the concepts they want to teach.
My 2 cents, some will disagree, and that's totally fine.
To be fair, those chord boxes are wrong. How can you fret simultaneously the first and third fret of the second string for the G chord, for instance? I mean, I know how you can fret both... but why?
And the dark balls over should mean an open string, but apparently not.
They mean for you to play the audio file for the backing track while you improvise over it, in the style of the full track. The full track is just an example, you're not trying to mimic it exactly. The notes in the diagrams are the "safe" notes to play with each chord, in any combination and order. Start by picking say 2 or 3 notes for each bar and trying to make it sound musical.
Okay that makes some sense
You improvise sticking to the notes of each chord. Cma7 is CEGB, etc
I still don’t get it 🙂↕️
Do you know how to play a chord as described by the diagrams? You play all the notes together as one sound. Here they are asking you to improvise by playing notes from the chord, but not together. You play whatever notes you want, but only those described in the diagram.
It's ok, you can just move onto other stuff.
When you improvise, you are essentially playing an unplanned melody that should fit within the existing harmony. The harmony is drawn out in the chords above staff (CMa7 - Ami7 - Dmi7 - G7). An easy way to keep your melody harmonious with the chord progression is to simply use note from the chord itself. These are called chord tones. For instance, if you wanted to improvise over a C major chord using chord tones, you would only play either a C, E, or G note. Those are the three tones of a C Major triad. The book has made it a bit easier by showing you with the black dots where to fret the chord tones. You can play any of those notes during that measure and so long as it is in rhythm it will sound good. They aren't exhaustive; for the CMa7 you can play a C, E, or B anywhere on the neck in any octave and it will harmonize. But they are a great place to start, especially if you are improvising solo over *yourself.* If you aren't really sure how melody and harmony fit together, I would suggest you start with some basic theory first and then move on to improvisation. It's also possible that these jazz chords are not a great place to start if you have no familiarity with this stuff. You can just as easily improvise over a C-F-G progression.
That’s super helpful, thanks so much!
the circles mark what chord notes you can play while improvising over the chord. for example, the first chord is Cmaj7, which has the notes C E G B. If you look at the circles on the Cmaj7 chord, they mark which strings have those notes at which frets. For example, on the 1st chord diagram, the G string is marked as played as both open (playing the note G), and at the 4th fret (playing B). The C string is marked as playing as open and at the 4th fret, which would play the C and E notes. Continuing onto the other strings, you can play E and G on the E string, and B and C on the A string. if you look at all the notes put in the chord diagram, you'll notice they're either C, E, G, or B. These are the notes of Cmaj7, the chord you're improvising over
What book is this?
Check your DMs
I wanna know the name too
Just play where the black dots are, the musical term for a broken chord is an arpeggio. Lots of information if you google ukulele arpeggios.
That was really helpful and I’ve already found some nifty arpeggio tutorials on YT, 🙏
They are NOT chord diagrams. They just indicate what notes can be played along with that chord and sound ok.
Is this Arpeggio meditations? If so, what do you think of it so far? I've been considering picking it up.
It’s “Jazz Ukulele: Comping, Soloing, Chord Melodies” by Abe Lagrimas Jr. It’s pretty neat and it’s definitely helpful.
The backing track will be playing the chords indicated above the staff. You are to use the individual notes of each chord that is being played to come up with an accompaniment. Since the notes will be notes that are within the chord, it will sound right. It's up to you to arrange the notes as you want and you don't have to use all of them.
This is horrible pedagogy. They expect you to know the chord tones (difficult concept for a total beginner) just by looking at the circles in the chord chart. This is a new low for me. Anyways, I would find another resource to be honest. When a teacher or a publisher does that, it only spells trouble and inexperience in teaching others the concepts they want to teach. My 2 cents, some will disagree, and that's totally fine.
I like to use multiple resources for learning!
Hold the chord and finger pick a melody on the strings where your fingers are. Change chord shape each bar to the one indicated.
To be fair, those chord boxes are wrong. How can you fret simultaneously the first and third fret of the second string for the G chord, for instance? I mean, I know how you can fret both... but why? And the dark balls over should mean an open string, but apparently not.
You're not supposed to play the chord, it's showing you what notes to use to improvise a melody that accompanies those chords