The Hardest Ukulele Chord (and an Easy Way to Play It!) - James Hill Ukulele Tutorial
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- Опубликовано: 2 дек 2015
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The first time I saw this chord I thought it was a joke, it looked so hard to play! Lucky for you, there's an easy way to play it and in this lesson I'll show you how. (Thanks to my friend Alan Soo for showing me this chord voicing... wish I'd found out about it years earlier!) 
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it sounds like the "error report" notification on a laptop
bruh hahaha
LMAO this made my day
Nothing is harder than E for me any help?
OMG IKR
yup. I skip any song with E in it.
Haha, I don't know if it'll be that much help, but I found playing the top three strings on the fourth fret, and placing your index on the first string and second fret works wonders- it eliminates all the confusing stretching, there's no muting, and everything is a bit more in tune!
You just have to honestly practice, and practice hard. I'm still not great at it, but I've only been playing music for like, eight, nine months, and I'm finally getting comfortable putting E in a progression. I practiced with it by playing The Mountain Goats' song "Heretic Pride", a song with A, D, and E in it. Play it slowly, deliberately, with forethought for every motion, and try to speed it up as you gain confidence and comfort. It's definitely not as hard as it could be.
A|---1------|
E|------T----|
C|------T----|
G|------T----|
so basically 1st finger 2nd fret
and thumb or rest of fingers on 4th fret.
I use this chord for bowie's space oddity, and when i first saw it i didn't think it was difficult. I just though: strange, like bowie's music
lol same! for here am I floating in a tin can... or something like that
Well, you would, wouldn't you? The intro is Fmaj7, Em ...
Congrats for not thinking a chord is hard?
If you play the second fret on the A string with this Fmaj7 voicing you will have all the correct notes for the Space oddity opening chord. It's an Fmaj7b5
Same
bro. this is magical. i'm so mad ive spent years HATING this chord for nothing jfkdjfslfj
You sir, you're a lifesaverrrr. My pinky finger's almost always getting little vein cramps every time I need this chord loool
Play Am 2-0-0-0 all it takes is one finger!
If you're up on your theory then you should know that Fmaj7 is made from the note F-A-C-E. Am is made from A-C-E. Therefore, by playing Am you are playing the 3rd and 7th notes of Fmaj7 which are the most interesting ones anyway.
There's not always a need to play the root note in a maj7 chord, especially if you're going to get a semitone clash like you do in this voicing. Yes, sometimes you might want that and that's fine but if you're new to the uke and don't like or can't manage the stretches involved then a little theory can go a long way to making your life easier!
Some other 'tricks' along this line are playing F 2-0-1-0 to play a Dm7 or play Dm 2-2-1-0 to play Bm7b5.
On the ukulele you (obviously) only have 4 strings. So, what are going to do when you need a 9, 11 or 13 chord? these chords - on paper - can be made from 5 or 6 notes. Naturally you have to sacrifice some notes. However, you can still deliver interesting harmonic content by choosing which notes you play from those 5 or 6. Usually the root and/or 5th can be dropped. This is how Jazz rhythm players approach chords and it works for ukulele just the same as guitar or piano.
Hope this helps someone and doesn't send you to sleep ;)
sam grant this actually made my day cause it reminded me of my old ukulele teach who is a jazz musician :)
sam grant *teacher oops
Sir thank you so much that helped me a lot for my song
Thank you so much for this. I just came across a song I wanted to learn to play on my Cocobolo Tenor and this chord came up. I looked at it and thought "no way" can I make my little fingers stretch like that. I actually had to get my Soprano out to even come close to the hard version. Giving us an easy alternative is heaven! Thank you!
i have never heard a maj7 chord sound so haunting
I’m a huge bossa nova fan and new to the uke. This chord is ALL OVER bossa nova, Girl From Ipanema, Desafinado, Change Partners, it’s in em all. Thanks for showing an easier way it was killing me.
I've always loved the easy version of this chord (I used it in my first original song attempt) and didn't notice it was the same as the hard version lol. Thank you for sharing the knowledge!
+Helen Olivas No worries, Helen. All the best with your songwriting!
I've just recently picked up a ukulele and it's actually the first instrument I'm learning. This is reeeeeeally cool and will definitely be a chord I use when making up my own songs. Thanks so much James you are a real inspiration to me.😊😊😊
If you roll the easy way upwards it's the same order as the original way
Wow, I never noticed that! Thanks for the tip, Jakeulous.
James Hill you are very welcome! :)
hi guys, the greatest results that I have ever had was by using the Arthurs Uke Blog (just google it) definately the most incredible system i've followed.
Amazing as usual, James.
+Peter Forrest Shucks... thanks Peter!
+James Hill haha , James and Peter, I love both you guy's ukulele tutorial . Really awesome! Thank you for all these good stuff.
Thankfully, I learned this shape recently while working on a cover of a beautiful Todd Rundgren song called "A Dream Goes On Forever". It's a prominent chord in the verse and the chorus and I would have never been able to play it if I hadn't found this easy two finger version!
For me this chord is so 'Girl from Epanema', a tune I love playing and sounds so good on uke.
So great to be able to give my students 'easy' versions of chords - especially my 'mature' students who may have arthritis or other mobility challenges. Thanks, James!
I've actually never had a problem playing this chord, but I'm using the new way now.
this is amazing! I did not know there is so much more to learn about the ukulele!
Thanks so much. What a great “trick.” Wish you had one for the B.
I am just starting out with the ukulele ... you are a big inspiration..thank you :)
james, you shoud play 'the girl of ipanema' as an example of this amazing chord. it starts on G note. Work of genius
Love it. I didn't know this one. I usually play FMaj7 like a CMaj7: bar the 5th fret, ring finger on the 1st string, 7th fret. I'll have to work on sneaking this new one into some tunes. Thanks!
+missrosesings I do the same, and I love that inversion... AND it is a movable shape!
+missrosesings Yes, another sweet voicing! I just find it's a little to high to use for all the time... always nice to have a voicing in the lower range of the instrument.
Thank you so much, this helped me a lot.
Omg, THANK YOU for posting this.
Just now subscribed! I love your tutorial!!
Excellent teacher!
I can't hear this chord without thinking of "Space Oddity".
I love the 5-5-0-0 Fmaj7… a favorite and really great for Bennie and the Jets!
Wow! I was using the modified chord to play Sunny by Bobby Hebb and I loved the sound of it.
Now I know two versions and love them both.
But the progression you were playing at the end is priceless! I can't stop playing and playing it )
Thank you very much!
I enjoy your teaching !
Thanks - really enjoyed this tutorial.
James your AMAZING!!!
Thank you so much, love your videos.
Hello James , I'm your fan, you are a great inspiration for my learning about the ukulele , it is fantastic to have the opportunity to watch videos like this and still learn from one of the largest ukulele players on the planet ! I 'm from Brazil sorry if confusing and hard to understand my English!
Until then James Hill, hopefully soon more videos !
+Ukulele Legal Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the videos. More to come...
If you take the normal version but play an open C string you get Dm7, my personal favourite :) You can make lots of tunes by removing one or two fingers at a time whilst keeping the structure the same, I've had hours of fun on this one!
It's very good indeed. The combinations are endless, thanks for the heads up! I'm actually using a Guitalele here, but the same would be for an acoustic with a capo on the 5th fret.
Thank you very much ,Singapore says Cheers , stay home and practice this chord now,
I was avoiding a few songs because of this chord. Now I must break them back out. Thanks James.
+mikemiragliuolo You're welcome, Mike!
what were the chords you played from 4:21 to 4:50? they were beautiful
intro
5500
2210
0201
0001
0201
beginning
5500
2210
0201
0001
0201
middle
2013
2313
0211
0111
end
2010
0211
1001
5500
these are the chords in order that i heard them in
(sorry im new to ukelele so idk how to do notation but those are the frets)
REALLY helpful, thank you!
that song made me smile so much
OMG.. you own the most beautiful uku i've seen in the last 2 years of my life, since i play uku too :)
Love your Uke !
LOVE it James! Thank you!
+Monica Dear, Teacher Thanks, Monica!
really helpful video, and you have a beautiful voice!
the best Ukulele tutorial, thank you ...
I’ve been playing ukulele for an hour and this was easy
Love it, thanks!
This was so helpful!! Thank You! I got my ukulele yesterday lol
Literally I tried playing it and as I got it I was like :o "oh my god that such a nice chord"
If I could like this twice I would. So fun!
Loved the song 🎵. 😊
ground control to major tom ! loving you lessons !
Wish I'd found this about 3 years ago! LOL! I usually just cheat and leave A string open, but this is the best Fmaj7 hack EVER! Thank you, James!!! 😁
New to the uke. I enjoy the play along features on RUclips. The first time I saw this chord it showed up in "you've got a friend in me" .... I thought NO F'n maj7 way! Thanks for the tip!
oh my gosh thank you SO much... this has saved me so much time
This discovered this chord when i was learning femme fatale by the velvet underground.
You are a life saver.
Great content. Thank u sir
Looking to set a S.M.A.R.T. goal for the new year, download a #UkuleleGoals worksheet here: uketropolis.com/navigator-your-plan and add the "tapping game" into your practice session. Which chord voicing is your goal this year? Maybe it’s the full Fmaj7, which is no joke.
Awesome!!! Thanks a lot man
Fantastic...thanks so much, I only have 3 fingers so a real game changer for me. What were the others chords you used?
Brilliant!
My pinkie finger is so short, i just can't. But is this the beginning of "Lost Stars" by adam levine? It sounds like it. I saw the chord and i was like, "wtf is this?"
Nice profile picture
Not My Name Im late but yes it is! That's why I wanted to play it so bad
Not My Name that's why I'm here 😂
Your pinky is too small for a uke? Wow...
Delightful!
Wow could you post the chord progression of your Fmaj7 song? I loved that!
I agree I loved it
Here it is!
Fm7 / Dm / Gm / C7
(x2)
F (add C on the first string) / F7 / Gm / A#m6
F / Gm / C7+5 / Fm7
Tnx it is a beautiful chord
What a great song. I'm gonna practice this :D
brilliant!!
Awesome voice too
many thanks!!
Timeless!.
Tbh I think E is harder than the hard version
Tess Glasgow me too
Depends on how you're playing E :)
James Hill 1402
same!!! i can't do E, so i do an alternative
Try 2444
Thank you so much
Oh my lord thank you so much
Thanks for that👍😎
And here was me thinking I'm just never going to be able to play wings - band on the run. And you have fixed that in 4 short minutes. Thank you.
I thought the Fmaj7 was a joke when the Chad Johnston book put the hard version on week 3!!! Although I haven't mastered it by a long shot, I am at a point were I was a little surprised that you stated that it was the hardest chord. I guess my brain forgot about all the temper tantrums I threw when trying to work it out. Thanks for the vid and song, matey :)
Great little song, James! LOL
NICE!
This really helps when playing Ojd Man by Neil Young
Very nice
Bravo❤
Bravo
super cool dude. thanks a million. ps I got jazz sound in my mind
Thank youuuuuu
thank you!!!!!!!!
I like your style, my friend. Keep the videos coming. I'd also point out you can play that chord by simply barring all strings at the 5th ( with the option of your ring finger on E string at the 7th) which is moveable and easy.
By the way I really liked your penultimate chord. Was that a C7#5?
It saved me from throwing my uke away. This chord is in Senorita song and it feels like he saved my life.
it is a good chord to use in a version of America's "I Need You" or "Daisy Jane"
He just saved my life
Your appreciation for music is appreciated :)
This chord threw me! I thought how do I get to and from fmaj7 to any other chord...It drove me nuts! I will persevere but that easy chord you showed us is brilliant. Until I can master fmaj7
Brilliant! Thank you! Hey what's an easy way to play Bb maj?
i love listening to you. :) haha i love your voice.
Mahalo! I really like the "little Fmaj7 song."
+M. Liko Puha Great to hear from you, Liko! Hope you're well. Mahalo and glad you enjoyed the vid!
+James Hill Doing well mahalo. Blessings as always to you and yours. Aloha nō!
I like the easy way, its more resonant and a nice sound. I think a lot of players use shapes that are borrowed from the guitar and its good to explore chord shapes that are specific to the 'ukulele. The only minor thing I have against it is that its not a moveable shape.
+Lindsay Higgs Agreed 100%. Uke on, Lindsay!
So you’re telling me I just made my hands do a whole backflip just so you could tell me that there’s an easy way to do it and I could’ve been doing that the whole time instead my fingers hurt now
Lmfao
OMG thanks i cant play this chord for years now
What is the tune that was playing at the end, around the 7:00 mark until the end? It sounds familiar and very relaxing.