[Enjoy the Ukulele Even More!] How to Simplify Chords

Hello, this is Conservario! You probably already know that there are many different ukulele chords:
—Maj7, m7(♭5), 9th, sus, and more. But do you really need to memorize all of them to play the ukulele?
If you’re feeling unsure, keep reading!

How to Simplify Chords

Let’s get straight to the point:
“You don’t need to memorize everything. As long as you can play the chords for the song you want, that’s enough!”
There are websites where you can look up chord diagrams and lyrics just by entering a song title.
Many beginners use these websites to practice. Some songs have simple chords, making them easy to play. However, the problem arises when you come across overly complicated chord progressions.

Seeing this kind of progression might make beginners think: “Nope, I can’t do this...”
So, if your favorite song has complex chords, does that mean you have no choice but to give up and find an easier song?
Not at all! There are ways to simplify chords, and I’ll introduce a few of them.

① Replacing All 7th and Tension Chords with Triads

What are 7th chords and tension chords? And what is a triad?
If these terms sound unfamiliar, don’t worry.
I’ll explain what a triad is.
C and G are triads.
Any chord without Maj7, 7, or other extensions is a triad.
D, E, and A—all of these are triads too.
Got it so far?
And chords that have ‘m’ (minor) next to them are also triads.
So Am, Dm, and Em are triads.
However, m7, Maj7, and other chords with numbers are not triads.
Please memorize this up to this point.
C, Cm, D, Dm, E, Em... All of these are triads!
Now, let me explain how to use these triads.
The previous chords can be modified as follows.

I have changed all the 7th chords into triads. These are chords you might recognize. You may wonder, “Is it okay to make such changes?” Yes, it’s fine. The sound won’t change much.
Of course, it won’t sound exactly the same, and in some cases, it might even sound unnatural depending on the song.
However, if the song contains many 7th chords, I absolutely recommend changing them to triads instead of giving up on the song.
This is because a 7th chord is simply a triad with one additional note.
I won’t go into a theoretical explanation here, but you can think of C and CMaj7 as being very similar chords.
If you’re studying difficult math, first, you need to know basic arithmetic, like addition and subtraction.
Triads are the equivalent of that basic addition and subtraction.
Before diving into 7th or tension chords, make sure you understand what triads are and learn how to play them first.

② Use a capo

A capo is a tool that allows you to change the key by clamping the strings.
It’s commonly used by singer-songwriters and guitar-vocalists because it allows them to easily change the key of a song.
When you encounter a chord progression like this, using a capo can make it much easier.

Of course, it’s best if you can play without using a capo, but when performing with vocals, the focus is on the song.
If you’re distracted by the ukulele chord changes and it’s affecting your ability to sing well, it’s a shame.
However, unlike with the guitar, there are some things to keep in mind when using a capo on the ukulele.
Using a capo up to about the 5th fret is usually fine, but if you use it beyond that, it can make playing more difficult.
You’ll understand when you try it, but the frets become too close together.
I personally use a capo up to the 4th fret, but I don’t use it beyond that.
I found that playing without the capo is easier and results in fewer mistakes.
You should decide based on your own level whether to use a capo and play with the tighter frets, or to play without it and learn a few more challenging chords.

Conclusion

I’ve introduced some ways to simplify chords. What I want you to understand is that chords don’t need to be overcomplicated.
A good goal to start with is just to learn the first four chords of the chorus of the song you want to play! That’s enough to begin with.
If you try to make it more complicated, there’s no end to it. For example, there’s a way to change the chords themselves.
Swap the tonic and the subdominant. Tonic? Subdominant? You might be thinking, “What are those chord names I’ve never heard of?”
These are terms used when analyzing chords or studying theory. You won’t see them written in a chord book.
Knowing the theory is useful, but if it makes you feel like you can’t enjoy playing, there’s no need to force yourself. If you really want to know or need it later, you can study it then.
I hope you’ve gained at least a little insight into the depth of chords.
Thank you for reading all the way to the end!

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