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.
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
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!
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 ;)
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!
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.
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)
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!
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.😊😊😊
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 !
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!
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 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.
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.
New to the uke. I enjoy the play along features on UA-cam. 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!
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!
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!
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.
Once again, it's a treat to see and listen to this little lesson. Thanks! Some people would be interested in why the chord is called Fmaj7. (I think I figured it out.) Not necessarily here but on some of your videos, explaining the chord name would be cool.
+hughmccafferty Good stuff, Hug and Carl. For those theory buffs out there, the other thing to note is that "F major 7" is the short-hand name for this chord. The technical (botanical?) name is "F major major 7." The first "major" refers to the major triad and the second "major" refers to the interval of a major 7th between the root of the chord and the 7th of the chord. This might sound like mumbo jumbo but it in the end it makes the structure of 4-note chords VERY clear. For example, a G7 chord is, technically, a "G major minor 7." The "major" refers to the triad, the "minor" refers to the seventh. As is so often the case, the short-hand names for things are handy but tend to obscure the truth!
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 :)
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
Hi there! Saw your question on Facebook and I could take a guess for you, or ask James himself, but I've put the question to our teacher forum here if you'd like to join the discussion. I think it'll be fun to work this one out together, yes? uitc.discussion.community/post/who-can-help-us-figure-out-the-rest-of-this-little-dittys-chords-10071018?pid=1307937958#post1307937958
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?"
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.
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?
The easiest way to make any major 7th is to simplify flatten the root note. In this instance you make a normal F chord and lift the finger from second string - because this loses the root note you hammer the finger back down (making two distinct notes on second string)as soon as the second string has been played.
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
You sir, you're a lifesaverrrr. My pinky finger's almost always getting little vein cramps every time I need this chord loool
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!
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
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.
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’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.
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)
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!
This discovered this chord when i was learning femme fatale by the velvet underground.
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.😊😊😊
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...
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!
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.
i have never heard a maj7 chord sound so haunting
I am just starting out with the ukulele ... you are a big inspiration..thank you :)
I was avoiding a few songs because of this chord. Now I must break them back out. Thanks James.
+mikemiragliuolo You're welcome, Mike!
Thanks so much. What a great “trick.” Wish you had one for the B.
this is amazing! I did not know there is so much more to learn about the ukulele!
For me this chord is so 'Girl from Epanema', a tune I love playing and sounds so good on uke.
james, you shoud play 'the girl of ipanema' as an example of this amazing chord. it starts on G note. Work of genius
Fantastic...thanks so much, I only have 3 fingers so a real game changer for me. What were the others chords you used?
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
I've actually never had a problem playing this chord, but I'm using the new way now.
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.
Omg, THANK YOU for posting this.
that song made me smile so much
I love the 5-5-0-0 Fmaj7… a favorite and really great for Bennie and the Jets!
Thank you so much, this helped me a lot.
New to the uke. I enjoy the play along features on UA-cam. 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!
Thanks - really enjoyed this tutorial.
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!
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!
Thank youuuuuu
James your AMAZING!!!
Just now subscribed! I love your tutorial!!
If I could like this twice I would. So fun!
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.
the best Ukulele tutorial, thank you ...
OMG.. you own the most beautiful uku i've seen in the last 2 years of my life, since i play uku too :)
Excellent teacher!
ground control to major tom ! loving you lessons !
I enjoy your teaching !
Thank you very much ,Singapore says Cheers , stay home and practice this chord now,
The hard version has a more tame sound then the easy version..but I like it
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!!! 😁
really helpful video, and you have a beautiful voice!
oh my gosh thank you SO much... this has saved me so much time
Once again, it's a treat to see and listen to this little lesson. Thanks!
Some people would be interested in why the chord is called Fmaj7. (I think I figured it out.) Not necessarily here but on some of your videos, explaining the chord name would be cool.
+Carl von Baeyer It is the chord of F so with the notes 1 - 3 - 5 that is F A C with the added 7th from the major scale of F that is E.
+hughmccafferty Good stuff, Hug and Carl. For those theory buffs out there, the other thing to note is that "F major 7" is the short-hand name for this chord. The technical (botanical?) name is "F major major 7." The first "major" refers to the major triad and the second "major" refers to the interval of a major 7th between the root of the chord and the 7th of the chord. This might sound like mumbo jumbo but it in the end it makes the structure of 4-note chords VERY clear. For example, a G7 chord is, technically, a "G major minor 7." The "major" refers to the triad, the "minor" refers to the seventh. As is so often the case, the short-hand names for things are handy but tend to obscure the truth!
+James Hill presumably in another context with an A in the bass it would be Am6?
Not sure about Am6... but I can see how it could be a Dm9 when there's a D in the bass.
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 :)
Love your Uke !
This was so helpful!! Thank You! I got my ukulele yesterday lol
Thank you so much, love your videos.
Literally I tried playing it and as I got it I was like :o "oh my god that such a nice chord"
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.
Brilliant!
I want to do your course. Have you decided when you are coming down under? Love your courses.
+Ron Acton Thanks; yes, registration for the Australian JHUI Program has just opened: www.jhui.org/certification/register.htm. Hope you can join us!
LOVE it James! Thank you!
+Monica Dear, Teacher Thanks, Monica!
Loved the song 🎵. 😊
Love it, thanks!
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
Awesome voice too
REALLY helpful, thank you!
Awesome!!! Thanks a lot man
What a great song. I'm gonna practice this :D
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!
You are a life saver.
I’ve been playing ukulele for an hour and this was easy
Hi James, Can I have the chords that you played for you little tune you made up for the Fmaj7? Thanks 😀
Hi there! Saw your question on Facebook and I could take a guess for you, or ask James himself, but I've put the question to our teacher forum here if you'd like to join the discussion. I think it'll be fun to work this one out together, yes? uitc.discussion.community/post/who-can-help-us-figure-out-the-rest-of-this-little-dittys-chords-10071018?pid=1307937958#post1307937958
Hint...check out Booster Uke, Lesson 3: The Jazzy Twins
What is the tune that was playing at the end, around the 7:00 mark until the end? It sounds familiar and very relaxing.
That tune you made was genius! I had a hard time making out which chords you used, could you tell me what they were?
+Jennifer Stangret Thanks! It's just a little F (or Fmaj7) - Dm - Gm7 - C7 cycle. Does that help?
James Hill
Yes, that definitely helps. Thanks!
Great little song, James! LOL
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!
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!
Great content. Thank u sir
Brilliant! Thank you! Hey what's an easy way to play Bb maj?
He just saved my life
It saved me from throwing my uke away. This chord is in Senorita song and it feels like he saved my life.
I downloaded an app for chord alternatives on my iPad many months back. Has been fabulous in finding easier chords for the Havenstreet Ukulele Group?!
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?
Could you teach us how to play that? It sounds awesome!👍🏽
super cool dude. thanks a million. ps I got jazz sound in my mind
many thanks!!
This really helps when playing Ojd Man by Neil Young
Tnx it is a beautiful chord
I'd love to see sheet music for your Fmaj7 song!
it is a good chord to use in a version of America's "I Need You" or "Daisy Jane"
OMG thanks i cant play this chord for years now
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
I can't hear this chord without thinking of "Space Oddity".
brilliant!!
The easiest way to make any major 7th is to simplify flatten the root note. In this instance you make a normal F chord and lift the finger from second string - because this loses the root note you hammer the finger back down (making two distinct notes on second string)as soon as the second string has been played.
i love listening to you. :) haha i love your voice.
Your appreciation for music is appreciated :)
(6 string classic guitar player crying while switching between F# and Bbm)
Hi James, could you tell me what brand your ukulele is? Thanks!
I just bought a uke and played Fmaj7 first try am i going to be the Jimi Hendrix of the uke?