module 5
Ukulele Tab

In this module, you'll learn how to read and play ukulele tablature, commonly known as "tab."Tablature is a simplified, number-based system that makes it much easier to start playing music without needing to read traditional sheet music. While it's beginner-friendly, tab often works alongside standard notation to help indicate rhythm and timing.
Tab is especially useful for playing melody lines and learning solos. Once you're comfortable with the basics, you'll be able to combine melody and chords to create rich, professional-sounding arrangements. But for now, let's focus on building a solid foundation.

HOW TO READ UKULELE TAB

Ukulele tablature, or "tab," is a form of musical notation specifically designed for stringed instruments like the ukulele.
It provides a visual representation of the fretboard, showing exactly which strings to play and where to place your fingers to produce specific notes or chords.
Tab is especially popular among ukulele players—particularly beginners—because it offers a straightforward way to learn songs and melodies without needing an in-depth understanding of traditional sheet music.
Let’s break it down step by step:

What do the lines represent?

In ukulele tab, the four horizontal lines represent the four strings of your ukulele.
The top line corresponds to the A string (the highest in pitch), and the bottom line represents the G string (the lowest in pitch). This might feel a bit counterintuitive at first, since when you hold your ukulele in playing position, the G string appears to be on top.
To make sense of it, imagine laying your ukulele flat with the strings facing upward—just like the tab on the page. This gives you a bird’s-eye view of the fretboard, making it easier to understand the notation. It might take a little getting used to, but most players adjust quickly.

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN? 

Have a listen to what they sound like when played on a ukulele. 
In tablature, the numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press on a specific string. A "0" means you play the string open, without pressing any frets. Think of the strings played "0" for Open. 
For example, if you see a 2 on the C string, that means you should press down on the second fret of the C string and play that note.
Tab is read from left to right, just like regular text, with each number showing the next note to play in sequence.

Finger Placement Guide

As a general rule of thumb, each finger is assigned to a specific fret to help with accuracy and efficiency. Your index finger is responsible for notes on fret 1, your middle finger for fret 2, and your ring finger (third finger) for fret 3.
This system makes it easier to move smoothly between notes and builds good technique from the start. While this approach will evolve as you begin playing melodies across the entire fretboard, for now, we’ll focus on simple melody lines using just the first three frets.

PLUCKING FINGERS

So now you know what fingers to fret with, let's have a look at what fingers to pluck with using your other hand. These beginner exercises will just utilise the C, E and A strings so you will just use your THUMB to pluck any notes on the C string and pluck in a downwards motion, your INDEX to pluck any notes on the E string and your MIDDLE finger to pluck any notes on the A string, both plucked in an upward motion, as illustrated:
EXERCISE: Watch the video below to have a go at playing the C major scale. The illustrated shows what fingers to fret with, along with the notes you are playing. 

CAN YOU PLAY CHORDS WITH TAB?

Yes indeed!! Chords are illustrated by numbers piled on top of one another. ​To play a note or chord, you read the numbers on the tab and position your fingers accordingly, then strum all strings together, usually in a downwards motion, unless illustrated otherwise.

EXERCISE: See if you can figure out what the two tabbed chords represent above which you should be familiar with.

WHAT ABOUT THE RHTHYM AND TIMING OF TAB NOTES & CHORDS?

​Ukulele tab focuses on finger placement and doesn't explicitly indicate timing or rhythm so in addition to the tab lines, you will often find helpful notation above the tab sections that indicate the length of time you should play each note. Similarly, there are “REST” symbols representing durations of quiet space when no notes are played. Here is a brief guide to some of the note durations you will explore in this module:
NB: Watch out for dotted notation. When a dot is placed next to a note, it extends the notes duration by half of its original value. This means that a dotted note lasts for the value of the note itself, plus an additional half of that value.
Here is what the notation for the C Major scale you played above would look like:
As you can see, they are all quarter notes and fall on the beat of each bar. But how do you know how many notes to play per bar? This is usually determined by the time signature written at the start of the notation.  Here are examples of some of the more popular time signatures:

What about the Speed of Songs?

Song speeds are written in BPM = (Beats per minute) and this is known as the TEMPO of the song. Most popular songs tend to have tempos that range between 60BPM (slow) – 180BPM (very fast)

Here are some song examples to help you understand tempos:

The formal name for the slower end tempos is "ANDANTE" and is used on songs such as:
The formal name for the more common tempos is "ALLEGRO" and is used on songs such as:
The formal name for the moderately faster tempos is "VIVACISSAMO" and is used on songs such as:
The formal name for the songs at the faster end of the spectrum are "PRESTO" and is used on songs such as:
EXERCISE: Let's see if you can guess which early years song, or songs, this melody line belongs too. 
Now download the tab below to see if you were correct and to play the entire 12 bar song. 

16 FRET STRETCH @ 80BPM​

​EXERCISE: Use your Finger Gym PDF from Module 2 to play along with this weeks speed at 80BPM. 
Time to put your new tab reading skills into action in the next module: 
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