Reading primer
This room already speaks TAB and chord letters. v2 adds enough standard notation to match a method-book line to the neck — not a graded reading course. Durations live on Note values; first-position seats also sit on Classical · C ladder.
Start from Foundations · TAB · Note values · Classical drills.
Play becomes Stop on the same button. Tempo follows the metronome. Ukulele music is written in treble clef an octave higher than it sounds.
TAB review
TAB is four lines — one per string. The top line is
A, the same way the neck is drawn on this site. A number is a
fret, not a finger. 0 is open. Full orientation:
Foundations · How to read TAB.
A|--0-- A string (1st string) E|--0-- C|--0-- G|--0-- G string (4th string)
TAB shows where. The staff shows pitch and duration. You want both when a method book prints notes; you only need TAB + letters for this room’s songs.
Staff primer
Five lines, four spaces. The treble clef (G-clef) curls around the second line up — that line is G (the G above middle C, as written). Ukulele writes that G for the open G string, but it sounds an octave lower.
- Lines (bottom to top, written): E G B D F — “Every Good Boy Does Fine.”
- Spaces: F A C E.
- Ledger lines extend the staff (middle C sits on one ledger below).
- Note values (whole, half, quarter, eighth, rest) are the same family as Note values — go there to hear how long each last.
- Stems: notes below the middle line (B) usually stem up from the right; on or above the middle line, stem down from the left. Beams group eighths by beat.
G on the second line (written). Play sounds the open G string — an octave below the written pitch.
First-position notes
Index on fret 1, middle on 2, ring on 3, pinky on 4 — no shift. Play walks the neck and lights the matching written note on the staff.
Press Play. The neck and staff move together.
| Written | Sounds | String / fret |
|---|---|---|
| G (staff G line) | G4 | G string open |
| C | C4 | C open |
| E | E4 | E open |
| A | A4 | A open |
| B | B4 | A fret 2 |
| C (above A) | C5 | A fret 3 |
C ladder (method-book first line) A|-----------0--2--3- E|-----0--1--3------- C|-0--2-------------- G|------------------- C D E F G A B C
Rhythm reading cards
Clap, or play open G (one pitch, so the job is duration). Count out loud. Values match Note values.
A rest is silence of that length — keep counting. Beams on eighths show the beat. Stem rule still applies; here every attack is the same open G.
Chord symbols above the staff
Lead sheets put chord letters above the melody staff. This room usually prints the letters and TAB without a melody (no copyrighted tunes). The idea is the same: play the harmony from the letters while someone else has the notes — or while you strum and sing.
G C D G
q q q q (quarters: down-strums)
A|--2-----------------3-----------------0-----------------2--
E|--3-----------------0-----------------2-----------------3--
C|--2-----------------0-----------------2-----------------2--
G|--0-----------------0-----------------2-----------------0--
The staff would hold a melody we do not print. You own the letters. Same G–C–D map as Play along.
Three tracks
Beginner
TAB open strings. Name G on the staff. C ladder slow. Four-quarter card. Near 60.
Intermediate
First-position naturals with the staff. Eighth and rest cards. G–C–D letters while counting.
Advanced
Name the written note before it sounds. Mix cards. Then Classical · reading seats.