Transposing chords with a capo

Indie_Kid

A capo being a piece metal which goes across a guitar to create a bar.

There's a song I wish to play on the ukulele which I've found here the problem being is that the chords are too difficult for me to play and would require transposing to a different key.

If I don't have a capo, how do I transpose the chords to an easier key? Thank you. There's nothing on https://www.chordie.com so can't tranpose that way.

googler

What do you find difficult about playing those chords on a ukulele?

What are the open strings of your uke tuned to? Standard CGEA?

That link shows an instruction 'Capo at 1th (!) fret', so assuming the instruction is to play an A with the capo, that will sound as a B flat.

First line has D D Bmin D D/C# Bm Bm/A

If you drop the C# and A bass lines

D D Bmin D D Bm Bm etc, which with the capo is

Eflat Eflat Cmin Eflat Eflat Cmin Cmin

If you drop it a minor third

C C Amin C C Am Am etc which seems fairly straightforward

Indie_Kid

Many of those chords are quite difficult to play - that's the problem.

googler

If a particular chord is difficult to finger, then you need to find another inversion of the chord, and maybe transpose again to place that inversion at the lower end of the neck ....

googler

sh1305 wrote: »

Many of those chords are quite difficult to play - that's the problem.

So is Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano Concerto - but in the words of the old anecdote;

"How do I get to Carnegie Hall?"

"Practice, man ... Practice."

There's nothing that will make it easier for you to finger any particular chord than practicing that fingering repeatedly in combination with other chords. There are only so many inversions of each chord, and at some stage, you need to tackle the tough ones as well as the easy ones.

Which in particular are 'difficult'?

Indie_Kid

Are you even a ukulele player?

Well, the F# is difficult, as it E, E Flat, Em, Bm, etc.

wingates

I too am a beginner on uke. I also struggle with some chords. I would use google to find an easier version of this song. After all, the uke exists to make us smile and feel happy, no need for any stress. There are loads of excellent sites for lessons on you tube. Ukulenny is one of my favourites. Good luck.

fosco360

practice practice practice...

Indie_Kid

I have been. But some of those chords are difficult with small hands.

wingates

Yes, I am afraid the only way is to practice. Practice till your fingers get sore. If you have the will to learn you will do it.

buster4498

Dont try and play a song that is above your level, you will get very frustrated. Try to add 1 difficult chord at a time until you have mastered that one. Keep going because when you do learn it, it is very satisfying.