The first four chords I learned were Am, C, G and F. After a while I also got the hang of Em, D, Dm, Bm, A, Cm and a few more. But learning the ukulele E chord was a nightmare. Nevertheless, I did it and you can do it too!
Once upon a time
The first chords I started with when I was in the early stages of learning the ukulele were Am, C, G and F. I could already play quite a lot of songs with just those four chords! And I stuck to playing those four for several weeks, until I could switch very quickly between them.
After a while, though, I went looking for other songs and steadily built up my personal database of chords I could play. These included: A, Am, Bm, C, Cm, Em, D, Dm, F, G and a few more. Whenever I saw a song with an E chord in it, I would skip it, but I couldn’t keep ignoring it forever. It really is a chord that you should learn at some point.
How did I learn the E chord on the ukulele?
Most of the times when you are looking up ukulele chords, you’ll see the ukulele E chord the way it’s shown below on the ukulele from UkuChords. This shape is the one most widely known and is generally taken as the standard shape for the E chord.
However it is very difficult to play, especially for someone who is just starting out. You play it with your first finger on the second fret of the A string and then your other fingers on the fourth fret of the G C and E strings, or you barre the three strings with one finger (you can even use your thumb). Unless you have some guitar background, this is very difficult to get the hang of properly.
© UkuChords.com
When you look at the E chord in the UkuChords Chord Library, however, you will find another shape listed as first option. This is my favourite shape for the E chord and it’s the one I always use. It sounds very clear – there is no barring – and allows for quick changing between chords. It is the one shown on the left here (G string on the first fret, C string on the fourth fret, open E string, A string on the second fret – 1402).
Play the ukulele E chord as “4402”
Another way to play the E chord was recently sent in by Bill. He suggests playing it as “4402”: you can see the ukulele chord diagram below. This is basically an E5 chord and it won’t always fit the song you are playing, but you can always give it a try.
It will take quite a lot of practice to master the ukulele E chord, but it will be very rewarding once you get there since it is quite a popular chord and used in tons of well-known songs. Another popular shape is 4447 — barre the fourth fret and use your pinkie to press the A string on the seventh fret.
Ukulele E chord learning tip
© UkuChords.com
I suggest you that you pick one shape and play it for a few minutes everyday. After a few days, try switching to another chord and back to the E. If you are really (I mean really) struggling, you can try replacing the E chord with an Em or E7. I do not recommend it as it changes the tone of the song, but it can be helpful if you really want to play a certain song in the early stages.
Need more input?
Feel free to contact me whenever you need more information about playing the E chord on your ukulele properly. I wish you good luck! You can find ukulele songs with chord diagrams on UkuTabs to get you going.
Also interested to know how to put a strap on your ukulele without drilling? Or perhaps some information more about basic ukulele chords?
