Ukulele For Dummies (77 page)

The note between the letters can be referred to as either a sharp or a flat. For example, the note between F and G is both F
and G
. Traditionally, musicians refer to most notes by the sharp version of their name (so usually they say ‘C sharp' rather than ‘D flat'). The exceptions are B
and E
.

These notes are exceptions because no note lies between:

B and C

E and F

Understanding the key signature

Composers and songwriters use a
key signature
to attribute sharps and flats to certain notes throughout a piece. The key signature is a set of sharps or flats that appears before the time signature at the start of the notation. For example, Figure B-6 shows the key of A, which has three sharps: C
, F
and G
. The key signature tells you to play these notes rather than the natural versions throughout the whole piece.

The sharps and flats that a key signature indicates apply to all the C, F and Gs in the piece. So, even though the sharp is indicating to play the F# on the A-string, ninth fret (the first note of Figure B-6), it also tells you to play the F# on the E-string, third fret wherever they occur.

Discovering the Notes on the Fretboard

Learning the location of notes on your fretboard is a very rewarding but quite daunting task. Start off slowly by remembering all the natural notes (C, D, E, F and so on) in the first three frets. When you know the naturals, working out the sharps and flats is easier.

Then move up the fretboard by remembering all the notes at the fifth fret (cFAD) and at the seventh fret (dGBE). Again, you can quickly work out the sharps and flats around these notes.

Figures B-7, B-8, B-9 and B-10 show the notes on the A-, E-, C- and g-strings, respectively.