Ukulele · Level 5 · Intermediate

Slash chords and a walking bass in F♯ major on Ukulele

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THE SHORT ANSWER

A slash chord keeps the same chord on top but puts a different note in the bass. Here the bass climbs step by step from I to IV.

F♯

F♯ major

Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯

GCEA♯♯♯

F♯/A♯

F♯ major, A♯ in the bass

Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯

GCEA♯♯♯

B

B major

Notes: B · D♯ · F♯

GCEA♯♯

C♯

C♯ major

Notes: C♯ · E♯ · G♯

4frGCEA♯♯♯
1
F♯
2
F♯/A♯
3
B
4
C♯

HOW TO PRACTISE IT

Six steps to a clean loop.

  1. Play each chord on its own: F♯, F♯/A♯, B and C♯. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
  2. Use light pressure; the ukulele's nylon strings need far less force than steel.
  3. Set the tempo to 60 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Bring out the bass note of each chord a little more than the rest.
  4. Strum down on every beat, then add an up-strum between beats with a loose wrist.
  5. Raise the tempo to 80 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
  6. Record one take, listen back and check for a bass line rising one step at a time.

Listen for

Aim for a bass line rising one step at a time. A common mistake is playing the root in the bass on the slash chord.

Why it works

I/3 is the first inversion of I, with the third in the bass, creating a smooth line toward IV.

F♯ major has 6 sharps; its relative minor key is D♯ minor.

Questions

What are the chords in I–I/3–IV–V in F♯ major?

In F♯ major the progression is F♯ | F♯/A♯ | B | C♯.

What is the key signature of F♯ major?

F♯ major has 6 sharps. Its relative minor is D♯ minor.

Is this lesson right for my level?

This is a level 5 lesson (intermediate). If it feels too hard, start with “Sixth chords”.

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