How to Find Every Chord in a Key on Ukulele (Simple Theory Explained)
- Matt Stead
- Feb 6
- 2 min read
How to Find Every Chord in a Key on Ukulele (Simple Theory Explained)
Have you ever wanted to work out the chords in a key without reaching for Google or a chord chart?
Good news — you absolutely can.
With one simple formula and a small pattern to remember, you can build any major scale and turn it into chords on your own. This is one of my favourite “practice without practising” ideas because you can even do it away from your ukulele.
Let’s break it down.
Step 1: The Major Scale Formula (WWHWWWH)
Every major key follows the same pattern of steps:
W W H W W W H
W = Whole step
H = Half step
That’s it.
If you start on C and follow that pattern, you get:
C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
That’s the C major scale.
But here’s the powerful part…
This formula works in every key.
Step 2: Turning the Scale Into Chords
Once you have the scale, you can turn each note into a chord.
In a major key, the pattern of chord types is always:
1 – Major2 – Minor3 – Minor4 – Major5 – Major6 – Minor7 – Diminished
So in C major, that becomes:
C – Dm – Em – F – G – Am – Bdim
You don’t have to memorise every key separately.
You just remember:
2, 3 and 6 are minor.7 is diminished.
Everything else is major.
That’s the system.
Why This Matters for Ukulele Players
Many players memorise chord shapes but never understand why those chords belong together.
When you understand this pattern, you can:
• Work out chord progressions in any key
• Transpose songs more confidently
• Jam with others more easily
• Strengthen your musical independence
And you can even practise this while walking, travelling, or sitting at work.
No instrument required.
Try This
Pick a new starting note — for example G.
Apply the WWHWWWH formula.
Write out the scale.
Then apply the chord pattern.
See what you get.
This is how theory becomes practical.
Want to Go Further?
If you enjoy understanding how music fits together (rather than just memorising shapes), you might enjoy exploring more structured lessons.
You can explore my full ukulele courses here:👉 https://learnukulele.com
Or, if you’re ready to move into more intermediate material, take a look at:👉 https://learnukulele.com/intermediate-course
Understanding how chords are built is one of those “lightbulb” moments on ukulele.
Once you see the pattern, you start spotting it everywhere.
Give it a try in a new key this week and see what you discover.
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