Here’s a chord switching exercise laid out in notation and tablature with accents, strum patterns, and left hand fingering. Why Z before A? The Z Chord begins the piece. And it ends on the A chord, hence “Z Before A” for high G ukulele.
I have created many chord switching exercises showing just chord diagrams. Most of my “Finger Fitness for Flexibility” Book comprises such exercises.
To get my students to read notation and tablature, I translate the chord diagrams into sheet music showing only chord names (not chord diagrams). They’d have to read the fret numbers shown in the four-line tablature to figure out which strings and frets to press.
This piece is leading me in a new direction.
Pick! Pluck! Play!
“Z Before A” belongs in the first level of the book “Pick! Pluck! Play!”
The last page “Ukulele Chords” of the new book contains a table of ukulele chord diagrams ordered alphabetically for the chords used in the book.
I’m thrilled about releasing these two books as a precursors (prerequisite) to the 12 Chinese Zodiac Suite, which contains three skill levels.
I am recording all my new compositions in the 100 Days of Ukulele 2025 project. To me, this challenge means uploading a new video recording of a new piece each consecutive day from 1st March to 8th June 2025.
For other recent compositions and arrangements by Anne Ku, please visit the Daily Music Writing Project or scroll through the consecutive blog posts.
