Ukulele Secret #11 Campanella Triad Patterns

Hi Folks!

In the last year I have stumbled across more campanella secrets I want to share with you. It all has to do with patterns, or SHAPES, using triads.

A triad consists of three notes. You can play chords as triads by using three notes out of that chord. For example: the root, 3rd and 5th notes in the C scale make up a C major chord and in this case, a triad. However, what I want to share with you will be playing the notes of different triads separately, campanella style. Yea! And for sake of keeping it simple, I won’t go into the names or notes of these triads. Let’s just play.

First of all, you might recognize some of these shapes from songs I have previously transcribed and possibly from other secrets I have posted.

These patterns can be moved around and even thought of as a slide rule, whereas you can move the entire sequences to different keys.

Performance Notes: I play these using “three finger” style. I use my thumb exclusively on the 4th, or top, string and I use my index on the 2nd string and ring finger on the 1st. I do not use my pinky, as in the “one finger per string” method. I use this three finger technique in at least 80% of my fingerstyle playing. (Refer to the Folksy Fingerstyle Secret for more on this) It is a common practice for banjo and guitar and, for me, flows nicely and affords ease and speed. That being said, do it however you feel comfortable, but I hope you try it this way. If you stick with it you will see why.

You will also notice I use a triplet feel. This is the easiest way to demonstrate this. Later you can fit this into any rhythmic feel you desire.

This TAB shows some forms in the key of C, first ascending and then descending. As stated before they can be shifted to fit into different keys.

Here is a short video demonstration.

I encourage you to explore and arrange familiar songs using these shapes and patterns. It’s easier than you might think. Just go for it!

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