helps you learn to play the ukulele and read music ... faster!
Contents:
- one set of 13 Fretnote labels for SOPRANO UKULELE, STANDARD TUNING (G-C-E-A)
- also fits many concert and tenor Ukes - see FAQ below for size guide
- an application tool
- full colour instructions
- access to our links page of FREE online lessons and learning aids
A UKULELE IS NOT INCLUDED!
Other versions of Fretnotes and Keynotes can be found in our eBay shop.
The ukulele is great fun to play. Many schools are now using them for teaching basic music literacy - it's inexpensive, portable, and sounds MUCH nicer in the hands of a novice than the dreaded descant recorder or violin..... The ukulele also lets you sing and play at the same time and learn about harmony.
With only four strings to deal with, you can soon learn a few simple chords and strum along to your favourite song - but if you are going to take things to the next level and be able to play tunes, you will need to learn where to find the notes on the fretboard. With Fretnotes on your uke, the notes are right there ON the fretboard! This makes it much easier to relate the notes in the music to the notes under your fingers.
Fretnotes are high quality polyester labels that show you the notes of the fretboard. You will soon learn the individual note positions and no longer need the labels, but in the first stages of learning to play they can help you progress much faster, as thousands of satisfied Fretnote and Keynote users have discovered. See my feedback, and check the FAQ at the end of the listing for more information and answers to common questions.
This version of Fretnotes is for soprano ukulele in standard GCEA tuning (i.e. 99% of beginner's ukuleles), and is suitable for both right-handed AND left-handed players. They will also fit most concert and tenor ukes in GCEA tuning.
IMPORTANT! The ukuklele neck must be thoroughly cleaned before fitting the labels to ensure good adhesion. The easiest way is to use alcohol wipes (available from pharmacies, or we can supply them - see my other items). Please do not use wet-wipes intended for babies, which contain lotion and other additives, or "fretboard conditioners" that contain lemon oil, like Dunlop 65. If in doubt, please ask us before using! After cleaning, make sure the fretboard is completely dry before fitting the labels. See the FAQ for more details.
Fretnotes have several advantages over other stickers....
- Fast to fit - Fretnotes group the notes on each fret together into one label - even if you label the whole neck you only have 13 labels to fit, (instead of 78 if you use individual note labels!). This should take about 5-10 minutes. Just applying Fretnotes is a great first lesson - by the time you are finished you will already be getting familiar with the note names and positions. If the pupil is a child have them help you - children love stickers!
- No re-stringing or re-tuning - Each label is simply threaded under the strings and pressed into place just behind the fret using the simple tool provided - you don't have to loosen or remove the strings.
- Strong - Fretnotes are made from a special thin but tough polyester. There is only one label per fret so they stick better and are less likely to be pulled off. With regular practice you will only need them on for a few weeks anyway.....
- Fret Numbers - each label wraps around the top of the fretboard to show you the fret number at a glance, with the 0,3,5,7,9 and 12 frets highlighted. This really helps, as many ukes don't have dot markers to help you count the frets like a guitar has.
- Black Sharps - natural notes are shown on a white background, sharp notes are shown on black. This makes it easy to relate scales and chords on the uke to the piano keyboard - very helpful if you already play or read music.
- Open string notes - An open string label is included - important when you're starting.
- FREE LESSONS! - With Fretnotes you get access to my links page of the best free online lessons and learning aids, including excellent beginner's ukulele lessons, as well as other musical help like ear training, free sheet music, an on-line metronome and tuner and much more. There's loads of ukulele related content on the net - the links page is a short-cut to sites that I have used and found useful.
- Instructions and support included - Printed full-colour instructions are included - you don't need to download anything and you don't need to know anything about music or the ukulele to get started. If you need help you can send a message and I will reply within 24 hours, often less.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Will they fit my uke?
A. I measured a number of ukuleles when developing this product, and the dimensions used will work well on 99% of ukes, (even concert and tenor ukes using GCEA tuning). If you want to check your instrument before ordering, measure the distance between the 1st and 4th strings at two places:
1. The nut, which is the slotted piece that the strings pass over before winding on to the tuning pegs, and
2. The 12th fret - count 12 fret wires up from the nut - the 12th fret is usually where the fingerboard meets the body of the ukulele.
At the nut the distance should be between 25mm and 30mm; at the 12th fret it should be between 30mm and 36mm. If your measurements are within these ranges Fretnotes will work fine on your ukulele. If your measurements are outside these ranges I'd be very interested to know what uke you have!
Q. Why is cleaning the neck so important?
A. Unlike many cheaper labels, Fretnotes use a special low-tack adhesive to ensure that no glue residue is left behind to spoil the guitar finish when they are removed. It works very well but the guitar neck and fingerboard must be thoroughly clean of dirt, dust and fingerprints etc., before fitting the labels. The ideal cleaning material is isopropyl alcohol. This can be obtained from chemists / pharmacies / diy stores for general cleaning purposes, or in the form of antiseptic wipes for cuts and grazes etc. We can supply these for an amount to cover the postage, but you will get a much better deal if you buy them locally or from the many eBay sellers who sell these. We don't include them with the labels as this changes the class of postage and makes sending the labels much more expensive, especially overseas, and you may have something suitable already. Please DO NOT use special guitar cleaners/restorers that contain lemon oil, or wet-wipes intended for babies that contain oils and lotions - your baby may appreciate these, but your ukulele neck won't and the labels will fall off after a few hours! Also, don't use any strong solvents or abrasive cleaners as these will damage the guitar finish.
Q. I'm left-handed - will they work for me?
A. Yes. Fretnotes for ukulele are not handed; the relatively small size of the neck means that you are looking more or less straight down at the labels whether you are right or left-handed, so there is no need to angle the note-letters to maximise readability, which is a feature of Fretnotes for larger instruments.
Q. How long will they last?
A. Fretnotes are printed on a special polyester material with a non-glare matt finish, giving a neat appearance. This makes them ideal for teachers - they look professional and are long-lasting. They will normally out-last the need for them - most people find they only need to use them for a few weeks. Fretnotes are not re-usable.
Q. How long will it take to fit them?
A. About 10 minutes. Just applying Fretnotes is a great first lesson - by the time you are finished you will already be getting familiar with the note names and positions. Included in the pack is a simple tool to help you thread the labels under the strings without the need for removing or de-tuning the strings. If your uke has a very low action i.e. the strings are very low on the fretboard, then
a) you may have to de-tune the strings slightly to fit the labels, but
b) you are very fortunate, because your uke will be much easier to play ;-)
Q. Will they damage the fretboard?
A. No, but keep reading! Fretnotes are made to peel off easily and leave no residue. If they are left on for a very long time (i.e. years) there is a small chance of adhesive being left behind, but this will remove easily with a guitar cleaner like Fast-Fret etc., and not damage the fretboard. However, over the years ukuleles have been made from all sorts of materials, and whilst I have tested this product extensively and found it safe on all common finishes, it's impossible to test them on everything, so you use this product at your own risk. If you have any concerns about this then please get in touch before purchasing.
Q. What if I need help?
A. Email me! I'll normally answer within 24 hours (often less) and will help as much as I can with using the labels. If there is a problem of any kind please get in touch before leaving bad feedback or opening a case. I work very hard to keep everyone happy and maintain 100% customer satisfaction, but I can't help you if I don't know there's a problem!
Q. Is a ukulele included?
A. No! (really, I have had to include this question as it was asked quite seriously by a Keynotes customer who thought he was also getting a piano with his £5 set of labels..).
Q. What is the links page?
A. It's a webpage containing a list of links to useful free internet resources I have found whilst helping people (and myself!) learn to play. It is reviewed and updated regularly. There is a great deal of information available on the internet to help you learn to play ukulele and read music, but as with most things on the internet, the quality ranges from excellent to very bad indeed. The guide provides links to the best sites, with notes on how you may find them useful. They will be especially helpful if you are learning on your own and not taking one-to-one lessons with a teacher, but everyone should find something of interest - there are free lessons (many with very helpful graphics), ear-training applications, an online tuner and metronome (that gives you simple drum-beats to practice with in addition to the usual boring click!), musical games, sheet music, and even an app that lets you print your own manuscript paper for a fraction of the cost of buying it!
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