Menuet by Aguado for Classical Ukulele

In this video Jeff plays his arrangement of Menuet by Aguado for classical ukulele. The original key of Aguado’s piece is A minor, but here it is in the key of D minor.

Aguado’s Menuet

Composed by the esteemed 19th-century Spanish composer Dionisio Aguado, this piece in D minor showcases melodies that beautifully outline Bb7, A, F, and C7 chords. It originally comes from Aguado’s Method for Guitar.

Performance Notes

When not using the barre chord technique, I often recommend using different fingers when playing notes on the same fret across strings. This piece begins with the following approach. The left hand’s 2nd finger plays the 4th string, followed by the 3rd finger on the 3rd string, effectively outlining the D minor chord. This technique is invaluable as it provides greater sustain compared to using a single finger to jump between strings.

Form and Structure

In terms of structure, measure 8 directs you to repeat from the first full measure, then proceed through measure 7 and transition to the 2nd ending at measure 9. Pay attention to your right-hand technique: the thumb (P) is responsible for playing the 4th string and occasionally the 3rd string, while the index (I) and middle (M) fingers also play the 3rd string. Adhering to these fingering suggestions will enhance your technique using the PIM combination.

Musical Elements

Experiment with dynamics to bring out the musicality of the piece. For instance, play measure 5 with more volume than measure 1 as the phrase repeats, then apply a decrescendo from measure 7 through to the 1st and 2nd endings. Begin measure 10 with full volume, gradually softening with a decrescendo as you approach the final two measures to conclude the piece gracefully.

Graded Repertoire for Classical Ukulele: Volume 2

This piece comes from our book Graded Repertoire for Classical Ukulele: Volume 2. The book has around 50 pieces of classical masterpieces carefully arranged for low-G ukulele in a progressive order. Starting with simple famous melodies like Bach’s Minuet you progress step-by-step all the way through to classical favorites such as Faure’s Pavane and Asturias by Issac Albéniz. Pick up your copy here: https://ukulelecorner.com/graded-clas…

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You can find lessons on these pieces and a whole library of different genres of music, including blues, Hawaiian, pop, classical, traditional, jazz, holiday, and more at Ukulele Corner Academy. Find out more about the Academy and join today: https://ukulelecorner.com/academy/