To Ukulele strap - or not?

18 Dec 2012

To Ukulele strap - or not?

Recently I found myself in quite a debate on the merits (or otherwise) of using a strap on a ukulele - and it got me thinking. Why is there such an issue with using a ukulele strap?


ukulele strap


It became clear to me that there are a few people out there that actively resent the idea of using a ukulele strap (and are MORE THAN willing to tell others NOT to use one). I find that odd myself, but there you go. There are no 'rules' when it comes to straps on ukes despite what some may think.

I have been told that the ukulele is 'not intended to have a strap' - something I very much disagree with - the ukulele is just a musical instrument and it is permissible for it to take on new developments and features. Sure, the earliest ukes were not played with straps, but if we take that logic, developments like electric ukuleles would equally become invalid. And that is just crazy - adding a strap button, or adding a pickup doesn't stop the instrument being a ukulele. Let's look at the guitar world, and the earliest spanish guitars - they did not employ straps and many spanish style players today still do not use them. Does that make the use of a studded leather strap on a Gisbon Les Paul invalid?  In fact, the traditional guitar is played sitting down - so what is all this standing up nonsense anyway? You get my point...

The view comes, I suspect, from the traditional history of the ukulele. A quick Google image search for traditional Hawaiian players will show very few using straps - and that is just fine. But equally you will not find any old pictures of traditional Hawaiian players with solid electrics, or ukuleles shaped like Flying V guitars - because they didn't exist. It doesn't make them wrong. (Well, actually, in the case of the latter, the jury may be out on that....)

I was also told that this view was supported by the fact that most ukuleles don't come with strap buttons. Sure, many don't, but equally some do, particularly on the larger sizes or those that have a pickup added. High end builders offer a button as an option and some fit them as standard. In fact I would expect that as time goes on, on larger ukes we may see more ukes ship from the factory with strap buttons added. Why? Because there is clearly a demand for them. People are adding them themselves. At a recent mass busk I attended there were dozens of players and the vast majority had straps.

I was then told that using a strap is a 'crutch', that it will affect your playing style and you will never be able to go back to playing without one. Well, certainly learning to hold a uke without a strap is something that should be worked on by the absolute beginner, but I can honestly say that I have no issue moving from playing with a strap to playing without. As for it affecting playing style - well I think that is a misconception also and if anything I think they make playing, particularly fingerstyle, more comfortable.  That made me do a little bit of research as to who out there is using a strap on a ukulele when performing. The list of names is quite interesting. Jake Shimabukuro, Brittni Paiva, James Hill, Lil' Rev, Ken Middleton, Manitoba Hal, The Re-entrants, Victoria Vox, Jim D'Ville, Ralph Shaw - and countless others use straps sometimes. Is the strap affecting their playing style? Is it something they are using as a crutch? Quite honestly - anyone thinking Jake needs a crutch to support his playing needs to have a serious think about that!

jake shimabukuro with ukulele strap

James Hill with ukulele strap



So I therefore decided to post this for beginners as I am increasingly seeing questions being asked on forums and social media from beginners along these lines - do I need a strap? (and those shouting that the use of a strap is 'wrong')

My summary thoughts on this:

1. Do you NEED a strap? Well, no, nobody needs a strap, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with using one, it won't affect your playing, and if anything might make things easier. It is good to learn how to stand and hold a uke without one of course, but if you are playing regularly, then a strap is no bad thing to have - if nothing else, it makes you 'hands free' between songs (probably the main reason I use one). If you don't need one, don't use one. That's fine too!

2. I think size comes in to it. I don't use straps on my soprano ukes as I think that is overkill - they are very easy to hold anyway, but on a tenor or baritone in particular, I find a strap makes the whole playing experience that much nicer.

3. Straps and supports come in various flavours - half straps for example only provide support and mean you cannot let go of the instrument, but are a good choice for those without a strap button (and if you don't want to fit a button). You will also find the design that hooks into the soundhole for support, but I would urge caution with those unless they have serious padding and protection. The concept was designed for guitars who's tops and soundholes are much stronger. That said, Jake S is using one on the picture above! Just don't let go of your uke thinking it is being held - it is just a support!

4. The best option in my opinion is a full strap which connects at two points on the uke. First to a strap button on the base of the uke, and the other end either to a tie on the headstock, or to another strap button on the heel of the neck. These straps offer total support - allow you to go hands free between songs to take a drink, fiddle with an amplifier or similar and are just great to use.

5. The chances are you may not have a strap button on your ukulele, but they are extremely cheap to buy and very easy to fit (literally a 5 minute job). To fit one, first take a look inside the uke with a mirror and torch. You need to check if you have a 'tail block' in the instrument which will be an obvious block of wood squarely set inside the ukulele at the base - running between the top and the back. If you don't have one of these I would suggest caution in screwing a button into the instrument as this will create a lot of stress on a very thin piece of wood. If you have one, you are good to go!

Just look at the button screw (that comes with the button) and using a low speed drill or Dremel tool, drill a 'pilot hole' just a little thinner than the diameter of the screw. Don't be scared - it's just like drilling a hole to fix a shelf or anything else - just go slowly and steady. You would do well to put a piece of masking tape over the area you are going to drill to prevent chips or scratches. Drill the pilot hole squarely through the uke base and through the wooden tail block. Then simply screw the button in to the hole, not forgetting the felt washer which will prevent the button doing damage. And that is it! If you want more detail on fitting strap buttons have a look here

6. The choice of style of strap is up to you, but I find that a guitar strap is too thick for me and looks and feels odd with a uke. I use the Uke Leash strap which is nice and subtle (and thin), and banjo or mandolin straps look great too. At the end of the day, a piece of rope will function as a strap if you want it to!

7. Turning to banjoleles - whilst a strap can easily be fitted (using a banjo strap that clips to the tension rods, and traditionally slung over just one shoulder),  the traditional George Formby style of playing may find a strap hampers the complex fingerstyles that go with that type of music. Formby himself didn't use one.

So,  if you don't want to use a strap, then that is cool. If, however, you are playing a lot standing up and finding your ukulele slipping or just uncomfortable, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with fitting a strap. If it is good enough for any of the top end players I have mentioned above, then it should be good enough for you!

There is nothing much right and wrong in the world of making music. If it works for you, then go with it - what matters is that you make music.


36 comments :

  1. Do you have any idea what kind of strap that Jake used in the picture?
    I'm curious what brand is it, and where I can get it?
    Thank you for sharing!

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  2. Hi Barry, I recently came up with a new type of ukulele strap that I think solves the problems that some others seem to have. It gives the ukulele truly hands-free support yet doesn't require any modification to the instrument. I call it the Mobius Strap. Please check it out at www.mobiusstrap.com. Thanks!

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  3. Interesting Tim - no pressure on soundhole. Does it affect tone though? ie stop the top resonating?

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  4. Hi Barry,

    Actually, since you don't have to put pressure on the top to hold the ukulele in position, you may even find it to be louder. It definitely doesn't muffle it at all.

    Thanks, Tim

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  5. Just wanted to throw out that as a woman, I find holding even a soprano ukulele while standing kind of difficult because SOMETHING gets in the way. It slips around a lot and I am going to strap on without shame.

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  6. Many thanks for this Barry. There is a definite anti strap feeling among many ukers that I have yet to find a real reason for. I have strap on my concert and have been putting off fitting pins to my tenor, but I just find playing so much more relaxing with a strap when I play standing, which is my preferred playing position.

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  7. Exactly - sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, and I fail to see the fuss!

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  8. thanks for the comment above from one of the ladies.
    As another woman player, I also notice that SOMETHING :) does get in the way and so you either end up holding the uke up around your neck, or way down low.....
    So, a strap helps.

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  9. I have just bought a dog lead! to make a strap bought the stud to drill at one end and used fishing line to fix the other end of the strap to the neck. I found after a few months of playing that i had problems with slipping of the ukulele when playing. It is so much easier when using finger movements if you have a strap

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  10. Thank you so much for this insightful and down-to-earth approach to discussing straps for the Uke. As a beginner, and a woman, I too struggle sometimes with holding the uke comfortably against me. I wasn't sure about the idea of straps, but your post has really helped give me the push. And as you so rightly say, if Jake uses one...

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  11. I'm a part-time ukulele instructor who teaches during the weekends. I've been teaching for almost 2 years now. My point of view about straps is that it shouldn't be encouraged for beginners, reason being beginners should learn how to "grip" the instrument with the fleshy part of their forearms. I noticed many of my students who start out using straps become very reliant on them, and because of the assisted support provided by straps, these students don't develop a good "gripping" technique on the instrument. I'm not saying using straps are bad, it's just not advisable for beginners to use them. I myself started using straps after I learnt how to properly grip the instrument without letting it fall.

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  12. A very interesting debate on the merits to strap. Most ukes are very light in weight and therefore negate the use of a strap, however, some of the larger ukes are cumbersome to hold and the need for one maybe useful. As for banjo ukes, ahhh! a different animal indeed, some are quite lite to hold and there are others especially those with fitted resonator can be quite heavy and you wouldn't want to drop that on your foot now would yer? ouch!

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  13. Weight can indeed be an issue. For me though less so. The only reason I use one is to keep hands free when playing on stage to grab a drink / adjust mix / microphone etc

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  14. Another women beginner commenting here- I find my playing is SO MUCH BETTER using a strap! I have a concert and a tenor ukulele, and my "something" gets in the way so I cannot "grip" either size with the fleshy part of my forearm, because my chest isn't flat to grip it against - so it slides - and I am constantly trying to hold it in place with one or the other hand, and this restricts me from changing chords quickly, or getting a free strum while constantly trying to "hold onto the instrument". The strap allows me to have both hands free to play!!! I'm a happy camper with a strap :)

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  15. I had an endpin installed in my tenor ukulele at a reputable music store. I attach one end of the strap to the endpin and the other I tie just beyond the first set of tuning pegs--just like folks used to do on guitars before it became fashionable to put a pin where the neck joins the body. If you're just going to sit down and play, you probably don't need a strap, but since I stand and play for kids in elementary school, a strap was a necessity. I am sensitive to what the ukulele teacher says about a strap possibly preventing a player from using his right hand properly, but no one worries about that with guitars or mandolins.

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  16. Well, I installed 2 strap buttons on my Lag soprano and I'm lovin' it!
    Playing with a proper strap with strap buttons makes playing on his tiny thing so much easier,especially for someone like me, who has long arms and fingers. Before the strap buttons, it was very difficult for me to get a good grip, especially while playing the blues, but now it's a really easy and fun. One thing you should consider though - I definitely wouldn't make holes in my uke if it was a 5K martin uke for example. I'm ordering a Koa Pili Koko concert uke soon and I'm not going to drill holes in it, as it's almost 4 times more expensive then my lag soprano. making holes in your uke is not reversible and it will affect the value of your uke.

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  17. As a novice, I think a 2-point strap on a concert-size or bigger ukulele is a good idea. This type of strap provides great stability of the fretboard, especially near the top. Beginners have a tendency to press too hard and a movable fretboard makes it even harder to engage cleanly with the chord. I would like to think that as my technique improves with time and I make those chord changes effortlessly, I can dispense with the strap, but, if not, it's no great shake to keep it!

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  18. I'm looking into getting a strap for my uke. My reason is that I'm quite, um, endowed up top and my breasts actually make it difficult for me to hold the uke properly and I find my left hand is not free to move around to different chords because it's supporting the instrument. I think a strap will help me balance it while enabling greater movement in fingering chords.

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  19. Thanks for this great article. Thanks too to my fellow female players for explaining the extra challenge we women have with this great little instrument. I think maybe male uke teachers should try playing standing with a throw pillow strapped to their chest before they encourage their students to struggle with the constantly slipping strapless instrument. ☺ I also have not found the button-less straps to be all that helpful. I'm off to buy strap buttons! Thanks again.

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    Replies
    1. I was thinking the same, about the male teachers having to try themselves how hard it can be to keep the uke in place while having bigger boobs .

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  20. Thank you, ladies. I was beginning to think I was the only one with the problem of having SOMETHING keeping me from holding my ukekele properly. I am a beginner and I am having enough struggles learning to play well, without my ukelele (tenor) slipping constantly, as I try to play it.

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  21. I can almost hear a collective sigh from ukulele players that someone has dared to say that using a strap is OK!

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  22. Very nice article. I've been thinking about buying one for some time, but first I want to learn how to grip my uke properly without relying on a strap.
    Unfortunately I'm still struggling with my playing position especially for fingerpicking.
    I mostly play with the uke balancing on my lap, but I'm having a hard time stopping the neck from slipping down or the uke from rotating away when I loosen my support with the left hand (when shifting between distant chord shapes, or in the "thumb behind the neck" position).
    Do you have any advice?

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  23. I too never went down the strap route not knowing how to hold and play without one - for me it was purely convenience when performing (hands free!)

    There is a video on this page that may help with holding - the trick is not to be throttling the uke with the left hand - rather just getting it to float and be supported there. http://www.gotaukulele.com/p/ukulele-beginners-videos.html

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  24. Unfortunately it's the right arm part I still don't get. I understand the general position, but it feels awkward. The uke's neck (or the whole instrument) slips downwards when I change chords, and if I hold the uke a little tighter with my right arm it angles away from my body.

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  25. It can be tricky - I find its about finding a sweet spot on balance that holds it where you need it and allows your hand to freely fret. The thumb on the neck thing IS a damn good learning thing. I freely admit I dont do it as much as I should (I came from guitar and find it hard to shake that off) - but it DOES make it easier.

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  26. Let me say as a female with a tenor uke, that straps help to stabilize the uke against breasts whether standing or sitting. I tell anyone especially girls learning to play the ukulele, they have to ignore the macho attitude and people (ie. MEN) who are adamantly against straps because those people do NOT have the right to tell anyone what feels comfortable to her own body.

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  27. For the record - I too am a man. I too use a strap. And I have NEVER been adamantly against straps on ukuleles for any reason. To add to that I dont (for the record) claim a right to tell anyone what feels comfortable.

    So yes, I agree with you - I think if people want to use straps they should do, but dont tend to go on the full on sexist rant about it. Personally I dont tend to see boundaries myself between men and women when playing musical instruments or at any other time.

    I feel for you if you are in a society where men would sneer at female ukulele players for using straps.

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  28. Wow ...I just started playing the ukulele and I am a big chested woman and it has been a challenge! I can see that I am not alone. I will look into using a strap.

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  29. Woman: Reads article, decides should learn to properly hold and play ukulele before using strap, removes strap from Amazon cart.

    Woman: Reads comments, adds strap back to Amazon cart.

    :P Thanks for the post!

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  30. I'd very much like to know how many of these anti-strap fanatics are flat-chested men. I dare them to strap on a pair of size D fake boobs and get back to me about how much nobody "needs" a strap!

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  31. Excellent - I too am just about to go back to Amazon for my strap. I have been watching loads of clips of Sam (Samantha) Muir's excellent playing as this is the type of music I would like to play and noticed she was wearing a strap, hence my search of to strap or not to strap and ending up on this page. I too am a woman with more than enough frontage to go back to Amazon right now and get that gripping problem sorted.

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  32. Great discussion! I have been learning/playing uke for a little over a year now, and my motto has become, if it helps me play or practice more frequently, do it. And the next time a male instructor talks about the “proper” way to hold a uke with no consideration for physical differences I’ll cheerily ask him to grow a pair :-)

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  33. Go for it ladies/girls, sod the bigots.
    I’m a new to Uke player coming from 40 years guitar and straps are no brainier to me.

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  34. I've been playing for about 4 and 1/2 years, started without a strap because I didn't know any better. Once I started using one, my only thought was, "Why in the world would someone not want to?" My playing improved immediately once I didn't have to worry about dropping my uke. All of the top players I've been turned onto, and there are many, use straps. Also, I set my strap so that my uke is in the same position whether I'm sitting or standing. The point about beginners needing to go strapless is absurd. That's like saying you have to learn to ride a horse before you learn to drive a car. If you intend to drive cars, rather than ride horses, who cares?

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