tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post7665093869968070230..comments2024-03-26T17:50:42.904+00:00Comments on GOT A UKULELE - Ukulele reviews and beginners tips: To Ukulele strap - or not?Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-88841434776298344322019-09-07T23:26:41.259+01:002019-09-07T23:26:41.259+01:00I've been playing for about 4 and 1/2 years, s...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? Glenn Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12822019437330314230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-53164572256519140072019-04-20T15:12:55.445+01:002019-04-20T15:12:55.445+01:00Very well said! Very well said! SKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-50020146359154130232018-12-03T12:33:11.817+00:002018-12-03T12:33:11.817+00:00I was thinking the same, about the male teachers h...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 .Annemarie https://www.blogger.com/profile/03251036092087888485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-77576258369735001802018-03-20T07:51:14.032+00:002018-03-20T07:51:14.032+00:00Go for it ladies/girls, sod the bigots.
I’m a new ...Go for it ladies/girls, sod the bigots.<br />I’m a new to Uke player coming from 40 years guitar and straps are no brainier to me.Denwallksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-24237913100884086272017-12-24T15:28:09.843+00:002017-12-24T15:28:09.843+00:00Great discussion! I have been learning/playing uke...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 :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438639402194066681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-1268764477095234412017-12-23T22:25:12.853+00:002017-12-23T22:25:12.853+00:00Excellent - I too am just about to go back to Amaz...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. riscagirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01658027405716140367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-79652112666702295872017-07-18T19:03:20.649+01:002017-07-18T19:03:20.649+01:00I'd very much like to know how many of these a...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!Mercedeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01635347299243528504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-51222992969107659522017-06-01T16:49:18.847+01:002017-06-01T16:49:18.847+01:00Woman: Reads article, decides should learn to prop...Woman: Reads article, decides should learn to properly hold and play ukulele before using strap, removes strap from Amazon cart. <br /><br />Woman: Reads comments, adds strap back to Amazon cart. <br /><br />:P Thanks for the post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-68825112922275690312017-03-27T19:30:11.475+01:002017-03-27T19:30:11.475+01:00Wow ...I just started playing the ukulele and I am...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. Anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596868975410253809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-49283159388978428922016-09-09T22:08:01.860+01:002016-09-09T22:08:01.860+01:00For the record - I too am a man. I too use a strap...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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />I feel for you if you are in a society where men would sneer at female ukulele players for using straps.Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-3657502250153674002016-09-09T20:09:37.773+01:002016-09-09T20:09:37.773+01:00Let me say as a female with a tenor uke, that stra...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.Leilani ly-huong N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04705319001182559320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-35660579559728202702016-08-04T21:34:44.700+01:002016-08-04T21:34:44.700+01:00It can be tricky - I find its about finding a swee...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.Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-33286478726363907172016-08-04T21:12:28.798+01:002016-08-04T21:12:28.798+01:00Unfortunately it's the right arm part I still ...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. Oolongteahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09695593043500348000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-20729802451689397722016-08-04T19:59:22.012+01:002016-08-04T19:59:22.012+01:00I too never went down the strap route not knowing ...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!)<br /><br />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.htmlBarry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-24557094299688562832016-08-04T19:50:36.160+01:002016-08-04T19:50:36.160+01:00Very nice article. I've been thinking about bu...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.<br />Unfortunately I'm still struggling with my playing position especially for fingerpicking.<br />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). <br />Do you have any advice?Oolongteahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09695593043500348000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-12360658763731557672016-03-31T13:45:04.755+01:002016-03-31T13:45:04.755+01:00I can almost hear a collective sigh from ukulele p...I can almost hear a collective sigh from ukulele players that someone has dared to say that using a strap is OK! aapezelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10938516559122990177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-19365054603167008642016-02-28T03:10:51.786+00:002016-02-28T03:10:51.786+00:00Thank you, ladies. I was beginning to think I was ...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.nellie111111https://www.blogger.com/profile/13983929559854254287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-32930306054311288842016-01-23T15:14:13.367+00:002016-01-23T15:14:13.367+00:00Thanks for this great article. Thanks too to my fe...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.Ellennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-78652377727080821382015-12-16T15:30:56.176+00:002015-12-16T15:30:56.176+00:00I'm looking into getting a strap for my uke. M...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. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06400371598877349748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-42792321129253880392015-08-28T10:48:37.565+01:002015-08-28T10:48:37.565+01:00As a novice, I think a 2-point strap on a concert-...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!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07034598693282858574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-88697421549425653312014-06-30T09:43:16.950+01:002014-06-30T09:43:16.950+01:00Well, I installed 2 strap buttons on my Lag sopran...Well, I installed 2 strap buttons on my Lag soprano and I'm lovin' it!<br />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.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-49332994482634142622014-04-23T01:46:22.644+01:002014-04-23T01:46:22.644+01:00I had an endpin installed in my tenor ukulele at a...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.Lloydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03846237791787891616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-63665887586105590672014-03-14T23:48:02.823+00:002014-03-14T23:48:02.823+00:00Another women beginner commenting here- I find my ...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 :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-38416464404142707802014-01-31T11:54:37.485+00:002014-01-31T11:54:37.485+00:00Weight can indeed be an issue. For me though less ...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 etcBarry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-63055371308526602732014-01-31T11:50:06.185+00:002014-01-31T11:50:06.185+00:00A very interesting debate on the merits to strap. ...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!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12171120371359557941noreply@blogger.com