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| Holding the uke - Beginner Questions - Ukulele - Ukulele - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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BLT Approved
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I've been playing my concert Flea for a few weeks now, and I realize that I'm having a hard time changing chords because the uke drops when I move my fingers on the neck. I have to hold it up with my thumb. I know this isn't right, but I can't "tuck" it under my arm the way I'm supposed to. The shape seems to be too rounded for that to work right. Any suggestions?
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ezmember Approved
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You can find a strap on Ebay. It has a little hook that slips in the soundhole and around your neck, and can be adjusted to any length you want. There's one here, or at your local music shop: http://cgi.ebay.com/Ukulele-Strap-Uke-Thong-IMPROVED-DESIGN-Ukelele_W0QQitemZ320221066188QQihZ011QQcategoryZ16224QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Without a strap, I find it easier to hold if my shirt isn't long-sleeved, because the uke sort of sticks to my arm. The strap is a really good solution though, you just have to be careful if you're uke is expensive, that it doesn't damage the soundhole too much. It hasn't seemed to hurt my less expensive uke yet. Also, the strap works best on a uke with the usual shape, with a "waist" at the body, so it doesn't slip to one side or the other. Also, you could just Velcro it to your chest. 
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BLT Approved
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ha ha! That would be funny to use velcro. I'd have to have it applied to all of my shirts though so I would be ready to play no matter what I was wearing.
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artcrocker Approved
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The first ukulele I bought was a Flea and I recall thinking I will never be able to play this thing because I can't seem to hold it during chords changes. Think I even fashioned a neck strap, which was more trouble than it was worth. About three weeks later something magical happened because I did not seem to have that problem anymore. Somehow your body learns how to hold it after a while. It also Really helps if you don't wear slippery clothes like cashmere sweaters and short sleeve shirts.
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honu Approved
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I currently have a pineapple Flea, various other ukes in soprano, concert and tenor sizes. The carbon fiber body on the Flea is slippery and I have to hold it under my chest with my right arm on. The body does learn how to re-adjust - which will require exercising some patience. And for certain chordings, I do use the thumb to hold the uke when chording. It's easier on a guitar, since there is a strap. On an uke, there isn't so I don't think it's a bad thing when using the thumb. In the guitar world, it's not recommended to use the thumb over the fretboard - the thumb is supposed to be behind the neck. I use a strap for a tenor and it works very well. I've tried a strap that was supposed to work with soprano and Fleas/Flukes and it was not comfortable. Last edited on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 10:33 pm by honu |
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Neal Approved 
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The uke in any flavor is a different animal to hold. Try the strap, or you can get a piece of carpet pad, you know the rubber sort of stuff with holes, cut it to shape and put it between you and the uke, that'll keep it from sliding. I use my forearm to keep it steady and free my hand and wrist. Don't ask where to put your left thumb. Just be comfortable. It does take a little practice to hold these things sometimes. But a Fluke? Impossible to hold. Simply impossible. You need to hire someone to stand next to you with a support. 
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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rskelley Approved
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Honu: You can make up a strap for the Flea similar to that shown in the post above. Just put some Velcro on the bottom (or on the back near the bottom) and make up a strap with a small piece of matching Velcro at one end and a string to tie to the head at the other end. Want to try it out cheap? Use a 1/2" wide boot shoelace and see if it works for you. Want some easy adjustability? Use one of those spring loaded retainers and loop the shoelace around the head and back to the retainer.
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ezmember Approved
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Here's another idea. When I looked closely at some of the players on YouTube, it appeared they had a strap that went from the head of the Uke across their left shoulder only, sort of like what rskelley just suggested. In the strap section of guitar shops they sell a device (I forgot what it's called) that has two short nylon straps which at the end of each is one plastic piece that snaps into the plastic piece of the other strap. You can wrap the one short strap through the neck just to the left of the Nut and the other strap you can pin to your shirt at the shoulder. When you're ready to play, you just snap the two peices together and the neck of the Uke is supported enough that it doesn't fall when you switch chords or let go of the uke with that hand. I've done this and it works well, it doesn't really pull at your shirt, and when you're ready to quit playing you just unsnap the two straps and have that small strap still hanging off your shirt (about 3 or 4 inches long) and the other strap is still hanging off the Uke (about 2 or 3 inches), which doesn't get in the way of anything if you want to just keep it there. For some reason, you don't need the body of the Uke supported as well by a strap, it just works well with the neck supported.
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honu Approved
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Thanks for the advice, ezmember. I usually sit down when playing the Flea. For the tenor, I play standing up. 
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| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Beginner Questions - Ukulele > Holding the uke | |
