How to Hold a Ukulele: 3 Ways for Beginners

Learning a ukulele is straightforward because it’s joyful and small in size. But before going on to play, players must master how to hold a ukulele.

Support the ukulele by hugging the body but not by grappling the neck. Top of all, the most significant thing should be that it’ll be comfortable for you! You always organize the hold so that it can fit your needs.

We’ve mentioned several methods to make your hold simple. Therefore, you can follow the procedures below:

First, look at the conventional method how to hold a ukulele:

Where the neck coincides with the body, it’s an excellent place to hold the ukulele. Twist your right hand around the front of the ukulele to grip it.

For newbies, the right hand is the hand you’ll play the strings with, irrespective of what hand is considered your influential hand.

If it seems uncomfortable, attempt moving the ukulele up or down a bit. It should remain parallel to the ground, even though the neck might be kept a hold at a little angle.

At a 90-degree angle, you put your elbows. The last of the ukulele needs to squeeze against your arm. Grasp the ukulele somewhat tighter if it slides. But never grip the ukulele too tightly. You require sufficient pressure to put the ukulele in place.

Grasp the ukulele between the body and neck till your left hand remains in place.

Place it between the 3rd fret and the nut (or top of the fret). Enwrap the remaining of your fingers around the onward of the neck so your fingers can remain parallel to the frets. Let the fingers keep in float above the frets. Merely, your fingertips ought to get to touch the neck.

The left hand ought not to retain the ukulele weight. Don’t grip the neck. A lighter touch will allow you to stir your fingers up and down more freely.

Don’t stick it or squeeze it against your side. Instead, put it several inches away from your body. A straight line should have from your elbow through your wrist.

Stay your wrists upright as you grip the uke. You might require to bend your wrist for some rugged chords, but the wrist will remain upright in most cases.

Place your wrists upright, but allow your fingers to cup under the instrument. You may utilize your thumb or index finger.

A few people shake off over the soundhole while others play between the body and neck. Whatever way you pick, ensure your hands can snugly reach it.

Now, see the 2nd way how to hold a ukulele below:

You can use your left hand to play the ukulele, although most people use their right hand for a ukulele. With your left hand, you grasp and strum the uke in this case.

Remember that most ukulele guidebooks are available for right-handed players. Therefore, you might require to make reverse any guides you utilize.

If you don’t always wish to make reverse playing directions, you can give your uke rest so that the G-string becomes the top string whenever you grasp the ukulele using your left hand.

You turn your instrument to play in this position so that the neck is gripped at an angle. If you play a big uke or are a newbie, it can assist you.

You might no longer require to hold the ukulele down and support it after a while. Instead of it, entirely retain the ukulele with your arm. To strum, take float your wrist over the sound hole because it’ll provide more movement.

If you fail to hold the instrument in this way except for sliding it, you might not become ready to attempt it.

A strap lets the instrument hold in place so you can play more easily. You may take an adjustable guitar strap or a ukulele strap. You’ll find them at stores and online.

But when you play the instrument in a sitting position, you won’t usually require a strap.

Finally, you see the last method below:

Attempt it with your fretting hand first and then your strumming hand. To do it, you need to take a seat on a chair. If your instrument slides, you have to grasp it tighter. If it remains on hold, you have retained it correctly.

Always keep at least one hand on the instrument. Release merely one hand at a time.

If the instrument begins to slide, try out your elbow position to observe whether the elbow is causing the problem. At a 90-degree angle, your strumming elbow should always remain. Get off your elbow press too near to your body.

While grasping the ukulele, you should have the capability of reaching all the chords with comfort. Attempt to play some simple chords. If your hands become tired after a while or the tone is muted, you have held the neck too tightly.

You don’t need to extend or strain to arrive at a chord. You need to adjust where to put your hands on the neck or body of the ukulele if you are required to do it.

If your hand, arm, or wrist feels to get ache after a few whiles, you might stay overstressed. Test whether your wrist remains upright. Lay the instrument down to aid you in releasing any stress in your shoulders, arms, or neck.

If you start to experience any ache or discomfort, your body is attempting to say to you something! If you can’t grip the instrument correctly, you can create wrist stress. Therefore, it’s better to adjust your position if you perceive tension, pain, or discomfort.

We hope this guide has provided better insight into how to hold a ukulele properly. We recommend you follow the lesson step-by-step so that you can be benefitted.

Read also:

• F Uke Chord
• B Chord for Ukulele
• Am Uke Chord