Good info. Angling the uke away from my stomach really does make a difference in tone. I never thought of that!
Brad, do you have any opinions/advice on using a shoulder strap? Because I generally play while sitting I haven’t seen the need but if it helps with tecnique I’d be willing to use one.
Brad BordessaMay 9, 2022
Straps are great! …To a point.
Having a little bit of support allows you to use a more relaxed fingering position when standing since you don’t have to fret AND hold the neck up. I find I can play easier and better when standing with a strap. So I almost always use one these days (I like to perform standing up).
However, when sitting, there’s not nearly as much of a difference, technique-wise. I never use a strap sitting down unless I already had it on from standing up.
If you mainly practice/play sitting down, I wouldn’t worry about it.
Comments on this entry are closed.
Discuss this lesson and ask questions at Forum @ community.liveukulele.com
Good info. Angling the uke away from my stomach really does make a difference in tone. I never thought of that!
Brad, do you have any opinions/advice on using a shoulder strap? Because I generally play while sitting I haven’t seen the need but if it helps with tecnique I’d be willing to use one.
Straps are great! …To a point.
Having a little bit of support allows you to use a more relaxed fingering position when standing since you don’t have to fret AND hold the neck up. I find I can play easier and better when standing with a strap. So I almost always use one these days (I like to perform standing up).
However, when sitting, there’s not nearly as much of a difference, technique-wise. I never use a strap sitting down unless I already had it on from standing up.
If you mainly practice/play sitting down, I wouldn’t worry about it.
If you end up standing for performances, etc and find that you struggle to play as well when you’re on your feet, you can look into a non-invasive strap option like this: https://www.daddario.com/products/accessories/straps/ukulele/eco-comfort-ukulele-strap/ to see if the concept works for you before drilling holes in your uke for strap buttons.
More here: https://liveukulele.com/lessons/straps/