5 WAYS to get a better tone on your ukulele

[@kharmaviv]

This series of videos are amazing! I am legally blind so I truly appreciate how descriptive you are. I thought I was lost for a moment when you discussed right hand picking position,(fingers down) but I continued listening and got back on track. There are not many who explain beyond "look, like this, see?" I am grateful for those who have the ability to "paint a picture". I look forward to learning more from your videos. Thank you! 🙂🎶

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

I am so glad that you are finding my videos useful. I have given workshops on how players ought to use their ears, not their eyes when playing music. And I hard ever use visual clues overlaid on my videos. I will be adding more tutorial videos too.

[@VBnana]

Thanks so much! I just got my first ukelele and I am following you because you really illustrate and teach the diversity of this beautiful, melodic, playful instrument. Thanks so much for the time you put into your videos.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you, Mickey. I really appreciate your comments.

[@boniw698]

This is exactly what I was looking for. I’m so glad I found your channel. 🌟💕👍

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Glad you enjoyed it. There is a playlist containing the other 5 WAYS videos.

[@loupdeloup]

Most enjoyable tutorial. Glad to see someone with experience discussing the fundamentals instead of trying to upsell to the latest and greatest ukulele.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you for your preceptive comment, Lou.

[@chuckjeffery944]

Thanks for the video Ken. Nice job and excellent advice/illustration.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Many thanks, Chuck.

[@sandychisholm5961]

Thanks Ken. Good info about nail condition.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks Sandy,

[@anapaolaizquierdo]

Thanks a lot. I’ve been learning from KZbin for a while, and I still don’t like my sound. This has been very helpful.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Experienced players can can a great tone out of even an inexpensive instrument. Tone comes from the player.

[@abergeo]

Wish I had this information when I first started playing a few years ago .. I like to fingerpick the uke but prefer my picking fingers to be short ... must try to grow them and take your advice about filing them correctly... thanks

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Glad you got something from the video, Aber.

[@UkeBox]

Thank you Sir, good advice. Regarding strings I found often that better strings or other type of strings could make a big difference and might give a better tone. For my personal taste Fluor Carbon strings always improve the sound of nearly every Uke - that's why I have Living Water Strings on all of my Ukes. These sound simply the best of all I've tried over the years 🙂

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Strings certainly make a difference to the tone you can achieve. And thanks for your enthusiasm for my strings. In this series though I wanted to focus on how the player themselves can improve.

[@shirleybrown9398]

Wonderful tips. I keep my strumming fingernails down to nothing and use the fingertip tip pads cause of the “rough” nail surfaces. Think I might be trying something different. Thanks.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Glad you benefited from the video. Thanks.

[@KennyWalters1]

Very nicely presented. I enjoyed this video.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you, Kenny.

[@cwrowland]

Excellent tutorial and very useful! Looking forward to more,

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Glad you enjoyed it, Charles.

[@juderandall703]

Thank you Ken, a very helpful video 😊🎵🎶

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Glad you enjoyed it, Jude.

[@hxdr]

thank you! great basic tips!

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks for listening.

[@terrymarshall6664]

Thank you - very useful.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you.

[@larryusselman821]

Great information, Ken! Very helpful and well presented.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thank you, Larry.

[@stevemiserable-yorkshirema8777]

Very interesting video. My problem is that my nails are weak and have ridges along the length. I have tried to improve them using nail strengthening varnish, using the Savarez nail repair kit , which uses silk and superglue and works quite well and haven sat in a ladies nail bar for false nails! I would just make one suggestion that use of the classical guitarist's apoyando, or rest stroke gives a fuller tone for single string passages

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

The problem with glued-on false nails is that your real nails continue to grow, moving the false nail upwards. You end up with a ridge that catches when strumming. Yes, I agree about the rest stroke, as I pointed out in the video.

[@stevemiserable-yorkshirema8777]

@@KenMiddletonUkulele I totally agree with you - my false nails finished up flying across the room/. I think my problem is old age. I tend to use a leather plectrum now for strumming and save my nails for finger picking

[@ametista15]

Many thanks! Very interesting.

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Many thanks, Maria.

[@ericjespersen]

Thanks! Very useful!

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

Thanks Eric.

[@hmbl-cb1be]

Hi again Ken, can a baritone be replaced with nylon strings and tuned to GCEA if I wanted? Cynthia

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

I am hoping that you don't mean "nylon". Fluorocarbon strings are much denser and the only material I use. It can just about be used for this tuning. See my online shop, Cynthia.

[@gabeloubier3870]

Thank you. This was a very useful video and I subscribed so I can see the upcoming videos in this series. One comment/question about where on the ukulele you would fingerpick: I find the size of the ukulele can sort of dictate where I position my right hand. For example, I can’t position my hand comfortably over the sound hole on a soprano without losing control over the instrument or distorting my hand. Any tips on how to manage this?

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

On a soprano it is perhaps more difficult. However, not impossible. I do it automatically. I just picked up a soprano to try it. No problem. I just move my hand. It is a subtle thing. I wouldn't worry about it too much on a soprano. Hope that helps.

[@mariateresamallari18]

I wish I had my own ukulele,sad to say but I always borrow to my friends just to play.

[@arieswaters]

What's the best sound in ukulele you can get for under $1,300. I'll bet Peter Griffin ukulele sound great but that's a lot of money for a ukulele

[@KenMiddletonUkulele]

That's like asking what is the best meal I can get for $200. It depend what you like. At the expensive end, all ukuleles are different. You have to find the one you like. Added to that, they don't play themselves. The sound has to be extracted from them by good playing technique.