Make Your Ukulele Playing Easier... By Adjusting Your Hand Position

[@oliviapasciuta7502]

I’ve been experiencing pain in my thumb recently; but don’t want it to interfere or stop my practicing. Not many videos address the thumb position as clearly. Thank you for your video.

[@usernamemykel]

Phil, coming from a guy who has 6 ukes, including so-called "high-end" ukes, and who has seen the tutorials of many uke teachers, THIS is the clearest, surely the most easily understood by anyone, explanation of proper left hand placement. Thank you!

[@PhilDoleman]

Thank you!

[@kenbad]

Very helpfull. Just learned and I searched for this exact advice. Thanks for your time.

[@SeekingTruth2023]

This was immensely helpful for me. I struggled with some chords. But when changing my hand position as you explained, I can do the chords now. Thanks from Germany!

[@joyfulmax5741]

oh my goodness!!!! thank you. I was ready to give up! my wrist was hurting so much. This helps a lot.

[@carolejohnson1693]

I just started ukulele and was having a terrible time trying to figure out how to hold my hand. Your video looks like it will be very helpful. I'll watch it a few more times, then try it. Thank you so much. CJ Knapp

[@harshrohilla2867]

This was exactly the question I had, thanks so much!

[@SpeakTruthBeKind]

Thank you

[@robcook8456]

Oh my God finally. Thank you so much

[@kaoshiyuki]

You really helped me with this tutorial, Sir. I've been playing ukulele with my wrist too much to the front for 2 years and I wondered why is it still hard for me to play some chords

[@PhilDoleman]

Glad it helped!

[@namu1e]

Thank you for your advice !

[@MattSR500]

This was such a helpful video. Thanks so much!

[@angelahales1201]

Thank you, helps immensely.

[@JuniperCo]

Thank you 🙏🏽👍👍

[@mrdbmckenna]

Thanks for the tips Phil. I've noticed I start off in a good position, but if I don't keep an eye on it, I end up letting the uke drop into my palm.

[@sbcreative108]

SO helpful! Thanks a million, Phil!

[@DemonicNightmare]

I've just started learning and have been struggling with trying to get my hand in a comfortable position. This video helped so much!

[@garethwatkins6347]

Me too I've got hobbit hands and fingers

[@DemonicNightmare]

@@garethwatkins6347 I have the opposite, my hands are huge so i kept engulfing the entire neck while trying to play. It's really cool that this technique is so universal :D

[@arjunkabule5707]

ty

[@angiecox1550]

Instant fix for me. Thank you so much.

[@PhilDoleman]

That's great to hear!

[@davethomson3333]

Great tip Phil I often wondered why I get a little shoulder ache sometimes I seem be having my shoulder up n the air Your video just got me thinking Thankyou ,dave 👍👍

[@RavenMadd9]

thank you Phil.....enjoy your 2021

[@TheChurlishBoor]

Bloomin' nora! And just like that, everything becomes easier, albeit a bit strange at first. Wow! Thanks man.

[@PhilDoleman]

Glad it helped!

[@ukemaniak]

Great lesson!

[@lelouchvibritannia4235]

Started working on some chords and my wrist was starting to hurt! So glad I watched this because I was doing the 90 degree wrist thing! :O Thank you!! Quick question, you mentioned that some chords will require a slight bend. I can’t seem to do an E without bending my wrist a lot. Is E an exception? 😅 Try

[@denisebersch]

Thanks!

[@PhilDoleman]

Thank you!

[@arthurvanbentum1007]

Thank you a lot for making this video for us! I've been wondering about what the right hand position is for months now. I've only ever seen one video going over how putting the thumb on the back of the neck is the way to go for long term improvement in your playing. Right now I still let the neck rest in the palm of my hand. I suppose it feels a little more natural when first starting out, especially since the most used chords are easily doable this way. I did notice that chords like E, Bm & any barre chord are pretty difficult to get right consistently with this method. After watching this video I, for the first time ever, seriously reflected on my hand position. I noticed that I bend my wrist almost 90° this way. I reckon I better start putting in the effort to learning this way sooner than later. I feel a lot like David in the comments here, who says the ukulele keeps slipping. When I need to move all the finger for a chord change, I experience this issue as well.

[@arthurvanbentum1007]

It's been half a year and I'm finally starting to get it. It's been a hell of an effort adjusting my position, but I'm finally reaping the sweet, sweet rewards. I can finally jam along to Wilson Pickett's In The Midnight Hour without constantly messing up the E chord. I am now also playing all the easy, open string chords with my thumb on the back of the neck and I'm experiencing significantly less stress in my muscles. Now I'm focusing mainly on not applying way more pressure than is needed to make those chords ring nicely. Thank you Phil, for making me want to master this instrument!

[@ukulelehans1959]

try a strap, worked wonders for me

[@evas4192]

Great tips! I have been having injury as incorrect playing technique. I still find though that the neck slips from my hand down and then I end up holding it between my thumb to it does not slip thus causing elbow pain after playing. Any other tips? How do you go about playing now when it is hardly supported without the neck slipping?

[@mentalcase259]

If my thumb is above the fret board but my wrist is straight and it’s comfortable, is it still a problem?

[@PhilDoleman]

No, not at all. People have different sized hands. Being relaxed and comfortable with a relatively straight wrist is the main thing.

[@barbra429]

This is so hard for me to conquer.

[@PhilDoleman]

You are not alone (me too, many, many years ago!). The main thing really is to get used to relaxing, and finding a position where you are not having to force anything and you can relax.

[@Thomas-Stein]

Hi Phil, I like your explanation. I have some friends having problems to play the C6 chord (2433) and till now I found no good way to help them to get this chord. Would be great if you could give some support. Thank you!

[@PhilDoleman]

I play that shape with four fingertips (I do konw some who use a small second finger barre on the E and A strings though), and I find that the hand position in the video is perfect for me to reach all of the notes. To begin with, I'd suggest getting the used to the index and ring fingers to play the 3 fret of the E and A strings, then add the index and pinkie.

[@Thomas-Stein]

@@PhilDoleman Thank you, Phil.

[@alanwhitney3263]

What if you have smaller hands?

[@PhilDoleman]

I do have quite small hands myself (in the video I'm playing a soprano), but I use the same hand position on baritone. When I have taught children, I've found that this hand position (or something very close) makes it easier for the kids to reach chords.

[@davejohnstone1967]

I find my ukulele slips if I put my thumb on the neck instead of letting it rest between my finger and thumb. Any ideas to help stop it slipping. Thanks

[@PhilDoleman]

My very first Two Minute Tip, (good grief over 7 years ago!) on holding the uke might help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHnTfWCLaNaNb6M What you wear can make a big difference, some clothes are a little more 'grippy', the finish on your uek too. You'll oftne see players with their right sleeve rolled up so that their arm is in contact with the uke rather than a slippy sleeve. Really though, your left hand should play very little part in holding the uke up, it's already busy enough forming the chords! Maybe a strap would help?

[@davejohnstone1967]

@@PhilDoleman thanks I'll take a look 👍

[@Heeyitsmika]

my problem is my thumb. its hyperextended and it hurts so much

[@PhilDoleman]

I had a student with a similar problem. We made sure she had a love action and low tension strings so that there really wasn't much pressure on the thumb. I don't press hard against my thumb, it's really just a guide, but you must do what works for you, even if it's 'non standard'.

[@Heeyitsmika]

@@PhilDoleman thank you! Low tension strings. Are these nylon? I tried searching for some locally in my country, i cant seem to find any

[@PhilDoleman]

@@Heeyitsmika Worth make light gauge string BL or CL, for Brown or Clear Light.

[@aqsaansari]

What will hold the weight of the ukulele if not the palm?

[@PhilDoleman]

Have a look at this video on holding the uke. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHnTfWCLaNaNb6M Holding the uke up with the left hand palm will really restrict your ability to play.

[@aqsaansari]

I was not expecting a reply since the video is fairly old. Thanks a lot, I'll practice the seesaw technique you mentioned. 🙌

[@MeMe-lm5oi]

ok… all well and good, however, I notice, having watched your video ‘My baby gone changed the lock on the door’, that the neck of your uke is actually down in the crook of your hand between the thumb and index fingers most of the time….. so it doesn’t;t seem to be a case of practise what you are preaching?

[@PhilDoleman]

Do you mean this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/maXQeKF_qbaKp5I I'm doing some pretty heavy left hand muting on that one, so yes I do have my thumb over the neck. Even though it's close though, the neck isn't resting in the crook, as I find that really uncomfortable. My wrist is really straight, though, which is one of the main aims of the hand position I talk about here. The other thing about that video is that I'm using a strap, so I'm not taking the 'weight' of the neck in my hand.