Ukulele Lesson: You ARE Squeezing Too Hard!

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[@MattSR500]

As a gigging drummer, I’ve had my share of injuries from playing with too much tension. It impacts your playing, of course, but it can also effect everything else in life - with the last injury (to my bass drum knee) I couldn’t even drive for a couple of weeks, the pain was so bad. I now prioritise relaxation in my technique over everything else, including musical accuracy. I’ve done this through a variety of techniques and, paradoxically, the less hard I try, the better my playing sounds! I could see I was doing the same thing on the ukulele, which I’m a week into learning (and which I’m practicing for hours a day). Your video probably saved me from potential RSI. Thanks so much!

[@PhilDoleman]

I've done similar things to myself over the years.!

[@mikescofield]

This was so helpful to me. Thanks, Phil, you provide great instruction.

[@PhilPage227]

Very helpful, thank you Phil. I am 71 and struggle with B flat.

[@andygriffin2633]

Thank You, Thank You. This and the one on where to put the fretting thumb. These have helped more any other video from anyone on what I have been lacking the most. Keep the simple little coming.

[@michaeljemal]

You are a Godsend. Thank you

[@montanacrosses]

This was brilliant Phil. Thank you!

[@Lizzymint79]

Everything I needed to hear! Doing all those things and have a hurty arm! Thank you!!

[@lindasmith6668]

Mr.Doleman you're the best...I'm a beginner uke player. Thanks so much.

[@BassMonkey-e3v]

Greetings to you. Would just like to say gave recently found your channel and am simply lown away by all the great content, it's just grand. Thank you for making my ukulele journey much easier. Cheers from Canada.

[@PhilDoleman]

Thanks!

[@mickbarnes1418]

Thank you Phil. As a new player I have been really struggling with B flat. I realize that I'm pressing way too hard. The more I struggle, the more frustrated I get, the harder l press!!! I'm now relaxing my left hand and WOW it's so much easier. THANK YOU 😁

[@cherrierichardson1032]

This is brilliant. I’m a new learner. Love all your teaching and advice. I’m in my 70’s and a beginner too.

[@usernamemykel]

I'm 77, received my 6th uke two days ago. Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome is incurable. Fortunately, I've two pensions, a social security check, and a woman who pays for the privilege of living with me.

[@paadumpanda990]

This is amazing, this is exactly the mistake I was making and was wondering why things sound that way! Thank you so much.

[@estietrixie6905]

Thank you so much, I have been doing everything you said not to do. I can wait to get better and have even more fun.

[@MarcosSilva-bb2mj]

I'm glad to watch this video in the first week of my uke journey. Thank you sir!

[@usernamemykel]

Buddy, you found perhaps the best uke instructor at the right time - at the beginning!

[@usernamemykel]

One more thing: There are grooves in your finger joints. When creating a barre chord, you don't want a string snuggled in one of the grooves - you want the string compressed against the fretboard by bone.

[@PhilDoleman]

Yes, I think I mention that in my two minute tip on the Bb chord, but it definitely bears repeating.

[@marieandersson5730]

Thanks a lot, mr Phil Doleman. This was something I really needed to see and hear. I'm not joking, but greatful! ❤

[@twinfin8571]

Thank you...but, unfortunately for me I found you a bit too late. I’m one of those seniors who decided to learn an instrument in my 70’s. I joined a senior center, bought a used uke and played with a group of other amateurs. My uke wasn’t set up correctly, and I pressed the strings very hard. I ended up with a very painful arm which required special exercises to relieve the pain and I couldn’t play for a month, and callouses that need to be scraped off the tips of my fingers regularly even now, 41/2 years later. I noticed the strings on my uke were much higher then some others. (It is a very good uke..higher end Kala, not an entry level which I also used for a year before buying this one.) but I guess the person I bought it from didn’t know about set up either. I still tend to press too hard so I appreciate this video and I’m going to do the exercise you recommend. Of course, the entry level uke really started the problem but I continued with the next uke cuz no one told me about set up. Alls well now, though, and I’m still happy I started this adventure. I’m actually in a small group with two guitarists and a bass player. So fun!

[@PhilDoleman]

Sorry to hear about that, and glad it's better now and you're able to have fun playing!

[@RayForton]

Absolutely! I stress this with my students, especially new students.

[@ritamclaughlin9681]

you manage to take note of so many things! turning the index finger to use the side is tooted by many players as "an easy way" to play bar chords. I am guilty of 2nd finger on first finger for D7. One problem is my joins and/or creases in my index finger manage to line up with the E string and it is dulled. adding a finger to press on it really doesn't help, but it is a habit now. I have to figure out where to place my finger to avoid that problem.

[@PhilDoleman]

I often barre with my second finger on D7, it depends on the chord that comes next.

[@eileenlander1380]

I am fascinated by your very straight first finger. Mine is not straight like that, and no way can I bar from the big knuckle, I have to bend my finger in half....but it works for me and you’re right, you don’t need as much pressure as you think. Thank you x

[@dcthim]

Great information! Thank you for another informative video!!!

[@ettoliram8116]

Great video - and a lovely uke!

[@loriandrews7045]

Thank you for the vid. I tried to follow with the bar chord instructions.. I still have a dead string. I will check my action but I do wonder if its my fingers (not real straight and kind of bony)

[@chrisnicholson9526]

I've been playing for 2 and a half weeks, I found that the more my fingers callous, the less pressure I need.

[@PhilDoleman]

Yes, those fingers soon toughen up!

[@Holly_Unleashed]

My fingers are double jointed, especially my thumbs, so I end up in weird positions as a result. Any tips to avoid this?

[@PhilDoleman]

I did once teach someone with a similar issue, and we really had to work on playing with a light touch, with a low action on the uke. If they pressed at all hard, then their fingers would just bend the wrong way and cause other strings to be muted.

[@squashdevicer]

What’s considered a low or high action? Is there a particular height? I find barring the first fret is hardest.

[@PhilDoleman]

The action at the first fret should be low enough to be able to put a credit card under the strings and have it stay. The action at the 12th fret is much more personal preference, but I am for around 3mm. The first fret is the hardest to barre because it's so close to the fixed point of the nut, but with a nice low action it shouldn't be difficult. I made a video on how to quickly check your setup here... kzbin.info/www/bejne/onquhWWPabV2p5o

[@squashdevicer]

@@PhilDoleman Thanks a million. Does the size of the ukulele matter? Just wondering if the action for a tenor should be the same as for a soprano.

[@PhilDoleman]

@@squashdevicer Every uke is a little different, but I would aim for the pretty much the same action on every size.

[@squashdevicer]

@@PhilDoleman Great. Thanks. Just measured all my ukuleles and they seem spot on.

[@AutumnSunflower]

I know I'm squeezing too hard 😰 I have a new Kala ukulele and my strings feel so tight and hard. I stretch my strings and at some point it felt like it was getting better but recently it feels tight again. Especially the first frets which is why I'm pressing down so hard. My fingertips and arm is hurting so

[@PhilDoleman]

I could be that your action is too high. Is it a tenor uke? Because tenors have a longer scale length but are tuned to the same pitch, they can often feel very tight.

[@AutumnSunflower]

@@PhilDoleman Yes I have a Kala Ziricote Tenor (KA-ZCT-T). It's my first Instrument.

[@AutumnSunflower]

Thank you for responding 🙂 I appreciate it.

[@PhilDoleman]

@@AutumnSunflower Have a look at this video and see if your uke maybe needs a setup kzbin.info/www/bejne/onquhWWPabV2p5o

[@AutumnSunflower]

@@PhilDoleman Thank you so much for the video 😊👍. I did exactly like the video my business card stayed in and my quarter at the 12th fret did not touch the strings. Maybe I have to stretch out my Aquila strings some more, Thank you for all your help! 😊

[@2011hib]

First, I will say that I have gotten a lot from your other videos, though I haven't watched all of them. I'm your "clickbait" for the day...anything less than hard pressure rings muted or off key, indicating I'm probably not getting all the strings with a softer approach. And as a new person (if you can call 4 months new) I still struggle to anchor fingers before changing chords. Yes, my chords are slow and laborious. I don't expect you to say quit, but someone said once if you're not having fun, don't do it.

[@PhilDoleman]

Thanks, and please don't quit! 4 months is very new, and just as you wouldn't expect to be super fit with 4 months at the gym, your fingers won't get in condition I such a short time. It does sound to me like there's something wrong if you have to use hard pressure, as you should really have to do much more than place your fingers. It could be that your uke is not setup well, or that your hand position is not helping. Have a look at my video on checking your setup, and the one on 'playing without pain' for tips on hand position.

[@2011hib]

I started to practice the lighter pressure and lo and behold, it worked. I am so grateful for that and for the encouragement to not quit.

[@nealwilliams9248]

I can not hear you!

[@PhilDoleman]

Not sure what's going on there, it's working for me and is as loud as any of my other videos!

[@danspellacy2838]

I hear it.. do you have it on mute by mistake?

[@alexbeds8141]

Sound is definitely working and overall volume is not low listening on a phone. Maybe reload the video

[@PhilDoleman]

@@alexbeds8141 @Dan Spellacy Thanks, it's good to know, I know it works for me, but I'm still never quite sure what everyone else hears!

[@nealwilliams9248]

I reloaded and l hear you now. Thanks!