Ukulele Chords Feel Stiff? TRY THIS! [Ukulele Yoga to relaxed your hands]

[@UkuleleZen]

☯︎ JOIN THE TRIBE AT PATREON: Support this channel and get access to Patron-only perks: a library of exclusive lessons, printable song sheets, uke tabs, play-along jam tracks & other membership perks! www.patreon.com/ukulelezen

[@altviooltom]

nice Sleighride and yoga! (Yes to Tabs )

[@UkuleleZen]

Thank you Tom 😊

[@musubi1000]

I think what makes you a better instructor is your insightfulness. Ukelele zen couldn’t be a more appropriate name for your channel. Thank you for your efforts.

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks very much -- I do my best to be clear and to offer topics that will benefit all levels of Uke players. Happy playing, Stu

[@robertmartos2444]

That would be so cool to have slay ride to practice with. Thanks! Geno😎

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks Geno! Subscribe to the channel & turn on notifications...it's coming soon! 😉

[@magicbrit]

How I wish I knew this 7 years ago.......thanks Stu!

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks for watching& joining in :-)

[@donnamattei3708]

Yes please that was smooth

[@UkuleleZen]

Subscribe to the channel & turn on notifications...it's coming soon! 😉

[@joannashrigley1120]

YES!!! Tablature for Sleigh Ride please!!

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks Joanna -- I'll get on it! Happy Holidays :-)

[@robertoursini7767]

Teach us this amazing solo magister!!

[@UkuleleZen]

Aww, grazie!

[@BarbaraAnne51]

Yes please.

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks Barbara! Subscribe to the channel & turn on notifications...it's coming soon! 😉

[@MacPat-A-Rick]

Yes on tabs of the song, looks and sounds fun to learn.

[@UkuleleZen]

Right on! Subscribe to the channel & turn on notifications...it's coming soon! 😉

[@MariaMak]

Stu, it’s a very cool approach playing solo in the air in a very relaxed mode, love it & thank you.

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks Maria… it’s always nice to absorb music material in a slow and relaxed way… The speed comes almost naturally once it feels effortless at a slow speed. Happy playing! 😃🎶🎄

[@greghering535]

Yes yes yes do the Video

[@UkuleleZen]

Cool - thank for watching Greg! :-)

[@papis_canoes]

Thanks Stu! Trying to chill and relax tht left hand😊

[@UkuleleZen]

Enjoy...it takes time but it'll be come a habit!

[@danraymond1755]

Yes I would like that

[@UkuleleZen]

Right on Dan -- thanks for watching 🎶

[@carolkaminski2609]

For sure!

[@UkuleleZen]

😊 Thanks Carol

[@sylvietherien8621]

Yes, it could be nice to have this tablature 🥰

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks for watching...Coming sometime soon!

[@songbird60thompson14]

Yes

[@eileenfostel2645]

Would love tabs for Sleigh Ride!

[@luthierpete]

Keep'em coming. I have the beginning stages of arthritis. Years of telephone wires on bass guitar hasn't helped.

[@serranegrah]

Olá amig@! Acabei de postar uma canção autoral no meu canal. É a segunda musica que posto e seria uma grande honra e agrado se você puder ouvir! Agradeço desde já

[@UkuleleZen]

Yikes...those bass strings are formidable for sure! If I were an upright player I'd be using gut strings -- even they are a bear. Wishing you well Pete!

[@randypotter2660]

Great tips. Thanks, Stu.

[@UkuleleZen]

You bet Randy! Thanks for joining in! 😊

[@nikkiolsen1592]

Wow! That was the best lesson I ever! Thank you!

[@UkuleleZen]

You're so welcome Nikki!! More holistic lessons like this to come :-)

[@ainaragoro6203]

THANK YOU! I had pain in my thumb always I play the uk. I will try this exercises to continue learning. 🎸🎸🎶🎶🎶🎼

[@UkuleleZen]

Wonderful! Very happy to hear that this was helpful for you 😊🎶🤙 Play on!

[@maplebob23]

Thanks Stu!

[@UkuleleZen]

You bet!

[@Marys-Channel]

Yes. YES! Ukulele Yoga, Turtle Breathing and Metronome!!! It's all coming together. It feels so good. What a beautiful blessing to have your incredible instruction. I love music 🎶 school with Stu! It's exciting for the music in me to break free! I'll keep thanking you forever. And forever is a long time. 🦋

[@MK1-SK2]

Thanks for this advice. New to Uke and appreciate your help. Have a blessed day.

[@starlight4553]

Brilliant! This is my goal for January. Thanks for this Stu!

[@vincentwestphal4521]

Your description of this video as being profound - is absolutely correct. This is a basic study in "oiling the machinery to make it run effortlessly" .

[@UkuleleZen]

Well said Vincent!!

[@kimberlybrush1605]

Would love a tabbed out version of sleigh ride!

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks Kim 😊

[@Marys-Channel]

Oh no. You know Know I need this. It's like going to church and you swear the message was Just for YOU! That's me! Great/Easy exercise/drill. Thanks 👍😎

[@UkuleleZen]

Wonderful to hear Mary! Enjoy slowing down with these exercises & games...they can be interspersed into your playing (in the middle of a passage, do the buzz scale on the melody you're doing on, etc...) Enjoy & be well 😊

[@Marys-Channel]

@@UkuleleZen already started 👍

[@sidnimonroe3054]

Thanks for thinking of this Stu. Please yes to the tabs for Sleigh Bells

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks Sidni...glad you enjoyed it. Here is another video I made of this nature that focuses on fingerstyle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF7ZY5SmmpeIirM

[@robertoursini7767]

Extremely helpfull!!! like always, u open our eyes, duelling benjo at the end was epic like all your video Shu!!! ✌🏼🤟🏿🤙🏼🤟🏿✌🏼💯🎼⚖️📀🎛️📿🎇🎆🎇🎋✨

[@UkuleleZen]

Glad you liked it Roberto! Thanks so much!

[@liberatosiat1922]

On point thanks

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks for listening!

[@noumine]

This is so helpful. Thank you.

[@bprince692]

Yes add it.

[@JB-li7dm]

Amazing 😊

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks for watching and joining in 😊🙌🎶

[@lesliebridgetbell332]

I would love the tabs for Sleigh Ride....beautiful!

[@UkuleleZen]

Coming soon!

[@lisacompton593]

Super helpful. It is indeed a lightbulb moment. It's great being on the journey with you Stu. Seasons Greetings to you and yours.

[@UkuleleZen]

Glad it was helpful! Happy Holidays to you & your family Lisa :)

[@susanhemme8465]

Thank you! These are the exact types of exercises I am needing in my ukulele journey right now! I love your comfortable, easy going yet enthusiast teaching style!!! But, yes! More of these.....please!!!

[@UkuleleZen]

You're so welcome Susan! Soften up the hand everyday -- and while you're playing a song, stop & apply these exercises...it takes tine, but with training yo'll soften that hand up 😉

[@mattmoynihan6023]

Thanks Stu! Great learning as always. Would love the tab as well! Have a safe and happy holiday season!

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks Matt...Happy holidays to you too! I'll work on he tab -- by popular demand ;-)

[@delmarlemming]

I have been playing for years, Stu, but these tips provide a fresh start. I m seeiing real Improvement. In time, I am also overcoming fears about soloing. Thanks!

[@UkuleleZen]

Great to hear David! I appreciate you taking the time to write :-) All the best, Stu

[@zornjohn2241]

Yeahhh please make a tab 🙌🏽

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks for chiming in! 😊

[@zornjohn2241]

@@UkuleleZen Just became a patreon member. Great stuff!

[@pierrechan1]

thanks

[@UkuleleZen]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching and joining in 😊🎶🤙

[@johorsburgh8933]

Would love the tabs thanks. Most helpful video, never realised how lightly you can play.

[@UkuleleZen]

Happy to help! It gets even easier and easier with practice (guided repetition with patience :) Happy playing 😊

[@patriciaballenger9714]

I had hand surgery 3 weeks ago to remove Dupuytren’s Contracture cords and fascia from the tip of my index finger to the bottom of my palm. I now have issues forming F, Dm and A chords. Your technique resolved my issue. For anyone with arthritis in your fingers … listen up! There is no reason to let hand limitations keep you from playing uke.

[@UkuleleZen]

WOW -- so great hear. Glad it was helpful and I hope that you're doing well after your procedure ...these exercises (I think of them as games) are practices to do everyday -- feel free to modify them as you go deeper into a relaxed touch on the strings & fretboard.

[@guinifere7025]

As a beginner I struggled so much to have clear tunes and thought that I just have to push harder (poor little uke and poor fingertips🙈😁) . That exercise really was an enlightening! Thank you so much!

[@UkuleleZen]

Happy to help! Subscribe to the channel & turn on notifications to keep in the loop of new videos from this channel Ukulele Zen

[@davidpickens6916]

Please, tab on sleigh ride will be fun and I’ll add that to next year‘s Christmas repertoire!

[@LilyMarsWrites]

This is great! I'm going to send the link to the video to my ukulele group for practicing over the holidays. Thank you, Stu!

[@UkuleleZen]

Awesome! Thank you Lily!!

[@pattihermes3674]

Thanks so much, this is exactly what I need to move to the next level of playing.

[@UkuleleZen]

So glad to hear Patti! Subscribe to the channel & turn on notifications...it's coming soon! 😉

[@coryreid122]

It's almost a joke, but it's so serious! This is amazing! Man, I just love your videos and advice! Yesssss! 😃

[@UkuleleZen]

My pleasure Cory! 😃 These practices/games are meant to be fun daily experiments you can bring into your music making in order to make things easier...hope they serve you well. Hope you'll subscribe for more vids from this channel 🤙

[@shawnmcdowell5477]

Great tutorial for these exercises.

[@UkuleleZen]

Glad you like them Shawn! Hope they serve you well :)

[@VehiclesvsfordDEEP]

Really great to learn. Thank you

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks for watching & joining in! 😊

[@ukulelebird602]

Great stuff! I love these kind of exercises, I take the challenge I’ll do it for a week! Yes to Sleigh Ride! Do a Travis pickin’ version.

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks for taking on the exercises Benjamin...mixing them in with the songs you're playing in a great way to train the hand to relax...P.S. You may like to do them forever in your own personalized ways ;-)

[@yashwanthnag]

Thanks for doing this

[@UkuleleZen]

My pleasure!

[@chriskei76]

I struggle really hard with F and Bb for O holy night (Cynthia Lin and Katie DeNure, absolutely beautiful). I‘m surprised I didn‘t break the neck of my uke. For 2 seconds after your exercise it worked for the F. Bb just blopped 😒 I think for this year I cramp my way through this song…. And I would love a tab for Sleigh ride.

[@UkuleleZen]

Keep on softening up Chris -- the toughest part is to stop, let go and soften up. We live in a fast paced world...let your practice be an oasis where you can take your time. You'll get this 😊 Happy jamming!

[@chudleyflusher7132]

Yes, please. Tablature.

[@UkuleleZen]

Subscribe to the channel & turn on notifications...it's coming soon! 😉

[@cotter9751]

Just started following - I am enjoying your style of teaching. Hopefully, following and practicing will help me improve. :)

[@UkuleleZen]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching & joining in! 😊

[@djwhitelaw]

Thank you Stu, If you could show us how to have a light touch with bar chords ie Bb & Ab etc I would be most grateful. David.

[@UkuleleZen]

I'll get into Ab someday -- I have a video at this channel all about Bb...search the videos tab to find it...Subscribe to the channel & turn on notifications...many thanks!

[@laurelflax1156]

Thank you for the exercises - yes, would love to have tab for Sleigh Ride :-)

[@UkuleleZen]

Coming soon! Gotta get the horses saddled up 😉

[@kmp435]

Just tried out your playing tips with chords and melody music I play. sound beautiful 🎶 thank you 🎶

[@UkuleleZen]

Wonderful!! Glad it was helpful for you 😊 Hope you'll subscribe to this channel for more vids like this one...happy playing, Stu

[@kmp435]

@@UkuleleZen just subscribed to your channel and enjoy your tutorial videos and they are fun and very inspirational and encouraging to learn trying out different ways of playing ukulele, thank you for amazing videos 🎶🎶

[@makgeoff]

Damn, I wish I knew this years ago! After picking up the Uke again & squeezing hard all this time (what Kalei Gamiao said during his sharing session in HK), you saved my life here!! Now I know it's important to press just hard enough so we don't hamper our mobility. Thank you. Yes, plz make the tab for the song at the beginning. 🙏

[@UkuleleZen]

So glad to hear Geoffrey. Have fun bringing these practices/games into your music making to help make things easier...more joyful when we're not straining 😉hope they serve you well. Please subscribe for more vids from this channel & play on! 🤙

[@makgeoff]

@@UkuleleZen Yup, subscribed and learning from yr videos already

[@sweetwoodruff5198]

Love this! Would love to have the tab!

[@UkuleleZen]

I'll get the horse whip a'cracking on it ;-)

[@joebrown5680]

Please do the tabs, Thank You and your family have a very Merry Christmas.

[@UkuleleZen]

Very good Joe....Merry Christmas and thanks for joining in! 😊

[@SCORE72JUNIOR]

Would love for you to tab this for us.

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks Joe -- I'll get cracking ;-)

[@ThePablodog]

Would love to have this tab for sleigh ride!

[@UkuleleZen]

Cool....thanks Paul!

[@SaxeGrove]

I must work on this. I keep losing my uke, well, not really, but it slips. Thanks for sharing

[@UkuleleZen]

You can do it...these exercises will will create good habits of how to hold the instrument with the least effort. That's why my channel is "Ukulele Zen" 😉 Happy playing, Stu

[@ruthletourneau4192]

Stu watching this later and I do want the tablature for Sleigh Ride….I have a PATREON MEMBERSHIP

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks very much Ruth! ...it's coming soon! 😉

[@kawikadee9670]

Cool, so no need for the death grip.

[@UkuleleZen]

Yes! Day by day our technique gets lighter & lighter 😊

[@andyrose7953]

Very timely tip! When I recently videoed myself playing, I was shocked to see how tense my left hand looked. Will work on these exercises for sure. And as others have said, Sleigh Ride - YES!

[@UkuleleZen]

Cool! We're in sync ;-) These are evergreen exercises (I have others) that keep getting deeper and deeper the more we use them. All the best Andy!

[@penniemeadows8637]

Any lessons for baritone

[@UkuleleZen]

Not yet Pennie...working on it! 😊🎶

[@janisstuart1148]

Hi, Stuart, please share the tabs for Sleigh Ride with us. Thank you!

[@UkuleleZen]

Hi Janice, I just published the sleigh ride tutorial today… Enjoy!

[@janisstuart1148]

Thank you!!

[@CosasdeDios1089]

I am curios, why is there a tiny space, one that looks like a mini fret, before the first fret in your Uke?

[@puffinlittle]

Greetings, yes a Tab please. thanks pax, PL

[@UkuleleZen]

Thanks & Peace to you. Subscribe to the channel & turn on notifications...it's coming soon! 😉

[@yashwanthnag]

First comment is my comment

[@UkuleleZen]

Congrats!

[@BraydenNorris-bx1yd]

I can do some improvised songs right off the top of my head using down down up or down down up up down up strums and have a lot of fun but the chords feel bland and stiff and robotic

[@TheVINMAN531]

TAB IT OUT

[@UkuleleZen]

No tabs needed friend, the idea is to feel it 😊 You can do it -- thanks for watching Vincent