Since I saw another post discussion asking about easy to play ukes, it makes me wonder what are people's criteria for what makes a uke "easy to play".
I definitely get different feelings with different ukes, but have not spent much time thinking what specifically made a uke easier to play. I rotate between playing a number ukes and still trying to see which one or two I find as my favorite or easiest to play. In many cases, it is a mixed bag. But, if I spend a minute to think about it, for me, some things come to mind.
1. String action - prefer more on the low side, but too low and picking over the fretboard is a little harder without sometimes touching the fretboard for me.
2. String tension and diameter - have to find a good balance between too high tension making it harder to fret and too loose, and also a balance in too thin diameter versus too thick. Too thin and high tension can also wear on my fretting fingers, if I play a long time in one sitting.
3. Neck thickness and also shape - Neck thickness has already been discussed here, but it is subjective and also dependent on hand size. Shape also plays a role, have the traditional c shape. I also have a uke that has a flatter backside of the neck, so not as much a C shape. It is nice that is is thin, but probably I prefer the C shape more.
4. Also, neck width - I have mixed feelings and pros and cons on different widths. 1.5" width necks are a bit easier for picking or allow more room for those with bigger fingers, but also make me stretch a bit more on some chords, vs 1.375" width.
5. Weight of the uke - Also, mixed feelings, sometimes I like a nice light uke (like LdFM or Da Silva Thin Body), and other times nice to feel the heft and solidness (like Turner Compass Rose)
6. Uke shape - One that fits you best, which is subjective, as ukes have different shapes and people have different shapes and likes/dislikes. I have one that has an arm bevel and I do find that very comfortable, as the ones without it, sometimes notice a little rubbing of the edge when playing in certain positions. It is only sometimes and not that big an issue though and not one that I would only choose an arm beveled uke, but it is a nice to have for me sometimes.
7. I am sure fret spacing plays a factor, which goes along with choosing the size uke we want, soprano, concert, tenor, or baritone.
8. Others?
I definitely get different feelings with different ukes, but have not spent much time thinking what specifically made a uke easier to play. I rotate between playing a number ukes and still trying to see which one or two I find as my favorite or easiest to play. In many cases, it is a mixed bag. But, if I spend a minute to think about it, for me, some things come to mind.
1. String action - prefer more on the low side, but too low and picking over the fretboard is a little harder without sometimes touching the fretboard for me.
2. String tension and diameter - have to find a good balance between too high tension making it harder to fret and too loose, and also a balance in too thin diameter versus too thick. Too thin and high tension can also wear on my fretting fingers, if I play a long time in one sitting.
3. Neck thickness and also shape - Neck thickness has already been discussed here, but it is subjective and also dependent on hand size. Shape also plays a role, have the traditional c shape. I also have a uke that has a flatter backside of the neck, so not as much a C shape. It is nice that is is thin, but probably I prefer the C shape more.
4. Also, neck width - I have mixed feelings and pros and cons on different widths. 1.5" width necks are a bit easier for picking or allow more room for those with bigger fingers, but also make me stretch a bit more on some chords, vs 1.375" width.
5. Weight of the uke - Also, mixed feelings, sometimes I like a nice light uke (like LdFM or Da Silva Thin Body), and other times nice to feel the heft and solidness (like Turner Compass Rose)
6. Uke shape - One that fits you best, which is subjective, as ukes have different shapes and people have different shapes and likes/dislikes. I have one that has an arm bevel and I do find that very comfortable, as the ones without it, sometimes notice a little rubbing of the edge when playing in certain positions. It is only sometimes and not that big an issue though and not one that I would only choose an arm beveled uke, but it is a nice to have for me sometimes.
7. I am sure fret spacing plays a factor, which goes along with choosing the size uke we want, soprano, concert, tenor, or baritone.
8. Others?