scottie
Well-known member
In your opinion, is there any real advantage to playing a ukulele without a strap? If you feel that there is, specifically what is it?
With my soprano Flea, I personally like the freedom of being able to play without a strap--just pick it up & start strumming or picking.
Does anyone feel that it's better from a technical/sound production view to play without a strap? Can you do anything musically better without than with? Does it increase your mechanical advantage for fretting, picking, strumming?
Does having to actually hold the instrument in any way enhance your ability to play the ukulele?
Bingo!
Yes, it's a more "traditional" way to play it. And a more traditional look. But for me, the big selling point of going strapless is the convenience. You grab it and you play. No fiddling around with straps/cords/picks/etc. Some might not find that to be that much of an advantage, but I sure do.
JJ
I will be selling my new ukulele half strap on eBay in a few weeks... still waiting to resolve the name and working out the details. I have a prototype test group sending in their finished questionnaires. I have accepted a few early-bird orders for those who are desperate.I play with and without and find that when I do not have a strap I am either anchoring the uke with my little finger on my strumming hand (when fingerpicking) or holding the neck in place with one of the left hand fingers and thumb (pinching)while changing chords. I have found the best method for me is a compromise - the half strap. I have a piece of leather lace tied around each of my ukes just above the nut. I have a strap from a camera case that has clips for holding the strap to the case and a loop at one end for adjusting the length of the strap (if you look at a camera case strap or a soft uke case, most all of the straps are designed that way). I clip the end of the strap to the leather lace and place the strap around my neck and the loop over my other arm. Only the neck is then being supported by the strap. The body of the uke is held against my body by my strumming arm. This kind of forces you to hold the uke in the traditional method with your strumming arm, but supports the neck for chord changes and fingering. You also do not need to put a strap button on the uke. You can adjust the length of the strap since it is already designed to be adjusted. A cheap camera case with a strap is only about $5 to $10.