ZaBeth's Ukulele Journey

[ailevin]

I took Matt Stead's live "Learn the Ukulele Fretboard" YouTube class this morning, and it was quite helpful. I'm starting to gain familiarity with notes on the ukulele, rather than just chords. I purchased the downloadable class materials, which were quite useful during the class, and which will be a good reference going forward.

Scales, baby!

I continue to work through Matt's Beginner Ukulele YouTube course and am trying to put in some time every day. Consistency is key!

I really like Matt’s materials and teaching methods. He had a big impact on me when I was first trying to learn using only books and online resources I watched that scales lesson and I thought it was terrific. I also watched his Ain’t She Sweet lesson. He does a very good job of injecting just the right amount of practical music theory without pushing too hard or making it mandatory. I need to get back to reviewing Matt’s stuff more regularly. Thanks for posting the link.

 

[ZaBeth]

I backtracked to the Matt Stead Beginner course over the last few days in order to do more with the scale lessons. Now I'm back to the Intermediate course. I reviewed the chord melody lesson this morning and then did half of Lesson 4, "How to chuck, mute and drum your uke." I'm finding that, for me, the thumb method of chucking with my right hand seems to be the most fluid.

I've been trying to incorporate the spider-walking exercise and one-octave C and F scales into my practice.

 

[Yukio]

Barre chords are the bane of my existence. Carry on. (Just need practice.)

"All we are saying is give barre chords a chance."

Maybe start with D7 where you barre fret 2 and play the C natural (the flat 7th) on the third fret of the A-string.
This is a great chord fingering and was my favorite chord for a long time.
It sounds so boss!

(Later, you will realise it is movable, so you get Db7, D7, Eb7, E7, etc. for the same fingering. This is getting a lot of bang for the buck.)

 

[ripock]

barre chords are the path to next-level playing. Here's the single most life-changing advise I ever learnt about barre chords: heavy hands! Instead of using a death grip and pushing into the fretboard with more and more vigor, let your hands be heavy. Act as if there were a weight on your wrist pulling your hands toward the floor and then clamp down with your fingers to resist the downward motion and having your fingers pulled off the fretboard. In my case, this fixed all my barre chord issues within 30 seconds. I still use it to this day. If my barre chord isn't working, I make my hand heavy and it fixes the issue immediately. give it a shot. I know we are all different, but perhaps this will work for me as it did for me.

 

[ailevin]

"All we are saying is give barre chords a chance."

Maybe start with D7 where you barre fret 2 and play the C natural (the flat 7th) on the third fret of the A-string.
This is a great chord fingering and was my favorite chord for a long time.
It sounds so boss!

(Later, you will realise it is movable, so you get Db7, D7, Eb7, E7, etc. for the same fingering. This is getting a lot of bang for the buck.)

I found these exercises very helpful to gain facility with barre chords.


Also, I don't know where I read it, but my barres improved when I stopped trying to squeeze so hard and thought less abour pressing into the fretboard amd more about pulling the strings in a bit downward toward the floor. [After the posted this I saw @ripock's post just above and he has a better discussion of exactly what I am talking about.]

 

[ailevin]

barre chords are the path to next-level playing. Here's the single most life-changing advise I ever learnt about barre chords: heavy hands! Instead of using a death grip and pushing into the fretboard with more and more vigor, let your hands be heavy. Act as if there were a weight on your wrist pulling your hands toward the floor and then clamp down with your fingers to resist the downward motion and having your fingers pulled off the fretboard. In my case, this fixed all my barre chord issues within 30 seconds. I still use it to this day. If my barre chord isn't working, I make my hand heavy and it fixes the issue immediately. give it a shot. I know we are all different, but perhaps this will work for me as it did for me.

This! The only thing I would add, is that part of having heavy hands is relaxing, starting at the shoulder and working down through the arm and hand.

 

[ripock]

In all fairness, I got the concept from Stu fuchs years ago. I think the premise of the video was stop fighting gravity. Your hand wants to fall, so let it.

 

[ZaBeth]

In all fairness, I got the concept from Stu fuchs years ago. I think the premise of the video was stop fighting gravity. Your hand wants to fall, so let it.

I think you and @ailevin make a lot of sense, regardless of where you stole the information. I'll give this a go tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[Yukio]

Hmmmm. Thanks for sharing the Ukulele Mike video @ailevin and also to @ripock the "heavy hands" idea. But I'm not sure if I do either of those things. I mostly think of it as using leverage.

In the video, Ukulele Mike is keeping his thumb "properly" placed on the back of the neck right behind the barre formed by his index finger and his explanation focused a lot on increasing muscle strength to hold down the chord and make it ring clearly.

When necessary, I tend to create more leverage by extending my thumb along the back of the neck towards the headstock. I think I am unconsciously moving my thumb to increase the length of the "moment arm" and generating more torque to hold down the barre and the fretted strings without using a lot of extra grip strength.

Any thoughts on this? Maybe I will have to shoot a quick video to explain?....

 

[ailevin]

Hmmmm. Thanks for sharing the Ukulele Mike video @ailevin and also to @ripock the "heavy hands" idea. But I'm not sure if I do either of those things. I mostly think of it as using leverage.

In the video, Ukulele Mike is keeping his thumb "properly" placed on the back of the neck right behind the barre formed by his index finger and his explanation focused a lot on increasing muscle strength to hold down the chord and make it ring clearly.

When necessary, I tend to create more leverage by extending my thumb along the back of the neck towards the headstock. I think I am unconsciously moving my thumb to increase the length of the "moment arm" and generating more torque to hold down the barre and the fretted strings without using a lot of extra grip strength.

Any thoughts on this? Maybe I will have to shoot a quick video to explain?....

My teacher recommends getting the thumb more or less behind the first finger on a closed chord unless there is a reach issue or a finger placement issue.

I don’t quite see the leverage argument. If you push down on the fretboard with a finger and up on the neck at some distance with the thumb, I guess you may be applying greater torque, but I don’t see that increasing the downward force of the finger. In fact if you’re trying to increase grip strength I think having your thumb at a distance would make it harder. Try making a fist with your thumb wrapped around your fingers and compare it with the thumb sticking up .

For leverage you need a fulcrum and I don’t get where that would be in this case. Perhaps I do need a picture.

 

[Plonky-tonk]

I dropped off the Honolua concert at the local shop (Folkway Music in Waterloo, Ontario) for a set up. They did a quick check while I as there and said the action was a little high. I hope whatever magic they work will make my journey more enjoyable.

While I was there, I played on some of the tenors they had: a few Ponos, a Magic Fluke, and a Martin T1K. I think, of those, the Martin has the rich sound I'm looking for. I do not like the tuners on the Magic Fluke. And so I ponder.

This afternoon will find me working on the Bb chord on my Flight pineapple soprano. (Truth be told, this instrument could also stand with a setup. Sigh.)

I just got a T1K a few days ago. Madly in love with it.
Dooooooo it!

 

[ZaBeth]

Hmmmm. Thanks for sharing the Ukulele Mike video @ailevin and also to @ripock the "heavy hands" idea. But I'm not sure if I do either of those things. I mostly think of it as using leverage.

In the video, Ukulele Mike is keeping his thumb "properly" placed on the back of the neck right behind the barre formed by his index finger and his explanation focused a lot on increasing muscle strength to hold down the chord and make it ring clearly.

When necessary, I tend to create more leverage by extending my thumb along the back of the neck towards the headstock. I think I am unconsciously moving my thumb to increase the length of the "moment arm" and generating more torque to hold down the barre and the fretted strings without using a lot of extra grip strength.

Any thoughts on this? Maybe I will have to shoot a quick video to explain?....

A quick video would be useful; thanks.

I just discovered that if I extend my thumb upward along the middle of the neck I can get a clear basic barre chord (such as a D6). However, the angle it places my other fingers in makes it potentially tricky to add fingers (such as for a D7). And for a Bb chord, I need to shift whatever I'm doing with my thumb at the back to keep my non-barred fingers curved enough to make it work.

This discussion is so fascinating -- thanks, everyone! I'm experimenting with everything.

 

[ZaBeth]

I found these exercises very helpful to gain facility with barre chords.


Also, I don't know where I read it, but my barres improved when I stopped trying to squeeze so hard and thought less abour pressing into the fretboard amd more about pulling the strings in a bit downward toward the floor. [After the posted this I saw @ripock's post just above and he has a better discussion of exactly what I am talking about.]

This is an amazing video -- thanks!

 

[bbkobabe]

I do not like the tuners on the Magic Fluke.

They are an issue... I'm finding I spend less and less time playing mine. The tuners are a pain in the

I used to leave it in the trunk of my sedan, but now that I have switched to a minivan I'm worried someone will break into my car... thinking it's a gun! As much as I relish the thought of someone opening the case and being astonished, I don't want anyone breaking into my car.

 

[Yukio]

Okay! I made my little video about Barre Chord Technique.
Please feel free to rip it to shreds (preferably after you have watched it and tried it out on your own!)
Have fun!
-Yukio

 

[Yukio]

In fact if you’re trying to increase grip strength I think having your thumb at a distance would make it harder. Try making a fist with your thumb wrapped around your fingers and compare it with the thumb sticking up .

Sorry, but I don't really find that to be a fair analogy. Forming a proper fist with the thumb wrapped around allows the strength of the thumb to contribute to the overall strength and stability of the fist. It is, of course, the best way to make a fist and to avoid breaking your hand or tearing off your thumb if you use the fist to strike some.....thing.

Anyway, I made my little video, so you can be the judge of the leverage generated by my way of playing with the thumb at some distance from the barre.

 

[Yukio]

A quick video would be useful; thanks.

I just discovered that if I extend my thumb upward along the middle of the neck I can get a clear basic barre chord (such as a D6). However, the angle it places my other fingers in makes it potentially tricky to add fingers (such as for a D7). And for a Bb chord, I need to shift whatever I'm doing with my thumb at the back to keep my non-barred fingers curved enough to make it work.

This discussion is so fascinating -- thanks, everyone! I'm experimenting with everything.

Good on you for the clean D6. That sounds about right.

I made some mention at the end of my little video about the more distant thumb position seeming to give a more open feel to the hand which I find comfortable and manoeuvrable to add other fingers to the barre chord. I hope the video helps and that you keep experimenting with these shapes until they become fun and easy for you to play.

-Yukio

 

[Yukio]

Sorry in advance that I hit the tripod a couple of times and my thumb (the star of the show) was out-of-frame for the last little bit. But it was the same progression that was played earlier, so I hope you will forgive my camera placement at the end.

Also, please help improve my physics terminology, if that is not quite up to snuff.

 

[ailevin]

Sorry, but I don't really find that to be a fair analogy. Forming a proper fist with the thumb wrapped around allows the strength of the thumb to contribute to the overall strength and stability of the fist. It is, of course, the best way to make a fist and to avoid breaking your hand or tearing off your thumb if you use the fist to strike some.....thing.

Anyway, I made my little video, so you can be the judge of the leverage generated by my way of playing with the thumb at some distance from the barre.

@Yukio: thanks for the time and effort that you put into the video. It is a very thorough explanation and demonstration of what you meant. I think I see what you mean by moving your arm and using your thumb as a fulcrum. I will try it and report back.

 

[Yukio]

It is a very thorough explanation and demonstration of what you meant. I think I see what you mean by moving your arm and using your thumb as a fulcrum. I will try it and report back.

Thanks for giving it a try @ailevin. I look forward to hearing if these ideas can be usefully applied to your own personal playing style.