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LESSONSeries : Ukulele Fingering Gymnastics - Basic
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Proper Fretting Hand Placement
Efficiency is the Key to Proper Technique.
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Ukulele or Guitar
These technique tips apply to guitar as well as ukulele.
Four fingers can span four frets, one finger per fret. Start by placing your index finger on string four, fret one. Then on the same string, add finger two to fret two, finger three to fret three, and finally finger four to fret four. The thumb should be positioned flat and right behind fingers one and two. In this position, only the fingertips and the thumbprint touch the instrument. Each finger is arched proportionally to its length relative to the other fingers. The fourth finger will not be as arched as the other fingers because of its size and relative reach.
Your thumb should be flat against the back of the neck, approximately right behind the first and second fingers. The exact position varies with your thumb, the instrument neck profile, and your particular hand size. The thumb's main job is to apply opposite and equal pressure from the fingers.
The No. 2 Pencil
The old standby No. 2 pencil is a handy tool to show proper finger and thumb placement. I often substitute a "Carpenter's Pencil" to make it a bit easier to demonstrate.
Efficiency is the Key to Proper Technique.
Additional Content
Available for Premium Site Access Plans Only
Sorry, can't give it ALL away!
This content requires a Premium / Gold Access Plan or enrolled in the Study with Curt - On-line or Private Lesson Program.
To view additional content for this page you'll need to either Sign In or Register or Upgrade to a Premium Site Access Plan.
Ukulele or Guitar
These technique tips apply to guitar as well as ukulele.
Four fingers can span four frets, one finger per fret. Start by placing your index finger on string four, fret one. Then on the same string, add finger two to fret two, finger three to fret three, and finally finger four to fret four. The thumb should be positioned flat and right behind fingers one and two. In this position, only the fingertips and the thumbprint touch the instrument. Each finger is arched proportionally to its length relative to the other fingers. The fourth finger will not be as arched as the other fingers because of its size and relative reach.
Your thumb should be flat against the back of the neck, approximately right behind the first and second fingers. The exact position varies with your thumb, the instrument neck profile, and your particular hand size. The thumb's main job is to apply opposite and equal pressure from the fingers.
The No. 2 Pencil
The old standby No. 2 pencil is a handy tool to show proper finger and thumb placement. I often substitute a "Carpenter's Pencil" to make it a bit easier to demonstrate.
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Proper Fretting Hand Placement…
- Place fingers (fingertips) on the pencil's
Painted Body
and your thumb should naturally go into the position of support right behind your index and middle finger. - That's it — I do typically replace the No. 2 pencil with a flat
Carpenter Pencil
, as it's a little easier to balance and has more of an area on itsFerrule
— it's flat. Student's have more success with this type of pencil when doing this demo.
Standard, Yellow Carpenter's Pencil
I'll place the carpenters pencil on a flat surface, often the back of my ukulele held horizontally, and have the student pick the pencil up with their fretting hand. Pretty much their thumbs will go as in the picture above.
Alternately, you can place all four fingers on string four, the string closest to your nose, of your ukulele on frets (1), (2), (3), and stretch your pinky to fret (5). This should place your thumb in the proposition of supporting the fingers, just as the above pencil demonstrations do.
Your thumb needs to supply equal and opposite pressure to the fingers pressing on the strings.
I often see, even in pro players, the thumb moving around as much as their fingers.
The bottom line is – unless there is an overwhelming musical reason for the thumb to venture out of its support role. Keep it in its primary support role.
Download the PDF file for the latest, complete, and most up-to-date version. As well as additional information not presented on-line.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
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Fingering Gymnastics - a.k.a. Fingering Drills Introduction
Updated: 18 Dec 2018
Ukulele Gymnastics series contains quite a few lessons for developing your finger strength and independence of the fretting hand. The fretting hand is responsible for playing chords and single notes. The fretting hand and plucking hand are responsible for getting the music out.
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