To think that learning the Ukelele is incredibly difficult

[WhynothaveaKidsDay]

Or any string instrument for that.
I have attended a uke class in our village for about 3 months and am having a rough time trying to bend my fingers to manage the chorus. A few years ago, I tried to learn the guitar but i had the same problems there. It seems impossible for my fingers to rech the various chords

Should I just give up?

[OrangeIsTheNewPop]

I play 8 instruments, but have never been able to play a plucky one!

[WhynothaveaKidsDay]

Orange I am so frustrated about this. What instruments do you play? I want to play music, I long for it, am half decent at singing but stuck with uke and guitar. I love the sound of the Uke especially when playing Celtic or classical music watching too much Youtube.

Is it that some people just don't have the right hands for it?

[Dixiestamp]

Have you tried looking at different methods of playing the chords? When you learn as part of a group you are all taught the same way (as far as I understand). There are lots of different ways of playing the chords so it may be easier to teach yourself or get a teacher who can teach you one to one. Do persist! For what it's worth, I play the piano, flute, clarinet, sax, baritone, euphonium, cornet and trumpet and have found the ukulele the hardest to pick up!

[FireSquirrel]

Practise practise practise, it will get easier.

[WhynothaveaKidsDay]

I will but wonder if my hands are just not supple and stretchy enough am crap at yoga too.

[imthelastsplash]

I play loads of instruments and have never really got to grips with anything plucky either. I've got a guitar and can bash out a few tunes but I'm much better when there are no chords involved (I'm looking at you F)

There are usually alternative ways to play chords but it is usually just a case of practice, practice, practice.

I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm never going to be a rhythm guitarist and enjoy it as much as I can

[WhynothaveaKidsDay]

Thank you. in terms of frustration levels, would people suggest that learning the piano is more attainable? I just seek to learn for my own enjoyment and, maybe eventually relaxation. So not looking to rushing through various grades. or any other suggestions for enjoying play on a bit of music for lovely amateur musical happiness?

[PickAChew]

Are your fingertips particularly bendy?

I tried learning the guitar, when I was younger. The problem was bendy fingertips. I just couldn't press the strings enough against the fretboard, even if i could bend or stretch my fingers enough. It was like trying to play the chords with an empty rubber glove.

[Zafodbeeblbrox10]

I am trying to learn both accoustic guitar and keyboard. My advice would be to teach yourself if your interested in making your own tunes. That way you will not be constrained by unattainable chords, you just get a feel of the tones, and your own ear comes into play. Same with piano, but with this one I would advise looking into a little music theory as it will be very helpful, especially scales and keys.

[Zafodbeeblbrox10]

Give yourself a couple of years to even sound any good, unless you are just learning a particular song

[BikeRunSki]

Have you tried a smaller uke? DS plays a "half size" one. He's been playing about 18 months and is getting pretty nifty.

[IamalsoSpartacus]

or a supersize one? I couldn't squish all my fingers on the same row on a standard size uke so I bought the next size up, I think it is called Baritone.

[WhynothaveaKidsDay]

all.

My fingers and hands are not bendy or stretchy at all which seems to make reaching across frets on the guitar (classical) so hard. I basically unable to play a pentatonic scale as I can't reach the right frets.

Bike a smaller uke or guitar?

Spartacus, do you mean a concert or baritone Uke?

I quite classical and celtic music played on the uke too.....

[OrangeIsTheNewPop]

Sorry- forgot about this thread! I play piano, harmonica, accordion, flute, trumpet, drums, sax and I sing. Does "bendy fingers" mean being able to bwnd them all the way backwards/forwards from the nuckle? I can bend my top joint forwards 90 degrees.

[fflonkl]

Non-bendy fingers aside, I don't think 3 months is enough time to say you can't do it. I used to play both the guitar and the ukulele. Guitar took forever because my finger pads had to be tough enough to press the strings properly and my hand had to learn to contort itself to play the chords (yes F is a bitch!). Ukulele was much easier as it was smaller and fingers/hand had gotten used to being contorted. As a pp said, practise practise practise!

(If it helps - my friend took up the cello in her late 40s and sounded pretty crap at first. Now, 4 years later, she sounds quite competent!)

[Bellerophon]

This is almost beyond parody

[WhynothaveaKidsDay]

What is Beller? My frustration with playing the guitar?