Ukulele Strap VS Strapless

An often asked question from novice Ukulele players is “should I use a strap and what kind works best”

Some players use straps while others do not. While there are many who are opinionated about this topic, your decision will depend largely on your Ukulele, your playing style and your personal preferences. For example, many people who play the soprano size ukulele may not use a strap because of the small size  of the instrument, while they might use one on a Concert or Tenor.  It is important to remember there are no hold fast rules, it is about what you like!

There are many strap choices on the market be I will talk about the two most common styles, one which requires your Ukulele to have a strap button and one that does not .

#1 Neck strap. If your Ukulele does not have a strap button necessary for a conventional strap, you can consider a strap that hooks in the sound hole (pictured below). This strap does not actually attach to your uke but goes under the instrument then over the top and “hooks on”  in the sound hole. This strap supports the instrument while you play but does not give you “Hands Free” movement. Players often complain of straps of this type scratching their instrument if the hook is not properly padded.

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#2 Conventional Straps are 1 ½” Uke straps that resemble their guitar strap cousins (pictured below)  but they require your  Uke to have at least 1 strap button. If your ukulele does not have at least one strap button, you can usually have your local music store add one for a nominal fee, however you should check with the Uke manufacturer to determine if this affects your warranty in any way, it usually doesn’t.

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