5 Mistakes That Make Your Ukulele Sound Bad | Taught By A Music Teacher 

TIME STAMPS 💙💙💙 (to skip ahead or go back) 0:21 Mistake 1 1:38 Mistake 2 3:32 Mistake 3 5:29 Mistake 4 7:26 Mistake 5 Comment any mistakes I didn't mention down below!

Her earrings are ukuleles 😭 I love ❤️ them

I just realized that the only people who say “imagine a string on top of your head, now pull it and sit up straight” are music teachers 👨‍🏫 👩‍🏫

I love bernadette , she says I hate long intros and I'm down with that 🤘

Love your “house for a mouse” space idea for thumb placement. I have a terrible habit of grabbing the uke in a death grip.

I bought my 1st uke 2weeks ago and currently on day 16 of the 30 day ukulele challenge. So glad I came across your channel. I now refer to you as my music teacher 😊. Love from South Africa 🇿🇦

Yay! I was looking for a good explanation of how to (and how not to) hold the ukulele - especially details on the thumb placement! THANK you!

I tune before I play every time. First I listen, then tune and listen again so I can hear the difference 🎵

Great reminders!! Thank you 😊. My biggest mistake has been squeezing too hard on chords that I think are hard to play. When I lighten up and relax I can play them.

Not mentioned in the 5 common mistakes, but I found myself strumming from the elbow, when I practised to do it from the wrist I found I could strum more softly, strum more quickly, strum and chuck more accurately. 💕🐢

I love your videos! I first finished the 30 day uke challenge, and know I am taking the 30 day course! I am so happy! Your videos have helped me pass my time in quarantine. These mistake videos help me become a better player! Thank you so much miss b! ❤

Oh my goshh I LOVEE that blue background with all those ukes! Amazing video as usual! ❤️

You are a wonderful teacher. I watch several uke channels but ALWAYS return to your channel to learn. You make playing look so easy. Today's video on thumb placement was very helpful for me and my short, stubby fingers :) I'm a newbie (3 weeks) and look forward to learning from you. Plus, you have such a great personality. Thank you so very much! Be well and stay safe

Hi Bernadette! I am a new subscriber, I just got my first ukulele last Saturday an have been following your 30 Day challenge and many more of your videos. I played guitar as a teenager, so am picking up chords somewhat easily.... although strumming and singing at the same time is another thing!! I wanted to say thank you for the amazing content. You have not only taught me through your videos, but also encouraged me to keep playing. I am so excited for you with your baby on the way!!!

Thank you for this video, I realized that i was keeping my uke headstock too close !! relief from my wrist tension

Thank you for this video! I found that getting a ukulele strap made a HUGE difference and greatly improved my playing.

Thank you. A very useful reminder which I will share with the group I help lead. About three quarters of the group were beginners when we launched and I tried to encourage them to overcome many of these same mistakes. One other mistake I came across time and time again was the tendency to lay the ukulele in their lap and tilt the face of the ukulele upward so they could see the fretboard more easily. It was a very deeply embedded instinct for one or two of our beginners.

Thanks Bernadette. I have been playing for about 3 months and all that time I didn't realise my thumb was wrapped around the neck and moved all over the place. Every day is a school day.

Thanks for the tips Ms. Bernadette!! You've been a real help on my ukulele journey! I love your fingerstyle ukulele tutorials, and that's what I'm majorly focusing on right now! (Now to be able to sing as I strum....)

Oooh I didn't know flattened fingers make such a difference! Thank you! I bought a ukulele about two weeks ago and I'm on day 4 of your 30 day ukulele challenge! So excited to continue

I’ve gotten so much value from this channel in two weeks I can’t wait to put my thumb on my new invisible dot 😁

Your voice has gotten better! I can tell you’re more confident with singing. Way to go!! Thank you for the music you make and share☺️. I went for an early morning walk in the woods. A little dark and spooky at first but so quiet and peaceful. We all need a little calm during this time.

The thumb tip is so helpful, going to practise that one!

I got self-conscious and straightened my posture as I watched this... and I'm about to trim my nails RIGHT NOW. 😂 Great reminders! Have a good day, mama! 😉🥰

Thank you for the tips! I have thumb issues with arthritis and joint degeneration. I am able to play better when positioning my thumb as you suggested, even with 2nd fret and in the center back. I am still muting some strings for some chords but it is much better than it was. Play on!

If your Specific Instructions for how to keep fingernails has been a game-changer for me! The cords were not quite sounding right especially for my ring finger, the cords did not resonate the way they should. I love how specific you have been because I am learning very quickly and each day I'm discovering something new that I can fix or improve on because of you! Thank you! I have started my own RU-vid channel to record my progress so hopefully with your instruction, I will be able to post videos soon. Thank you!

Bernadette this video is sooooo AWESOME!!!! And the BLUE wall is striking!!!! Thanks for the very useful tips. I am so happy that I joined the Patreon family. I will check out the link for this ukulele. It's kinda a "must have"!!!!!

The posture advice helps a lot! I didn't notice it before cuz i didn't know it's something important but it actually was!

I have been following you for well over a year now and you NEVER disappoint. Thank you for another AWESOME video!

thumb mistake -- It really helped with my accuracy and speed. When my hand settles in, I can see it make a lot of positive progress in my playing.

Ms B You are the best music teacher! You are so kind, so encouraging! You are an inspiration!! Lots of love

Well... I just want to say thank you for teaching ukulele. Im an absolutely beginner and with your help im doing great in my opinion ;-) Best greetings from bavaria, germany ;-)

Bernadette! Thank you for your videos! I started playing two months ago and I’m progressing much faster after finding your channel. I’m having that same ukelele delivered on Friday! I’m so excited. I originally wanted a concert ukelele but I got a soprano instead; now I’ll have two :) I’m in love with the instrument and can’t wait to keep progressing while watching your videos. Thanks again! Much love from Puerto Rico :)

Hello mam.I have just started your 30 day uke challenge and I already feel like a pro !.You deserve a lot of love and respect for your hard work and you certainly have mine.Love from India🇮🇳

The thumb on the back tip just helped me fix a mistake I've been making for years that I didn't even know about. When I play first position chords my thumb has been flat, basically muting my sound until I placed it behind the second fret like she said and the instrument sounds way brighter now!! Thank you!

Thank you so much!!!! First time that i played my bm chords without doing difficult joga-positions! =)

Ms.Bernadette, thanks for the awesome work. You are the reason why I wanted to start learning to play ukulele. I have an issue with placing thumb at the back of the neck. I will be supporting the neck with the tips of my fingers and it’s hard to balance it especially when changing chords.

Thank u so much miss B . Ur smile and a very happy good bye always makes my day. ❤️🙂

You are blooming, Mama B! 💙 Thanks for the tips; the thumb placement and pivot are super helpful to me. I will stick some glue on it! 👍🏼😉😘

Thanks Ms.B, refreshing reminder I'm on third time watching now again. Lovely hearing each string acoustically, great mic. Biggest music challenge, my ego when it whispers into songs when in the ego free zpd. Appreciate your reminders... practice, practice, right technique first... for ukulele music forever muscle memory's. Love the blossoming Enya flowering ukuleles floating in the clear blue sky room. Your Abby Lyon music was a lovely surprise. Welcome back Ms.B 🎶🙏🎶

Purchased a white one through the link in the comments. Can't wait to try it. Love your lessons!

I think I'm going to put a little sticker for my thumb on the back until I get out of the sliding around habit. Thanks Bernadette!

OMG!!! mistake 5!!! Thank you sooo so much! It wasn't that I felt like my fingers weren't long enough, but transitioning between certain chords were really difficult for me. This totally changed everything!

Thanks. I only got my 1st Uke two weeks ago and these tips were very helpful. My fingers are long enough!

I glad that I found your channel, because I'm considering buying a ukulele and start to learn at home. So happy you showed up on my feed!

Wow thank you so much for sharing errors and HOW to correct them. That thumb tip I can imagine will really help me!

OH MY GOOD LORD! I've been placing my thumb in the wrong place FOR 2 YEARS!!! I have been putting it where it felt natural for me which was gripping the edge of the fretboard! The song by Linda Rondstadt called "Faithless Love" has a chord change of Eb to Ab, and the "web area" between my thumb and my index finger would scream for mercy when I'd play it. It's been so awkward & painful that when I come to that note, I make the worst wincing face - every single time! I will break this habit! (Fist in the air!) THANK YOU, BERNADETTE! (Also, my "LOOK UP" t-shirt came in and it's SO cute!!!! Hugs!

Thank you so much for this video. I knew I was holding my Uke wrong, but I didn't know how to fix it!

The thumb helped me a lot with my Bm chord. Thank u very much.

Thank you for this video!! I started playing a week ago and I was having trouble with playing certain cords (G major) because my fingers were bending in a very strange way... turns out my fingernails were too long! It’s so much easier now😊😊

Hi miss bernedette. Because of you I learned how to play a ukulele. I'm not yet good at it, but I'm trying my best to follow all your advice. Thank you so much 🥰

I bought a Ukulele after watching your videos and I'm learning through the 30 day challenge and other videos of yours. Thank you so much for them....they really helped alot....I'm loving every minute of it. 💖

Thanks miss B. for those advices. It’s been a real challenge for me to learn the ukelele and I’m enjoying it a lot. I’m on the 30 day challenge.

Excellent video. Really helped in terms of position of instrument an d Left thumb.

Thanks for the door hinge image for my thumb location. Helps lots and simplifies it for my brain:)

Great lesson for beginners! Sometimes one knows something is wrong but is clueless how to improve posture and handling of instrument! Great tips! Many thanks!

Hello Miss B, hope you are well!!! Love that the edited content is back! Sharing this with all my ukulele pals ❤️❤️❤️

Your earrings are amazing 👏 This was so helpful, thank you! Especially the first 2.

I love the way how you make things looks easier and learn faster ❤️

thanks Bernardette, i really love how all of your vids are simply VERY helpful :D

You are a wonderful teacher, It is a pleasure listening to you.

Love your videos and live sessions! My ukulele skills have improved drastically over the last 3 months. One mistake I've worked on is playing too fast. It really helps to play new songs at a very slow tempo to make sure the chords sound correct. Then speed up the tempo gradually until the song can be played at the right tempo.

Headstock position is SO helpful! Thank you B!

Pivot & door hinge. Keep the thumb below the middle. You should be able to REACH all the way around. My favorite tip. Thank you

all the tips are so wonderful, especially the last one!!! 🤗 thank you Miss B

Wow the thumb tip has helped me play those tricky chords.

Oh, you help me a lot to solve my thumb issue.. Thank you so much

You're a great Ukulele player and teacher... distractingly beautiful as well❤️☀️

Thank you!! This is awesome. We have 3 Ukes that have become wall decorations only and I’d love for us to learn together and just enjoy the process and have fun vs getting bummed out because we don’t have a teacher. You’re awesome!! My daughters are 8 & 12 and I know it may take a while but maybe if I start they’ll join in. So glad I found you!! And congrats on becoming a mama! 💞🌸💝

Thank you thank you! So helpful. I always struggle with my thumb position.

My ukulele arrived today and I found this video very enlightening Thank you.

Thank you for this. I don’t even have a ukulele but I’m watching this, hoping to get one someday 😁❤️

Love your teaching. Very easy to understand. Thanks so much.

Thanks for explaining the real basics. It’s super helpful for those of us with no previous abilities

Thank you! going to try the Thumb trick! Wish me luck!

simple good tips... thumb and wrist position a big deal....and head stock space

Thank you for this video! I’m realizing I made a lot of mistakes, which led to frustrations. I haven’t touched my ukulele in months. I loved playing and learning... but I need to get motivated again.

I'm happy to see a video from you again!

Thank you! Positioning off Ukulele & fingers/thumb helped this totally beginner out 😁

Great. Comments on mistakes, always have trouble with playing D.

My Snowshoe Ukuleles (Chicopee, Ma) have pretty flower inlays like yours! I had to look twice.

As always, thanks you so, very much. Your help and advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you X

Thumb position was a game changer for me. Thanks so much

Yess that blue wall is stunning! A problem I have is when learning unfamiliar chords my hand tends to hurt and cramp up initially. Am I pressing too hard? Do I need to do some ukulele yoga?? Thank you for these reminders Ms B!

You are literally a game changer! Thank you so much!! ❤️❤️

Nice, I've been playing Uke for about 5 days and the thumb placement tips really helped me. I've played a few other instruments before, so the tuning by ear is less of an issue, but I was definitely using my thumb all wrong. I'm glad I got this early enough, before many bad habits settled in :) My wife has been playing Uke for about two years so was able to teach me a bunch of chords, but she's also kind of self taught (with some online guidance), so isn't used to catching habits like this.

Great tips and well presented too. Thank you.

Thank you I have been looking forward to this challenge 1st day Loved it!!!!🥰

nice work!! Greetings from Greece!

Thanks Ms.B, you took care of a couple of items that I was doing wrong.

Regarding nail length, a decade or so ago an Austin Texas band called themselves "Shorty Long" in keeping with the nail length for the string instruments. Neat.

Thanks. # 5 was a mistake to some degree. I was keeping my thumb on second fret but had it extending. By concentrating on keeping it on the middle of the second fret, I can feel I have more control even though it will take some time to get used to the newer feel. Thanks again.

not sure if you already have a video on this but knowing when to change your strings or if your not holding the cords correct is something I've been struggling with recently. I've been playing pretty well up until recently something sounds a bit off. I'm not sure why. Thank you for this video and you channel! It's been so helpful!

When I lay my ukulele down I always try to find something to place the neck on so the key winders don't touch something. It always seems to detune the second & third strings if they touch the table top. Thanks for taking time to record and post your videos.

Good to see you again.

Thank you miss B! My ukelele playing has improved so much 💗 love from the Philippines🇵🇭

Such a helpful video - thank you so much! Where is this beautiful ukulele strap from?

I fought so much with how to hold the ukulele until I got a strap, that was a game-changer for me.

Thanks Bernie...the thumb thing was a question I had.

This was a great instructional video as usual Bernadette. I particularly liked what you mentioned about fingernails. I never Really paid much attention to my fingernails until I started playing ukulele. Now I have to pay close attention to them. Often I will notice my playing starting to sound sloppy and buzzy and know immediately my fingernails are too long again on my right hand, I am left handed, preventing me from using proper form. Keep up the great work. 😊