Luckily my tiny fingers can get the E ok, it's why I prefer the uke to the guitar, where I can't reach half the chords

OK, I am finally getting the "traditional" E chord shape. I realized that my fingernails were getting in the way of me getting a good vertical approach to the strings, so I've started cutting my left nails back to nothing ukulele lessons. That has allowed me to get my fingertips almost perpendicular to the fretboard, which really helps with cramming them all into that one fret. I've also found I need to rotate my wrist clockwise a bit from my normal position to help get my fingers "lined up".

I run out of room to do it around the 5th fret on my concert uke.

In general, I'm using a better hand position for all my chording now, and trying to defeat this E helped. I'm keeping my thumb further down on the back of the neck, which makes my hand stand off from the fretboard better. I'm getting far fewer cases of notes being dulled or deadened by fretting fingers "touching" adjacent strings. Practice practice practice!

For me to get the "traditional" E chord, it sure did take some time to get it right. But at first, expect to wrestle with your fingers and you may experience pain but once you get used to it, you're good to go.

I used to play but I gave up to learn guitar.

- - - -
- - - X
- - - -
- - - -

and for B I go like
- - - -
- - X X
- - - -
- - - -

,strumming only the last two strings.  For the E you have to E's and I dunno for B, but they sound OK.

but it makes it sound kinda cheesy only having two chords.  It makes it alot easier though

I found the best way for me to play E is with index finger on second fret A string, ring finger 4th fret E string, then find a comfortable position to extend the middle finger to 'bar' the C & G strings 4th fret, then your little finger is free.

It seems to work ok for me, maybe it'll work for you! : )

Everything improves with time and practice.

-2-
-0-
-4-
-4-

I prefer to play it like this (which is a true E)

-2-
-0-
-4-
-1-

but the more you practice the easier it will get to be able to play it like the chord charts have it

I run out of room to do it around the 5th fret on my concert uke.

In general, I'm using a better hand position for all my chording now, and trying to defeat this E helped. I'm keeping my thumb further down on the back of the neck, which makes my hand stand off from the fretboard better. I'm getting far fewer cases of notes being dulled or deadened by fretting fingers "touching" adjacent strings. Practice practice practice!

ozmoid,
you play your E like me. I cannot do the first way either.

ken

Three of my fingers just will not cram into a single fret like that. I got a Concert size uke thinking "bigger will be easier" and I still don't fit. I keep practicing the position, time will tell...

ken

The B is pretty easy:

This is one you can slip up and down the neck and get a bunch of chords from! Bar the fret closest to the nut (where the two strings are pressed in the same fret) and lift your finger off the G string, and you have a 7th. Put that back and lift the C string, you have a minor.

The E is difficult for me, I can't get my fingers on the fret like this:

So I do this instead:

If you are using the D tuning for your uke, just move everything 2 frets closer to the nut.