Fancy learning a new instrument? Most people do so because of the advantages commonly associated with picking up a new instrument, getting started with either the piano, drums or the ever-popular group of string instruments: the guitar and ukulele. Being portable and widely learned, you will find the common advantages people pick this set of instruments for.
Requiring less investment, you can get a guitar for a significantly lower cost than the piano or the drums. You can also bring it around with you to casual hangs with friends to practice, and resources can easily be found online. This is definitely an instrument great for first-time musicians but also has a high skill ceiling for veteran musicians alike.
So back to the question: ukulele or guitar? We share the differences and let you decide.
Fretboards and Notes
Aside from their size, one of the most obvious differences between a ukulele and a guitar is their fretboards. Basically, a ukulele is a four-string instrument, and a guitar is a six-string one. Naturally, because a ukulele only has 4 strings, its scale is shorter, and you can seldom play single-note melodies with this instrument. Thus, ukuleles are easier to pick up as you work with less complicated notes.
On the other hand, if you want more strings to practice notes with, the guitar is your best choice. Because it has 6 strings, a guitar allows you to experiment with a wide range of tones. If you are also up to the challenge of having to stretch your fingers just to reach frets that are 5 strings apart, the guitar can often be more rewarding in the long term.
Chord Formations
String instruments like guitar and ukulele are mostly about the chords. Because of its small size, it isn’t as challenging to form chords on a ukulele. The relatively low tension and the small fretboard of a ukulele make it easy to do chord formations, especially for beginners. Moreover, ukuleles are often made of soft nylon strings, which can make it more comfortable for you to hold your finger down on while playing.
Guitars, on the other hand, often have hard nylon strings. This is the reason why many beginners find it initially hard to press the guitar fret. These hard nylon strings can also hurt your fingers and cause you to develop calluses. When it comes to chord formations, guitar chords are considered more difficult to form than ukulele chords. However, the advantage of the guitar is its range, being able to attain notes of both the higher and deeper end that ukuleles find hard to reach.
Strumming Patterns
When it comes to strumming patterns, the ukulele is easier to play compared to the guitar. Ukuleles are popularly known as strumming rhythmic instruments. Thanks to their 4 strings, they have straightforward strumming techniques that you can pick up.
However, the sounds of ukulele strumming are not as broad and filled out as those of guitar strumming. Because of their larger size and added strings, guitars produce more intense and complete sounds when strummed. Naturally, to control the sound of a guitar, you need to be more skilful and experienced in playing the instrument. However, while it is more difficult to pick up advanced strumming patterns typically associated with the guitar, ukuleles aren’t able to do the same (especially for slower strumming patterns) as they typically fit into a higher-pitched, cheerful vibe, restricting its general usage when compared to its bigger cousin.
Conclusion
Both ukulele and guitar have their pros and cons. If you are looking for an instrument that is remarkably easy to play and does not require you to have an in-depth knowledge of music theories, then the ukulele is the most recommended instrument for you. On the other hand, if you want an instrument that is versatile and gives you broad options for music styles, the guitar is the one you need.
No matter what string instrument you choose to learn first, one thing is for sure, the learning process will give you a great amount of fun and fulfilment. If you are looking for a good music studio to help you learn, Studio72 is here for you. We have the most exciting, effective, and comprehensive music courses in Singapore for all types of musicians. Sign up for the best guitar classes available to you and pick up the basics to get started today!
