Learning a new musical instrument may seem like a daunting task. It requires frequent practice to familiarise yourself with the instrument and master its technical know-how. Hence, as a beginner looking to embark on your musical journey, you would want to choose an instrument you are interested in to remain motivated and committed to practising it.
However, given the variety of musical instruments available on the market, you may find it challenging to pick the right one. If you are facing this dilemma, you may want to consider learning the ukulele. This small, portable, and unassuming string instrument is the perfect gateway to mastering a wide array of instruments in the future. Let us share why the ukulele is ideal for a beginner looking to learn music.
The ukulele is highly accessible
The ukulele is small and lightweight, and its four strings are usually made of nylon polymers, which are much softer than the standard steel strings used in acoustic guitars. The narrow fretboard of the ukulele also makes it an appealing choice for those with smaller and more delicate hands.
The softer strings of the ukulele also make learning it a more painless process compared to learning the guitar. The guitar often intimidates first-time learners whose fingertips do not have the necessary callouses to protect them against its hard strings, which is why many opt to use a guitar pick. However, there is no such concern when learning the ukulele.
If you are debating between the ukulele and other string instruments, you should also consider the cost of the instruments. When you are new to music, you may be unsure about investing a significant sum in purchasing an expensive instrument that requires frequent maintenance. These instruments, such as the violin and cello, often require you to buy other maintenance accessories. They also require even more frequent tuning and gentler handling and care than a ukulele.
Hence, if you are not ready to commit to a single piece of instrument, and you are only looking to dip your toes in, you should consider a ukulele to familiarise yourself with the chord shapes and other elements of music theory before committing to a larger, pricier instrument.
The ukulele has a gentler learning curve
The ukulele only has four strings, meaning the chords you can play on it are simple and don’t require as much effort as a guitar. In addition, you need not memorise the complex finger movements that are often required to play a more complicated string instrument, making it an instrument that requires minimal effort to learn compared to the guitar.
As a beginner who is entirely new to music, mastering ukulele chord shapes is a simpler process. Most children opt to learn the ukulele for this reason. In contrast, learning the guitar is more complex, with its six thicker strings and broader fretboard. For example, playing a C chord on the ukulele only requires one finger, while you will need three fingers carefully placed across the fretboard to accomplish the same task on the guitar.
Similarly, the F chord on the guitar is a barre chord that requires a strong index finger and the careful placement of an additional three fingers. It is challenging to successfully play this chord on its own, much less in the middle of a song. Conversely, the F chord only requires two fingers on the ukulele, making it much easier for a beginner to accomplish this task.
You can easily play a wide variety of genres on the ukulele
You can easily find various ukulele tabs online to master, and these tabs include a wide variety of genres, from your favourite oldies to modern popular hits on Billboard’s Top 100. Moreover, they are also easy to follow even if you are a beginner who is only familiar with a few basic chords.
It is also easier to learn other instruments when you have prior musical knowledge and experience. So even if you have ambitions of learning a more complex instrument like the guitar, you can consider starting small with the ukulele first. After mastering the ukulele, you can easily transition to other instruments. Your solid foundation will be helpful when applied to more complex instruments that require greater technique.
Conclusion
The ukulele is suitable for beginners looking for a simple, fuss-free way to ease themselves into music. If you wish to delve deeper into learning music after the ukulele, you can consider signing up for lessons to learn a more complex instrument like the guitar or drum!
At Studio72, we offer a plethora of music courses, including beginner ukulele and vocal lessons. They are available as group classes if you wish to meet like-minded musicians. After all, learning music is a lot more fun when you are interacting and bonding over your shared musical interest. If you are interested, sign up for a free trial now!
