Should I Learn to Play Guitar or Ukulele First?
If your goal is to start playing music and you want to do so as quickly as possible, then ukulele is probably the best instrument to begin with That said, If you really like the guitar and you admire the way it sounds, then you should play the guitar first.
As someone who started out playing guitar, I can confirm that if I had started playing ukulele first, I would have had an easier transition into learning the guitar.
Playing any instrument will take time, practice, and dedication. Therefore, you should pick the instrument that you love and will commit to practicing. Learning the ukulele first can be easier in that there are fewer strings and frets, and the chords are usually a bit easier to learn first.
For people with larger hands, the guitar may be the better option, as some people with bigger hands and fingers may find the Ukulele a bit awkward. Conversely, people with smaller hands may find playing the guitar more difficult to spread their hands out to form all the necessary chords.
In this article, we will go over how easy or difficult it can be to switch from ukulele to guitar, transferability of skills of ukulele playing to guitar playing, and the tablature of the ukulele vs the tablature of the guitar.
We will also go over two frequently asked questions: Is the ukulele a good instrument to learn before playing the guitar, and is the ukulele a good first instrument?
Please also refer to the chart below for a quick comparison of the similarities and differences between the ukulele and the guitar.
| Ukulele | Guitar | |
| Strings | Four strings | Six Strings |
| Tuning | Higher pitch | Lower Pitch |
| Hand size of player | Easy for smaller hands | Easier for larger hands |
| Pressure on strings | Requires less pressure | Requires more pressure |
| Hammer, pull off | Same (requires less pressure) | Same (requires more pressure) |
| Chords | Less difficult | More difficult |
| Volume | Lower | Higher |
Also Read: Learning Electric Guitar Without Acoustic First: My Advice
Is It Hard to Switch From Ukulele to Guitar?
It is not a difficult transition between guitar and ukulele
While many people will have different opinions on this matter (as it differs from person to person), most people do not think it is too challenging to transfer from the ukulele to the guitar. This is because they are already used to playing a stringed instrument with frets.
Additionally, someone transitioning from the ukulele to the guitar will have an advantage over someone who has never played the guitar before.
This is because they will have experience playing a stringed instrument that requires strumming and plucking with one hand and forming notes, chords, hammer ones, and pull offs with the other hand.
Someone playing guitar for the first time with no experience playing a stringed instrument may have a more challenging learning curve than someone who has played the ukulele before.
Once players going from the ukulele to the guitar get used to the idea of having the extra two strings a guitar does, they find the transition to be pretty straightforward.
Guitar and ukulele are both played while making notes and chords with one hand while strumming with the other, so the actual mechanics of playing the instrument are somewhat similar.
A few people may find it challenging to transition to playing the Ukulele based on the tuning differences. The guitar is tuned from the lowest to the highest string. Ukulele uses the re-entrant style of tuning (tuned from the second highest, the lowest, the second lowest, then the highest notes).
Do Ukulele Skills Transfer to Guitar?
Yes, Ukulele skills do easily transfer to guitar
Despite their differences, the Ukulele skills do transfer to guitar. Both will require strumming with one hand and forming notes and chords with the other.
Both will require playing and keeping a rhythm and both will require knowing which chords to transition to and when to do so.
A few differences are the frets between the two, as they will produce different chords on each instrument. It also requires less pressure and strength to play specific notes and chords on the ukulele.
A hammer-on and pull-off technique with the guitar and the ukulele is very similar. However, the ukulele is a bit easier to do this on, as it is easier to play with your fingertips. The same goes for slide-playing techniques.
Are Guitar Tabs and Ukulele Tabs the Same?
No, both are different because guitar has six strings and ukulele has four strings
The tabs, or tablature, for the guitar and the ukulele are not the same (the ukulele has four strings, and the guitar has six strings). Another reason the guitar and ukulele do not use the same tablature is because the ukulele strings are tuned to a higher pitch, thus creating different sounds.
Also Read: Guitar Tab Vs Sheet Music: 7 Differences & Which Is Better?
FAQs
Q: Is the Ukulele a Good Instrument to Learn Before Guitar?
The ukulele is a better choice for someone who wants to start playing an instrument and spend a lower amount of money, and potentially with smaller hands.
The guitar is a better choice if you love it and are willing to devote time and effort to play it. If you love the ukulele and are eager to spend time and effort on it, then the ukulele is the better option.
Q: Is the Ukulele a Good First Instrument?
Ukulele is a great first instrument. Playing the ukulele will help develop hand coordination, strumming, picking motor skills, and rhythm and help develop an ear for deciphering different notes and chords.
Conclusion
I covered a few main differences between the ukulele and the guitar, such as the tablature and the tuning differences. We also covered how they are similar in using similar strumming, sliding, hammer-on, and pull-off playing motions.
We also covered which of these two instruments is easier to play and which one should be pursued first. Easy is a relative term (what may feel easy to you or me may feel difficult for someone else).
The reverse of this is also true (what may feel difficult for you or me may be easy for others). We also discussed why the ukulele is a great first instrument to learn. Ultimately, you can learn to play both the guitar and the ukulele or neither.
It really just depends on which one. I would suggest making your decision based on your desire and love of the instrument.
