switching from guitar to ukulele
So, you're ready to make the switch from guitar to ukulele. Can't be so hard, right? After all, it's basically just a little guitar, right? Here are some things to consider if you're picking up the ukulele after having first been a guitarist...
1. Soprano Ukulele - At 21 inches long this is the traditional ukulele that probably pops in your head when you hear ukulele.
2. Concert Ukulele - At 23 inches long, the concert ukulele is the bridge between the traditional soprano uke and the larger ukes.
3. Tenor Ukulele - If you've heard Jake Shimabukuru play, you've seen/heard a tenor uke. At 26" there is additional space for fancy fretboard
work that isn't accessible on smaller ukes.
4. Baritone Ukulele - At 30" long, this is the largest ukulele. It is normally tuned to standard guitar tuning (DGBE), but sometimes tuned to a
more traditional ukulele tuning (GCEA). Since it can be tuned the same as the first four strings on the guitar this is a
great way for guitarists to bridge the gap between guitar and ukulele without having to think through new chords. It is
also normally strung with a low fourth string instead of a high fourth string (like a guitar).
As an example of adapting guitar chords look at the D chord on the guitar (on the left) and the G chord on the ukulele (on the right). You can easily see that this is the exact same chord shape. The way that it sounds (the name of the chord) is different from instrument to instrument because the instruments are tuned differently.
- The ukulele is NOT a little guitar.
- Do NOT play the uke with a pick.
- The ukulele will normally use nylon strings (like a classical guitar) as opposed to steel strings found on acoustic and electric guitars.
- The ukulele is tuned to the same intervals as the top four strings on a guitar (DGBE), but a fourth higher (GCEA).
- The G string on the ukulele is tuned one octave higher than it's D string counterpart on the guitar, making it higher than the C and E strings.
- You can adapt any guitar chord shape to the ukulele by playing only the first four strings of the chord on the uke.
- There are four different sizes of ukulele
1. Soprano Ukulele - At 21 inches long this is the traditional ukulele that probably pops in your head when you hear ukulele.
2. Concert Ukulele - At 23 inches long, the concert ukulele is the bridge between the traditional soprano uke and the larger ukes.
3. Tenor Ukulele - If you've heard Jake Shimabukuru play, you've seen/heard a tenor uke. At 26" there is additional space for fancy fretboard
work that isn't accessible on smaller ukes.
4. Baritone Ukulele - At 30" long, this is the largest ukulele. It is normally tuned to standard guitar tuning (DGBE), but sometimes tuned to a
more traditional ukulele tuning (GCEA). Since it can be tuned the same as the first four strings on the guitar this is a
great way for guitarists to bridge the gap between guitar and ukulele without having to think through new chords. It is
also normally strung with a low fourth string instead of a high fourth string (like a guitar).
As an example of adapting guitar chords look at the D chord on the guitar (on the left) and the G chord on the ukulele (on the right). You can easily see that this is the exact same chord shape. The way that it sounds (the name of the chord) is different from instrument to instrument because the instruments are tuned differently.
Hopefully that's enough to encourage you to give the ukulele a try. It is a different enough instrument to make it worthy to learn while still being similar enough to guitar to make it a fairly easy transition. I'm still fairly new to the ukulele myself, so look for future revelations and tips as I continue to learn!