Fewer strings, more fun, right? If someone had asked me to write this blog a year ago, I would have had no problems in explaining why is ukulele better than guitar. But after spending the last six months learning, studying, and playing guitar with an amazing group of women, I’m starting to wonder if the ukulele is actually better than guitar!
No matter where my guitar journey takes me in the future, the ukulele will always remain my true passion, and will always be my go-to instrument for songwriting and performing. There are just some things about the ukulele that make it easy for me to tell someone why the ukulele is better than guitar.
Differences Between Ukulele and Guitar
While the ukulele and guitar are both very similar instruments, there are some key differences between the two that we need to explore here. It’s these differences that make the ukulele better than guitar for a lot of players.
Shape of the ukulele vs guitar Many ukuleles have a shape that’s similar to a guitar, with a rounded upper body and lower body with a little cinch at their “waistline”. They also have similar embellishments such as rosettes around the sound hole, inlays in the fingerboard, and fret markers in both the fingerboard and along the side of the neck of the instruments. The precursor instruments from which the ukulele was developed also look like small guitars, so they’re very recognizable.
Types of strings Something that is similar-but-different between the ukulele and guitar is the material that the strings are made of. While all of the guitar family stringed instruments started out using the same material for their strings, that has changed in the last hundred years or so. Acoustic guitars have evolved to have either steel strings or a combination of nylon and metal wound strings.
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Most acoustic ukuleles use either nylon or fluorocarbon strings, with a few metal wound low G strings here and there. Of course, as ukuleles evolve, we’re now seeing a couple of baritone ukuleles and guitarleles (6 string ukuleles with string intervals similar to that of a guitar) that use steel strings. But for the most part, the ukuleles that you find in music shops and online use strings that are either fluorocarbon or nylon.
Tuning One of the most unique things about the modern ukulele is how the strings are tuned! Guitars use a linear tuning, meaning that the strings go from lowest note to highest note as you move across the strings. The ukulele, however, retains vestiges of its origin instruments, namely the Portuguese machete, and uses what is called a re-entrant tuning. This means that the fourth string is actually tuned a few steps higher than the third string, and then the remaining two strings are tuned higher than the third string.
Just like the guitar, though, the ukulele can be tuned with alternative tunings, and can also be fitted with a low G string for linear tuning.
Similar construction between the ukulele and guitar Ukuleles and guitars use all of the same components of construction, like metal frets, bone nuts for string height, bridges, and tuners and tuning pegs. Some ukuleles even use bridge pins the same way that you’ll see in steel string acoustic guitars, even though the ukulele generally uses nylon or fluorocarbon strings. You can find both ukuleles and guitars with solid headstocks or slotted headstocks, too!
Easy on the fingers and hands Most ukuleles use strings that are either nylon or fluorocarbon, similar to the strings of a classical guitar. Even though they can cause some kind of discomfort for beginner players as your fingertip callouses develop, they are much easier on the fingertips than the streel strings of an electric or acoustic guitar.
The neck of a ukulele is generally much narrower than the neck of a guitar, because the ukulele only has four strings. This means that it’s usually easier to wrap your hand around the neck of a ukulele than a guitar. For anyone with finger or hand discomfort, this means that it’s generally more comfortable to play a ukulele than a guitar. Even the ukuleles that have six and eight strings have a narrower neck than a regular six-string guitar, so you can still have a nice, rich, booming tone with minimal discomfort in your hands and fingers!
Four strings, unlimited possibilities While some people think that having fewer strings than a guitar would be more limiting, I feel like the four strings of the ukulele actually broaden the possibilities of what can be done on the ukulele. Think of it like this: sometimes when you have more options and choices, you might feel overwhelmed. Having fewer strings means that you can get more creative when it comes to things like tunings and composing melodies on the ukulele.
The unique re-entrant tuning of the ukulele also allows you to do some pretty cool things with fingerstyle playing. Scales can be split between the high G string and the rest of the strings, and you can move back and forth through the upper notes on the scale with ease. This is particularly helpful when playing classical music on the ukulele.
Affordability Sure, you can find a “beater” guitar for around $150, but for that same money, you can get an incredible, high-quality ukulele from some of today’s best manufacturers like Kala, Ohana, or Enya. There are even bamboo ukuleles available that are made from solid bamboo, which is not just sustainable and beautiful to look, but also have a wonderful sound and are lightweight. If you’re on a limited budget, you can find literally hundreds of budget-friendly options for ukuleles to add to your collection. Maybe that’s part of why UAS (Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome) is such a popular “problem” to have! Lots of affordable ukuleles means more music for everyone!
Versatility When I was studying music in college thirty years ago, I never would have dreamed that the ukulele would become such a big part of the music scene today! You can find ukuleles playing in almost every genre of music these days, both in live performances and recordings. Do you like rock music? Singer/songwriter? R&B? Funk? Pop? Classical? Chances are, you can find at least one musical artist who is using the ukulele to play all of these styles. There are also more and more ukulele artists who are taking music by some of the great Baroque and classical composers and re-interpreting them on the ukulele!
Ease of learning When I first picked up the ukulele, I was shocked at how easy it was for me to learn how to strum, and how easy it was for me to memorize the chord shapes. That first night, I fell asleep dreaming of chord shapes and strumming patterns. The next day I dove into my giant canvas tote bag full of song sheets from when I played violin and piano in a women’s folk group so that I could learn all these songs on the ukulele!
Even now when I teach others how to play the ukulele, most people are surprised at how quickly they can learn how to strum and play simple songs using simple chord shapes. It really is this ease of learning that makes the ukulele such a great first instrument for both kids and adults.
In addition to easy songs and chords, the ukulele makes it easy to learn basic concepts in music theory. The arrangement of the frets make it easy to visualize the half steps and whole steps (tones and semi-tones) that form the basis of western music theory.
Need more reasons why the ukulele is better than guitar? Take a look at all the great ukulele courses available through Uke Like the Pros! You can learn everything you need to know to take your ukulele playing from basic beginner all the way through advanced virtuoso, and all at your own pace! Dozens of ukulele courses and books, available on demand, and designed so you can work through them any time, any place. Whether you decide to try a single course, a course pack, or a membership that allows you to access all the courses available, you’re sure to find something that inspires you to pick up your ukulele and play every day.
