Is ukulele easier than guitar? Absolutely, ukulele is often more approachable for beginners due to its fewer strings and nylon strings, making it gentler on the fingertips. At guitarplayers.net, we understand the nuances of both instruments and are here to guide you to the one that suits you best, empowering you to start your musical journey with confidence.
If you are looking for accessible lessons, comprehensive reviews, and a community that supports your progress, explore our resources and discover the joy of playing music. With guitarplayers.net, embrace the chance to elevate your musical journey with confidence and joy, exploring valuable insights in instrument selection, learning strategies, and community engagement, enhancing your overall musical experience, and helping you find the perfect fit for your aspirations.
1. Unveiling Your Musical Aspirations
At some point, the thought arises: I want to learn an instrument. This is a powerful, thrilling, and slightly intimidating realization. Whether it hits you early or later in life doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are taking steps toward realizing your musical dreams, starting with choosing the right instrument.
If this resonates with you, the most crucial question to ask yourself is:
What inspires me to learn an instrument?
Perhaps you witnessed an artist in concert and thought, “I want to create music like that!” Or maybe you adore a specific genre and dream of playing songs in that style. It’s also possible you saw a group jamming at a local festival and thought, “I want to do that!” Maybe you want a new retirement hobby or to play music with your grandkids.
Learning an instrument begins with that spark of inspiration. Don’t ignore it. If you envision yourself shredding guitar with friends in your garage, pursue that. But if you imagine jamming ukulele on a sunset beach, head in that direction.
Ukulele and guitar players, ready to inspire your musical journey.
1.1. Should I Start With Ukulele And Then “Graduate” To Guitar?
No, choose the instrument you envision yourself playing. Pick ukulele because you love making music with it, not because you feel you should learn it first. Choosing an instrument out of obligation can kill your joy and motivation.
There is a path to learn either instrument, regardless of age, experience, or musical knowledge. I can confidently say this because I routinely teach people in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 90s how to play ukulele for the first time.
The magic of playing music starts with your inspiration, so follow that and don’t listen to anyone else! This means you don’t need to start with ukulele first and then move to guitar unless that’s what you want to do. If you’re still unsure and could be happy playing either instrument, there are a few things to consider.
2. Deciding On Your Budget
Assuming you’d enjoy learning either guitar or ukulele, your budget is the most important factor. Buying a ukulele is much cheaper than buying a guitar, especially regarding playability.
One of the biggest benefits of learning ukulele is that you get more “bang for your buck” regarding quality. It’s easier to spend less and get a great-playing instrument. Playability refers to how well the instrument stays in tune and how easy it is to press down on the notes on the fretboard.
For less than $100, you can buy a ukulele that will stay in tune and is easy to fret. However, to get that same level of playability in a guitar, you often need to spend at least $500. Cheaper guitars are available but are often harder to play, which is the last thing a beginner needs.
I wish this weren’t true. Growing up, my mom had an old steel-stringed Yamaha acoustic guitar in a case in a closet. It was so poorly and cheaply made (probably costing no more than $250) that it made me never want to learn guitar. It wasn’t until my dad let me play his better-quality (and more expensive) guitar that I was hooked.
There was a reason mom’s guitar stayed in the case in the closet and remains there to this day. Learning an instrument is already hard enough, so don’t make it harder with a poor-quality instrument!
Pro Tip: The story of “The Guitar in a Case in the Closet” is timeless. If guitar is your instrument of choice but budget is an issue, ask a friend or family member to borrow theirs.
2.1. Is Ukulele A Toy Or Kid’s Instrument?
The ukulele is cheaper and smaller, so it must be a toy or kid’s instrument, right?! Wrong. The ukulele is for anyone who wants to express the emotion of music uniquely and beautifully.
The late Queen of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani (1891-93), chose the ukulele and wrote the well-loved song Aloha ‘Oe. Recently, artists like Jake Shimabukuro have achieved unprecedented feats with the ukulele, demonstrating its power in a TED talk with an extraordinary cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
The ukulele might be kid-friendly due to its small size, but it’s a serious instrument with a rich history.
3. Evaluating The Pros And Cons Of Ukulele And Guitar
Both ukulele and guitar have advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore these by addressing common questions about each.
3.1. Ukulele Vs. Guitar Comparison Breakdown
| Ukulele | Guitar | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Strings | 4 | 6 |
| Number of Frets | 12-19 | 19-24 |
| Size | 21-26 inches | 38-41 inches |
| Tuning | g-C-E-A | E-A-D-G-B-E |
| Type(s) of Strings | Nylon | Steel or nylon |
| Average Entry-Level Price | ~$100 | ~$500 |
3.2. Is Ukulele Easier To Learn Than Guitar?
Many think the ukulele must be easier because it just has four strings! The guitar has six strings, so it must be harder, right?! Surprisingly, no.
The guitar having six strings versus the ukulele’s four doesn’t inherently make it harder to play. Four strings might make the ukulele less intimidating but not necessarily easier. What do I mean? Think about what ukulele and guitar players have in common: They both have four usable fingers to fret chords: index, middle, ring, and little.
In terms of playability, a guitar and ukulele are about the same if the instruments are of equal quality because each player still only has four fingers. For example, compare a common chord shape on both ukulele (left) and guitar (right).
Ukulele G Chord Shape vs. Guitar D Chord Shape.
Which one is harder to play? If you don’t know what those diagrams mean yet, that’s okay. What’s important is that you can see that both diagrams show an identical pattern of three dots, which indicates the same chord shape on both instruments!
This means the same exact fingers are required to play both chords! So just because a guitar has six strings doesn’t necessarily make it harder to play. When it comes to ease, the playability of an instrument matters more than the number of strings.
3.3. Is Ukulele Or Guitar Easier On The Fingertips?
While the number of strings doesn’t necessarily make the four-string ukulele easier than the six-string guitar, the ukulele feels easiest when pressing down on the strings because the strings of the ukulele are made out of nylon.
Because of this, the ukulele has an edge over guitar if you have arthritic hands and fingers.
For those of you learning to play an instrument later in life, this is a really big benefit the ukulele provides and can be the difference between playing a musical instrument or not!
It’s normal when you’re first learning to have a period where the tips of your fingers hurt from fretting chords, but with consistent practice, your fingers toughen up and develop calluses which allow you to play for longer periods of time without the fingers hurting.
This period will happen no matter what instrument you choose but the period is shorter on ukulele.
3.4. Is It Best To Learn The Electric, Steel-Stringed, Nylon-String Guitar Or Ukulele?
If you’re concerned about fingertip soreness, you can make the guitar more approachable. For example, an electric guitar tends to be easier on the fingers because the strings use a smaller string gauge, meaning they have less tension and are easier to press down and bend.
Of course, the disadvantage of learning electric guitar is that you need to purchase extra gear like a guitar amp, pedals, and cables to amplify the sound.
On the other hand, a steel-stringed acoustic guitar tends to be hardest on the fingers because of a thicker string gauge, but if that’s the sound you want and you don’t want to have to worry about plugging into an amp, then, you’ll want to go this direction.
Alternatively, consider a nylon-string guitar. While a nylon guitar isn’t designed to be strummed with a pick, pressing down on the strings feels almost identical to the ukulele, which makes it easier to play than a steel-stringed guitar.
3.5. Is Guitar A Harder Instrument To Learn Than The Ukulele?
Where the guitar can be harder than the ukulele is fret spacing. Frets are the vertical pieces of metal that lay on the fretboard to create separate notes (learn more about the parts of the ukulele). The guitar’s frets are wider, which can be difficult for people with small hands and fingers because a longer reach is required.
Navigating the nuances of guitar fret spacing.
But on the flip side, people with large hands and fingers can find guitar to be a relief! For instance, it’s easier for me to play most fingerstyle pieces on guitar versus the ukulele because it’s easier for my fingers to fit between the frets, where on ukulele sometimes I can’t fit all my fingers and need to find an alternative position.
So if you have small hands and fingers, then the ukulele is probably a great choice for you. If you have normal or large hands and fingers, you might consider a tenor or baritone ukulele, which are two of the largest of the four sizes of ukuleles. Because I have large hands and fingers, I play a tenor ukulele and I’m perfectly content playing and soloing fingerpicking pieces.
And finally, if you have normal sized hands and really want to learn guitar, then definitely don’t let the increased fret spacing stop you.
Pro Tip: For those who really want to learn guitar but have small hands and fingers, consider buying a short-scaled guitar, which reduces the spacing between frets to make it easier to play.
3.6. Common Challenges Learning Ukulele Vs. Guitar
Ukulele players and guitar players all face the same challenges when starting out:
- Sore fingertips
- Making sure every note in a chord rings out clearly
- Playing smooth chord changes
- Holding the instrument
- The awkward feeling of strumming
No matter what instrument you choose you won’t get away from having to work through these fun challenges! That said, guitar has some more unique challenges over ukulele, like some chords are more of a reach because of the increased fret spacing.
Additionally, barre chords, where you lay your index finger across all six strings and press down on all strings, tend to require more strength on guitar versus ukulele.
Mastering barre chords on the ukulele.
Also, with certain guitar chords, you have to be more aware of which strings you’re strumming so you don’t accidentally strum the wrong note (for example, not strumming the top two strings of a D chord on guitar), whereas with ukulele you’re almost always strumming all four strings for every chord.
But ukulele isn’t without its unique challenges. For example, with chords, you often have the opposite problem where it can be difficult to fit your fingers on the fretboard for certain chord shapes, especially those who have larger hands and fingers, although this can be mitigated by purchasing a larger-sized tenor ukulele.
And surprisingly, because ukulele is smaller, it can feel more awkward to hold than the guitar. This means the ukulele tends to move around more when playing which can impact the ease of changing chords. I dedicate a section to playing posture in my free ukulele lesson book, but for players who struggle the most with this, buy a strap to help stabilize the ukulele.
3.7. Which Learning Curve Is Steeper – Ukulele Or Guitar?
The beauty of both ukulele and guitar is that with just a few chords and a simple strumming pattern you can play hundreds of songs. But guitar has a steeper learning curve over ukulele.
The first reason being because of the steel strings of a guitar. The steel strings are harder on the fingertips, which means you’ll have to keep practice sessions short but consistent to build up calluses on the ends of your fingers. Like I said above, a higher quality guitar can mitigate this significantly, but it’s a reason why guitar is harder to pick up.
The second reason being how you strum. It’s common to use a plectrum or nylon pick to strum the strings of a steel-stringed guitar. There’s added technique involved whereas with a ukulele you just use your fingers to strum, and there’s multiple ways to strum with the fingers.
The third reason the learning curve is steeper on guitar is if you want to fingerpick and play solo. Because of the extra strings on guitar, there’s more notes to learn on the fretboard. But if your goal is to just strum songs, then, this isn’t a big factor.
For these reasons, ukulele tends to be a more approachable instrument, but consider your goals, because if your goal is to strum chords and sing songs, then the guitar is not that much of a leap from ukulele in terms of difficulty.
3.8. Can You Learn Guitar If You’re Older In Age?
Yes, but ukulele is a more friendly option for anyone who struggles with arthritis or lacks mobility in their hands and fingers. There are people later in life learning to play guitar but the approach is key.
The key to learning an instrument later in life is to:
- Have a plan for how you will learn
- Practice consistently (short sessions daily are better than marathon “Weekend Warrior” practice sessions on the weekend)
- Take it slow
Guitar isn’t just for young people, but ukulele might be the instrument that allows you to finally make music.
4. Making A Decision
Now that we’ve looked at some of the biggest factors and questions around ukulele versus guitar it’s time to make a decision. Here’s what it comes down to.
4.1. Ukulele Pros & Cons Summary
Ukulele: Pros and Cons to consider before you play.
The ukulele is an instrument with a very low barrier to entry. Since it’s easy on the fingertips and easy on the wallet, it makes a perfect instrument for beginning musicians (i.e. those who’ve never played an instrument before). For many, it’s the instrument that finally allows them to make music for the first time in their life and that’s huge.
Additionally, it’s a jam-friendly and fun instrument that is good for group or ensemble playing, like at your local ukulele club. Because of its small size, unlike lugging a big guitar with you around town, you can easily carry your ukulele with you in your backpack, on the train, or bring it with you to the park without attracting too much attention.
Of course there are some trade offs. The smaller size of the uke means it’s quieter (which could be a good thing for some), so playing in band settings with other guitar players or instrumentalists means you’ll most likely need to plug into an amplifier to be heard. Not to mention, the smaller size means closer fret spacing, which can make some chords more difficult on the ukulele versus the guitar.
4.2. Guitar Pros & Cons Summary
Guitar: Pros and Cons to consider before you play.
Although ukulele artists are pushing the limit with what’s possible on ukulele, guitar still offers more versatility across musical genres and styles, so if you’re into the idea of creating a lot of different sounds with your instrument, then ukulele might feel limiting. The guitar is best to learn if you want the most amount of versatility across musical genres and styles.
Because of the larger size, it’s a louder instrument, so an acoustic guitar is perfect for performance settings without amplification.
The downside of learning to play guitar is the barrier of entry is higher because it costs more to get a quality, playable instrument and because the steel strings of the guitar are harder on the fingertips. Those with small hands or arthritic fingers might find the guitar to be too difficult.
4.3. How To Make The Right Choice Between Ukulele Vs. Guitar
As someone who has played ukulele and guitar their entire life, these are the most important things to consider.
Takeaway #1: The Most Important Factor Is Your Personal Motivation
Follow your inspiration and influences as you pursue your musical journey and you’ll be more motivated. So if that means you dream of playing guitar, then go and do that. Both instruments will require effort and practice.
Ukulele is not just a “stepping stone” instrument it can be your instrument and give you a lifetime of joy.
Takeaway #2: Decide If Budget Is The Biggest Factor
With the ukulele, you can get a quality, playable instrument for less than $100. But if money is not a factor, you can get a guitar for no less than $500 (my personal recommendation from experience) that plays just as easy, if not easier, than a ukulele.
For many, budget will be the deciding factor. Even if your budget is small, the good news is if you do get get started making music with the ukulele then any skills you build will translate very well to the guitar. Or you just might discover it is the instrument for you!
Takeaway #3: Take An Honest Inventory Of Your Strengths And Weaknesses
If you have small hands and fingers, ukulele is the easiest option. If you have arthritis, then ukulele will be the kindest to your fingertips. And if you have normal or large sized fingers, then you’ll want an instrument with increased fret spacing so guitar or at least a tenor-sized ukulele.
Takeaway #4: Make Music As Soon As Possible
Finally, whatever you do.
Don’t put off making music any longer!
Avoid analysis paralysis by making a decision today. Playing music is a lifelong journey full of twists and turns, and you can always change your course later. What’s most important is that you start your journey as soon as possible and don’t delay.
5. Recommendations
To get started on your musical journey, here are my top recommendations for both ukulele and guitar.
5.1. My Number One Best Ukulele Recommendation For Beginners
For just $79.99, the Donner tenor ukulele bundle is the best option to start your musical journey today.
I’ve personally played this brand of ukulele and was surprised by how well the ukulele held tune and that it had good intonation up and down the fretboard (meaning, the notes stayed in tune!). For a ukulele less than $100, this Donner ukulele bundle is my number one pick.
5.2. My Number One Best Guitar Recommendation For Beginners
I’ve been a lifelong happy Taylor guitar player (I play a Taylor 814ce). With a reputation for quality craftsmanship, the Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar is a perfect 3/4 sized guitar for new guitar players or those with smaller hands and fingers.
I’ve personally played this guitar and can recommend it to beginners on the basis of playability and tone.
For less than $500, this Taylor BT2 guitar is my number one pick.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Proceeds are used to support this site.
6. FAQs
- Is the ukulele really easier to learn than the guitar?
Yes, the ukulele is generally easier for beginners due to its fewer strings, nylon strings (which are gentler on the fingers), and smaller size, making it more manageable for children and adults alike. - What are the main differences between ukulele and guitar?
The ukulele has four nylon strings, while the guitar typically has six steel or nylon strings. The ukulele is smaller and tuned differently, resulting in a brighter, lighter sound compared to the guitar’s richer, deeper tones. - Can I transition from ukulele to guitar easily?
Yes, the skills learned on the ukulele, such as chord shapes and strumming patterns, can be transferred to the guitar. However, you’ll need to adjust to the guitar’s different tuning, additional strings, and wider fretboard. - Which instrument is better for children, ukulele or guitar?
The ukulele is often recommended for children due to its smaller size and nylon strings, which are easier on young fingers. It’s also more affordable, making it a less risky investment if the child loses interest. - What is the average cost of a decent beginner ukulele and guitar?
A good beginner ukulele can be found for around $100, while a decent beginner guitar typically costs at least $500 to ensure playability and quality. - Are there any famous musicians who play the ukulele?
Yes, Jake Shimabukuro is a well-known ukulele virtuoso who has popularized the instrument with his impressive skills and innovative playing style. - Which instrument is more versatile, ukulele or guitar?
The guitar is generally considered more versatile due to its wider range of notes and suitability for various musical genres. However, the ukulele has found its place in pop, folk, and Hawaiian music. - How do the nylon strings of a ukulele compare to the steel strings of a guitar?
Nylon strings are softer and easier on the fingertips, making the ukulele more comfortable for beginners. Steel strings require more finger strength and can cause discomfort until calluses develop. - Is it necessary to learn music theory to play the ukulele or guitar?
While not essential, learning music theory can greatly enhance your understanding of music and improve your playing skills on both the ukulele and guitar. - Where can I find reliable resources for learning ukulele or guitar?
Websites like guitarplayers.net offer lessons, reviews, and community forums to support musicians of all levels. Additionally, local music schools and private instructors can provide personalized guidance.
Ready to take the next step in your musical journey? At guitarplayers.net, we offer a wealth of resources to help you excel, no matter which instrument you choose. Explore our lessons, reviews, and community forums to find the perfect fit for your musical aspirations.
Address: 1140 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215, United States. Phone: +1 (617) 747-2261. Visit our website at guitarplayers.net today!
