Learn to Play Ukulele and Guitar in Online Lessons

The History of the Ukulele vs. Guitar

The guitar as we know it today was originally developed in Spain and was based upon the lute, an ancient stringed instrument that was used throughout Europe. The first guitars were much smaller and shallower than the instruments we know today, meaning they were unable to produce the deep and resonant sounds that modern guitars are able to make.

The classical acoustic guitar, recognizable by its nylon strings instead of steel, was first popularized in the late 19th century. As this grew in popularity, the steel-stringed acoustic was developed and used primarily in folk and country music in the early 20th century. Then, the shape of music was changed when the electric guitar was invented in the 1930s, and rock ‘n’ roll was developed and popularized soon after.

The ukulele was originally created in Hawaii, and its construction was based upon early versions of the guitar that were brought to the islands by Portuguese immigrants. The ukulele quickly became a staple in Hawaiian culture, making it an extremely recognizable sound that most people associate with beautiful island scenery. Additionally, its small size and nylon strings provide a much softer and gentler sound than a typical steel-string acoustic or electric guitar.

Ukulele vs. Guitar Features and Instrument Options

Though the ukulele and the guitar have some things in common, they also have several distinct differences that affect whether a potential student chooses one or the other. The ukulele is almost always made of wood, and more expensive models will be made of mahogany or Hawaiian koa wood while low-end models are made of plywood or spruce. Guitars are also primarily made of wood, though the type of wood varies much more widely.

Additionally, all ukuleles are hollow-bodied just like acoustic guitars, while electric guitars come in both hollow-bodied and solid-bodied construction depending on the type of sound and style you’re looking for. Generally, when comparing ukulele vs. guitar, you’ll find that guitars typically offer much more variety in their construction and tonal possibility than ukuleles.

Besides the standard ukulele, which has four strings tuned to mid-range notes, potential players can also consider concert, tenor, and baritone ukuleles. Concert and tenor ukuleles are each slightly bigger than the standard ukulele despite having the same tuning, meaning that they can play the same notes but provide a louder, more resonant sound. The baritone ukulele is the biggest and therefore provides the most significant amount of sound, but the fact that this type of ukulele has a different tuning makes it difficult for players to switch easily from a concert or tenor ukulele to a baritone.

The standard acoustic or electric guitar has six strings, which already increases the potential number of notes playable at one time by half when compared with a ukulele. Aside from the huge variety of makes and models of acoustic and electric guitars, potential guitar players can also consider 12 string guitars. These guitars have the same tuning as a typical guitar, but each string is doubled; this means that the sound these guitars produce is much louder and brighter than a typical guitar.

Ukulele vs. Guitar: Which One Should I Choose?

When comparing ukulele vs. guitar, it can be difficult to pick which one you’d like to pursue. Both ukulele lessons and guitar lessons can be extremely beneficial to improving your skills, not to mention a lot of fun. However, when it comes down to picking one instrument to focus your efforts on, there are a few different factors to keep in mind.

Typically, the ukulele is considered easier to play simply because it is smaller than a guitar. This means it’s easier to hold, easier to strum, and the frets are easier to reach, particularly for kids and people with smaller hands. Though the standard guitar can vary slightly in size from maker to maker, it’s still significantly larger than the ukulele, making it more difficult to hold and strum and the fretboard more difficult to master.

Despite the differences in size and playability, your choice between learning ukulele vs. guitar will also depend on your sound preferences. As mentioned above, the ukulele has a very distinct sound that is typically very gentle and on the softer side. While the guitar also has a distinct sound, the guitar provides many more opportunities to create unique sounds depending on whether it’s acoustic or electric, solid-bodied or hollow-bodied, and the type of picking or playing style you choose.

Additionally, it’s important to consider what type of music you’d like to be playing with your instrument. If you are a huge hard rock or heavy metal fan, you may find it difficult or unsatisfying to cover your favorite songs on a ukulele as opposed to a guitar. However, if you prefer to play and listen to indie or soft pop music, you might prefer the ukulele’s softness to a guitar’s full, resonant sound.

Online Lessons for Ukulele vs. Guitar

If you’ve been wanting to learn ukulele or guitar but haven’t taken the plunge, it’s time to sign up for lessons online. In today’s world, it’s never been easier to learn and improve a skill, particularly on a musical instrument, due to the wide variety of amazing instructors and resources available at your fingertips online.

During your online guitar lessons or ukulele lessons with TakeLessons, you will receive the same one-on-one attention that you would expect with in-person music lessons. Our website features hundreds of background checked and highly experienced ukulele and guitar teachers that can provide you with essential technique tips and tricks as well as individualized musical feedback.

Commuting to in-person guitar lessons and ukulele lessons can be a hassle, especially during busier times of day. Plus, working one-on-one with a professional musician in their own studio can be intimidating if you’re brand new to your instrument. Taking online music lessons with TakeLessons removes all the hassle of having to drive to and from lessons and all the discomfort of learning a new skill in an unfamiliar setting.

With online lessons, you can work on your ukulele or guitar skills in the comfort and privacy of your own home, all with the same individualized benefits as in-person lessons. Plus, the removal of travel time can free up both your and your teacher’s schedules, making it easier to find a lesson time that works for both of you each week.

Finding Your Online Ukulele or Guitar Teacher

With TakeLessons, finding an amazing teacher on your chosen instrument is extremely easy. Our site features hundreds of guitar and ukulele teachers that have been trained at a variety of reputable institutions and many have over 10 years of teaching under their belt. Plus, each teacher’s individualized profile features the levels they teach, their rates for lessons based on length, the languages they speak, and much more.

If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices for online guitar and ukulele teachers, there are a few key factors you can keep in mind while browsing in order to make the right decision. A great way to get an accurate gauge of a teacher’s approach and effectiveness is to read the reviews left by former and current students. These will allow you to step into the shoes of someone that has already taken a lesson with your potential teacher and get a feel for the teacher’s personality, teaching style, and lesson content.

Another great way to narrow down your choice when searching for ukulele vs. guitar teachers is to determine how much you’re willing to spend for your weekly lesson, how long you’d like your lessons to be, and what your availability looks like. Once you’ve decided on these things, you’ll be able to rule out any teachers that are too expensive for your budget, don’t teach the lesson length that you’d prefer, or aren’t available according to your ideal schedule.

Still not sure which TakeLessons teacher to choose for your ukulele lessons or guitar lessons? You can always send your potential teacher a message before booking a lesson and ask any questions you may have on your mind. All of our teachers are happy to help you alleviate any fears or anxieties you may have about online guitar lessons and ukulele lessons free of charge before making the decision to book.

Schedule Your First Lesson Today

Wherever you stand on the debate of ukulele vs. guitar, you can get started on your musical journey as early as today by booking a lesson with one of our amazing teachers. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our lessons, so you can be confident that you’re making a great decision that will further your skills and abilities.