Advice from ukers who also play guitar...

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griemers

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So, lately I've had the itch to start trying to play guitar again. I played a little bit in high school and college, but never really made it much further than learning a few basic chords for strumming songs. Once I started playing uke, I kind of turned my back on the guitar and never looked back. I think a big part of it was the fact that most of the music I love-- ragtime, blues, jazz, tin pan alley kind of stuff, just works out so nicely on the ukulele.

Anyhow, I guess my question is, how hard is it to transition into playing those sorts of music on guitar as well? I've recently heard some fantastic old-time guitar music on youtube and such, and I would really like to learn to play. But, do you have to be an expert-level player to make it sound half-way decent? I mean, I consider myself a pretty good, average/intermediate uke player-- playing something like the arrangement of Robert Johnson's Hot Tamales that everybody plays is pretty simple on uke. Is something like this super-difficult on guitar?

Also, will my knowledge of the different chord forms/inversions for the more complex, "jazz" chords on uke translate at all into making them easier on the guitar?

Anybody else made this jump?

Any other advice greatly appreciated!

--G.R.
 
I started playing guitar long before I played uke, but I would think your playing skills on ukulele will help a lot when you transition to guitar. Your chord changes will probably be smoother a lot faster than if you had never played any instrument. I give guitar lessons and I've noticed that if the student has ever played any type of instrument before (piano, drums, etc) they catch on way faster than students that haven't ever played. And you don't have to be super good to make it sound good. I say go for it!
 
ashleychantel said:
I started playing guitar long before I played uke, but I would think your playing skills on ukulele will help a lot when you transition to guitar. Your chord changes will probably be smoother a lot faster than if you had never played any instrument. I give guitar lessons and I've noticed that if the student has ever played any type of instrument before (piano, drums, etc) they catch on way faster than students that haven't ever played. And you don't have to be super good to make it sound good. I say go for it!
Click to expand...

It's just a matter of figuring out if you want to change keys, and what to do with those bass notes. Also, it's sometimes hard to adjust to the tighter string spacing if you haven't played in a while. I've been playing my guitar and I find myself touching two strings at once, getting a nasty buzz.
 
I've been playing guitar for 2 years everyday, which is key to making progress with your playing; try to practice for at least half an hour a day, and learn as many scales and chords as you can as well as challenging yourself by playing songs that might be difficult for you. If you do this for a while, you'll make some decent progress. You already know how to play the ukulele so like ashleychantel said, it'll be easier than starting from scratch.
 
Guitar is bigger and has two more strings. If it's a steel-stringed acoustic, your fingers will take some getting used to them and probably be sore for a while.

Other than that, basic chord shapes are about the same, except they're different notes. A "D" chord on the guitar is a "G" chord on the uke.

But as mentioned, basically everything you've learned on uke will help you on guitar. I say go for it. :)
 
The only real challenge will be learning what to do with the two additional bass strings. But this will be fun because it will add a different dimension to the music than you get on the uke. I've played the guitar for about 20 years and only picked up the uke a few month ago. it shouldn't be too hard for you.
 
Thank you for the advice, everyone :). I guess what I'm wondering about is whether it is realistic to expect to be able to play the cool ragtime, jazz standards, etc. that I'm used to on the uke, or is that mainly the domain of professional musicians?
 
I would say that playing the ukulele feels a lot like playing the guitar. The things you might have to adjust for are fret and string spacing, and the string tension being a little more difficult. That can make barre chords more of a challenge. If you can play cool stuff on the uke, it will really help you on the guitar. Practice is the key, and since you are motivated, you should have no problem.

–Lori
 
I recently picked up one of my fathers old Stella Harmony guitars (set up for blues in a G I believe, he rambled off what the set up was when I picked it up while we were talking and I didn't pay much attention). It sounds frikkin' awesome and isn't as nearly intimidating as I thought it would be. It is more difficult to form some chords, but I'm having a ton of fun learning. I say go for it. Before you know it, you will be playing at least a basic form of some songs your intersted in. And it will just add to your repotoire.
 
For me, just going back to guitar or uke after playing the other for a day or two causes a small mental block that I have to get over. The thing to remember is that any song you know is as much muscle memory as it is knowing the chords. I've played guitar for years before I picked up a uke and I know a lot of songs. But my hands know them on guitar, not necessarily uke. So, there will be a little transition there.

The trick is really just realizing that you will have to think and practice a bit to get that mental/physical transition down. I know of bluegrass players that can come to a jam with a guitar and during the evening borrow a fiddle, a banjo, a mandolin, and an upright bass and be amazing at all of them. They have just done it all for so long, they can make that transition.

Keep it up and don't be afraid to ask questions or buy a book or two to get your guitar skills on.

~DB

P.S.: Shredding on guitar is for mid-lifers and teenagers. A good guitarist knows more about rhythm guitar that even the greatest of shredders. Trust me on this one.
 
I started playing ukulele when I was about 11. When I was in H.S. my parents finally bought a guitar (solid body electric).
In the 60's a kid with a guitar was cool, a uke not so much. A few years ago I started playing more uke.
What I have found is I am a much better player on both guitar and ukulele. Because of the tuning differences I find I now play shapes instead of chords.
I don't think about the chord names any longer. I was always a strummer only, I work out melodies on the uke and can in most cases transfer them to the guitar.
I believe the guitar is a little more intimidating to learn, but after playing ukulele it is just learning the bass string notes and getting some finger/hand strength built up.
My advice is go for it, it will make you a better player.
 
I'm interested in picking up the guitar myself - should I try to go for a smaller parlor guitar to transition from the uke better or should I just jump in and play a full-size?
 
Hot Tamales is pretty easy on guitar!

One thing that helps on guitar is to get a pattern going that includes the bass strings. Having a simple "boom-chick" (root and fifth) bass part going as you change chords will make you sound like a star. Full-chord strumming is ok, but not as clean as on a uke. Some sort of thumb-then-strum pattern is easy and takes full advantage of the addition of the bass strings.
 
Cool! I was hoping that might be a way to look at it, since the chord forms on the bottom four strings are essentially identical to those on the uke. Gotta learn how to throw in those bass notes now.
 
I have played both guitar and ukulele for over forty years. Lots of songs are easier on ukulele and some songs cannot be played quite the same on uke as guitar. I play guitar with a lot of embellishments, walking up and down the neck between chords and a combination of finger-picking and strumming. There are lots of songs I prefer playing on ukulele. As a performer and songwriter, though, I have played guitar and ukulele renditions of most of my original songs. I think of the ukulele as just another instrument and that means I might have both guitar and uke in a lot of songs. Ukuleles add a lot of great accents to guitar-oriented music. So, what I would do if I were you is expand your horizons and combine both instruments. Try recording both on a computer or a dedicated multi-track recorder.
 
The two instruments complement each other, but you will find that there are things that work better on the ukulele and things that work better on the guitar. I play ukulele, electric and acoustic guitar, bass and mandolin. I often get a real mental block if i've been playing the ukulele a lot and I pick up one of the others. The others feel too big and heavy and I can't remember the notes - but it soon comes back.
 
rasputinsghost said:
I'm interested in picking up the guitar myself - should I try to go for a smaller parlor guitar to transition from the uke better or should I just jump in and play a full-size?
Click to expand...

Another guitar player for over 40 years chimes in...

If your inclination is smaller, consider something like 00 or 000 Martins. Try some out at a place like Matt Umanov's...the 15 Mahog series...my all time favs (minus the dreadnought). Over the years I became less inclined towards dreadnoughts...you can then look for less expensive equivalent sized ukes...there's also the somewhat overpriced Baby Taylor...but consider ALL options of smaller bodied guitars.

To state my bias even more clearly: if you're moving towards smaller (and want something different from the Takamine guitar army at open mics across the world) go smaller sized guitar!

Plan B: pick up a $70- from Sam Ash Makala baritone tuned to DGBE...and slap on some D'Addario J68's for baritone ukuleles...I'm telling you this cheapo's got mojo!!!
 
Last edited:
luvdatuke said:
Another guitar player for over 40 years chimes in...

If your inclination is smaller, consider something like 00 or 000 Martins. Try some out at a place like Matt Umanov's...the 15 Mahog series...my all time favs (minus the dreadnought). Over the years I became less inclined towards dreadnoughts...you can then look for less expensive equivalent sized ukes...there's also the somewhat overpriced Baby Taylor...but consider ALL options of smaller bodied guitars.

To state my bias even more clearly: if you're moving towards smaller (and want something different from the Takamine guitar army at open mics across the world) go smaller sized guitar!

Plan B: pick up a $70- from Sam Ash Makala baritone tuned to DGBE...and slap on some D'Addario J68's for baritone ukuleles...I'm telling you this cheapo's got mojo!!!
Click to expand...

What's funny is that I started with dreadnaughts and now have greater pleasure from playing OM and 000 bodies.
 
griemers said:
I guess what I'm wondering about is whether it is realistic to expect to be able to play the cool ragtime, jazz standards, etc. that I'm used to on the uke, or is that mainly the domain of professional musicians?
Click to expand...

Sure it is! Specially as you do have experience with guitar and uke. All you need is determination!
 
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