One for the guitar players. Has the uke screwed your playing up?

Leodhas

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I'll explain, due to working away sporadically over the past 3 months I haven't done any gigging for that period except a couple of songs on the uke at another friends gig and tonight I got a call asking me if I would join a pal of mine to do a show this saturday. So I went and grabbed a guitar to do some rehearsal as I thought I better sharpen up for the show (just a load of old Scot/Irish folks songs that are standard fair round here) and realised that I've not played for coming on 3 months as when I've been working away I just took my uke (where I used to take a travel guitar).

For starters the bloody thing looked hugh (a guild gad 50 for the guitar players out there) and my hands felt as though they wouldn't stretch round the neck, it all felt so uncomfortable whereas once it was second nature! This has worried me so much that I've realised one CAN NOT neglect the guitar for the uke! Basically no uke for me until after the weekend.

It really has freaked me out, have any other guitar players had a similar experience?
 
I switch between the uke and a Taylor NS. No real problem for me. Takes about 5 minutes to get used to the change.
 
I switch between the uke and a Taylor NS. No real problem for me. Takes about 5 minutes to get used to the change.

I've never not played for this period of time before, have it next to me now, even the strings feel weird. Going to give it half an hour and see how I feel. May try a different guitar as the gad is a wee bit bulky and I have a heavy gauge string on it.
 
Guess I've never laid one aside for the other...no problems here. Keep playing both!
 
Getting and playing my uke affected my guitar playing in the sense that I don't play/practice the guitar as much now. Maybe it's just a phase, but I'm finding the ukulele to be more fun, and will tend to pick that up over the guitar when I have spare time.
 
I am not much of a guitar player, but I have played the guitar since I was a child. I love fingerstyle blues and improv stuff such as John Fahey et al. After I rediscovered the ukulele, the guitar seems like a huge monster, totally impossible to hold...well, I guess it wouldn't take too long to readjust, but I'm not sure I really want to; the uke is my long lost love, and this time, I'll keep that great feeling and let guitar be guitar.... As for the piano; no problem to switch between the two, hehe...
 
I have trouble with the difference in string spacing--further apart on the ukulele than on the guitar. Takes a while to get fast chord changes until I readjust. I also tend 'read' chords from the 6th string on the guitar and it takes time to readjust to 'reading' off the 4th string on the ukulele. i.e. a G chord from the 3rd fret 6th string on the guitar switches to the 5th fret 4th string for the ukulele.
 
Heh, heh. I picked up my Taylor 312 after not playing any guitar for several months. Felt like I was hugging a refrigerator.

For me, there just isn't much reason to play guitar because I really get much more enjoyment from the uke. If that weren't the case, my poor guitars would get more attention and it wouldn't be an issue.

John
 
Been at it for a couple of hours now, a touch rusty but getting there. It's little things like forgetting chord changes and getting used to the strings. All very strange, can't let it happen again. I must admit the guitar does sound deep and rich after so much uke.
 
how are the fingertips after that long layoff?
 
I always find the neck of the guitar to be really thick, but since I only got my first uke a few weeks ago, I'm still more accustomed to the body. I also find it tough to barre some chords, especially lower down the fretboard. Honestly, I get more enjoyment from the uke, but I'm pretty sure girls like a guy who plays a guitar more than one who plays an uke :p
 
I have the same problem as you I've been playing uke for about 4 months and haven't hardly touched my guitars since. I picked up my Gibson J-200 the other Day and man it felt weird and huge. It took a little while before I felt halfway comfortable playing it not to say even the chords were hard to play and that's after playing guitar for 26 years. I'm a little scared to pick up my Les Paul or my tele's or my strat. Haven't tried any of my electrics since taking up the ukulele.
 
I hear you Leodhas! Holding your guitar after extended periods of playing the uke is like going dancing with your girlfriend after she's quickly put on 50 lbs. You're not quite sure if your hands are in the right spot, and she just doesn't seem as nimble as before. But as the night wears on you realize she's still got it, and then some. Last Saturday, after a full day of playing uke I pulled out my Breedlove acoustic bass. For a few minutes it was like wrestling with Andre the Giant. But then things began to fall in place, and I realized its just a matter of reacquainting yourself with an old friend.
 
I hear you Leodhas! Holding your guitar after extended periods of playing the uke is like going dancing with your girlfriend after she's quickly put on 50 lbs. You're not quite sure if your hands are in the right spot, and she just doesn't seem as nimble as before. But as the night wears on you realize she's still got it, and then some. Last Saturday, after a full day of playing uke I pulled out my Breedlove acoustic bass. For a few minutes it was like wrestling with Andre the Giant. But then things began to fall in place, and I realized its just a matter of reacquainting yourself with an old friend.
Perfectly said.
 
What little guitar knowledge I had I basically forgot. I'm sure someone with good music knowledge would be able to meld the two together but I've been self taught.

I now have really 2 nice Dean acoustics and 3 Fender basses in my closet that haven't been touched in 3 years. The uke's took over! Ontop of that, an inexpensive dulcimer followed me home the other day.
Ernest

PS: I am polishing up my basses at this time to practice my slapping.
 
It takes me about 5 or 10 minutes of doing pentatonic blues stuff to get my chops back, but no biggie. Last week I played guitar right up to my slot on the sheet, then played uke for 3 songs and guitar for 2.

When I go out to play jazz leads I practice for about an hour beforehand. Beyond that no issue with the change.
 
how are the fingertips after that long layoff?
In my case no problem at all. Years of playing guitar has killed all the nerves in my fingertips, I guess. Even with no callouses playing a steel string isn't uncomfortable even after laying off for months.

I did have to pick up six string for a while a couple of months ago while we were looking for a new worship leader. Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I'd been afraid it might be as far as remembering basic rhythm stuff. It took a few minutes to get used to the extra strings but I guess the fret spacing didn't mess me up much because I still play bass so I'm switching between bass and uke all the time anyway. I did use my Casino instead of my Taylor, though, because I leveled the frets and did an action job on the Casino just before I discovered uke - the action on it is much sweeter than on the Taylor acoustic, now.

I haven't played any lead guitar in a long time though because I switched to bass about 4 years ago. Not that I was ever much as a lead player, anyway.

John
 
Honestly, I get more enjoyment from the uke, but I'm pretty sure girls like a guy who plays a guitar more than one who plays an uke :p

No, no, no! Girls like guys who play ukes better. Your biceps look manly and strong next to that tiny uke and us girls know you don't take yourself too seriously. Moody guy = trouble down the road. Humorous guy = happiness down the road :)

Nix
 
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