Considering Purchasing a Guitar... Am I Selling Out??

mendel

mendel

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
559
Reaction score
0
Location
South Florida
Hello Everyone,

I recently submitted what I pray is my final draft of my research proposal for my Dissertation. As such, I have a few minutes freed up to check in on my UU peeps!

Here is my new dilemma. I love playing the Uke. I will always play the Uke. There is no part of me that would consider putting it down, never to be played again. That said, I am considering picking up a 6 string axe to play as well. I have only been playing the Uke for about a year and 3 months or so, but I am enjoying it thoroughly. I think that I would like to learn some guitar as well, primarily because I think that learning about another fretted instrument will make me more knowledgeable about music theory, as well as the more readily available guitar enthusiasts in my area being able to teach me new and exciting techniques that can then cross over back to my Uke playing.

Am I selling out, or am I simply taking the next logical step? I grew up as a wrestler. As a wrestler, I will always love the sport, but when I found out about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I chose to learn that as well because of the massive amount of technique cross-over between the two sports. It was the best decision I ever made, and I know that my wrestling ability benefitted greatly from it. Will the same thing happen here?

Mendel
 
Why would you think it is selling out? They are two different instruments. Would you be afraid you were selling out if you wanted to try playing the clarinet, or piano, or violin?

At the very worst (or best) you'd find (like I did when I tried) that the guitar isn't the right fit for you after all, and you'll go back to your uke. Or you might find the opposite, and fall in love with your guitar. Or, like so many folks here, you'll find time and context for both.

The important thing isn't to stubbornly hang on to one thing at all costs, but to find what brings you the most satisfaction.

So go get your guitar and give it a try! And keep us posted.
 
I don't think so. They are different instruments, but related. I started uke as a kid, moved on to a baritone uke (it was a present, so being a kid, I just played it. I didn't even realize the tuning was so different.) Then I ended up playing guitar in college, which was an easy transition from the baritone. Since my "real" instrument is piano, I stayed with that and dropped guitar over time. Later I picked up the flute just to learn it, but I realized, any instrument can be a joy to play if you get good at it. They are all different. A ukulele is most definitely NOT a guitar. Similar, but not the same.
 
Nothing wrong as there are many crossovers from guitar players. However, uke players are not as snobby as guitar players so you will get support from us. There's plenty of love for all instruments. Good luck
 
Why not play both?

I thought the opposite, am I "cheating" will I become disinterested in classical guitar if I start messing with uke and the answer is a big fat NO.

I love playing both, they are different enough that they are simply roads on my journey in life. I am dead serious about classical guitar, but the Uke it's plain fun, and eventhough I plan to play some classical music on it, the feel, the sound, the experience between the two are like night and day and I enjoy both.
 
It was the other way for me. I played the guitar for years and one day picked up a uke. If there is any disadvantage, it is that guitar and uke playing are two very different styles. I think I play the uke like a guitar - especially when I play picking style. If you are getting a steel string guitar, you will have to get the hand muscles and finger calluses built up. If you have played anything but a baritone uke, the chord fingering will be different. For me, the instruments feel so different that I am not able to play one and pick up the other and play it right away. It takes an hour for me to get used to that instrument again. And if you get a classical guitar, you will find the neck width and size to be much harder to adjust to. An electric solid body guitar (most of them) have a narrow neck, more resembling the uke. I think you will find that after the novelty of play something new wears off, you will have a tendency to play one or the other most of the time - which ever one you enjoy the most. For me, that has turned out to be the uke. One more thing - my experience is that guitar players are a little more serious about perfecting their skills and emulating really good players. I don't take that as good or bad, but I enjoy the casual approach of many uke players I have met.
 
I'm also thinking of learning the guitar. As I was researching cheap guitars, I found the Yamaha guitalele, which you might want to check out. Apparently it's the size of a tenor ukulele, but with six strings that produce those lower notes that I'm looking for in a guitar (tuned ADGCEA). I thought a guitalele might make the transition from uke to guitar easier for me, but now I'm pretty sure I'm just going straight for the guitar.

 
We are musicians first and foremost and will share music with the world using whatever instrument that we choose, that we can acquire and that we can spend the time to master.
:)




Now, ... can somebody please donate to me a set of Great Highland Bagpipes or even kitchen pipes?
 
Definitely not selling out. I bought a classical guitar last week and am pleasantly surprised that muscle memory kicked in despite over a decade away from the instrument. The guitar satisfies any low G cravings.
 
mendel said:
Hello Everyone,

I recently submitted what I pray is my final draft of my research proposal for my Dissertation. As such, I have a few minutes freed up to check in on my UU peeps!

Here is my new dilemma. I love playing the Uke. I will always play the Uke. There is no part of me that would consider putting it down, never to be played again. That said, I am considering picking up a 6 string axe to play as well. I have only been playing the Uke for about a year and 3 months or so, but I am enjoying it thoroughly. I think that I would like to learn some guitar as well, primarily because I think that learning about another fretted instrument will make me more knowledgeable about music theory, as well as the more readily available guitar enthusiasts in my area being able to teach me new and exciting techniques that can then cross over back to my Uke playing.

Am I selling out, or am I simply taking the next logical step? I grew up as a wrestler. As a wrestler, I will always love the sport, but when I found out about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I chose to learn that as well because of the massive amount of technique cross-over between the two sports. It was the best decision I ever made, and I know that my wrestling ability benefitted greatly from it. Will the same thing happen here?

Mendel
Click to expand...

First congrats on such progress on your dissertation! Awesome! Buy a basic guitar and give it a go. If you like it, beg Bradford to build you a giant version of hugs and kisses for you to love.. I have drooled over many guitar while my boys are taking lessons, however, I can barely play the uke so another instrument for me is a bad idea. I think if you desire to learn, and you have the time and means (money) go for it and enjoy. Just don't forget us! :)
Nice to see you around here, How's the little one?
 
I'm a bit of a lapsed classical guitarist who fell under the uke's spell. Now whenever I pull out one of my guitars, it just feels awkwardly huge.

102263 said:
As I was researching cheap guitars, I found the Yamaha guitalele, which you might want to check out.
Click to expand...
I just got my Guitalele yesterday, kind of as a ploy to get myself back into guitar. I'm quite impressed with the quality of the build for a $100 instrument. And I'm having an absolute blast with it so far. :)

Bought mine off Amazon, as I had been saving up gift credits for it. Then when I had enough, there weren't any vendors offering free 2-day shipping with Prime. So I looked at those that offered free shipping and chose the one closest to me. Day after ordering, there was a vendor offering Prime and I considered canceling and re-ordering but didn't.

Gotta give a shout out to Southwest Strings. They are a real B&M store in Tucson, AZ specializing in stringed instruments (duh!). They do a set up on everything they sell and said to allow an extra day for that. Well, I ordered late Thursday, they shipped Friday (FedEx) and I had it on Tuesday, pretty darn decent for "free standard shipping". Very well packed (double boxed) and it plays beautifully.

The included gig bag is really cheesy and cheap, but at least they include one and it'll keep the dust off. It does fit into several of my tenor cases, so there's always that option if I want to take it out and about.

Anyway, for an uke player looking to get into guitar, I think the Guitalele is a really good and inexpensive option to see if six strings are for you. :)
 
GVlog said:
We are musicians first and foremost and will share music with the world using whatever instrument that we choose, that we can acquire and that we can spend the time to master.
:)

Very well said....My thoughts exactly. I play both and love them both equally.
Click to expand...
 
mendel said:
Am I selling out, or am I simply taking the next logical step?
Click to expand...

Yes! You're dead to me now.

:rolleyes:

Glad to see you made it through the high-stress period okay. Cross-pollinating your knowledge of instruments will probably help you on both of them. Personally, I tried picking up guitar a couple of years after I started playing uke (late 1970s), and even that early on I couldn't get my fingers used to stretching as far as they had to for guitar chords. I ended up learning keyboards instead.
 
Nah. Being good at any other instrument will improve your uke skills (and musicianship overall).
 
You're not "selling" out, lol. If I heard nothing but music played on the ukulele for the rest of my life, I would probably kill myself. Similarly, if I heard nothing but acoustic guitar-based tunes for the rest of myself, I would probably head to the same fate. Variety is awesome. I have a ukulele, a guitar, a tiple, and a few banjos, and I love them all.

If you do get a guitar, I would recommend a Recording King. They are very well-built for the money, and have solid spruce tops. This is what I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Kin...TF8&coliid=I39XNGZZ3SPCOK&colid=3HRGKC0QCPYFL
 
Last edited:
"The story about the "invention" of the baritone uke is that it was designed for young people to learn and then move onto a guitar. Many great guitarists have been photographed as children holding a uke."

Certainly true for me. I moved right into guitar off the baritone. It was enjoyable --played during college back "when" guitars were a necessary accessory along with tie-dyed tee shirts and love beads. THOSE were the days.
 
Ahah, selling out? The uke and guitar are brothers. Versatility is never a bad thing, especially when it comes to music. I started on the guitar and than went to ukulele, the ukulele definitely made me a better guitar player overall. They are both different and similar, I appreciate both qualities. Aside from the obvious two extra strings the guitar generally requires more physical effort.(Calluses, size of frets, bigger/heavier.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Considering purchasing a Mainland Red Cedar Soprano
Replies
5
Views
803
OldePhart
OldePhart
Renaissance-Man
I'm considering buying an Aklot double neck ukulele
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
merlin666
M
Joe Strummer
Considering mid to high end sopranos
Replies
13
Views
692
Ziret
Ziret
salsarev
Newbie looking for a solid Koa tenor. Here's what I'm considering...
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
Tin Ear
Tin Ear
S
Considering Selling: Kamaka Solid Koa HF3L - 19" Scale -- any interest?
Replies
0
Views
442
SoCal
S
Top Bottom