Ukuleles... Here’s why every good guitarist plays one!
The popularity of the ukulele has grown immensely in recent years. With their naturally ‘happy’ sound, great looks, and compact size, they’re undoubtedly one of the most practical, fun and charming instruments to play.
You may be surprised to hear this, but this popularity extends to some of the world's greatest guitarists and songwriters, with many being avid ukulele players. From Johnny Marr to George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen to Pete Townsend, all have regularly enjoyed playing the uke in their time. Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam even went as far as releasing a whole album of ukulele songs, rather originally titled ‘Ukulele Songs’.
So, why do the guitar greats play the ukulele, and how can it improve your guitar playing?
Play on the go!
As we know, ukuleles are small and lightweight, meaning you can travel with them and store them pretty much anywhere. Being able to play more regularly and on the go, whether this be on holiday, in the kitchen while waiting for the kettle to boil, or in the garden on a summer’s evening, will quickly see your technique, speed, creativity, and overall level of playing improve. Yes, this is true of the guitar too, but can you really play your guitar in the passenger seat during a long car journey if the mood takes you?
They inspire creativity.
Compared to your guitar, the ukulele is a little more restricted in terms of how it can be played and in the sound it will produce. This is no bad thing! In fact, you’ll find it will actually help improve your playing by taking you out of your comfort zone and forcing you to get creative with rhythm and melody. By stripping things back to basics, these new styles can then be transferred to your six-string, and voilà, you’ve suddenly added some additional tricks to your arsenal of guitar techniques.
Learning chords becomes easier.
If you’re a beginner or intermediate guitarist, learning essential ukulele chords alongside your guitar chords will speed up your progress across both instruments by helping to build a more comprehensive understanding of how notes relate to one another and how stringed instrument chords are structured. On paper, this may seem like more to learn, but in the same way that learning a second language is shown to improve your mother tongue vocabulary, understanding ukulele chords will provide a greater insight into what is required to master the guitar.
Your favourite songs can be played on the ukulele.
Most popular songs that are commonly played on a guitar can easily be played on the ukulele. So, if you enjoy playing the most beautiful acoustic songs ever written, you’ll be able to learn them on the ukulele and you’ll love how great they sound. You don’t need to believe us though… grab a uke today and learn John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ or ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen and you’ll soon fall in love these classic songs all over again. You can even shred some metal riffs on a uke if you wish. (Yes, it's been done.)
Your ukulele and guitar are the best of friends.
Finally, if you enjoy recording your music or are someone who regularly performs with other guitarists, adding a ukulele to ‘your sound’ will give your songs an exciting new dimension. Although often played solo, ukuleles also make wonderful accompaniment instruments, especially when played alongside an acoustic guitar. They add texture and a unique voice that can’t be achieved by exclusively playing the guitar.
Ukuleles are now regularly played in schools and educational settings, replacing the previous staple recorder as the go-to instrument used to introduce children to the delights of learning a musical instrument. In a survey of 476 music teachers teaching whole class ensembles, it was found that 15% used the ukulele in 2020, which represents a fifteen-fold increase from the 1 per cent recorded in 2014. [iNews].
There are numerous reasons for this switch, with the ukulele offering educational benefits that include superior hand-eye coordination, a deeper understanding of pitch through the mastering of tuning, and an easier method for learning scales and other musical essentials. Plus, they’re great fun and therefore encourage engagement with music among young people, which can only be a good thing!
Let’s quickly consider some of the obvious benefits of the ukulele.
- They’re affordable. Even electro models won’t cost you too much.
- They’re easy to learn & play.
- They make perfect travel companions. Ukuleles are small and lightweight, meaning you can take them pretty much anywhere with you.
- They sound great! Especially solid top ukes.
- They look great! Many ukuleles feature exotic tonewoods with a naturally beautiful grain… So not only will your uke sound great, but it will also turn heads.
- As we've just discovered... they're played by some of the world's best guitarists!
So, there you have it... the ukulele! They’re fun, easy-to-play and affordable. Plus, they’re a way to expand and improve your guitar playing. Who’d have thought it? So, get out there and discover the ukulele today. Because, why not?
If you’d like to learn everything there is to know about ukuleles, check out this ‘Ukuleles Explained’ FAQ guide from Barnes & Mullins Folk Instruments.
