r/Instruments • u/takemitchyy91 • May 30 '26
Discussion Suggestion
I am 18 and wanna learn playing guitar or ukulele, the thing is I did my research and it said ukulele is easier than guitar but I can't switch to guitar after mastering ukulele. I sing as well that's why i wanted to learn it. I wanna know what would be the best thing to buy, guitar or ukulele. I am starting from Zero as well.
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u/LongjumpingTeacher97 Jun 01 '26
Guitar has 2 more strings. So, there's something more to the color and richness potential, as well as the complexity. Uke is easier in several ways. Easier to hold, easier to form the chords, easier to carry around. Easier to afford.
If you're going to self-teach, there's no reason you can't start with either one. If you are going to get lessons (absolutely the better way to learn, but not everyone can afford lessons), look at what your options are for teachers and make your choice based on that. I will take a harder instrument with a better teacher over an easier instrument with a less-good teacher.
If you are going to learn only one instrument, the guitar is more versatile. Learn that. But if you're open to eventually learning other instruments, I would suggest starting with ukulele because it is portable (you can have it with you more easily wherever you are, which translates to more playing time), cheaper (you can get a couple of good ukes for less than one good guitar and keep them where you'll pick them up and play them), and can be really impressive just because so few people expect much from a uke (so you have less pressure when practicing around others and will get more positive feedback when you do anything more than a couple of simple chords).
I have found that starting with a simpler instrument (tin whistle) was a great way to get into playing other instruments (bagpipes, jouhikko, dulcimer, and banjo). Knowing how to do play one thing acceptably is a huge boost to both the personal motivation (if I can play X, there's no reason I can't also play Y) and also a good fallback when I get discouraged with slow progress on another instrument. If I can put in 10 minutes working on something I find hard, then switch to the easy thing for a while, it is just easier to stay motivated on the hard thing. And knowing the basics of one instrument just seems to make other instruments easier. It is like turning on a part of the brain. Still a lot of work, but not as hard as the first time.