There’s something about the ukulele that just makes you smile. It makes you let your guard down. It brings out the child in all of us. – Jake Shimabukuro
When you think of ukulele, you may just picture another musical instrument. But a ukulele player may see something completely different; a form of happiness, an escape from the stresses of daily life, a form of self-expression.
High-quality ukuleles are available for fairly low costs. Though visiting your local music store is always a good choice, there are also many online options for purchasing a ukulele. After all, if you spend a little time and money to find the right uke for you, you surely won’t be disappointed.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t know why we should learn to play this small instrument. Here are eight notable reasons why we think you should learn to play ukulele.:
1. Fewer Strings
Ukuleles only have four strings whereas guitars typically have six. The strings are nylon, not metal, so they feel a little more comfortable on your fingers. As an added bonus, the frets are closer together on a ukulele so you are less likely to experience any pain or discomfort when playing various chords.
2. Easy to Learn
Handling a guitar, especially at a young age, can be a rather difficult task. Small hands and fingers may have a difficult time both reaching and pressing down the strings. Fortunately, the ukuleles small size and structure makes it a great option for tiny hands. It is also easy to learn, for both adults and children alike.
Learning uke is pretty easy compared to other stringed instruments. You can get thousands of tutorials as well as find tutors online and offline.
3. Different Sizes
Ukuleles come in a variety of sizes: soprano (21”), concert (23”), tenor (26”) and baritone (30”). Not only does this allow you to choose the one that is most comfortable for you, it also provides an opportunity to play a wider variety of genres and styles.
4. Easy to Pick Up for Fretted Players
People who have experience playing guitar or mandolin can easily learn and play ukulele. Guitarists and mandolin players are already familiar with how to hold and play a fretted instrument from various hand shapes to finger placement and so on. Though the chord structure is different, having only four strings makes these chords easier to learn and memorize.
5. Variety of Genres
You can easily find the ukulele chord charts online, and play in a variety of genres and styles. Rock, pop, classical, folk whatever song you love, you can find music in that genre for ukulele. As an added bonus, there are thousands of tutorials available in each genre on a variety of websites, so getting started playing your favorites is rather easy.
6. Versatility
If you love to create new music, ukulele is a great tool to do so. This type of musical instrument can be used to create various rhythmic patterns, melodic lines, and instrumental accompaniments.
7. It’s portable
Ukulele is great in that it is a small, lightweight instrument and can be easily transported. This makes it a great option for singing around the campfire, at the beach, in your university quad, and so on.
8. Cost Effective
Ukuleles are available in most music stores at a very affordable price. For about $100, you can get a good quality ukulele, and you don’t need to spend a lot to learn it. Who doesn’t want to learn a new musical instrument at such a low cost?
Conclusion
Suppose you are enjoying time with your favorite person at the beach. It’s a moonlit night and the sound of the waves are mesmerizing you. It could be more fun, more romantic and more interesting if you have a ukulele with you. Ukulele is fit for any environment; from friends to your beloved one. If you love music and are looking to learn your next instrument, then ukulele may be the perfect choice.
