Can a ukulele replace a guitar?

The ukulele cannot replace the guitar.

Ukulele is a small Hawaiian guitar. It is generally translated as ukulele in Hong Kong and Taiwan and other places. It is generally called ukulele in mainland China. It is a four-string Hawaiian plucked string instrument. It was invented and popular in Portugal. Born in Hawaii, it belongs to the guitar instrument family.

Guitar: Guitar (Italian: Chitarra), also translated as guitar or six-stringed piano. It is a plucked instrument, usually with six strings and similar in shape to a violin.

There are big differences between ukulele and guitar:

1. Configuration and playing skills

From the appearance, ukulele and guitar There's not much difference, just a lot of difference in size. Our common folk guitar sizes are 39 inches, 40 inches, and 41 inches, while the most common ukulele sizes are 21 inches, 23 inches, and 26 inches, which are obviously much smaller.

In terms of configuration, there is a big difference between the guitar and the ukulele. Folk guitars normally use steel strings, but ukuleles use nylon strings. In this regard, the ukulele is very similar to the classical guitar.

They are also quite different in terms of playing techniques and vocal range. Folk guitar playing techniques are more colorful and the range is wider. Relatively speaking, the ukulele has simple techniques and its sound range is concentrated in the high-pitched area, making it suitable for playing fresh and lively sounds.

The guitar has a wider range, and the expression of emotion when playing is very rich. But if you guys want to play a relaxing, pleasant, lazy ditty and relax, Ukulele's tone is more suitable than guitar.

When playing the guitar, you mainly play with your hands on the strings. However, the ukulele is different. You can use the two-finger method or the three-finger method. When playing, your hands should follow the strings. The rhythm goes to swing. The result is that when playing the ukulele, it is in a Strum Pick state, that is, sweeping and picking at the same time.

It will sound very rhythmic. In addition, because the Ukulele has fewer strings, it actually feels freer to play. However, due to the small number of strings, if you want to play fingerstyle, if the dynamic control is not good, the result will be unpleasant; because the tone is not as rich as the guitar, once you play a wrong note, it will be difficult to cover up the past. Getting better is not easy at all.

2. Tone and arrangement?

Because the four-string ukulele is not as good as the six-string guitar in terms of range span, there are roughly 7-8 less whole tones, and the bass is biased. There are few, so there are different methods and interpretations in accompaniment or performance. Because the ukulele has a smaller cabinet, a smaller volume, a narrower fingerboard, and simpler chord fingerings, it is easier to get started and portable. However, if you want performance effects, the guitar is more advantageous because it has a wider range.

When it comes to arrangement, Ukulele is not an instrument with a long range. The timbre of Ukulele is very special and very soft when plucked. In order to express different timbres, Ukulele requires very rich right-hand skills.

If the same piece of music is arranged as a guitar piece, the timbre will be rich in levels, and the requirements for the six strings on the player will also increase. Ukulele has a soft tone and a brisk rhythm, and its performance requirements are not as demanding as those of a guitar. To be precise, there are no advantages or disadvantages between the two. They are completely different styles: the guitar has a complete range and rich tone; the Ukulele has a narrow range, a brisk rhythm and an ethereal tone.

Ukulele is very petite and very easy to carry. With its cute appearance, it is a magical tool for seduce girls, and it is very easy to use. However, Ukulele has not been developed in China for a long time, and there are few systematic teaching tutorials. If you have zero foundation, it is best to have professional teachers to guide you.

In short, the two are different, and you should choose based on personal preference or experience in the store to understand which one is more suitable for you.

Extended information:

The historical origin of ukulele: In 1879, Portuguese professional craftsmen and musical instrument makers Manuel Nunes, Joao Fernandes and Augustine Dias came to the Hawaiian Islands. As immigrants, they invented and developed the harp from their homeland while working in the sugar cane fields. The Hawaiians were not only surprised by the beautiful tone of this instrument, but also by the rapid movement of the player's fingers on the fretboard.

Since then, Hawaiians have called this instrument Ukulele, which means "jumping flea".

Whatever the true story behind the ukulele, it has become the most popular musical instrument in Hawaii. This is mainly due to the three craftsmen mentioned above.

Reference materials: Ukulele—Baidu Encyclopedia? Guitar—Baidu Encyclopedia