learning ukulele as a guitarist

[D K]

What are some good free online ukulele courses? Is there any course that treats it from a guitarist’s point of view? Because it would be nice to transpose guitar knowledge to ukulele rather than to start from scratch.
And to turn this into a more general question: do you think learning to play ukulele could help to become a better guitarist?

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Hey there, DK! With a little browsing on Google I found this, maybe it’ll help you out I personally believe that learning another instrument is definitely a good thing to do, but as far as will it improve your guitar playing? I’m sure it can but I wouldn’t know how to explain that it does. For example, Papa keeps telling us that learning piano will help us a lot with our theory we apply to the guitar, and for me personally it does a LOT. So in a sense, learning piano helps with guitar because of keyboard theory and applying it easier to guitar. As far as ukulele goes I’m not sure, but since they are sort of the same instrument with sort of the same fingering, I’m sure it could help in some way
http://www.theoreticallycorrect.com/From-guitar-to-ukulele/

 

[D K]

Yeah I don’t think it will really help help to get better at playing guitar techniques-wise, but learning ukulele (or any other instrument) might give you more insights that you can also apply to guitar.

 

[Ed Seith]

The tuning is very different, so chords are almost completely different, however you can see how the shapes relate from guitar to uke sometimes, and that’s interesting, and can be helpful from a theory-thinking perspective.
Aside from that and, as Jak said, learning another instrument never hurts, there’s very little else that would be applicable to guitar knowledge or technique. That said, it can be a fun diversion learning uke versions of songs you like.

 

[D K]

Is the tuning really that different though? Standard ukulele tuning is GCEA, making it basically like the first 4 strings of a guitar with a capo on the fifth fret.

 

[Brian Haner Sr.]

I play uke all the time. LOVE IT! Even done a few sessions on uke. It is tuned similar to guitar like DK said – GCEA – which would be like a capo on the 5th fret of a guitar – except the G is tuned an octave higher. So the 4th string (G) is a step away from the 1st string (A) – which is a bit weird. But all basic chord shapes stay the same. It’s fun to shred on a uke, and conversely – it’s fun to play uke voicings on a guitar. I’m not sure if I would go as far as to say that it will directly help your guitar playing, but it will expand your musical knowledge and your ear – which will help your overall musicianship and indirectly inform your guitar playing.
I will just add this – ANYTIME you are playing ANY instrument, you are becoming a better and more well-rounded musician. I can’t think of a downside to that.
Cheers!
PG