The guitalele is perfect for guitarists looking to jump into ukulele but not ready to give up the extra two strings!
Written by Jay Searle / Published July 6, 2022
Last updated: March 28, 2024
Is that a ukulele you are playing, or is it a teeny tiny guitar? Both. Well, sort of…
The guitalele is a hybrid instrument that will feel familiar to guitarists. It combines the body of a tenor or baritone ukulele with the addition of two bass strings, creating a unique sound and playing experience. It is what’s known as a hybrid instrument.
Our Top Guitalele Recommendations
- Great for Beginners: YAMAHA GL1 Guitalele. Boasts great sound and good craftsmanship for a price around $100.
- Great for Value: RANCH Guitalele Acoustic 28 Inch. Similarly priced to the YAMAHA GL1 but comes with some awesome extras.
- Great for Travel: Caramel 30″ 6-String Acacia KOA Guitalele. Comes with a travel bag, strap, extra picks and a cleaning cloth.
- Great for Looks: Caramel 30″ Mahogany 6-String Acoustic-Electric Guitalele. Made from solid mahogany which improves the overall sound quality. Can be connected to an amplifier.
A Guitalele is Like a Guitar… But Smaller?
So what are the two extra strings on a guitalele and are they tuned the same as on a guitar? Not quite. The top four strings maintain the same standard ukulele tuning of G-C-E-A, with A being the highest in pitch and G being the lowest.
Note that the G is not tuned up an octave as would normally be the case for a ukulele using re-entrant tuning. A guitalele then adds two bass notes, A and D, with A being the string with the lowest pitch on the instrument.
This means that the guitalele is tuned in fourths, just like a guitar, with the lowest string to the highest string spanning two full octaves (8 pitches). In fact, the guitalele is tuned to the same pitch that you would get from a nylon string guitar with a capo at the fifth fret. This opens up a world of exciting chord possibilities.
If you want to get a little more information on the guitalele and what you can do with it, do yourself a favour and check out this cool video by Uke Like The Pro’s.
An affordable guitalele that comes bundled with essential items a beginner is likely to need.
- Reasonably priced
- Great beginner instrument
- Includes gigbag, tuner, strap and more!
Why Choose A Guitalele?
- Portability: The guitalele’s compact size makes it highly portable, allowing you to take it anywhere you go, whether it’s on a trip, a jam session, or a casual gathering with friends. It’s a perfect travel companion for musicians on the move.
- Easy to Play: The guitalele’s smaller size and nylon strings make it easier to handle, especially for beginners or individuals with smaller hands. It offers a comfortable playing experience and can serve as a stepping stone for transitioning to a full-sized guitar.
- Versatility: Despite its small size, the guitalele offers a wide range of musical possibilities. Its tuning, typically A-D-G-C-E-A, allows players to produce rich, vibrant tones and explore various musical styles, including classical, folk, pop, and many more.
- Easier Learning Curve: Due to its resemblance to a guitar and ukulele, the guitalele can be relatively easy for guitarists or ukulele players to learn. Familiar chord shapes and techniques can be transferred to the guitalele, making the learning curve smoother for players with experience on other instruments.
- More Songwriting Possibilities: The guitalele’s unique sound can add depth and character to songwriting and musical arrangements. Its distinct tonality can inspire new melodies and harmonies, enhancing the creative process for composers and songwriters.
- It’s an Affordable Option: Compared to full-sized guitars, guitaleles are generally more affordable, making them a budget-friendly choice for beginners or musicians looking to experiment with a new instrument without a significant financial overhead.
- Fun and Enjoyment Factor: Learning to play the guitalele can be fun! Its small size and unique sound create a delightful playing experience, whether practicing alone or performing for others.
Don’t just take our word for it. Check out this cool cover of Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s Scar Tissue from Luca Stricognoli. It will open up your ears to the chordal and fingerpicking possibilities available on a guitalele.
So How Does a Guitalele Compare to a Uke and a Guitar?
Guitars are everywhere. Being one of the most popular instruments, everyone is familiar with the sound of the guitar. Like all acoustic instruments, the size of the guitar’s body does matter. Its larger body size means that the tones produced will be deeper and more rich.
The problem, though, is dragging around an enormous instrument case through subways and airports. Let’s face it, Nobody likes wrestling a hard case during rush hour.
This is where the portability of the guitalele shines. The fact that it is tuned to the pitch of the guitar capped at the fifth fret means that all your guitar chords can be transposed. Guitar players can jump right in.
For uke players considering the guitalele, the addition of the A and D strings allows you to add bass notes to your existing ukulele chords, giving them a much fuller and richer sound. The guitalele also allows you to play across over three octaves as opposed to the ukulele’s standard two octave range.
One thing to keep in mind though is that the chord shapes for the guitalele have the same difficulty level as the guitar. This means that it can be a little more complicated than the “pick up and get going” nature of your first ukulele chords.
A good quality, great sounding guitalele that can be played acoustically or with an amp for better sound projection.
- Great sound and build quality
- In-built tuner
- Comes with lots of features
How Much is a Guitalele?
You can expect to pay a bit more for a guitalele than you would for a beginner’s soprano ukulele. To get yourself set up with your first guitalele, expect to spend somewhere in the $80 to $150 range.
Just like with ukuleles, the price can vary depending on the materials used and the craftsmanship. Mid-range guitaleles can cost anywhere from $100 to $300 and boast improved sound qualities and construction materials to your entry level instruments.
For the pros, or people willing to spend big on a guitalele, you can find some instruments reaching into the $500 to $1000 price range and even beyond.
Obviously for that price you can expect to receive a top quality instrument with superior sound and tonal qualities that is exquisitely made. They may even include additional features that enhance playability which aren’t available in lower priced models.
Ultimately though, the best way to find an instrument that really works for you is to hold it in your hands and play it. Have a go at playing different models from different brands, and at different price points to find an instrument that really matches your budget and requirements.
You may even be able to find a top quality, second-hand guitalele for just a fraction of its recommended retail price.
Whether you’re purchasing your first guitalele, or your second (or even third) you’re bound to have a blast with this awesome instrument. Have fun and happy strumming!
Conclusion
This instrument can be a bit intimidating when transitioning from a four-stringed to a six-stringed one, and from a large to a smaller one with a different tuning pattern. However, with all the nice characteristics and features we presented, not to mention its convenience, a guitalele is definitely a nice addition to your music arsenal.
Jay Searle
Website Founder & WriterJay is a self-professed music nerd and ukulele lover. When not working on the website you’ll find him strumming along to his favorite tunes, spending time with his family, or learning to play the piano.
