Guitar vs. Guitalele — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 8, 2024
A guitar is a versatile string instrument available in various sizes and types, while a guitalele is a hybrid combining the guitar's shape and strings with a ukulele's compact size and tuning.
Difference Between Guitar and Guitalele
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A guitar is a popular six-string instrument used in a wide range of musical styles, typically available as acoustic or electric versions. A guitalele, on the other hand, is a smaller, six-string instrument tuned like a guitar but a fourth higher, resembling a ukulele in size.
Guitars generally come in different sizes and styles to accommodate various playing techniques and genres, while the guitalele's smaller body and higher tuning make it ideal for travel and portability.
Guitars, whether acoustic or electric, provide a full range of tones and dynamic control due to their size and string arrangement. Guitaleles, conversely, offer a brighter sound with their high tuning and compact build, perfect for casual strumming and travel.
Guitars are better suited for musicians seeking a full-bodied, standard sound across genres. Guitaleles, however, appeal to those who prefer portability and are comfortable with ukulele-like tuning.
Comparison Chart
Size
Full-sized, different body types
Smaller, compact size
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Tuning
Standard guitar tuning (EADGBE)
Tuned a fourth higher than guitar (ADGCEA)
Body Type
Various shapes and depths
Small, typically one shape
Sound
Rich, full sound
Bright, high-pitched sound
Portability
Less portable due to larger size
Highly portable due to compactness
Compare with Definitions
Guitar
A six-string instrument played across genres.
The guitarist tuned his guitar before playing a folk song.
Guitalele
A small guitar-ukulele hybrid instrument.
The guitarist took his guitalele to the park for a jam session.
Guitar
Offers a wide range of tones and dynamic control.
Electric guitars produce various tones using effects pedals.
Guitalele
Tuned a fourth higher than a standard guitar.
A guitalele sounds more like a ukulele due to its high tuning.
Guitar
Available in acoustic or electric versions.
An acoustic guitar is ideal for unplugged performances.
Guitalele
Features six strings like a guitar.
Despite its size, the guitalele has all six strings like a guitar.
Guitar
Typically features a long neck with 20 or more frets.
The guitarist slid his fingers up and down the guitar neck.
Guitalele
Combines the guitar’s neck and strings with a ukulele’s body.
The guitalele’s body shape resembles that of a tenor ukulele.
Guitar
Common in genres from rock to classical music.
The band’s guitarist plays electric guitar for their rock songs.
Guitalele
Suitable for travel due to its small size.
The musician carried his guitalele on the plane easily.
Guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strings against frets with the fingers of the opposite hand.
Guitalele
A guitalele (sometimes spelled guitarlele or guilele), also called a ukitar, or kīkū, is a guitar-ukulele hybrid, that is, "a 1/4 size" guitar, a cross between a classical guitar and a tenor or baritone ukulele. The guitalele combines the portability of a ukulele, due to its small size, with the six single strings and resultant chord possibilities of a classical guitar.
Guitar
A stringed musical instrument, with a fretted fingerboard, typically incurved sides, and six or twelve strings, played by plucking or strumming with the fingers or a plectrum.
Guitalele
(musical instrument) A musical instrument that is a hybrid between a small guitar and a ukulele.
Guitar
A musical instrument having a flat-backed rounded body that narrows in the middle, a long fretted neck, and usually six strings, played by strumming or plucking.
Guitar
(musical instrument) A stringed musical instrument, of European origin, usually with a fretted fingerboard and six strings, played with the fingers or a plectrum (guitar pick).
Learning to strum the guitar rhythmically is essential.
She was carrying her guitar in a fancily-decorated case.
The band is looking for a new guitar player.
Guitar
(musical instrument) Any type of musical instrument of the lute family, characterized by a flat back, along with a neck whose upper surface is in the same plane as the soundboard, with strings along the neck and parallel to the soundboard.
Guitar
(rare) To play the guitar.
Guitar
A stringed instrument of music resembling the lute or the violin, but larger, and having six strings, three of silk covered with silver wire, and three of catgut, - played upon with the fingers.
Guitar
A stringed instrument usually having six strings; played by strumming or plucking
Common Curiosities
Which instrument is easier to play for beginners?
A guitalele’s compact size and high tuning can be more approachable for beginners.
What is a guitalele?
A guitalele is a small, six-string instrument with a guitar-like tuning and ukulele-like size.
How is a guitalele tuned compared to a guitar?
A guitalele is tuned a fourth higher than a guitar, from ADGCEA.
Does a guitalele have different fret spacing from a guitar?
Yes, the guitalele’s frets are closer together due to its smaller size.
Do guitars and guitaleles have the same number of strings?
Yes, both instruments have six strings.
Is a guitalele considered a toy instrument?
No, it is a legitimate musical instrument but may seem toy-like due to its size.
Does a guitalele have the same body shapes as a guitar?
No, guitalele bodies are generally smaller and simpler in shape.
Can a guitalele be tuned like a guitar?
While possible, the high tension on strings due to its size may cause tuning instability.
What styles of music can a guitalele play?
It can play most styles but is particularly suited for folk, pop, and world music.
What is a guitar?
A guitar is a six-string instrument commonly played in various music genres.
Is the guitalele suitable for professional performances?
It is generally better suited for casual play due to its brighter sound.
Can guitar players easily switch to playing guitalele?
Yes, but they will need to adjust to the higher tuning and smaller size.
Do guitaleles have built-in electronics like some guitars?
Some guitaleles include pickups or electronics for amplification.
Are guitars more versatile than guitaleles?
Yes, guitars offer a broader range of tones and are more adaptable to different genres.
Is a guitalele suitable for songwriting?
Yes, its portability makes it ideal for songwriting on the go.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
