Gitalele

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A Gitalele (also written Guitarlele , Guitalele or Gitarrlele ) is a guitar that is about the size of a ukulele .

Yamaha Gitalele

While its dimensions are reminiscent of a ukulele, the gitalele, on the other hand, has six strings like a guitar, not four like the ukulele. With a length of 45 cm and a total length of 73 cm, it is slightly larger than a tenor ukulele. Guitarists can also use their usual fingerings on the gitalele (on the ukulele, on the other hand, the two lowest strings are “missing”).

In terms of the length , the Gitalele corresponds to a 1/8 concert guitar, which is usually used as a guitar for children. However, such children's guitars are usually tuned like a 4/4 guitar .

Mood

Since the length of the gitalele corresponds to the length of a 4/4 concert guitar fingered in the 7th fret, the gitalele is basically a fifth guitar and is therefore tuned a fifth higher than a guitar, i.e. to B, not E - hence the higher , " Hawaiian " sound:

  • Gitalele (like quint guitar): HEADF # H
  • Guitar: EADGHE
  • Ukulele: GCEA or ADF # H

It is also common to tune the guitar ele a fourth higher (this corresponds to a capo on the fifth fret of a 4/4 guitar). This gives it a slightly darker sound and is a little easier to grasp due to the lower string tension:

  • Gitalele (like quart guitar): ADGCEA

The guitar fingering in G major creates a D major chord on the guitar le with the fifth guitar tuning . For the quartz guitar tuning, this would be a C major chord. The basic tuning of the Gitalele is comparable to the sound of an acoustic guitar with a capo in the 7th fret (fifth) or 5th fret (fourth). When using stronger strings, a gitalele can also be brought to normal guitar tuning. Then there is no longer any need to transpose the specified chords while playing with guitars . However, the bass reproduction is severely restricted due to the small volume of the body.