[lightedman]

I'd have to argue against starting with a ukulele. You miss out on the unusual tuning quirk present 6-stringed instruments tuned to thirds, where every string but one can match the tuning of the string above it by phrasing at the 5th fret, that string being the 3rd string (G) and the one above it (B,) you have to phrase at the 4th fret of the 3rd string to get the matching B of the string above instead of at the 5th fret.

I'd also say go with 6 strings because the typical chords can have more than 4 notes.

[bench_soup]

"miss out on the unusual tuning quirk present 6-stringed instruments tuned to thirds"

A ukulele is tuned to thirds as well. It is basically the same as a four string guitar with a capo on 5th fret (with the typical quirk of having the lowest string being an octave higher)

"I'd also say go with 6 strings because the typical chords can have more than 4 notes."

Typical chords for a beginner are minor and major chords which uses only 3 notes. And the augmented 7th have 4 notes which leaves you with quite some chords to play.

You will be limited by extended dominant 9th,11th and 13th but I wouldn't call those typical.

I think a ukulele can be fine to start as you'll get some very quick progress, but its limitations will come very quick as well.

[lightedman]

"It is basically the same as a four string guitar with a capo on 5th fret (with the typical quirk of having the lowest string being an octave higher)"

5th fret represents going up at most 3 whole notes, not 8.

"Typical chords for a beginner are minor and major chords which uses only 3 notes."

Those are 'power chords' and not your full basic A-G chords. Your basic base E-chord is E-B-E-G#/Ab-B-E on a regular guitar and on a uke it's E-B-E-G#/Ab. Not even a major or minor, just the basic full chord itself runs at least four notes.

"I think a ukulele can be fine to start as you'll get some very quick progress, but its limitations will come very quick as well."

The limitations become apparent around day two when you realize the E you're playing on a uke doesn't sound as full or bright as an E played on a guitar. I put mine down after a week and never looked back. That was... 23 years ago.

[bench_soup]

Powerchords are usually only fundamental + fifth. you can play those on 2 strings only.

As long as you have 3 notes available you can make a full major or minor chord as it only involved a fundamental, third and fifth.

It will sound different on a ukulele especially because of the bourdon and wont sound as rich as it will hold less harmonics (no additional higher/lower strings to repeat the note) but that's still plenty of possibilities.

Too bad you had a bad experience with it but it still is a full fledged instrument capable of playing decent music. Of course trying to play guitar songs on it will sound disappointing most of the time.

[mcrad]

You can think of the ukulele as a way to get more comfortable with alternate chord voicings for guitar (from 5th fret up). There's not much more to it than that. Play a "D shape", get a G chord; play a "G shape", get a C chord etc.