“I play a little guitar” is a popular ukulele joke. The pun is that the meaning of “I play guitar a little” is changed when it’s written as “I play a little guitar.”
   
“Best part about carrying a ukulele through an airport: THEM: ‘So… you a musician?’ ME: ‘Yeah, I play a little guitar’” was posted on Twitter by Jason Permenter on November 30, 2009. “No matter where I go, I like to bring my ukulele, then, whenever someone asks if I play an instrument, I say… ‘I play a little guitar!’” was posted on Reddit—Dadjokes on December 15, 2020. “Took up the ukulele so I could say I play a little guitar” was posted on Twitter by Bob Golen on February 19, 2021.
       
“I play a little guitar, but mostly I play the ukulele” is a saying (acknowledging the joke, but in support of the ukulele) that has been printed on many images. “I Play a Little Guitar But Mostly I Play the Ukulele” (the 2019 title of a blank lined book) was posted on Google Books. “I play a little guitar but mostly I play the ukulele vintage shirt” was posted on Twitter by “Birthday T-shirt Idea - Best T-shirt gift” on July 3, 2020. “I play a little guitar but mostly I play the ukulele vintage shirt https://youtu.be/XkSe_383RZE via @YouTube” was posted on Twitter by blowtee on July 17, 2020.
   
     
Wikipedia: Ukulele
The ukulele (/ˌjuːkəˈleɪli/ YOO-kə-LAY-lee; from Hawaiian: ʻukulele [ˈʔukuˈlɛlɛ], approximately OO-koo-LEH-leh) is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii. It generally employs four nylon strings.
 
The tone and volume of the instrument vary with size and construction. Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone.
     
Twitter 
Jason Permenter
@jasonpermenter
Best part about carrying a ukulele through an airport:
THEM: “So… you a musician?”
ME: “Yeah, I play a little guitar.”
2:00 PM · Nov 30, 2009·Twitter Web Client
         
Twitter
sam waldron
@waldron76
I play a little guitar. It’s called a “ukulele”.
12:23 PM · Oct 27, 2010·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Dribbleglass
@dribbleglass
Little-known fact about me. I play a little guitar. Hint: It’s called a ukulele.
2:56 PM · Feb 16, 2012·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Paul Blanchard
@paulwrblanchard
I met Slash the other day and told him I play a little guitar.
“Acoustic or Electric?” he asked.
“Neither,” I said, “The ukulele.”
3:15 PM · Mar 25, 2012 from Camden, England·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
sickipedia
@sickipediareal
I met Slash the other day and told him I play a little guitar.
“Acoustic or Electric?” he asked.
“Neither,” I said, “The ukulele.”
7:47 AM · Mar 26, 2012·Twitter SMS
   
Twitter
Najwa
@naejwa28
i play a little guitar *pulls out ukulele*
7:49 AM · Dec 7, 2012·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
keith buckley
@deathoftheparty
“I mean, I’m not great but I can play a LITTLE guitar” - a ukulele owner
7:07 PM · Jan 13, 2013·Echofon
   
Twitter
Throb🎙Thomas
@nickprezioso
“I play a little guitar” - ukulele enthusiasts
8:48 AM · Feb 13, 2013·Sociable for iPhone
   
Twitter
Yupneck
@DadMidwaste
When people say they play a little guitar, I always assume it’s a ukulele
1:27 PM · Apr 3, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
 
Reddit—Puns
Posted by u/[deleted] May 30, 2016
Is it fair to say..
that all ukulele players play a little guitar?
   
Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/7Aero7 February 7, 2017
I was carrying my ukulele in its case at school and my friend asked, “You play an instrument?”
I replied, “Yeah, I play a little guitar.
 
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/TheCouchEmperor September 7, 2018
I was carrying my ukulele in its case at school and my friend asked, “You play an instrument?”.
I replied, “Yeah, I play a little guitar.”
 
Google Books
I Play a Little Guitar But Mostly I Play the Ukulele
A Blank Lined Music Sheet Soft Cover for You to Create Music, Write Notes, Or Even Write Down Lyrics!
By Alexander Gordian · 2019
   
Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/PILEoSHEET December 26, 2019
My son asked me to get him an Ukulele..
I thought he just played a little guitar.
 
Twitter
kayceearagon
@kayceearagon
I play a little guitar but mostly I play the ukulele
11:45 PM · Feb 4, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Birthday T-shirt Idea - Best T-shirt gift
@birthdayshirts1
I play a little guitar but mostly I play the ukulele vintage shirt https://birthdayshirtsidea.com/product/i-play-a-little-guitar-but-mostly-i-play-the-ukulele-vintage-shirt/
12:08 PM · Jul 3, 2020·WordPress.com
 
Twitter
blowtee
@blowtee3
I play a little guitar but mostly I play the ukulele vintage shirt https://youtu.be/XkSe_383RZE via @YouTube
10:30 PM · Jul 17, 2020·Twitter Web App
         
Reddit—Dadjokes   
Posted by u/honolulu_oahu_mod December 15, 2020
No matter where I go, I like to bring my ukulele, then, whenever someone asks if I play an instrument, I say…
“I play a little guitar!”
 
Twitter
Dad Jokes
@Dadsaysjokes
No matter where I go, I like to bring my ukulele, then, whenever someone asks if I play an instrument, I say…
“I play a little guitar!”
3:08 PM · Dec 15, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Bob Golen
@BobGolen
Took up the ukulele so I could say I play a little guitar.
10:01 PM · Feb 19, 2021·Twitter Web App
 
Best Life
40 Cheesy Jokes That’ll Make You Laugh in Spite of Yourself
LOVE A GOOD GROANER? THESE JOKES ARE MUST-HAVES FOR ANYONE WITH A CORNY SENSE OF HUMOR.
By BOB LARKIN
MARCH 30, 2021
(...)
35. No matter where I go, I like to bring my ukulele. That way, when someone asks if I play an instrument, I can say, “I play a little guitar.”
 
Reddit—Oneliners
Posted by u/808gecko808 July 2, 2021
No matter where I go, I like to bring my ukulele, then, whenever someone asks if I play an instrument, I say, “I play a little guitar!”