Ukulele Sizes report

Ukulele is a traditional Hawaiian plucked musical instrument invented in Portugal and popular in Hawaii. Ukulele in Hawaiian means the coming gift. Because of its high portability and relatively low price, it sparked popularity throughout the 1920s. Ukulele has only four strings, while the guitar has six strings, one of the most noticeable differences.

It is recognized that the best material for making ukulele is the rare hardwood species Hawaiian Koa Acacia, light brown, and its flame-like texture is very delicate. Nowadays, Hawaiian Koa Acacia has been banned from logging, and the ukulele made from Hawaiian acacia has become more expensive. Therefore, luthiers focus on acacia from Southeast Asia, while the quality of ukulele is based on craftsmanship.

Have you ever learned to play ukulele? Many novices learning ukulele for the first time will feel at a loss as to which size should be chosen. If you are looking to pick up a charismatic instrument, you may need some guidance on starting. Let’s take a look at the various ukulele sizes and how they differ so you can begin your search.

Ukulele Size Guide

Ukulele has also become an instrument with a long history like a jazz guitar. Before purchasing, the first thing is to figure out what size of ukulele you should pick? Whatever your questions are, we will introduce the different ukulele sizes and the features of each one. There are five main sizes of ukuleles, and they have different names:

• Soprano: 21 inches / 53 cm.
• Concert: 23 inches / 58 cm.
• Tenor: 26 inches / 66 cm.
• Baritone: 29 inches / 74 cm.
• Bass: 30 inches / 76 cm.

As you can see, the soprano is the smallest and the bass is the largest. Ukulele sizes by different brands can vary by a couple of inches.

Soprano Ukulele

The soprano is the smallest ukulele, that offers a bright, traditional tone and is the same size as the ones first made in Hawaii back in the 1880s. It is the original and traditional ukulele size and an excellent choice for beginners or those looking to test their hands at uke playing.

Concert Ukulele

The concert-sized ukuleles are smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and it is well-balanced, easy to play, and perfect for anyone who just started learning. The sound of a concert ukulele is slightly louder due to the instrument’s body’s higher resonance.

Tenor Ukulele

Tenor ukuleles are larger than concert ukuleles and have a deeper sound. It has been a favorite of countless players since the 20th century. Some famous ukulele players, such as the pioneer Jesse Kaleihia Andre Kalima, play this uke style. The larger size means it is easier to do complex fingerpicking and other more professional and complex skills and performances, which is why many famous ukulele players pick a tenor ukulele.

Baritone Ukulele

The baritone ukulele can be regarded as the biggest of the ukes. It is tuned down lower than the other sizes to D-G-B-E baritone tuning, which will produce a significantly deeper sound. If you have particularly large hands, you might find that the extra space between frets offered by a baritone ukulele could come very handy, making it easier to play.

Bass Ukulele

Like there is a bass guitar, there is also a bass ukulele. In 2007, the ukulele manufacturer Kala created the U-bass, a very popular bass ukulele. It covers a much lower register and deeper tone than even the baritone ukulele. Bass ukuleles tend to be around 30-32 inches in size, so they are great even for professional players with larger hands.

There are also some less common ukulele sizes: banjo ukulele, electric ukulele, sopranino ukulele(12 inches), pineapple ukulele.

Things to know when choosing Ukulele

There is no single best-sized ukulele for beginners. After all, picking any instrument over another is a matter of personal preference. However, you should give it some thought before making a purchase and match your own needs. With so many different sizes of ukuleles, the following are important things you should consider when choosing a ukulel. Hopefully, now you are better prepared to pick your favorite instrument.

1. Material: Like all instruments, the ukulele's material determines its sound. Play around with ukuleles of different tonewoods (like koa, cedar, and redwood) or laminates to choose the right sound for you.
2. Size: Different sizes of ukuleles do not only sound different but also play slightly differently. Beginners usually start with a soprano or concert size because these sizes are small and easy to handle. The baritone ukulele might be best for those with large hands and fingers.
3. Budget: Different brands and different series of ukuleles differ in prices. Choosing the best ukulele within your budget is the wisest choice.

The best way is to visit musical instrument stores, try out various ukuleles, and consult professional players. Then you will know what ukulele sounds best to you and what ukulele feels best to you. These questions are often not answered as you start playing different kinds of ukuleles.