What is the difference between soprano and baritone ukulele
The most common sizes are soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. Some manufacturers make other sizes and shapes, such as the smaller piccolo or sopranissimo models, bass ukuleles, banjo ukes, or the novelty pineapple shape usually in soprano size. This article relates to the most popular, standard sizes. The sizes are not designed to match the physical size of the player, such as in fractional sizes you would see for violin and guitars. The soprano ukulele has a shallow, plinky tone.
On the other hand, the tenor ukulele has a deeper, fuller, and louder tone due to its larger body and longer length of strings. However, the tenor is tuned to the same pitches and octave as the soprano. The concert ukulele has tonal character that is between the soprano and tenor. The Baritone ukulele is the largest size in the ukulele family.
It is the only size that uses a different tuning! Because the baritone ukulele has the same tuning as the top 4 strings of a standard 6-string guitar, it can be helpful to start with a baritone ukulele.
You now have the same tuning as a baritone ukulele. If you play a G chord on the guitar, you can apply the same fingering on the baritone ukulele to make the same G chord, minus the 2 strings. This can be helpful for beginners as it is much easier to play many of those shapes with fewer strings. Now that we know the relation of the Baritone ukulele tuning to guitar, we can see how the other ukuleles compare.
The smaller soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles are tuned a 4 th higher, or 5 half steps higher than the baritone ukulele. It is this tuning that gives the ukulele its unique, characteristic sound! Additionally, it may be easier for the player to comprehend learning to read music and playing scales. These strings will have a different thickness, or gauge. Note: you may also need to have a luthier reshape the groove for the nut to accommodate a thicker string to ensure it sits properly in that groove if you decide to install the low G string.
Because of the similar tuning structure for guitar and ukulele, you can use the same fingerings to play both instruments. You will find many of the techniques carry over. If you play guitar, you can play the ukulele! Because the instruments are in a different key, you will need to transpose between guitar and ukulele. Here are some of our favorite beginner ukuleles - these are well-built but affordable instruments that will provide you with the perfect foundation for your ukulele journey! Lanikai LU Ukuleles.
Kala Makala Ukuleles. Oscar Schmidt OU2 Ukuleles. This refers not only to the size of the instrument, but how it complements your individual style and tastes. For the outdoorsy type, a Kala Waterman ukulele makes a great gift. Whether they plan on taking it along to outdoor gigs or just playing at the pool, these ukuleles are made of a durable polycarbonate that will hold up against the elements, and they sound great too!
The Luna Tattoo Ukulele features a cool pineapple body shape and "tattoo" design which integrate shapes and symbols that represent the natural island world, including waves and shark teeth. This super portable electric ukulele has a truly unique sound and include a pickup system with active EQ and built in tuner. Compare Now. The four strings are generally tuned to the standard GCEA re-entrant tuning.
Because soprano ukuleles are so small and lightweight, they can be carried almost anywhere. Soprano ukuleles, because of their size, have the lightest sound. These ukuleles have the thin, jangly sound that is most commonly associated with ukuleles.
Many players prefer the bright, tinkly, traditional sound of soprano ukuleles. Some people with larger hands may find they have trouble playing soprano ukuleles because the frets are so close together.
People with smaller hands, however, may find that soprano ukuleles are the most comfortable to play. Soprano ukuleles are generally the most inexpensive ukuleles, so you can get a decent quality instrument for less if you decide to go with a soprano ukulele.
My Alvarez Grateful Dead concert ukulele in "roses. The next size up is the concert ukulele, also sometimes called an alto ukulele. Like the soprano ukulele, concert ukuleles are usually tuned to the standard GCEA re-entrant tuning, though some musicians prefer to use linear tuning.
Because concert ukuleles are slightly larger than their soprano counterparts, they have a warmer, fuller sound. Some players prefer this fuller sound to the brighter sound of standard soprano ukuleles. Because concert ukuleles are larger and longer than soprano ukuleles, the frets are spaced further apart.
Tenor ukuleles are just a little bit larger than concert ukuleles. Just like the soprano and concert ukuleles, tenor ukes are usually tuned to GCEA re-entrant. Tenor is the next step up from the concert in size. The extra length allows for wider spacing between the frets. This makes tenor ukuleles suited for fingerpicking. The tenor size is the most popular among professional players, but is great for any skill or experience level.
A tenor ukulele may be even more comfortable for those with larger hands and fingers than the concert size. The larger size gives the tenor a deeper, fuller sound with a resonant, almost bass-y tone.
The tenor ukulele also projects better than the concert, making the volume a bit louder. The Tenor XL is a newer type of ukulele that has been growing in popularity over the last few years.
This unique size is larger than a traditional tenor ukulele. It offers even more comfort to those with larger hands. Our Tenor XL models come with a longer neck, a longer body, and a wider lower bout than traditional tenor ukuleles.