Getting the Most Out of Playing the Ukulele! Size Differences and Comfortability in Playing

Hello Conservario.
There are many brands and shapes of ukuleles, but did you know that there is a difference in size as well?
Different sizes have different sounds and playing comfort. Here are the features and recommendations for each size.

Ukuleles come in three sizes: soprano, concert, and tenor.
The soprano is the smallest and the tenor is the largest.
The concert is the size between the two.

■ Soprano ukulele

This is the most common size ukulele. This is exactly what most people think of when people think of a ukulele.
The inexpensive ukuleles sold in stores and on the internet are called soprano size. It is much smaller than a guitar and can be held by women and children without any problem.
It is also easy to play for those with small hands. The sound is as light and beautiful as it looks.
It is often said that sopranos are best for beginners, but there are a few things to keep in mind. If you have large hands or body, you may feel that it is too small.
In which case, you may want to consider a larger size.
If you feel that the ukulele is too small when you actually hold it and play it, you may want to consider a larger size.
These are not ukuleles, but toys in the shape of a ukulele.
It is just like those children's toys that are shaped like a musical instrument that emits sound effects and plays songs when you push the buttons.
They don’t hold their tuning, they aren’t properly fretted, parts break, and many other things usually happen.
I understand that beginners may think that all ukuleles look the same and that the cheaper ones are fine, but...
I recommend buying a proper ukulele.

ARIA / AU-1KG Soprano Ukulele

■ Concert Ukulele

The concert ukulele is a little larger than the soprano. At first glance, they look like they’re about the same size, but when you hold a concert ukulele, you will be surprised to see the difference.
The body size, neck length, and fretboard width are wider. The sound is well-balanced with beautiful high notes and low notes.
I recommend the concert the most.
It looks like a soprano, but the sound is good.
The high position is easy to play and the pitch is stable.
If you mainly play ukulele as a solo ukulele, soprano is fine.
However, if you are considering solo ukulele as your main instrument, I would recommend a concert or tenor which I will introduce next.
Due to the structure of the instrument, soprano has almost no bass sound, so solo ukulele tends to sound lighter.
Of course, the lightness of the soprano sound is a good thing, but I chose the concert because I mainly play it for solo ukulele rather than just for playing.

ARIA / ACU-1K Concert Ukulele

■ Tenor Ukulele

Lastly, I would like to introduce the largest size tenor ukulele. It looks like a mini guitar for a moment, but it’s actually a ukulele.
Just by looking at it, you can tell that everything is bigger.
The body, neck, and string length are totally different from soprano and concert ukuleles.
The ukulele feels comfortable to play because of its large body and stable feel. The sound is very low and has a very nice bass sound that is perfect for solo ukulele playing.
If you have large hands or body, or if you mainly play solo ukulele, you should consider tenor. The downside is the price. A good tenor ukulele will almost certainly cost more than 10,000 yen.
The average price is 20,000 to 30,000. And, women and children may feel it is a little too big for them.
Since the tenor ukulele isn’t as cute (very subjective), go for a soprano or concert.

aNueNue ( ANNue ) / Lumi Basic III Mahogany (ANN-B3) Tenor Ukulele

■ Summary

I have compared each of the three sizes.
The small ukulele has a higher sound and is more suitable for solo ukulele playing.
The larger ukulele has more bass and is suitable for solo ukulele playing.
To be honest, the best way to find your favorite ukulele is to actually touch and play it rather than reading about it on the internet..
Although I wrote that concert or tenor ukuleles are recommended for solo ukulele, there are many who play great solo ukuleles on soprano.
I encourage you to try different sizes of ukuleles and see the difference for yourself.
If you have read this far, there is one more thing you should know about ukuleles.
There is actually another type of ukulele besides these three!
There is the baritone ukulele.
It is the largest size, larger than the tenor ukulele.
It is a very special ukulele with different tuning and strings.
It is almost as rare as a 7-string guitar (the original guitar has 6 strings).
If you are looking for a different ukulele, please check it out.

MAHALO / MJ4VT 3TS

Thank you for reading to the end.

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