The Mighty `Ukulele

Common Ukulele Sizes

The Four Most Common types of ukuleles include:.

• Soprano — often called a standard ukulele
• Concert
• Tenor
• Baritone

Less common are the sopranino (also called piccolo, bambino, or "pocket uke"), Bass (uBass) , and contrabass ukuleles. The soprano, often called "standard" in Hawaii, is the smallest and was the original size. The concert size was developed in the 1920s as an enhanced soprano, slightly larger and louder with a deeper tone. Shortly thereafter, the tenor was created, having more volume and deeper bass tone. The baritone ( resembling a smaller tenor guitar ) was created in the 1940s, and the contrabass and bass are recent innovations (2010 and 2014, respectively).

Super Tenors, Long Neck ( insert uke size here )

There's a trend of putting the next sized uke's scale length neck uke on a smaller sized body and call it a super or long neck so and so ukulele.

It can also simply be the longer baritone 19in scale length neck on a tenor body for a Super Tenor and using C Tuning.

Soprano

Standard

Often called Standard in Hawaii. This is the size that most people not familiar with the ukulele think of when someone mentions the ukulele.

Standard – this is the size that most people associate a ukulele with is they are not already familiar with the ukulele family of instruments.

More Tuning Info

Concert

Super Soprano, Alto

This is the next size up from the standard soprano ukulele. The concert size was developed in the 1920s as an enhanced soprano, slightly larger and louder with a deeper tone. Actually created to be louder in un-amplified situations as was typical in the 1920s and 30s. No PA (public address) systems back then.

More Tuning Info

Tenor

Taro patch, Liliʻu, Long Neck Tenor

This is the next size up from the standard soprano ukulele. The concert size was developed in the 1920s as an enhanced soprano, slightly larger and louder with a deeper tone. Actually created to be louder in un-amplified situations as was typical in the 1920s and 30s. No PA (public address) systems back then.

More Tuning Info

Baritone

Taro patch, Liliʻu, Long Neck Tenor

Often considered a small guitar as is tuned the same as the thin four strings a standard tuned guitar.

Resembling a smaller tenor guitar was created in the 1940s. Author Godfery's instrument of choice.

More Tuning Info

Should You Study Music With A Teacher or Should You "Wing" It On You Own?

This question always comes up in this type of discussion about music.

Here is Chuck Anderson's take on the question.

An objective assessment of the two alternative approaches leads me (Chuck Anderson) invariably towards the formal route. Why? Because without guidance, there is a tendency to go in circles, What do you practice, when do you move to the next topic? When are you doing something wrong? How do you practice what doesn't exist to you? — Chuck Anderson.

Chuck Anderson, who I studied with for many, many years is on of the most knowledgeable musicians and teachers I've ever had the privilege to know. And, could communicate this vast music knowledge to his students, myself included. - Curt Sheller

Good Trade!

Woman is at a uke festival with a lovely soprano ukulele under her arm. Another woman walks up and gazes admiringly at the first woman's uke, at which point the woman holding the uke looks over and says with a smile: got it for my husband. Second woman nods and says, good trade.