Ukulele Sizes Part 2 - The Concert Ukulele

Of all the sizes of ukulele, the concert ukulele is often the most overlooked. The terms for the other sizes of ukulele are familiar to other people: soprano, tenor and baritone. But concert is slightly different.

The two most common size of ukulele for people to play are tenor and soprano. Each of these offers players their own advantages and disadvantages. But the concert offers players the perfect compromise between these two.

Concert Ukulele: Definition

Like all the ukulele classifications, the concert ukulele is defined by its scale length (i.e. the playable length of its strings). It has a scale length of around fifteen inches. This places it exactly in the middle of the soprano ukulele (with a scale length of thirteen inches) and the tenor (with a scale length of seventeen inches).

What's Good About the Concert Size Uke?

The concert ukulele should bring you what most people love about the soprano and tenors all in one package. You get an extra bit of room for your fingers to maneuver; allowing you to play more complex single note parts (as with the tenor). And you also get the traditional ukulele sound of the soprano and it is as natural as the soprano when it comes to chord playing.

The adaptability is the major appeal of the concert ukulele for me. It allows me to switch between fingerstyle and strummed sections of a particular piece without losing anything in the move in terms of sound and playability.

If you have tried playing a soprano ukulele but found you need a little more space - as many people do - then the concert ukulele should be your next stop.

What are the Disadvantages of the Concert Ukulele?

There are some downsides to the concert ukulele. They tend not to be as available as tenors and certainly not sopranos. This means you are likely to have less choice when you buy than you might with the other sizes.

Another is the price. In the beginner price bracket, you won't find too many concert ukuleles.

Should I Get a Concert Ukulele?

Concert ukuleles are great for intermediate players who want to stretch out their ukulele playing and take on new challenges. Moving their playing into new areas and taking on lead parts but still retaining the traditional sound of the ukulele.