WHATS AN UKULELE?????

The Ukulele is a small four stringed instrument originating in Hawaii influenced by Portugese immigrants.   The first makers of the instrument were from a Portugal and arrived to Hawaii aboard The Ravenscraig in the late 1800's.  There were primarily Three original ukulele makers all from that ship...Santo, Dias and Nunes.  Some of their ukuleles are still in existance today with Nunes being the most prolific and easiest to find.  The Hawaiians took to these small instruments and many began apprenticing under these makers.  Historically important of these early Hawaiian ukulele makers  Sam Kamaka...whose company he founded is still in existance today.  Other great makers were Akai, Sam Chang, Kaai.  As the popularity of ukuleles grew, American companies started making ukuleles.  Known for some of the best ukuleles ever made..C.F. Martin and company starting making ukuleles in 1916.  Others are Lyon and Healy, Regal, and Harmony.

Today ukuleles are made all over the world with many imports from China and Indonesia.  Although Ukuleles made in Hawaii are still the most cherished and revered..these imports in recent years have vastly improved and are no longer just considered toys but some are serious musical instruments.

WHATS THE DIFFERENCE IN A SOPRANO, CONCERT, TENOR, AND BARITONE UKULELE?

The Soprano is considered the standard size of ukulele most well known.  It is usually between 20 and 21" long and has a scale length of 12-1-2" to 13-1/2 inches.  Its sound is usually bright and plunky.  Made popular by the Tin Pan Alley sound and in Vaudville this is the size most see in old movies etc.

The Concert is the next size larger of ukulele.  They are usually about 24" long and have a scale length of about 15".   The increased scale length provides slightly wider frets making it easier to play for some than a soprano.

The Tenor is the largest of the regular tuned ukuleles and is now what most Hawaiian musicians play.  The larger body of the tenor makes for a richer more harplike tone typically.  The body is about 27" inches long and its scale length is usually 17".

All of the above sizes are typically tuned G C E A or " my dog has fleas" as many like to remember it as.  The tenor can also be tuned D G B  E.  There are variants on the tuning such as slack key tuning and Low g instead of the typical high g note.  Sopranos are also sometimes tuned a step higher at A D F# B.

The Baritone is the largest of the ukuleles and the most guitarlike.  Its sound is typically that of a small classical guitar and is tuned like the first four strings of a guitar or D G B E.  The length of a typical Baritone is between 30 and 34" long and its scale length is usually 19" or above.

WHATS A SUPERSOPRANO OR SUPERCONCERT?

These are modern variations of ukulele sizes that utilize hybrids between two different class ukuleles.  The Supersoprano is a concert scaled neck on a soprano body.  The Superconcert is a tenor neck on a concert body.

WHY DO SOME UKULELES COST 20.00 AND OTHERS INTO THE THOUSANDS?

Here the old saying "You get what you pay for" applies.  Inexpensive ukuleles often have poor intonation nd action (string height above frets) and tuners that do not work very well.  Although the improvements in these areas due to imported Asian ukuleles of now better and better quality has lesssened the gap.  This makes for a harder to play instrument and ione that doesn't sound as good.  Getting a good decent inexpensive ukulele is not difficult though.  A lot of times proper setup is required on these ukuleles before they will sound and play correctly.  Changing the strings provided originally by the manufacturer  to better quality strings also helps in the sound of these ukuleles.

Inexpensive ukuleles are also made up of laminate or plywood rather than solid wood.  The use of laminates allows for beautiful looking ukuleles at a fraction of the cost of solid wood ukuleles. Typically Solid wood ukuleles cost far more than laminate ukuleles.

Good quality ukuleles are almost always made of solid woods.   The most popular being hawaiian koa and mahogany.  As price increase so does intonation, playability, action and tone.  Fret boards that were once veneered plywood become solid rosewood and better yet ebony.  The nuts and saddles which are the parts which tranfer the strings vibrations to the instruments change from plastic to bone or synthetic bone materials.  The bracing of higher quality instruments is typically thinner and shaped allowing for better tone and sound production.  the tuner quality in good ukuleles improves and they stay in tune much better.

Well  this is all I have time for now...I will continue to expand this guide as time allows.  please email me at  if you have any ukulele questions you need answered.  I hope you have found this useful.  Aloha   da Musicguymic