All Things `Ukulele

The ukulele (pronounced oo-koo-lele) comes in four sizes Soprano (sometimes called Standard), Concert, Tenor and Baritone. The Baritone is tuned just like the four thin strings of a standard tuned guitar and called "G" tuning (D G B E). The Soprano, Concert and Tenor uses "C" Tuning G C E A and "D" tuning (A D F# B). The Tenor can also be tuned like the Baritone ukulele.

A ukulele can be a mellow-mainland or bright-island sound.

If you don't have any concert size instruments nearby to try in a store you can create the scale length on your tenor with an inexpensive capo. A capo on the second or third frets of a tenor leaves you with a scale length (and fret spacing) similar to a concert and the neck width at that level should be very close to that found on most concerts. And if you want to get an idea of what a soprano scale would feel like put the capo at the 4th fret and you'll be almost exactly at the standard 13 5/8 inch length. However the width at that point on a tenor will in most cases be greater than at the nut of a soprano.

Ukuleles are available from a wide selection of manufactures and custom builders. There has never been a better time and wider range of instrument to choose from.

Ukuleles can be built using a wide range of material from carbon fiber and plastic to some of the best tonewoods available. The construction and materials used determine the sound of the ukulele. The choices are numerous. Most local music stores in many parts of the country do not have a good selection or any ukuleles to tryout. Let alone a staff knowledgeable on the ukulele. Most people new to the ukulele tend to buy their ukulele online without ever hearing it or playing it. One of the best ways to get some knowledge help on selecting a ukulele it to find a ukulele club in your area or attend one of the frequent ukulele festivals held across the USA and Internationally throughout the year. Festivals typically have ukulele vendors and custom ukulele builders showing and selling their instruments.

Traditionally ukuleles have been made of Mahogany or Koa. I've taken the four common sizes of ukulele, all constructed of Mahogany and recorded videos for comparison.

While not part of this particular article/lessons. There is one other style of ukulele worth mentioning: a banjo ukulele. It's can tuned the same as the Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukuleles. Playing wise, it is the same. It differs in construction and has a very brite, banjo like tone.

Traditional ukuleles have been either guitar shapes or pineapple shaped. Now, they can be anything. Here is an image of the characters in a Ukulele Font that captures the wide ranges of shapes available.

Friction Tuners are a 1 to 1 ratio. For every one complete turn of the tuning peg the string will make one complete turn around the tuning post. Banjo and vilion players will be familiar with friction tuners.

Geared Tuners are a ratio based tuning peg, with one complete turn of the tuning peg equal to a partial turn of the tuning post. Guitar players will be more comfortable with geared tuners.

The best of both world can be found in a revolutionary new tuning peg called PegHeds.

This is a personal preference and more of an issue on a Concert or Tenor ukulele. With the Baritone ukulele a more guitar like instrument, a cutaway might come in handy. A cutaway really helps in the low tuning and barre form chords further up the neck. Although, adjustments can be made to a chord voicing to deal with a non-cutaway uke.