Wonderful explanation of the different types of ukulele. I play guitar, and just bought a tenor uke. It’s been a blast so far. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
awesome!! @@MrET114 I have a 10% discount code for all Kala ukuleles in the video description! If you click the link it will apply the 10% discount code when you check out.
I was going to buy a Soprano Ukulele to help me to learn how to play the classical guitar but after watching your video I now see that a baritone Ukulele will be the best option so thanks.
Good video! I started short time ago with a soprano and a concert Ukulele. So far it is fun to play few easy German Traditional Songs, which I played usually with accordion.
Thanks Gracie. I started lessons on a soprano - an Xmas gift - but found fast chord changes to be difficult. I got a concert which has been my main Uke but I kind of wish I got a tenor instead. I know what will be on my next birthday list...a low G tenor👍
ahh yes i didn't mention that option because I haven't played that myself. maybe i should try it out though! do you use normal baritone uke strings and just tune it to GCEA? or do you use tenor strings? or guitar strings?
@@GracieTerzian (Sorry for the words words words.) Tenor strings work. Alternatively if you want to be super safe about it and not trust people on the internet lol. You can get the Aquila (other brands too) set that’s made specifically for a baritone to be in standard uke tuning that comes with a high G then to get that low G by just buying a low G tenor string made of the same material. Which comes to like 15 bucks about the same as say elixirs for a guitar. Don’t put metal guitar strings on a uke as it’s a high potential for damage if not definite. Kind of like you wouldn’t put metal guitar strings on a nylon guitar. DAddorio does make some metal (titanium) strings designed for uke tension but I haven’t tried them. I personally wouldn’t even try with nylon guitar strings either do to potential tension damage.
I bought a soprano with no knowledge of ukes and i honestly wish I’d bought a concert or tenor but soprano is working great for me at the moment and I’ll definitely consider buying a different size next time. Thanks for the Help!
with all the information needed and a relieving presentation! thanks from Turkiye. now ı know ı should buy a baritone so ı may switch to guitar or can hear the lowest sound
Great video. I started out with a concert, then bought some tenor ukes. I have 3 tenors and one concert now. I'd like to get a soprano because I love the higher tones. Always enjoy your videos, Gracie!
Hi Gracie, thanks for the great video. Just to say that I’m a ukulele player myself and I fitted my baritone with strings that give a tuning similar to the drop G tenor you showed, only an octave down. This instrument gives a great bass line when playing with my group Fluke! in four parts.
@@GracieTerzian Hi Gracie, thanks for getting back to me. Yes, I use a guitar 6th String E, a 5th String A, a 4th String D and a 3rd String G. I tune these to the Drop G ukulele tuning. I figured that the shorter lengths of the ukulele would make up for the higher tensions required and it works really well. In my group I mainly play Bass but I make demo multi-track recordings as teaching materials so I’m well acquainted with all the instruments. I just love it! Keep up the great work Gracie, you’re doing a fantastic job and you have a singing voice like velvet……
Was looking for video to understand which one to buy for my school and found your video. Recently had seen another video of yours. So subscribed! Thanks for the video.
Thanks so much for this. About to retire, and will have time to learn an instrument, and love the sound it makes ( ever since I heard Israel's Rainbow song and bought 2 of his CD's, have wanted a ukelele )
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing this! 1 comment though, GCEA & DGBe are not dissimilar tunings, in fact you have the Ukulele tunning on a standard Guitar, if you bar or capo the 5th Fret of the DGBe strings.. GCEA are all perfect 4ths of their respective string on Guitar i.e. Uke's G = D's 4th.. C = G's 4 .. E = B's 4th & A = e's 4th. So the math behind it should be the same for the D major chord set on guitar!
Im normally a Banjo player, I have been playing banjo for 4 years now. I was at a yard sale and they had a Kala Concert Ukulele for $40. I couldn't pass it up and I'm now learning a second instrument. Ukuleles make a beautiful sound, they're lightweight, easy to travel with, easy to learn (compared to the banjo anyway). I don't see a downside here. Looking forward to learning.
You should try learning clawhammer ukulele! You might enjoy it coming from the banjo… any ukulele with a high g string will work, so your Kala concert uke should be great for it!
Very well done! Lots of info in just 10 mins, so this is a great introduction for me. I have many sorts of fretted stringed instruments, but no ukulele yet, so your video is my "buyer's guide." It would be cool if you could do one on the quality of the different makers, taking about tone woods, bracing, tuners, etc. [Just my 2¢] THANKS!!
Now I know, actually the one who introduced me to a guitar was my late great grandfather and he also known for making ukulele But I really don't have any idea that there are 4 types of them . maybe I should try that baritone ukulele.
I was wondering, the soprano uke sounds heavenly and it is of course for soft music. Right? I LOVE soft music. I've been wanting to buy a ukulele with the sound that matches the soft, angelic vibe and im just wondering if soprano or concert includes in that vibe more. Anyone who has played ukulele or someone who knows please tell me between those 3 sounds like that. Thank you, and im so sorry!
To be honest I think soprano, concert, and tenor all sound soft. I think it more has to do with the type of strings to get the “soft” sound you’re looking for. Strings really change the softness/harshness/brightness of the sound in my opinion. Concert and soprano really sound the same.. concert just has a longer neck. My favorite is tenor so I’m biased… but you can get a soft sound out of any of those 3. Even baritone if you have the right strings on it. I use black fluorocarbon strings, but strings aren’t very expensive and easy to change so you can totally experiment with different strings.
@@GracieTerzian cool! thank you. Back many years ago, when Tiny Tim was popular, I bought a soprano ukulele, not knowing they were different sizes and with different voicings and tunings. I currently am playing a concert uke and am considering a tenor in the future. Thanks again for the tip.
I'm a baritone player but recommend beginners start with concert or tenor- there is way more instructional material for standard tuning. Once you're an advanced beginner, it's easy to transition to the baritone.
As the guitar player I'd never choose bariton. It looks and feels and sound like a cropped guitar. Why using it if I already have it but with two additional strings😀 I'd say bariton can be a good starting point of learning the guitar. But it is hard to call it ukulele. It has lost all the ukulele charm but didn't grow to a guitar. Soprano and concert are perfect true ukuleles to begin with. Tenor might be a great addition of uke collection for deeper lyric or epic compositions. For lower and deeper sound just choose the guitar😁
I have a nice concert ukulele and I want to get a tenor or even a baritone at some point😊 I remember learning ukulele for first time I taught myself and it was tricky at first but then after a while I just have so much fun
Even smaller is the Sompranisimo Ukulele, by far the easiest to pack and carry with you on a trip/plane. Our favorite though is the eight string Tenor Ukulele.
Thank you for sharing - I am a guitarist and have a soprano ukulele just for a bit of fun playing - I am going to get my granddaughter a soprano and am considering upgrading my uke for teaching her - I am undecided on a concert or tenor - baritone is moving too close to a normal guitar and I can't see the point for me - This is very helpful and I am thinking of getting a decent concert but will pop into the music store and try each before - It would be a good idea to have one with a low G as well for a different sound for what they cost - I feel a project looming !!!!!
LOL I can tell which size you prefer. When it's the soprano and concert, it's low end Kalas. When it's tenor, out comes the Anuenue Moonbird with a low g and a strap lol. Nice :)
I once met a musician playing an instrument which she called a u-bass. I interpreted that as a 'bass ukelele'. It certainly had ukelele characteristics, like the 4 nylon strings, and sounded and looked like a ukelele on steroids. The sound was not very 'bassy' though. Do you have any information about this instrument?
Hi! I have 2 u-basses actually. I love them! But they are 100% basses and not ukuleles. I'm not sure what that musician had... but all the U-Basses I know, are just like tiny basses. But they are still just as low sounding as a regular bass, and they are tuned the same way as a bass. Only get a U-bass if you want to use it to actually play bass. Not to play ukulele. But to play bass, they are super awesome. My favorites are the solid-body ones.. I've found the hollow-body ones have feedback issues.
Probably a Kala "U-Bass". Supposed to allow a player to cover a more conventional bass role. They don't sound too bad, but dialing in the eq and amplification is almost required to get the most out of them. I've heard a couple that actually sounded pretty good.
Thank you for such a thorough explanation of different ukulele types. As someone who has a good ear and some compositional ability, yet is also a weak intermediate keyboard player, the prospect of playing anything other than keyboards feels truly daunting. I am getting a kalimba to see if I can master that first. Ukulele will most likely be next. Your video has really helped me make better decisions in terms of these lovely little instruments.
I learned (the hard way) that you can't change to a low G string on every uke. I bought an Enya Nova which is a lovely instrument but mine has plastic frets. Enya recommend not using wound low-G strings on these instruments. I was planning to use strings for GDAE tuning like a violin but they have 2 wound strings, so I can't.
The soprano looks like it would be tougher to play going higher up the neck and intonation would be troublesome. Also it would cut down the number of chords with the shorter neck. I am leaning toward the concert.
first, i agree with everything you said! second, please allow me to add to it from the men's point of view. many women and children have very flexible, pliable, nimble fingers. However the opposite is true for men. Many have stiff fat fingers, making it hard to play except after many months of practice. So there is always hope, don't give in or up. also consider buying guitar, baritone and concert uke; one each. - they are all related. The guitar is tuned; E-A-D-G-B-E the concert uke is tuned; according to the guitar behind the 5 fret 4 top strings as G-C-E-A and the baritone is tuned; according to the guitar behind the 5 fret 4 middle strings as D-G-C-E that is very important to keep in mind when transposing between the concert and baritone. the formula is 4. okay here is how that works... your sheet music for the ukulele say the chords for a song is C, F, G. however you have a baritone so you must go up to the fourth of each chord C to F; F to B, G to C. you continue to use uke shape chords but in the new position thus making the transposition easy. Just count up 4...easy peasy. you have a great channel so i had to liked and subscribe, thank you
What a wonderful introduction to the different kinds of ukelele! I see elsewhere on the internet that there is also a Bass Ukelele. Is there a reason for not including this in the presentation?
Thanks Gracie for this clear explanation ❤ Apart from the advice to "feel" all the types in the store ... When you are used to the guitar frets would it be logical to choose the tenor? Because this might resemble most to the guitar? I'm not sure, just asking 😊
@@GracieTerzian Well I guess I will stick to the GCEA setting😉. Before your video I wasn't even aware there are more than one type of ukes. So it turns out that my uke ( a 30 year old gift) is a sopranino. Only 12 frets and a body of 22 centimeters. Looks like a toy for tiny Tim, on wich it's hard for me to get the chords with my fingers.😂 However I manage to play the simple chords like C,G,Em, Am and F, I'm struggling with D and D7. My best effort is indexfinger on fret 2 of G and C string and middle finger on fret 2 of E string. When I have to switch to D7 my ring finger is stuck so I have to grab fret 3 on the A string with my pinky. Do you have any advice on this chord fingering? Maybe you could make a video about the best chord fingering on the uke?🤪😊
A nicely produced video but you need to correct the assertion that a concert has a lower pitch than a soprano. They are the same pitch if tuned the same, it is the quality of the note that varies with a larger body.
How are you attaching the strap to the neck of the Ukulele? Also, I purchased a baritone a little while ago, and it was way too large for me -- did not fit under my arm at all and there were several chords that required a larger hand than mine. So if you are small adult, the baritone may be too large to be comfortable.
What the hell is the difference between the concert and the tenor? They almost don't sound different by much of a big difference. I have the tenor and I'm seriously considering buying a concert as a back up second. I have my tenor tuned to low G and am thinking about buying the concert to keep as a high g tuning... What are your thoughts? Or should I do the low g tuning on the concert and the high g on the tenor? Now I'm lost and I have so many questions. LOL! HALP!!
I would keep the tenor with low G, and get a concert with high G if I were you :). Then you have one that is definitely overall higher (the concert with the high G) and one that is definitely overall lower (the tenor with the low G) :)
I've Never played a stringed instrument, but desperately want to learn. I eventually want to transition to the acoustic guitar, as my ultimate aim is to achieve the acoustic folk sounds characteristics of the 60's-70's. Is it okay for me to start learning on a baritone ukulele, without prior string experience, or must I start with the concert or tenor? I'm torn, the more videos I watch the more confused I become. I prefer the sounds of the baritone and low G tenor/concert. Since I m hope to eventually progress ro the 6 string, but have zero experience wirh steings, what do you suggest?
I got a tenor ukulele because I like the deep sound, but my hands are too small to properly play the chords. What should I do? Should I settle for a smaller one?
I have had years of guitar and just started the uke. I am having a blast. I am curious, would a tenor uke be strong enough to handle baritone uke stringing? For in case I tire of the low G alone and want to go back to guitar finger-style picking without lugging my huge guitar around? Or are they made too risky for the string tension?
I have a concert and am considering buying a baritone, do you think the frets’ size is much bigger? There are some notes i cant play on an electric guitar so I’m afraid I won’t be able to play them on the baritone ukulele!
Hi Catarina! Good question. So... the frets are definitely bigger on a baritone than on a concert ukulele. HOWEVER they're also much smaller than on a guitar. So.. if you have trouble playing things on a guitar, you might not have any trouble on a baritone. The baritone is WAY easier to hold/grasp/reach notes than a guitar. I hope that helps! Maybe try one out at a store... or get one that isn't too expensive at first. I have a 10% discount code for all Kala ukuleles.. it's in the description of this video. Good luck!
possibly! but if they're used to guitar they still might prefer a tenor because it will still feel very light compared to the guitar. i'd have them try the different sizes out and see...
Yes there are bass ukuleles and they are awesome! It's called a u-bass. They are tuned the same way as a normal bass (EADG), and are just as low in pitch as a regular bass. They're just physically smaller. When it comes to u-basses, I prefer solid body ones. In my experience, the hollow body ones have feedback issues. I've tried out a fair amount of them, and the solid bodies are just more reliable.
It’s a nice presentation, but the baritone playing part would have been more effective at showing how the sound differs from the three smaller ukes if you had played the same chords, not the same chord *forms*. The way you did it wound up being apples to oranges.
It depends what you mean by "beginner." Oftentimes when people say "beginner" they just mean something that isn't too expensive because they don't want to invest too much on an instrument they aren't sure if they'll like or not (understandably). Is that what you mean? If so, I have a link in the description that has some inexpensive ukuleles I think are decent for their price. On the flip side, there is something to be said about getting a really nice instrument as your first one because it will make it much more fun to practice and easier to play. My first ukulele was actually a very nice one, and I think part of the reason I stuck with it and fell in love with the ukulele so quickly was because I had a really nice instrument from the beginning. If I had started out on something cheap, I may not have enjoyed it very much. So... that's why I hesitate when people ask for a "beginner" ukulele :)
People, you know, maybe getting a ukulele is not a good idea. People think it’s an easy instrument to learn to play because it’s small. It’s not more or less easy than any other instrument. Learning to play 2-3 chords is not learning how to play it. It just makes you and your ukulele annoying.
0:14 Soprano
1:21 Concert
2:20 Tenor
6:06 Baritone
Thank you
Wonderful explanation of the different types of ukulele. I play guitar, and just bought a tenor uke. It’s been a blast so far. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
yay! glad you're enjoying the ukulele - it's a really fun little instrument :)
@@GracieTerzianGreat Video! I will be getting a concert ukulele for my birthday on the 19th of December!!!
awesome!! @@MrET114 I have a 10% discount code for all Kala ukuleles in the video description! If you click the link it will apply the 10% discount code when you check out.
@@MrET114 How's it going so far?
Literally... the best and most concise comparison of ukulele variants on UA-cam.... **claps**
I was going to buy a Soprano Ukulele to help me to learn how to play the classical guitar but after watching your video I now see that a baritone Ukulele will be the best option so thanks.
So glad I could help! Thanks for letting me know, it makes me very happy to hear.
thanks for the information i've been playing ukes for 40 years so good
Thank you i almost buy soprano but after hearing the concert i changed my mind thank you again you saved my money😊
As always perfectly xplained n demonstrated for better understanding of d instrument
thank you! :)
You make everything seem so simple and soothing!.. great lesson!
I appreciate that!
Good video! I started short time ago with a soprano and a concert Ukulele. So far it is fun to play few easy German Traditional Songs, which I played usually with accordion.
Concert works best for me. Tenor seems just a little too large for my hands which are on the small side.
I love the way the Tenor sounds
Excellent demonstration and also sound comparison on the low/high G string ...
Really great video! My favourite ukulele at the moment is the tenor!
Mine too!
Thanks Gracie. I started lessons on a soprano - an Xmas gift - but found fast chord changes to be difficult. I got a concert which has been my main Uke but I kind of wish I got a tenor instead. I know what will be on my next birthday list...a low G tenor👍
haha yes tenor is my favorite :) -- i hope your birthday isn't too far away! :D
@@GracieTerzian September....dang it
@@robertkizik3939 hahaha
Good video. My personal favorite isn’t mentioned Low G set in standard uke tuning but on the baritone.
ahh yes i didn't mention that option because I haven't played that myself. maybe i should try it out though! do you use normal baritone uke strings and just tune it to GCEA? or do you use tenor strings? or guitar strings?
@@GracieTerzian
(Sorry for the words words words.)
Tenor strings work.
Alternatively if you want to be super safe about it and not trust people on the internet lol. You can get the Aquila (other brands too) set that’s made specifically for a baritone to be in standard uke tuning that comes with a high G then to get that low G by just buying a low G tenor string made of the same material.
Which comes to like 15 bucks about the same as say elixirs for a guitar.
Don’t put metal guitar strings on a uke as it’s a high potential for damage if not definite. Kind of like you wouldn’t put metal guitar strings on a nylon guitar.
DAddorio does make some metal (titanium) strings designed for uke tension but I haven’t tried them. I personally wouldn’t even try with nylon guitar strings either do to potential tension damage.
I bought a soprano with no knowledge of ukes and i honestly wish I’d bought a concert or tenor but soprano is working great for me at the moment and I’ll definitely consider buying a different size next time. Thanks for the Help!
you can always have more than one uke ;)
@@GracieTerzian exactly! :)
You are a really good teacher.
Very pretty and a wonderful personality too.
Thanks
You explained it so well. Thank you
with all the information needed and a relieving presentation! thanks from Turkiye. now ı know ı should buy a baritone so ı may switch to guitar or can hear the lowest sound
I watched two of Gracie's videos and I had to subscribe. Her videos are beautiful and love to see more.
Thank you so much Martin! I really appreciate it! :) And welcome
I absolutely love your moonbird ukulele. It is soooooooo beautiful and has such a wonderful tone...
i know, right? it really is wonderful... i love the skinny neck too
You're awesome Gracie.
I learn so much from you.
Great video. I started out with a concert, then bought some tenor ukes. I have 3 tenors and one concert now. I'd like to get a soprano because I love the higher tones. Always enjoy your videos, Gracie!
Haha you can never have too many ukuleles! ..Well... you sort of can.. but they're all different, so it's hard not to! :D
@@GracieTerzian Ha hah, yeah. U.A.S. (Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome) is real 😄
@@hepgeoff haha yessss
Hi Gracie, thanks for the great video. Just to say that I’m a ukulele player myself and I fitted my baritone with strings that give a tuning similar to the drop G tenor you showed, only an octave down. This instrument gives a great bass line when playing with my group Fluke! in four parts.
ah yes! that's very cool! do you use normal baritone uke strings and just tune it to GCEA? or do you use tenor strings? or guitar strings?
@@GracieTerzian Hi Gracie, thanks for getting back to me. Yes, I use a guitar 6th String E, a 5th String A, a 4th String D and a 3rd String G. I tune these to the Drop G ukulele tuning. I figured that the shorter lengths of the ukulele would make up for the higher tensions required and it works really well.
In my group I mainly play Bass but I make demo multi-track recordings as teaching materials so I’m well acquainted with all the instruments. I just love it!
Keep up the great work Gracie, you’re doing a fantastic job and you have a singing voice like velvet……
@@trevorfurness5695 ah that is very clever! I'll have to try that out :D thank you for the tip!
Thanks for the video! Decided to get a tenor, and I might get a baritone in the future.
This is super helpful as a beginner! I played guitar a long time ago and was thrown by how ukuleles are tuned.
Thank you for sharing the difference of these 4 Uke
I love it
You’re welcome!
Excellent teaching. Mucho Gracias
Nicely explained. Thank you from across the pond! :)
Playing
Soprano 0:34
Concert 1:39
Tenor 4:04
Baritone 6:57
Thanks for making them sound!
I'm getting all 4 ukuleles for sure great video I learned alot thanks
Was looking for video to understand which one to buy for my school and found your video. Recently had seen another video of yours. So subscribed! Thanks for the video.
Thanks so much for this. About to retire, and will have time to learn an instrument, and love the sound it makes ( ever since I heard Israel's Rainbow song and bought 2 of his CD's, have wanted a ukelele )
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing this! 1 comment though, GCEA & DGBe are not dissimilar tunings, in fact you have the Ukulele tunning on a standard Guitar, if you bar or capo the 5th Fret of the DGBe strings.. GCEA are all perfect 4ths of their respective string on Guitar i.e. Uke's G = D's 4th.. C = G's 4 .. E = B's 4th & A = e's 4th. So the math behind it should be the same for the D major chord set on guitar!
Im normally a Banjo player, I have been playing banjo for 4 years now. I was at a yard sale and they had a Kala Concert Ukulele for $40. I couldn't pass it up and I'm now learning a second instrument.
Ukuleles make a beautiful sound, they're lightweight, easy to travel with, easy to learn (compared to the banjo anyway). I don't see a downside here. Looking forward to learning.
You should try learning clawhammer ukulele! You might enjoy it coming from the banjo… any ukulele with a high g string will work, so your Kala concert uke should be great for it!
Good job
Very well done! Lots of info in just 10 mins, so this is a great introduction for me. I have many sorts of fretted stringed instruments, but no ukulele yet, so your video is my "buyer's guide." It would be cool if you could do one on the quality of the different makers, taking about tone woods, bracing, tuners, etc. [Just my 2¢] THANKS!!
I like short-scale Fender electric guitars and long-scale ukuleles. Go figure.
Tenor with a low G is my favourite.
hahaha that makes sense! looking for something in between a guitar and a ukulele :). tenor with low g is my favorite too! :)
Now I know, actually the one who introduced me to a guitar was my late great grandfather and he also known for making ukulele But I really don't have any idea that there are 4 types of them . maybe I should try that baritone ukulele.
Aw that's great that your great grandfather introduced you to the guitar! Such a gift. Yes you might enjoy the baritone uke! :)
I was wondering, the soprano uke sounds heavenly and it is of course for soft music. Right? I LOVE soft music. I've been wanting to buy a ukulele with the sound that matches the soft, angelic vibe and im just wondering if soprano or concert includes in that vibe more. Anyone who has played ukulele or someone who knows please tell me between those 3 sounds like that. Thank you, and im so sorry!
To be honest I think soprano, concert, and tenor all sound soft. I think it more has to do with the type of strings to get the “soft” sound you’re looking for. Strings really change the softness/harshness/brightness of the sound in my opinion. Concert and soprano really sound the same.. concert just has a longer neck. My favorite is tenor so I’m biased… but you can get a soft sound out of any of those 3. Even baritone if you have the right strings on it. I use black fluorocarbon strings, but strings aren’t very expensive and easy to change so you can totally experiment with different strings.
Get them all. I like the baritone but I don’t like slotted headstocks.
Excellent demo. So, are the chord shapes on the tenor the same as a soprano/concert ukulele?
yes they are!
@@GracieTerzian cool! thank you. Back many years ago, when Tiny Tim was popular, I bought a soprano ukulele, not knowing they were different sizes and with different voicings and tunings. I currently am playing a concert uke and am considering a tenor in the future. Thanks again for the tip.
@@bryanhenderson8807 of course! Haha I love Tiny TIm...
I'm a baritone player but recommend beginners start with concert or tenor- there is way more instructional material for standard tuning. Once you're an advanced beginner, it's easy to transition to the baritone.
I agree i bought a baritone but its hard to realy find good stuff to learn to play so i bought a tenor extra 2 times money 😢
you guide very well... now I can easily buy ukulele
Thank You great explaining !
thank you!
Nice video, you helped me to decide to by the concert one
As the guitar player I'd never choose bariton. It looks and feels and sound like a cropped guitar. Why using it if I already have it but with two additional strings😀 I'd say bariton can be a good starting point of learning the guitar. But it is hard to call it ukulele. It has lost all the ukulele charm but didn't grow to a guitar. Soprano and concert are perfect true ukuleles to begin with. Tenor might be a great addition of uke collection for deeper lyric or epic compositions. For lower and deeper sound just choose the guitar😁
Gorgeous hair!
I have a nice concert ukulele and I want to get a tenor or even a baritone at some point😊
I remember learning ukulele for first time I taught myself and it was tricky at first but then after a while I just have so much fun
Even smaller is the Sompranisimo Ukulele, by far the easiest to pack and carry with you on a trip/plane. Our favorite though is the eight string Tenor Ukulele.
Thank you for sharing - I am a guitarist and have a soprano ukulele just for a bit of fun playing - I am going to get my granddaughter a soprano and am considering upgrading my uke for teaching her - I am undecided on a concert or tenor - baritone is moving too close to a normal guitar and I can't see the point for me - This is very helpful and I am thinking of getting a decent concert but will pop into the music store and try each before - It would be a good idea to have one with a low G as well for a different sound for what they cost - I feel a project looming !!!!!
LOL I can tell which size you prefer. When it's the soprano and concert, it's low end Kalas. When it's tenor, out comes the Anuenue Moonbird with a low g and a strap lol. Nice :)
Hahahaha yes ;)
I once met a musician playing an instrument which she called a u-bass. I interpreted that as a 'bass ukelele'. It certainly had ukelele characteristics, like the 4 nylon strings, and sounded and looked like a ukelele on steroids.
The sound was not very 'bassy' though.
Do you have any information about this instrument?
Hi! I have 2 u-basses actually. I love them! But they are 100% basses and not ukuleles. I'm not sure what that musician had... but all the U-Basses I know, are just like tiny basses. But they are still just as low sounding as a regular bass, and they are tuned the same way as a bass. Only get a U-bass if you want to use it to actually play bass. Not to play ukulele. But to play bass, they are super awesome. My favorites are the solid-body ones.. I've found the hollow-body ones have feedback issues.
Probably a Kala "U-Bass". Supposed to allow a player to cover a more conventional bass role. They don't sound too bad, but dialing in the eq and amplification is almost required to get the most out of them. I've heard a couple that actually sounded pretty good.
Thank you for such a thorough explanation of different ukulele types. As someone who has a good ear and some compositional ability, yet is also a weak intermediate keyboard player, the prospect of playing anything other than keyboards feels truly daunting. I am getting a kalimba to see if I can master that first. Ukulele will most likely be next. Your video has really helped me make better decisions in terms of these lovely little instruments.
I learned (the hard way) that you can't change to a low G string on every uke. I bought an Enya Nova which is a lovely instrument but mine has plastic frets. Enya recommend not using wound low-G strings on these instruments. I was planning to use strings for GDAE tuning like a violin but they have 2 wound strings, so I can't.
The soprano looks like it would be tougher to play going higher up the neck and intonation would be troublesome. Also it would cut down the number of chords with the shorter neck. I am leaning toward the concert.
first, i agree with everything you said!
second, please allow me to add to it
from the men's point of view.
many women and children have very
flexible, pliable, nimble fingers. However the
opposite is true for men. Many have
stiff fat fingers, making it hard to play
except after many months of practice.
So there is always hope, don't give in or up.
also consider buying guitar, baritone and
concert uke; one each. - they are all related.
The guitar is tuned; E-A-D-G-B-E
the concert uke is tuned; according to the guitar
behind the 5 fret 4 top strings as
G-C-E-A
and the baritone is tuned; according to the guitar
behind the 5 fret 4 middle strings as
D-G-C-E
that is very important to keep in mind when
transposing between the concert and baritone.
the formula is 4. okay here is how that works...
your sheet music for the ukulele say the chords
for a song is C, F, G. however you have a baritone
so you must go up to the fourth of each chord
C to F; F to B, G to C. you continue to use uke
shape chords but in the new position thus
making the transposition easy. Just count up 4...easy peasy.
you have a great channel so i had to
liked and subscribe, thank you
Gracie, I think I better go get myself a uke? But better not get confused with my bass string notes😜😜😜😜 wonderful video as always, thank you x
What a wonderful introduction to the different kinds of ukelele! I see elsewhere on the internet that there is also a Bass Ukelele. Is there a reason for not including this in the presentation?
Thank You 🙏
I like the soprano coz it’s small and easy to carry around and my fingers fit perfectly on the frets.
Best review on UA-cam 🙂
Thanks Gracie for this clear explanation ❤ Apart from the advice to "feel" all the types in the store ... When you are used to the guitar frets would it be logical to choose the tenor? Because this might resemble most to the guitar? I'm not sure, just asking 😊
Yes tenor or baritone!
@@GracieTerzian Well I guess I will stick to the GCEA setting😉. Before your video I wasn't even aware there are more than one type of ukes. So it turns out that my uke ( a 30 year old gift) is a sopranino. Only 12 frets and a body of 22 centimeters. Looks like a toy for tiny Tim, on wich it's hard for me to get the chords with my fingers.😂 However I manage to play the simple chords like C,G,Em, Am and F, I'm struggling with D and D7. My best effort is indexfinger on fret 2 of G and C string and middle finger on fret 2 of E string. When I have to switch to D7 my ring finger is stuck so I have to grab fret 3 on the A string with my pinky. Do you have any advice on this chord fingering? Maybe you could make a video about the best chord fingering on the uke?🤪😊
A nicely produced video but you need to correct the assertion that a concert has a lower pitch than a soprano. They are the same pitch if tuned the same, it is the quality of the note that varies with a larger body.
ah thank you for the clarification! i edited the video to remove that... it should finish processing in a few hours. thank you!
Gracie, which one do you like the best and play the most.
Tenor!
I prefer the soprano ukulele over the concert ukulele bc first of all, it's smaller and second of all it sounds better than a concert ukulele IMO
How are you attaching the strap to the neck of the Ukulele? Also, I purchased a baritone a little while ago, and it was way too large for me -- did not fit under my arm at all and there were several chords that required a larger hand than mine. So if you are small adult, the baritone may be too large to be comfortable.
Or get all three👍🏻😊
What the hell is the difference between the concert and the tenor? They almost don't sound different by much of a big difference. I have the tenor and I'm seriously considering buying a concert as a back up second. I have my tenor tuned to low G and am thinking about buying the concert to keep as a high g tuning... What are your thoughts? Or should I do the low g tuning on the concert and the high g on the tenor? Now I'm lost and I have so many questions. LOL! HALP!!
I would keep the tenor with low G, and get a concert with high G if I were you :). Then you have one that is definitely overall higher (the concert with the high G) and one that is definitely overall lower (the tenor with the low G) :)
I have a small hands but i like sound ukulele size tenor
Great video, now...where can i find gypsy jazz ukeleles with the custom d hole or really tiny hole?
Does the neck width get thicker as the ukulele goes up in size. Soprano, Concert, Tenor. Hope this question makes sense. Kind regards (PS) subscribed.
I've Never played a stringed instrument, but desperately want to learn. I eventually want to transition to the acoustic guitar, as my ultimate aim is to achieve the acoustic folk sounds characteristics of the 60's-70's. Is it okay for me to start learning on a baritone ukulele, without prior string experience, or must I start with the concert or tenor? I'm torn, the more videos I watch the more confused I become. I prefer the sounds of the baritone and low G tenor/concert. Since I m hope to eventually progress ro the 6 string, but have zero experience wirh steings, what do you suggest?
I'm still on the fence whether to get soprano or the concert one...
Hi Gracie, could you tell me what songs you were playing in the video?
I got a tenor ukulele because I like the deep sound, but my hands are too small to properly play the chords. What should I do? Should I settle for a smaller one?
just takes practice, good luck
I have had years of guitar and just started the uke. I am having a blast. I am curious, would a tenor uke be strong enough to handle baritone uke stringing? For in case I tire of the low G alone and want to go back to guitar finger-style picking without lugging my huge guitar around? Or are they made too risky for the string tension?
I have a concert and am considering buying a baritone, do you think the frets’ size is much bigger? There are some notes i cant play on an electric guitar so I’m afraid I won’t be able to play them on the baritone ukulele!
Hi Catarina! Good question. So... the frets are definitely bigger on a baritone than on a concert ukulele. HOWEVER they're also much smaller than on a guitar. So.. if you have trouble playing things on a guitar, you might not have any trouble on a baritone. The baritone is WAY easier to hold/grasp/reach notes than a guitar. I hope that helps! Maybe try one out at a store... or get one that isn't too expensive at first. I have a 10% discount code for all Kala ukuleles.. it's in the description of this video. Good luck!
Hi. I have a deep voice. I lead worship and sing solo at my church praise and worship. Which ukulele would you recommend?
Baritone fits better with my deep voice and I can follow guitar tabs
We bought a Mahalo MP3 "tenor" uke, but the g string higher not lower.
???
Excuse my question as I am still a novice, but does changing to a lower G string affect playing songs that depict the usual G?
Are the chords and fingerings the same or no since there’s more frets?
Someone I know has nerve damage in their hand and was told they can’t play guitar anymore. Would the soprano ukulele be worth a shot?
possibly! but if they're used to guitar they still might prefer a tenor because it will still feel very light compared to the guitar. i'd have them try the different sizes out and see...
It's normal that the c string thicker than the g string by the tenor uke?
Thanks. But can I tune my Tenor into baritone tuning?
is there a double-bass one?
Yes there are bass ukuleles and they are awesome! It's called a u-bass. They are tuned the same way as a normal bass (EADG), and are just as low in pitch as a regular bass. They're just physically smaller. When it comes to u-basses, I prefer solid body ones. In my experience, the hollow body ones have feedback issues. I've tried out a fair amount of them, and the solid bodies are just more reliable.
For me it Tenor... I have large fingers and the sound is deeper.
which one fit in suitcase?
how much is the soprano?
where to buy
Hi I am 18 years old which I should buy pkzz recommended...
tenor
It’s a nice presentation, but the baritone playing part would have been more effective at showing how the sound differs from the three smaller ukes if you had played the same chords, not the same chord *forms*. The way you did it wound up being apples to oranges.
Why would someone learn to play a Baritone ukelele if they want to play the guitar later? Is that a common thing?
Not common but a good idea. The baritone is easier to play and has the same tuning as a guitar minus the two extra strings.
I like my G strings low😅😅😅😅
😂
You started by saying that the soprano has the highest sound, but than played them all and they are all the same pitch (excluding low-g).
What brand would you recommend for a decent beginner ukulele ?
It depends what you mean by "beginner." Oftentimes when people say "beginner" they just mean something that isn't too expensive because they don't want to invest too much on an instrument they aren't sure if they'll like or not (understandably). Is that what you mean? If so, I have a link in the description that has some inexpensive ukuleles I think are decent for their price.
On the flip side, there is something to be said about getting a really nice instrument as your first one because it will make it much more fun to practice and easier to play. My first ukulele was actually a very nice one, and I think part of the reason I stuck with it and fell in love with the ukulele so quickly was because I had a really nice instrument from the beginning. If I had started out on something cheap, I may not have enjoyed it very much. So... that's why I hesitate when people ask for a "beginner" ukulele :)
Thank you for the response. I should have said inexpensive. Your videos are very good.
But you can get a soprano with 15 frets
The more ukulele the less ukulele
😂
I personally wouldn’t recommend a Baritone, as if you go that route, you might as well get yourself a full sized guitar instead.
People, you know, maybe getting a ukulele is not a good idea. People think it’s an easy instrument to learn to play because it’s small. It’s not more or less easy than any other instrument. Learning to play 2-3 chords is not learning how to play it. It just makes you and your ukulele annoying.
Thanks Karen!