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Ukulele

The Ukulele

Don't forget to look up our Ukulele Accessories.

The ukulele or "Uke", is enjoying a resurgence and is now more popular than ever. It is often taught in schools, replacing the recorder, and is often many children’s first experience of playing a musical instrument. 

Ukuleles are generally made of wood and the type of wood will to a large extent determine the price. Typically they follow the acoustic guitar shape but there are numerous variations with a range of  string combinations but the typical ukulele will have 4 nylon strings. The most popular tuning for the standard ukulele is: G C E A however the G string is tuned an octave higher than might be expected. This is known as re-entrant tuning although some teachers/players prefer "Low G" tuning.

The Full Ukulele Family
Sopranino Ukulele
Soprano Ukulele (standard)
Concert Ukulele
Tenor Ukulele  
Baritone Ukulele
Bass Ukulele (a most recent addition)

What size ukulele do I need? Essentially it is whatever size of ukulele you are happy with as they each have a different sound, as you would expect. We have outlined some basic information about the main ukulele range to help you determine which is the best selection for you.

There are four main types of ukuleles: soprano, concert (or alto), tenor, and baritone.

Sporano Ukulele 
The Bryce Soprano ukulele is great for beginners. The most common ukulele is the soprano ukulele. It’s the smallest of the ukulele family and produces that thin, tinkling sound most associated with ukuleles. Ideal for small hands and travelling! Those with larger hands may find the soprano ukulele more difficult because the frets are closer together and you might find it easier to accidentally bend a string out of tune. The soprano ukulele requires minimum outlay and therefore represents a good starter instrument.

The Concert or Alto Ukulele
The concert or alto ukulele is slightly larger tehan the soprano ukulele and offers a rounder sound. The alto ukulele is also longerand therefore provides more tension on the strings. This helps to retain tuning when as you press your fingers on the strings against the frets. Also there is more spacing between the frets (and up to 20 frets) compared to the soprano ukulele which helps those with larger hands. 

The Tenor Ukulele
The tenor ukulele is just a little bit bigger than the concert ukulele and produces a richer tone. 

Baritone Ukulele
The baritone ukulele is the largest ukulele biggest and produces a more deeper sound and the opposite of the soprano. Ideal for pickimng but can also be striummed. The Baritone ukulele is often used by blues players and those who are looking for a fuller, deeper sound. However, beginners will usually start out with a soprano ukulele.