The differences between a soprano ukulele and a concert ukulele are pretty subtle and take some keen focus to understand. When considering which type would be best for you or for someone you are buying for, there are a few key differences between a soprano and a concert ukulele that will make the choice easier.
Soprano Ukulele
First, the soprano ukulele is smaller than a concert, measuring 21 inches in full length from bottom to tip of the headstock. The soprano ukulele features a neck scale length of 13 inches and has 12–15 frets. This smaller body length as well as shorter scale length means the soprano ukulele is ideal for younger players or for those with smaller hands.
The smaller dimensions and scale length of the soprano ukulele also mean that the soprano is best suited for playing chords, as opposed to playing lead. This is due primarily to the smaller spacing between frets on a soprano ukulele.
Because of its smaller size, the tone of a soprano ukulele is also slightly higher pitched and somewhat softer. This higher-pitched tone can complement just about any voice style if one is singing along as they play. If one has a lower voice — alto for a female, baritone for a male — the soprano ukulele can offer a nice harmonic balance.
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The concert ukulele is larger than the soprano, measuring 23 inches in length. The concert uke features a neck scale length of 15 inches with 15–20 frets and wider spacing between frets, making it suited to both traditional chording as well as lead playing. The concert ukulele neck is not only longer than the soprano, but it is also slightly wider.
Because of these larger dimensions, the concert ukulele neck is suited to both younger players as well as adults with larger hands. If you are buying for a young person, say age 10 or under, the concert may not be the best option. For a child younger than 10, the soprano ukulele would likely be the better choice.
Because the concert ukulele is larger than the soprano, it has a slightly deeper tone, more volume, and more projection. This means the concert ukulele is great for filling larger spaces if one is performing for an audience. The deeper tone of the concert uke is also a great companion to just about any style of voice. Just as the soprano uke is ideal for a lower-toned voice, the concert ukulele blends beautifully with midrange to higher voices.
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The different features of the soprano and concert ukuleles are important to consider when buying for you or for someone else. One of the main considerations when looking at purchasing a soprano or concert uke would be what, if any, performance goals does the player have? If you or someone you are buying for is wanting to entertain small audiences, then the concert is often a better choice over the soprano, although both can certainly entertain!
Whether someone is just getting started on the ukulele, is an intermediate player, or has many years under their belt on the uke, both the soprano and the concert have their unique offerings that make playing either one a fun experience.
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