Hello, i'm currently VERY new to string instruments (honestly i have never touched one or seen one close-up in my life). I was wondering if i should pick a concert or tenor uke (soprano is definitely out because my hands are HUGE and i'm overweight so i have really chubby fingers.) I heard that the concert and tenor are both good for people with large hands. But the songs i would like to play are by Tyler Joseph and i believe he uses a concert. But i also like songs by Green Day, The Beatles, Metallica ...etc and the tenor sounds more like a small guitar... Sooo which one do you think i should get?
Which size for beginner?
- Thread starter peridot
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WCBarnes
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:agree:
CML's advice is perfect. Do you have a store near by where you can try different sizes? That would be my suggestion. Try out different ones and play the one that you like.
CML's advice is perfect. Do you have a store near by where you can try different sizes? That would be my suggestion. Try out different ones and play the one that you like.
That is exactly what I did. I found that the concert was just about as easy for me to fret as the tenor. I also have a cheap soprano, and while I originally thought my hands were too big for it, I am finding that the more I work on flexibility and finger independence exercises the easier the soprano is for me to play.
It is a personal choice and tone will have more to do with it. My first uke was a tenor, over the years I have had Concerts and Sopranos but still prefer tenors. I do find them easier to play with the longer neck and larger space between frets.
I'm partial to tenors and baritones. If you're "big boned", with large fingers, and can't try any out, I suggest a tenor or for a more guitar like sound, a baritone
The most important thing is to ensure it's been setup properly. Setup at the factory is not good enough. Mims ukes, uke republic and HMS are a few I can remember that ensure the action and intonation are right before shipping out.
Good luck, you won't regret learning to play a uke.
The most important thing is to ensure it's been setup properly. Setup at the factory is not good enough. Mims ukes, uke republic and HMS are a few I can remember that ensure the action and intonation are right before shipping out.
Good luck, you won't regret learning to play a uke.
Croaky Keith
Well-known member
I bought all 3 sizes, in rapid succession, when I started out, & found the concert scale to be the best one to start with.
My hands didn't want to stretch far enough for the tenor, & I couldn't squeeze my fingers into the soprano fretboard.
Today, I have soprano, concert, tenor, & baritones, as well as some 'long necks' which I rather like.
My hands didn't want to stretch far enough for the tenor, & I couldn't squeeze my fingers into the soprano fretboard.
Today, I have soprano, concert, tenor, & baritones, as well as some 'long necks' which I rather like.
kypfer
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I just took my tape measure to all my ukuleles ... all the sopranos and my concert have a string spacing across the nut of 1 1/16", the tenor and baritone are both 1 1/8" ... not a whole bunch of difference ... especially when compared to the top four strings on my guitars and banjos, all of which are narrower than 1".
My point is, for just starting out, any ukulele should be playable. If your fingers totally crowd out a soprano, a tenor or baritone won't be much better.
This guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYy_M4lrH54 isn't light of a pound or two but seems to manage his little ukulele quite well
As mentioned by others ... having your instrument setup properly is probably the most important consideration.
Enjoy :music:
My point is, for just starting out, any ukulele should be playable. If your fingers totally crowd out a soprano, a tenor or baritone won't be much better.
This guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYy_M4lrH54 isn't light of a pound or two but seems to manage his little ukulele quite well
As mentioned by others ... having your instrument setup properly is probably the most important consideration.
Enjoy :music:
JackLuis
Well-known member
My vote is for Concert, unless the beginner is small. I got my granddaughter a sopronino because she was 4 and the little one fit her. I'm hoping now that she is 5 she will start playing it. For adults the concert is not as hard to chord as a tenor and the skills learned in a concert will make a tenor easier to play later.
Yes buy a concert that is well set up and you'll be ready for anything after you learn to play it. And you will get an instrument that can play most types of music.
Yes buy a concert that is well set up and you'll be ready for anything after you learn to play it. And you will get an instrument that can play most types of music.
JackLuis
Well-known member
My vote is for Concert, unless the beginner is small. I got my granddaughter a sopronino because she was 4 and the little one fit her. I'm hoping now that she is 5 she will start playing it. For adults the concert is not as hard to chord as a tenor and the skills learned in a concert will make a tenor easier to play later.
Yes buy a concert that is well set up and you'll be ready for anything after you learn to play it. And you will get an instrument that can play most types of music.
Yes buy a concert that is well set up and you'll be ready for anything after you learn to play it. And you will get an instrument that can play most types of music.
TopDog
Well-known member
My own hands are huge, as am I! And I have played tenor,
concert and soprano. And surprisingly I tend to play soprano
more than the others, it just pleases me. Go with whatever
feels comfortable to you,and try out as many as possible in
your nearest store!
concert and soprano. And surprisingly I tend to play soprano
more than the others, it just pleases me. Go with whatever
feels comfortable to you,and try out as many as possible in
your nearest store!
Yep and yep.
First off don't go cheap (i.e. $50). A lousy instrument will be tough to learn on and may turn you off to playing. For a bit more you can get more playable instrument. Next I would recommend contacting a real uke dealer and discussing what you want. They will be invaluable. Mim's Ukes, HMS or Ukulele Republic are very good. (If you are not in the US maybe some members might recommend a local dealer).
Hope you are getting some good advice and happy hunting
(Also, welcome to UU!)
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Inksplosive AL
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I vote off the board for a soprano!
The only size you need!
The only size you need!
UkeStuff
Well-known member
If you are dealing with middle school and beyond, a $37 Caramel Concert (shipped) is an ideal first instrument. While they can benefit from a setup, they come "good enough" to not dissuade a new player. Then as UAS hits and you visit Guitar Center and other music stores, you can play soprano and tenor and see what you really like.
If you know Soprano is your first choice, the Makala Dolphin is also a good starter instrument.
And if you are in a horrid environment for a ukulele..Outdoor Ukuleles (currently Sopranos and Tenors) are a smart purchase as they require no care and feeding.
While there are some on this forum that say you should buy the best instrument you can afford; I am not sure of that sentiment.
Once you have started to love the instrument, that is when I would point you towards the second ukulele--whatever size--to one of the ukulele vendors that will set up that ukulele for you (In no particular order: Mim, The Ukulele Site, Uke Republic, Mainland, etc.)
And after you have a ukulele in that $500-$1300 range, the next stop will be a custom. I'm not there yet.
If you know Soprano is your first choice, the Makala Dolphin is also a good starter instrument.
And if you are in a horrid environment for a ukulele..Outdoor Ukuleles (currently Sopranos and Tenors) are a smart purchase as they require no care and feeding.
While there are some on this forum that say you should buy the best instrument you can afford; I am not sure of that sentiment.
Once you have started to love the instrument, that is when I would point you towards the second ukulele--whatever size--to one of the ukulele vendors that will set up that ukulele for you (In no particular order: Mim, The Ukulele Site, Uke Republic, Mainland, etc.)
And after you have a ukulele in that $500-$1300 range, the next stop will be a custom. I'm not there yet.
igorthebarbarian
Well-known member
String tension is going to be lower on a Concert. So that may be easier on your virgin fingertips when you're just starting out. As others mentioned, buy one from MIMs or HMS or Uke Republic (who are on "vacation" at NAMM but back soon). Their setup is invaluable.
zztush
Well-known member
I admit that US, UK and UU are the most democratic places on the planet. But votes only work after enough discussions.
image sharing sites
My friend is over 90kg with sausage fingers. He started ukulele with soprano and he is just enjoying it. I am bit sad that we have no choice for soprano on this vote. My choice is same as kypfer.
image sharing sitesMy friend is over 90kg with sausage fingers. He started ukulele with soprano and he is just enjoying it. I am bit sad that we have no choice for soprano on this vote. My choice is same as kypfer.
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Pukulele Pete
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Anything larger than a soprano is cheating .
kdmccullum
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I voted concert. However, I started with a Tenor then switched to soprano nine months later. Finally sold my Tenor because I am now so used to sopranos that my Tenor was too big. I'm a big guy too so I wouldn't worry about having big hands. It's just a matter of practice.
Kurt
Kurt
