H
HollyUke
Guest
I usually read a lot more on UU than I actually post, but there's been something important to me that I feel needs to be said regarding the validity of ukulele sizes. I decided to take some time out today to offer some "food for thought" on the matter. (I apologize in advance for the length of this post, but I wanted to make sure I was thorough in my explanation in the hopes that I am not misunderstood.)
Since becoming a member, I've read many posts about how the soprano is historically the original size, so if you play anything larger it's cheating, or you might as well play a guitar, or worst of all, anything larger is not a true ukulele. It saddens me to read comments like this. For a community of musicians who play the most peaceful, happy instrument in the world, these comments seem harsh, and go against the aloha spirit. (Not that I believe anyone here is out to make others feel bad, or demean anyone else's uke preferences. Though, I've noticed that unfortunately it does end up having that effect in some situations.)
Yes, absolutely, the first Hawaiian ukulele was a standard soprano. But let's look at the early guitar for comparison. Before the dreadnought size and shape was designed, all guitars were smaller in body size and scale length. However, you don't see people in the guitar community saying that a dreadnought is too big to be a true guitar, or that it's cheating to play a guitar that's so big. If someone loves the tone of a smaller-bodied guitar, their sound will be more traditional, though I have yet to hear anyone who plays a more historic-sized guitar criticize anyone else's guitar choices. The dreadnought, though a more modern evolution of the guitar, is beloved by many and is here to stay.
Scientifically, scale length affects the acoustics of an instrument. The same notes played on instruments of different scale lengths do not behave in the same manner, and therefore create different tonal colors. An early parlor guitar has a different acoustic character than a dreadnought, even though they are tuned the same way. (Likewise, a baritone uke sounds and feels uniquely different than any guitar I've ever heard or played. To call it a mini guitar with 4 strings is selling it short.) The same note played on a violin and then a viola will have a different character. The same is also true when listening to soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones.
What I'm trying to say is, if you like the soprano for it's sound, size, and history, then happily play the soprano. But people who prefer the sound and feel of other sizes should be able to play them without the judgment of others. The ukulele has evolved since the 1800s, just like the guitar and so many other instruments. There is a place for every size ukulele, and they each bring a unique tonal quality to the music we make.
I don't want to upset anyone by posting this, or start anything heated. I just feel as ukulele players we can be more accepting and welcoming of others' musical preferences. Though I frequently play tenor, I absolutely adore the soprano, and have even agreed with a couple posts of feeling "purist" with a soprano in hand. My agreement was rooted in the fact that as I got better at the soprano fret spacing and technique, I was able to feel and experience a taste of that history and tradition through playing a more traditional instrument - I loved it. But that traditional experience is not for everyone, and more importantly, one can still appreciate the historic roots of the soprano while still preferring to play another size. Both re-entrant and linear tuning on larger ukuleles sound absolutely beautiful. No matter what size, or what tuning, I think we can all agree that the ukulele is simply a beautiful instrument.
Since becoming a member, I've read many posts about how the soprano is historically the original size, so if you play anything larger it's cheating, or you might as well play a guitar, or worst of all, anything larger is not a true ukulele. It saddens me to read comments like this. For a community of musicians who play the most peaceful, happy instrument in the world, these comments seem harsh, and go against the aloha spirit. (Not that I believe anyone here is out to make others feel bad, or demean anyone else's uke preferences. Though, I've noticed that unfortunately it does end up having that effect in some situations.)
Yes, absolutely, the first Hawaiian ukulele was a standard soprano. But let's look at the early guitar for comparison. Before the dreadnought size and shape was designed, all guitars were smaller in body size and scale length. However, you don't see people in the guitar community saying that a dreadnought is too big to be a true guitar, or that it's cheating to play a guitar that's so big. If someone loves the tone of a smaller-bodied guitar, their sound will be more traditional, though I have yet to hear anyone who plays a more historic-sized guitar criticize anyone else's guitar choices. The dreadnought, though a more modern evolution of the guitar, is beloved by many and is here to stay.
Scientifically, scale length affects the acoustics of an instrument. The same notes played on instruments of different scale lengths do not behave in the same manner, and therefore create different tonal colors. An early parlor guitar has a different acoustic character than a dreadnought, even though they are tuned the same way. (Likewise, a baritone uke sounds and feels uniquely different than any guitar I've ever heard or played. To call it a mini guitar with 4 strings is selling it short.) The same note played on a violin and then a viola will have a different character. The same is also true when listening to soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones.
What I'm trying to say is, if you like the soprano for it's sound, size, and history, then happily play the soprano. But people who prefer the sound and feel of other sizes should be able to play them without the judgment of others. The ukulele has evolved since the 1800s, just like the guitar and so many other instruments. There is a place for every size ukulele, and they each bring a unique tonal quality to the music we make.
I don't want to upset anyone by posting this, or start anything heated. I just feel as ukulele players we can be more accepting and welcoming of others' musical preferences. Though I frequently play tenor, I absolutely adore the soprano, and have even agreed with a couple posts of feeling "purist" with a soprano in hand. My agreement was rooted in the fact that as I got better at the soprano fret spacing and technique, I was able to feel and experience a taste of that history and tradition through playing a more traditional instrument - I loved it. But that traditional experience is not for everyone, and more importantly, one can still appreciate the historic roots of the soprano while still preferring to play another size. Both re-entrant and linear tuning on larger ukuleles sound absolutely beautiful. No matter what size, or what tuning, I think we can all agree that the ukulele is simply a beautiful instrument.
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