What if You Don't Particularly Like to Play Tenor

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katysax

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There is certainly nothing wrong with tenor, and I admire those who play it well, but i just don't enjoy playing tenor very much.

The size feels so big. The string tension is uncomfortable. The sound is less delicate. It's an emotional thing - I just don't bond with my tenors. Sopranos are too small to feel completely comfortable but I don't care. I love to play them. Concerts feel like the right size for my hand.

But tenor, it seems to be the instrument of choice for "serious" ukulele players and I just can't get into it. Sometimes it makes me feel somehow inadequate that I just don't want to play tenor. Does anyone else feel like tenor just isn't for them?
 
katy

i feel the exact same way. the body and string tension of the tenor is,,, perhaps just too much commitment. what can i tell you. the concert size is a goldilocks type of thing, 'just right'. sopranos are a lot of fun cramped size and all. +1.
 
What's the big deal?

One thing I always remind myself is that music should be enjoyable and now that I'm old enough to make my own decision, I play the size I want and the music I want.
 
Sopranos are a lot of fun but I tend to play my concerts more often. I have not been able to bond with tenors either.

Mitch
 
I only play tenors. My hands a large enough that soprano was just too uncomfortable. I also came from playing guitar for almost 50 years. I find of my 6 tenor ukes, one will be a little brighter, another a little subdued, another warmer, another crisper. There's enough variation between them to keep it interesting. They're each made of different woods, which I find makes a difference. I'm looking forward to the completely different sound of the arch-top steel string tenor I recently ordered (present it every chance I get).

IMG_0037.JPG
archtop style.jpg
 
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kohanmike said:
I only play tenors. My hands a large enough that soprano was just too uncomfortable. I also came from playing guitar for almost 50 years. I find of my 6 tenor ukes, one will be a little brighter, another a little subdued, another warmer, another crisper. There's enough variation between them to keep it interesting. They're each made of different woods (see my signature), which I find makes a difference. I'm looking forward to the completely different sound of the arch-top steel string tenor I recently ordered (present it every chance I get).

IMG_0037.JPG
Click to expand...

That is the most clever way to store ukes that I've ever seen!
 
I'm with the others, if you don't feel comfortable with a tenor, play a different size. Just enjoy it!
 
I mostly play concert and soprano and for a long time never felt any real wish for a tenor but then I tried one and liked it. I keep it tuned a tone lower than standard (F Bb D G) which lowers the tension in the strings and, in my opinion, improves the tone. I think the lower tuning suits the tenor better and I like to have instruments in different tunings.

However, as others have said each to his/her own. Go with what you like best. If you're not happy with your tenor, then sell it on. Someone will get pleasure from it.
 
Play what you like but certainly don't feel inadequate because you don't play tenor. There is great, serious music to be made with concert and standard uke's too.
 
Thanks AKuker, but I got the idea from a post by UU member wickedwahine11 in San Pedro, she bought a cabinet that she modified to fit her ukuleles. As I researched cabinets, I realized all I had to do was adjust the shelves in my bookcase to fit my ukes. I actually modified it since the photo above to accommodate trays below with water for humidifying, and mounted a hygrometer on the pack panel. I may even add glass doors to help control humidity even more.

Uke shelf 2.jpg
 
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You're not alone. I've sold off all my tenors. The only down-side to playing concerts is the industry itself being so focused on tenors. I expect to, eventually, own strictly custom made instruments. The variety of high quality concert ukuleles is limited compared to that of tenors.
 
Famous quotes:
There are poor musically starving children in China who wish they had your tenor!
If all the other kids threw their tenors off a cliff, I suppose you would just do it too!
Katy Middle-Name Sax, you stop your complaining and play that tenor right now!
You vill play it und you vill like it! Muhaha!
 
It is funny. I do like the tension on the concert to the tension on the tenor. However, I like larger frets; and more space for my fingers. I even find the frets on the tenor a little small on the upper frets. So I am even leaning towards, picking up a baritone. It has wider frets, and hence more finger room. I think the tension is also lower on the baritone than the tenor. And I think it has a longer sustain, which I guess is because of the longer scale and lower string tension. Being that the smaller ukulele (i.e., tenor and concert) have a shorter sustain, I like the option of having a longer sustain on the baritone. But I will probably put g-c-e-a strings on the baritone, since I am much more familiar with this fret board.

Tootler said:
I keep it tuned a tone lower than standard (F Bb D G) which lowers the tension in the strings and, in my opinion, improves the tone. I think the lower tuning suits the tenor better and I like to have instruments in different tunings.
Click to expand...
This is a good idea to improve the enjoyment of your playing. I think I will try this.
 
I can't play tenor - in fact, my most recent attempt, documented here, caused me to end up with a painful injury to my left flexor digitorum superficialis and the directive from my doctor to give my left hand a rest for several weeks (I told him that was NOT going to happen, I'm on winter break from work and it's the height of uke playing season for me!).

I play soprano and concert - almost exclusively soprano, really, and have been giving myself a break from the concert uke since it aggravates the aforementioned injury. And I consider myself a "serious" player. But then, my inspiration for what I am trying to learn to do was the late John King, who was as serious of a player as they come and played soprano - reentrant, no less, not low G.

As with all things ukulele, I'm going to quote my instructor here and say there are no rules - if it works, it works. The reality is that I have tiny little hands. Tenor doesn't work for me, concert works for low G arrangements, and soprano works for everything else.
 
katysax said:
There is certainly nothing wrong with tenor, and I admire those who play it well, but i just don't enjoy playing tenor very much.

The size feels so big. The string tension is uncomfortable. The sound is less delicate. It's an emotional thing - I just don't bond with my tenors. Sopranos are too small to feel completely comfortable but I don't care. I love to play them. Concerts feel like the right size for my hand.







But tenor, it seems to be the instrument of choice for "serious" ukulele players and I just can't get into it. Sometimes it makes me feel somehow inadequate that I just don't want to play tenor. Does anyone else feel like tenor just isn't for them?
Click to expand...



I play soprano , concert and baritone
I like all three but concert and baritone
are my favorite. I've never played a tenor
but I'm eager to try.
 
I used to play only concert and soprano ukes. I had tried early on to play tenors and it didn't feel right (with an old knuckle injury on my fretting hand). But after about two years of playing, I got a Compass Rose tenor and found it felt fine playing it. I don't know what changed, but playing tenors felt fine from then on.
 
so...don't play tenor!!! I started on soprano and upgraded to concert and switch back and forth. If I pick up a tenor the reach between frets frustrates me! Tenors are just a fad...;-D
 
Then don't. Who cares what other people do or think? But the tenor might sneak up and bite you one of these days. Don't turn your back on 'em. They're sneaky.
 
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