A concert ukulele is a musical instrument with a long history and an exciting tone. An instrument that has enthralled both musicians and audiences. A versatile and approachable ukulele suitable for players of all skill levels.
Because of its small size, it is easy to transport and play anywhere. Every concert ukulele performance is filled with delight and surprise. It’s a musical and life celebration. A concert ukulele has a distinct sound that distinguishes it from other instruments.
But exactly what Is A Concert Ukulele? From folk to pop, a concert ukulele lends a whimsical touch to every song. Prepare to dive into the world of concert ukuleles and discover what makes them so unique. Let’s find out!
Ukulele History
The history of a ukulele dates back to the 1800s or even before that. However, it took its name in 1879 in Hawaii. The Ukulele is not of Hawaii’s origin. However, the Portuguese invented it but didn’t know what to call it.
In 1879, a Portuguese sailor went to Hawaii in his boat. As he reached there, he jumped off his boat with a ukulele in his hand and started playing it. The people of Hawaii liked the notes and named the instrument as “ukulele.”
In the Hawaiian language, the Ukulele is a combination of “uku” and “lele.” “Uku” means “flea,” and “lele” means “jumping.” Due to the jump of the sailor, the people of Hawaii named the instrument as the Ukulele.
What Is A Concert Ukulele?
After knowing the history of the Ukulele, it is not difficult to understand the concert ukulele. A concert uke is one of the four basic ukulele types and is the second smallest in size. The smallest Ukulele is the soprano ukulele and is suitable for beginners.
It is one step larger than the soprano ukulele, with a scale length about an inch longer and a wider neck. Due to its larger size than the soprano, its weight is also more and produces a fuller sound with a warm tone.
When we talk about the frets, the concert ukulele has 15 to 20 frets. Larger ukuleles such as tenor size ukuleles have more frets that create more notes. The concert ukulele is recommended for adult beginners with larger hands for a perfect grip on the strings.
Size of A Concert Ukulele
The ukulele sizes vary as we change the types of ukuleles. Different ukulele sizes produce different sounds. The concert ukulele size is slightly larger than the soprano. Due to its larger size, it has a fuller tone and creates a richer sound.
The standard size of the concert ukulele is around 23 inches (58 cm). It is slightly larger than the soprano ukulele, which is 21 inches in length. The largest Ukulele, the Bass ukulele, is approximately 30 inches in size.
Increasing the physical size of the Ukulele increases its sound, produces more resonance, and lowers the frequency. Due to this reason, the largest Ukulele has been named the Bass ukulele, as it has a more bassy tone than the smaller ones.
Tuning of A Ukulele
Ukulele tuning is also a problem for many new ukulelists. Though the sizes of different types of ukuleles vary, they are tuned similarly. You can use the tuning pegs to tune the strings of any ukulele or guitar. The standard ukulele tuning for a concert ukulele is the G-C-E-A.
Other ukuleles such as soprano ukuleles and tenor ukuleles also have the same tuning. However, the tuning of a baritone ukulele is somewhat of a guitar type.
E-A-D-G-B-E is the standard tuning for a guitar, while the tuning of a baritone ukulele is D-G-B-E. The first two chords E and A are missing because a guitar is a six-stringed instrument, while the uke is a four-stringed instrument.
The Best Brands of Ukulele
Though it’s the type of Ukulele that matters, some people believe that the brand also matters. No doubt that the brand matters, but the basic thing is which type of Ukulele you are using and your desired sound.
For your satisfaction, here are some top brands of the Ukulele that professional ukulele players prefer to purchase. These brands not only produce ukes. However, they produce top-quality musical instruments with accessories such as ukulele strings.
Kala
Don’t underestimate the short name of the brand. The Kala brand produces the top ukuleles with prices ranging from pocket-friendly to pocket-draining.
Check the entire store of the Kala Company and select the Ukulele that best suits your budget. Kala brands offer free shipping in some states for shopping over 99 dollars.
Kanile’a
If you have a high budget, you should visit the Kanile’a ukulele store. It produces the best quality ukuleles while keeping professional players in mind. The ukuleles of the Kanile’a brand are from Hawaii, the land of ukuleles.
You can also design a ukulele of your choice on the official website of the Kanile’a, but that will cost you more. The best option is to find a ukulele from the already made ukuleles. However, designing your own Ukulele may be good if you are a professional.
Cordoba
The Cordoba brand is famous for its high-quality guitars. Ukuleles are also a type of guitar, so they also produce a few top-notch ukuleles. The ukuleles produced here are made traditionally with the use of the finest wood.
Luna
If you need a pleasant-looking ukulele, you should visit the Luna store. Luna is a brand that produces some good quality but traditional-looking ukuleles from premium materials. Luna’s products not only give a traditional look, however, they also give the traditional sound.
Besides making ukuleles, Luna has a wide variety of other musical accessories also. Their best ukulele is made of solid wood with Aquila nylgut strings. These are available in different sizes. However, the average size is the concert ukulele.
Frequently Asked Questions:
In this section, we will answer a few FAQs to clear your mind further.
What is the difference between a concert Ukulele and a regular Ukulele?
Two primary differences might help you distinguish a concert ukulele from a regular one. These are the size and the sound. Undoubtedly, sound may be a problematic factor for determining between a regular and a concert ukulele. However, body size might be the simplest.
A concert ukulele is a bit larger when compared to the regular one. There are 15 to 20 frets on the body of a concert ukulele in contrast to fewer frets on a regular ukulele. The concert ukulele has a longer neck with a larger body.
Is a concert Ukulele good for beginners?
If someone asks us to recommend a ukulele for beginners, we would never recommend a concert ukulele unless they have large hands. The concert ukulele is larger than a regular one and hence is a bit difficult to play. Other ukes such as soprano might be easier to play. However, concert ukuleles are my personal preference.
What are the four types of Ukulele?
The ukuleles are classified into four types based on the change in their size and sound. The four basic types of ukuleles are Soprano Ukulele, Concert Ukulele, Tenor Ukulele, and Baritone Ukulele. The soprano is the smallest of them all, and the size increases as we go towards Baritone.
What kind of Ukulele should I get for a beginner?
The right Ukulele for a beginner is the Soprano ukulele. The reason for recommending the soprano ukulele for beginners is that it is smaller and easy to learn. Within an hour, one can easily learn a three-string chord with the soprano ukulele.
However, the concert ukulele is the best choice if the beginner ukulele player has large hands and can perfectly grip it. The concert ukulele is a bit larger than the soprano ukulele and has a longer scale length.
Final Comments
What Is A Concert Ukulele? Finally, the concert ukulele is a flexible instrument with a distinct tone. It is small and portable, making it ideal for both beginners and professionals. The concert ukulele is a fun and easy method to learn to play music.
Because of its expanding popularity, there are now a plethora of materials accessible to assist you in learning and mastering the instrument. So, why not give one a shot today and discover a whole new world of possibilities?