Ukulele Sizes: Soprano, Concert, Tenor | Musik Ebert – Musik-Ebert Gmbh

The ukulele comes in several sizes – the most common are soprano, concert and tenor. All three are tuned the same way (g-c-e-a), but they sound different and feel different in the hands. We show you the differences so you can find the right size.

01What Is the Difference Between Soprano, Concert and Tenor Ukuleles?

From smallest to largest: the soprano ukulele is the smallest and most classic, with the typically bright, pearly sound. The concert ukulele is a little larger, sounds fuller and offers more room for your fingers. The tenor ukulele is the largest of the three – with the fullest, most carrying tone and the best playability for larger hands.

The difference lies mainly in overall length and scale length, i.e. the freely vibrating string length: a soprano ukulele measures around 53 cm with a scale of about 35 cm, a concert ukulele around 58 to 61 cm with about 38 cm, and a tenor ukulele around 66 cm with about 43 cm. As the size increases, so do volume, sustain and the spacing between the frets – the g-c-e-a tuning stays the same on all three.

02Soprano Ukulele – the Classic

Compact, light and affordable: the soprano is the standard ukulele and ideal for children, travel and anyone looking for the classic ukulele sound. Because of the short scale length, the frets sit close together.

Cascha Premium Sopran Mahagoni Ukulele Set - Musik-Ebert Gmbh

Cascha Premium Sopran Mahagoni Ukulele Set HH2026

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03Concert Ukulele – More Volume

The concert ukulele is the popular middle ground: a slightly larger body, fuller sound and more spacing between the frets. A good choice for adults and beginners who want a bit more comfort and tonal richness. Whether you see it called a concert ukulele or a concert-size ukulele – both names mean the same middle size.

Cascha Konzertukulele furniert mit Tasche HH2035

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04Tenor Ukulele – Full and Carrying

The tenor ukulele delivers the fullest tone and the largest body. It is popular with advanced players and anyone with larger hands, because chords and melodies are especially comfortable to play. The tenor ukulele is also tuned to g-c-e-a as standard – you will find a step-by-step guide in our article Tuning a Tenor Ukulele.

Cascha Tenorukulele furniert mit Tasche HH2048

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05The Sizes Compared

The three types side by side:

Soprano vs. Concert vs. Tenor
	Soprano	Concert	Tenor
Overall length	approx. 53 cm	approx. 58–61 cm	approx. 66 cm
Scale length	approx. 35 cm	approx. 38 cm	approx. 43 cm
Sound	bright, pearly	fuller, rounder	full, carrying
Tuning	g-c-e-a	g-c-e-a	g-c-e-a
Ideal for	children, travel, classic sound	beginners, adults	advanced players, large hands

Frequently asked questions

Which ukulele is best for beginners?

The soprano is the affordable classic, the concert offers a little more comfort and tonal richness. Both are very well suited for getting started – with larger hands, the concert is often more comfortable.

Are all sizes tuned the same way?

Soprano, concert and tenor are tuned the same way by default (g-c-e-a). So you can transfer your knowledge directly from one size to the other.

Which ukulele for children?

For children, the small, light soprano ukulele is usually the best choice – handy and affordable.

What is the difference between a soprano and a concert ukulele?

The concert ukulele is around 5–8 cm longer than the soprano, has a larger body and more spacing between the frets. It sounds fuller and is more comfortable to play with larger hands – both are tuned the same way (g-c-e-a).

How big is a tenor ukulele?

A tenor ukulele measures around 66 cm in overall length with a scale length of about 43 cm. It is the largest of the three common sizes and delivers the fullest tone.