On a day to day basis, it's the concert ukulele that I pick up first. If I could only play one size, it would be the concert. Soprano and tenor ukuleles each have a number of advantages, and the concert - being exactly half way between the two - has the advantages of both. Here are the reasons why it's my first choice.

Adaptability

I like to play both strumming and fingerpicking styles on the ukulele - often in the same tune. I find the soprano works great for strumming and not so well for fingerpicking. And vice versa for the tenor. The concert ukulele is right between the two of them and suits both styles of playing very well.

Sound

My main problem with the tenor ukulele is that it loses a little of that sprightly soprano ukulele sound. It does have a fuller tone which you may want on some occasions. But I find it does sacrifice a little of that defining ukulele sound. The concert, on the other hand, retains a great deal of the soprano sound.

Finger Room

Although only slightly bigger than the soprano, I find that the concert makes it easier to play tricky bits with your fingers tripping over each other.

Should You Buy A Concert Ukulele?

The concert is the Goldilocks ukulele. If, like me, you find baby bear's soprano too small and daddy bear's tenor ukulele too big. Then you'll find mummy bear's concert ukulele to be juuuust right.

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There isn't a whole lot of difference between soprano and concert ukuleles - only a couple of inches. But those two inches do change how the ukulele feels and how you play it.

Advantages of a Concert Ukulele

The biggest advantage of the concert ukulele, as far as I'm concerned, is the extra bit of room you get to move your fingers. When I play, I like to be able to switch between finger picking and strumming. But I sometimes find that when I'm playing a soprano my fingers trip over each other. I find the extra space on the concert - even though there isn't much extra - does make a difference and I can play more comfortably.

There is, in theory, a margin gain in the volume and tone of a concert ukulele. In practice, the little difference there is pales in comparison to other factors such as wood and quality of construction.

Advantages of a Soprano Ukulele

There's nothing quite like strumming away on a soprano. It feels like the most natural instrument in the world for that purpose.

Sopranos are also more widely available and are often cheaper than concert ukuleles. This is particularly true at the budget end of the spectrum. If you're looking to buy a ukulele for under $50, then you'll have much more choice with sopranos than you will with concerts.

Which Is My Favorite?

It depends on the situation, but generally I prefer concert ukuleles. That's more to do with my playing style than anything else. But there is only one real solution: buy one of each!

Whichever you decide on, have fun playing your soprano/concert ukulele.

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