Soprano vs Concert vs Tenor vs Baritone Ukulele: Size Guide

The four ukulele sizes are soprano (21", 13" scale), concert (23", 15" scale), tenor (26", 17" scale), and baritone (30", 19" scale). The first three are tuned to G-C-E-A re-entrant tuning; the baritone is tuned D-G-B-E like the top four strings of a guitar. For kids ages 5–8, choose soprano; for ages 9–12, concert; for teens and adults, tenor.

This guide is part of our how to teach ukulele to kids series. Once you know the right size, browse our best ukuleles for kids list and start playing songs from our easy 1- and 2-chord kids songs. For broader context on adult sizes, see our beginner ukulele guide.

Table of Contents

1. The 4 Sizes at a Glance
2. Soprano (21") — The Classic
3. Concert (23") — The Step-Up
4. Tenor (26") — The Performer
5. Baritone (30") — The Hybrid
6. When to Size Up
7. Hand Size Considerations
8. Frequently Asked Questions

The 4 Sizes at a Glance

Ukulele size is measured two ways: total length (the physical instrument from butt to headstock tip) and scale length (the vibrating length of the string, from nut to saddle). Scale length matters more — it determines fret spacing, string tension, and tone.

Pro Tip

Scale length, not total length, is the spec to compare. A 13" soprano scale has frets 0.65" apart — perfect for a 6-year-old's fingers. A 19" baritone scale has frets 1.0" apart — too wide for small hands.

Soprano (21") — The Classic

The soprano is the original ukulele size, invented in Honolulu in 1879 by Manuel Nunes, Augusto Dias, and José do Espírito Santo. Its 13-inch scale and 12-fret neck define the bright, plinky "Hawaiian sound" most people picture when they hear the word ukulele.

Soprano ukuleles are made with either solid koa wood (the traditional Hawaiian material, $300+) or laminate mahogany/agathis ($40–$100). For kids, laminate is the right choice — it survives drops, humidity changes, and backpack trips.

Best For

• Children ages 5–8 (fits small hands and laps)
• Travelers (fits in overhead bins, plays anywhere)
• Classroom programs (cheapest per instrument)
• Players who want the traditional Hawaiian tone

Common Mistake

The soprano's 12-fret neck limits high-note access. If your child wants to play melodic solos past the 7th fret, upgrade to a concert — not another soprano.

Concert (23") — The Step-Up

The concert size was developed in the 1920s to give players more fret room. At 15 inches of scale length, the frets are slightly wider apart — easier for adult fingers and kids 9+. The body is also larger, producing a warmer, louder tone than the soprano.

Concerts use the same G-C-E-A re-entrant tuning as the soprano, so all chords transfer. Many Ukulele in the Classroom teachers (the method by J. Chalmers Doane and James Hill) prefer concerts for grades 4–6 because the larger fretboard reduces finger-muting errors.

Best For

• Children ages 9–12 (more fret space, still fits in a lap)
• Adult beginners (the most popular "first real ukulele" size)
• Players who want a fuller tone without losing portability
• Singers who accompany themselves (louder than soprano)

Tenor (26") — The Performer

The tenor is the preferred size of professional performers, including Israel Kamakawiwoʻole ("Somewhere Over the Rainbow"), Jake Shimabukuro, and James Hill. The 17-inch scale produces a rich, sustained tone with more bass than the smaller sizes — closer to a classical guitar than a toy.

Tenors can be tuned to standard G-C-E-A or to "low-G" tuning (G3 instead of G4), which gives a fuller, guitar-like range. Low-G is popular among chord melody players; re-entrant high-G is the standard for traditional Hawaiian and pop strumming.

Best For

• Teens (13+) and adults
• Performers who need volume and projection
• Fingerstyle and chord melody players
• Players ready for low-G tuning

Pro Tip

If you are unsure between concert and tenor as an adult beginner, pick tenor. The extra inch of scale length and slightly wider neck make chords more comfortable for average-to-large hands, and the tone is dramatically better.

Baritone (30") — The Hybrid

The baritone is the largest ukulele, with a 19-inch scale and D-G-B-E tuning (the same as the top four strings of a guitar). It produces a deep, mellow tone that sounds more like a small guitar than a ukulele.

Because the tuning is different, baritone chord shapes do not match soprano/concert/tenor ukulele chord shapes. A "C chord" shape on a baritone actually plays a G chord. For this reason, the baritone is NOT recommended for kids learning in a classroom — it will confuse them when they switch instruments.

Best For

• Guitarists who want a ukulele without relearning chord shapes
• Adults who want a deeper, guitar-like voice
• Singers with low vocal ranges (matches baritone/tenor voice)
• NOT recommended for kids under 14 (too big, different tuning)

Common Mistake

Buying a baritone for a child because "bigger is better" is a common mistake. The 30" body is too large for a child's lap, the 19" scale stretches small fingers painfully, and the D-G-B-E tuning doesn't match G-C-E-A ukulele teaching materials. Always start kids on soprano or concert.

When to Size Up

Children outgrow ukuleles the way they outgrow shoes. Watch for these four signs that a child is ready for the next size up:

1. Fingers crowding frets — when their fingertips touch the next fret wire, the notes buzz.
2. Strumming arm dangling — the body is too small to rest the forearm comfortably.
3. Wanting more frets — songs requiring notes above fret 12 cannot be played on a soprano.
4. Tone complaints — the child says their uke "sounds too small."

Pro Tip

Don't size up too early. A child playing a slightly-too-small soprano learns faster than a child struggling with a slightly-too-big concert. When in doubt, wait 6 months.

Hand Size Considerations

Hand span (the distance from thumb tip to pinky tip when stretched) is the most useful measurement for picking a ukulele size. Use this table to match hand span to scale length.

Once you've matched the size, browse our recommended models at each size and our 1- and 2-chord songs for the first repertoire.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular ukulele size?

The soprano is the most popular worldwide, due to its low price and traditional Hawaiian sound. The concert is the most popular among adult beginners. The tenor dominates among professional performers.

Can a child play a concert ukulele?

Yes, from about age 9. Children ages 5–8 should start on a soprano because the concert's 15" scale is slightly too wide for small hands. By age 9, most kids can comfortably play a concert.

What is the difference between soprano and concert tuning?

None — both are tuned G-C-E-A re-entrant. The difference is the scale length (13" vs 15"), which makes the concert slightly louder, warmer, and easier for larger fingers to play.

Is the baritone ukulele good for beginners?

Only for guitarists switching to ukulele. The D-G-B-E tuning matches the top four guitar strings, so guitar chord shapes transfer directly. For non-guitarists, the baritone's larger size and different tuning make it a poor first instrument.

How do I measure my child's hand for a ukulele?

Have them stretch their hand wide, fingers spread. Measure from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinky. A span under 6.5" indicates soprano; 6.5"–7" indicates concert; above 7" works for tenor.

Continue Learning

• Back to pillar: How to Teach Ukulele to Kids
• Best Ukuleles for Kids & Beginners
• 1-Chord and 2-Chord Songs for Young Children

Adult learners should also see our beginner ukulele guide and our chord melody & fingerstyle guide.

Fit by the Child, Not by the Birthday

Age charts are a rough proxy for what actually matters: arm length, hand span and whether the child can reach across the fretboard without hunching. Two nine-year-olds can need different sizes. These are the physical tests that decide it.

As a starting point: soprano suits most children under about eight, concert suits roughly eight to twelve and most adult beginners, and tenor is a teenager or adult instrument. Baritone is a different case entirely — it is tuned D-G-B-E, so every chord chart written for a ukulele will name the wrong chords. Avoid it for a child unless you specifically want a guitar stepping stone.

Why Soprano Is the “Original” Size at All

Soprano is not the beginner size because it is a scaled-down version of something. It is the size the instrument was invented as. The Honolulu workshops of the 1880s built compact bodies derived from the Madeiran machête, and everything larger came later: concert during the 1920s boom to suit adult hands, tenor for volume and projection as players moved onto stages, and baritone in the 1940s with a guitar-style tuning aimed at guitarists.

That order explains something useful for parents. Every larger size was created to solve an adult or professional problem — reach, loudness, crossover to guitar — none of which a seven-year-old has. The original size remains the right one for small hands because small hands are what it was proportioned around. The full size story is in our guide to the four ukulele sizes.