The Ukulele and Its Main Variations

The ukulele is small, light, and quick to learn, but that does not make it simple to understand. It comes in four established sizes, each with its own tuning and tone, and the choice among them changes the result more than many people expect. Knowing the variations keeps you from buying the wrong instrument.

Origins and general features

The ukulele emerged in Hawaii in the second half of the nineteenth century. Tradition credits its formation to small stringed instruments brought by Portuguese immigrants, among them the machete (also called the braguinha) and the cavaquinho. Local luthiers adapted the shape to the woods available, and the instrument became a musical symbol of the islands. The Hawaiian name is often translated as "jumping flea," a reference to the quickness of the fingers when playing it.

In terms of classification, it is a chordophone with plucked or strummed strings, in the same general family as the guitar. It has a figure-eight body, a top with a central sound hole, a neck with metal frets, and four strings, historically made of gut and today usually nylon or fluorocarbon. The short scale and low string tension make the instrument gentle on the fingers. To understand the principle shared by this whole family, see how plucked string instruments work.

The four sizes

The established sizes, from smallest to largest, are:

• Soprano: the classic and most compact model, with a bright, short tone, typical of the traditional ukulele sound.
• Concert: slightly larger, with more space between the frets and a fuller sound, comfortable for players with bigger hands.
• Tenor: longer body and scale, with a broader sound and better projection, widely used by people who perform on stage.
• Baritone: the largest of the four, with a tuning and tone closer to the guitar and with thicker strings.

The vibrating length of the string, meaning the distance between the nut and the bridge, grows with each size, and that changes fret spacing, string tension, and projection. In general terms, the bigger the box, the lower the frequencies the body can reinforce.

Common tunings

On soprano, concert, and tenor sizes, the most common tuning is G-C-E-A. The fourth string, the one closest to the player's face, is tuned an octave higher than a simple rising sequence would suggest. This is called re-entrant tuning: the notes do not climb steadily from the lowest string to the highest. The effect is a dense sound with a pleasant sort of "hum" in chords, and it is the instrument's main sonic signature.

There is a variant with a low fourth string, called low G, which extends the range downward and brings the instrument closer to the sound of a small guitar. The baritone is tuned D-G-B-E, exactly like the four highest strings of a guitar, which makes it easy to move between the two instruments. Tuning is a subject that reaches well beyond the ukulele, as the article on musical tuning and the role of reference pitches explains.

Woods, construction, and tone

As on the guitar, the top is the part that most influences the tone, because it is the surface that vibrates and amplifies the sound of the strings. Many inexpensive ukuleles are made of laminated wood, layers glued with alternating grain directions, which stand up well to changes in humidity but sound less open. Solid-wood instruments usually have a richer response and age better, at the cost of needing more care in dry or damp climates.

Wood species vary by region and maker. Hawaiian tradition made koa famous, with its warm, bright tone, but mahogany, cedar, spruce, and others are also used. A change of wood produces audible differences, although the player's technique matters as much as the material. To get to know each part, the article on acoustic guitar anatomy is a good foundation, since the ukulele's structure is analogous, at a smaller scale.

Variations beyond the four sizes

Beyond the four classic models, other formats widen the possibilities:

• Sopranino, smaller than the soprano and higher in pitch.
• Six- or eight-string ukulele, with doubled strings in courses, which produce a broader, more resonant sound.
• Electric ukulele, with pickups, for amplified use.
• Pineapple ukulele, a rounded oval body whose sound is often described as softer.
• Bass ukulele, with thick rubber or polymer strings, tuned like an electric bass.

Each of these variations keeps the idea of a portable instrument but changes range, tone, and role. A close relative, also plucked and of European origin, is the mandolin, which follows a different logic with its doubled strings tuned in fifths.

Which size suits whom

The soprano suits anyone who wants the classic, light, cheerful tone, has small hands, or plans to travel with the instrument. The concert and tenor balance comfort and volume and are the safe choice for most beginners. The baritone appeals to guitarists who want something lower and more compact, although it gives up the typical ukulele character.

When trying one out, watch three details: whether the strings sit at a comfortable height above the neck, whether the fret ends feel rough at the edges, and whether the instrument holds its tuning after a few minutes of playing. A poorly set-up ukulele discourages a student right at the start, and the problem is often only the height of the strings.

Strumming, fingerpicking, and style

Because of its short scale and soft nylon strings, the ukulele lends itself to relaxed strumming, usually with the fingertips or the side of the thumb rather than a pick. The classic sound comes from a loose, rhythmic wrist and a mix of downstrokes and upstrokes. Fingerpicking is equally natural, and the re-entrant tuning gives even simple arpeggios a warm, ringing quality. Many players also use the instrument to accompany singing, since a few chords are enough to cover a large repertoire of folk and popular songs.

Where to go from here

Choose the size for comfort and for the tone you want to hear, not only for price. Learn the basic chords first and keep the instrument in tune before every session, because re-entrant tuning only sounds right when all four strings are where they belong. If you are still unsure about the ideal instrument, read choosing your first instrument and test your knowledge in the quiz.