Let's talk uke shapes and sizes.
There are four main sizes, and the difference is mostly length. Soprano is 21 inches, concert is 24, tenor is 26, and baritone is 30. Concert is the most popular size worldwide, and it's the one we'd point most people toward if they're stuck.
There's no right or wrong here. All four are real instruments and any of them will do everything you need a ukulele to do. But there's probably a best fit for YOU.
| Size | Length | Tuning | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano | 21" | GCEA | Kids, and anyone who wants the most portable one |
| Concert | 24" | GCEA | Most adults. The safe pick |
| Tenor | 26" | GCEA | Bigger hands, deeper tone, second or third uke |
| Baritone | 30" | DGBE | Guitar players, and anyone after something different |
Soprano: 21 inches
The traditional body size, and the smallest of the bunch. Bright, punchy tone. It was once the default for everyone, and now it's mostly the choice for kids, or for grown-ups who want something they can throw in a bag. Shop soprano ukuleles.
Concert: 24 inches
A little longer than the soprano with a slightly bigger body, which gives you a bit more room for your fingers on the fingerboard. Tonally it's quite close to a soprano, just with more volume and a little more depth from the larger resonating chamber. If you're having a hard time choosing, you really can't go wrong with a concert. Shop concert ukuleles.
Tenor: 26 inches
Another step up in size, and it's exploded in popularity over the last while, especially with players looking for their second or third uke. More room again on the fingerboard, more resonance from the bigger body. A tenor sounds quite a bit deeper than the others, so it strays a little from traditional ukulele tone. Shop tenor ukuleles.
Baritone: 30 inches
The largest one, and almost a category of its own, because it's strung and tuned differently than the rest. Deepest tone of any ukulele. Guitar players rejoice: a baritone is tuned the same as the four highest strings on your guitar, so you won't need to learn new chord shapes. Shop baritone ukuleles.
Which size should you get?
If you're buying for a child, soprano. If you have big hands or you want the deepest sound, tenor. If you play guitar already, baritone is kind of a cheat code. And if none of that describes you, concert.
For more help choosing a size and a model, visit our Buyer's Guide or take the Meet Your Match quiz.
And once you've picked one, the fastest way to get better is to play with other people. We keep a list of ukulele clubs and groups across Canada, sorted by province.
