Over the past few years, ukuleles have become increasingly popular, especially among people with musical training. Following the massive popularity of this exceptional instrument, a lot of people have tried figuring out which of this musical instrument will be perfect for their needs. Welcome to this detailed guide which talks about the best concert ukulele for beginners, but it will be helpful if people knew the three ukulele sizes available on the market, before making a payment for anyone. There are basically three types of ukulele’s;
- Concert
- Soprano
- Tenor
The Soprano ukulele is considered as the smallest anyone will find on the market as it features a 21-inch scale. The concert ukulele follows with a 23-inch scale, while the tenor ukulele is the largest with the 26-inch scale. When hunting for a concert ukulele on the market, you will be encounter the word, acoustic electric ukulele, and this refers to an acoustic element with a pickup inside of it.
This pickup allows for sound amplification, and even when you are not making use of its electrical part, you will end up receiving a strong acoustic tone. However, it is the electric part that provides the option of amplifying sounds being projected by the instrument.
Every instrument has a downfall, and the downfall of the acoustic electric instrument is it will cost you more money. You are not just paying for the pickup, but you are paying extra for the instrument itself. An acoustic electric concert ukulele is not for anyone who is certain of not playing in a live concert, so such person can end up going for another concert ukulele instrument, and not the acoustic electric ukulele instrument. This tells you the acoustic electric ukulele instrument is for anyone that plans to perform in a live gig.
There are various types of tonewood used when making concert ukuleles, and these tonewoods are of three types. However, there are people out there who would want to compare one tonewood to another, and this is based on the fact that all of the species of wood are separately grown. This doesn’t mean any tonewood is superior to another, so here is a brief discussion of the tonewoods used in making concert ukuleles.
Cedar
Producing warm sounds with a heavy bass tone is what the cedar wood does, and for people hunting for an ukulele capable of producing softer sounds but packed with a lot of punch, the Cedar tonewood is the one they should get their hands on.
Spruce
The spruce is a tonewood that is commonly found in most ukuleles, and they are found in expensive and high-end ukuleles. Sounding a little bit brittle is the biggest downfall of the spruce tonewood, but this depends if there are any other tonewoods used or the size of the instrument.
Rosewood
Providing users with clarity and volume is what the Rosewood tonewood offers, and moderately priced ukuleles are found to have Rosewood tonewood. Surprisingly, the Rosewood produces a special and unique tone at a less expensive price.
Mahogany
Producing warm sounds is the function of the Mahogany, and this is the most common wood used in the production of ukulele. Having solid middles, strong low ends, and bell-like highs are attributes of the Mahogany tonewood.
Maple
The maple can be easily compared to Rosewood, and this is based on the clarity both woods produces. Even though maple is similar to Rosewood, it produces brighter tones and sounds.
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Best Concert Ukulele For Beginners – Buying Guide And Recommendation
People who are new to the music world will not be able to tell that the tonewoods mentioned earlier fall into two categories. These categories are the laminate and solid categories. Just as the name goes, solid wood refers to a strong piece of wood, while the laminate wood refers to thin pieces of wood that are held together by glue. Laminate woods fail to resonate well like solid wood does, and laminate woods are known to have lesser amount of frequency and volume. However, solid woods are good at producing clearer, larger, and louder sounds compared to laminate woods.
Interestingly, most people are of the idea that the small size concert ukulele is the best for them, but the concert ukulele proves to be a better choice among the soprano and tenor ukuleles. Producing a bright signature that is easily associated with so many instruments is what the concert ukulele provides users with, and providing more of resonance is to the advantage of the user. Users will enjoy lot of frequencies with well rounded sounds when using the concert ukulele, but the fact that the concert ukulele provides more space makes it stand out from the rest.
An ukulele’s scale is always bigger, making it easy for users to move their fingers quickly into position. This is very helpful for beginners, so concert ukuleles provides ease of playing, compact size, and balance sounds, which are rarely found among other ukulele types. You might be wondering why the name, concert ukulele. It is impossible for anybody to tell where the name originated from, but rumors has it the name was gotten from the fact that it is clearer and louder than the soprano ukulele.
Best Concert Ukulele For Beginners Review
1. Concert Ukulele 23 Inch Solid Mahogany Uke
This ukulele musical instrument is made with a fine solid mahogany material that makes it produce better sounds, and as this ukulele ages, it gets better and better. This musical instrument is recommended for beginners, and they can continue playing till they end up as professionals. Having one of the best geared tuner machine ensures this ukulele stays in tune, and moving to the design of this ukulele, it has a round edge design that provides comfort when held. Its neck features a rib that enables it stay straight at all times, while its dovetail neck heel design protects it against crash. Its proper height enables fingers run through it with ease, and this musical instrument comes with a website for teaching beginners how to become better players.
Specifications
- Brand – AKLOT
- Item Weight – 2.87 Pounds
- Item Color – Acoustic
Key Features
- YouTube tutorial for beginners
- Solid Mahogany
- Gear tuner machine
What We Like
- This is a well made musical instrument
- It can be played by adults and kids
- It comes with other essentials needed to play
- Impressive customer service action
What We Don’t Like
- Failed to stay in tune
2. 23 Inch Ukeleles for Adults, Ohuhu Concert Ukuleles
Delivering clean and crisp sounds is what this concert ukulele is designed to do, and it boasts of Aquila strings users can easily tune and play with accuracy and ease. It doesn’t matter whether you are standing or sitting while playing this concert ukulele, but it comes with pre-installed strap buttons that makes playing comfortable regardless of the position. This is a beautiful piece of instrument that is made out of high-quality materials, ensuring that they last long and endures all types of use, and this is a perfect gift item for professionals and beginners. Being able to hit the right notes is another advantage this concert ukulele has over other products, while its lightweight and small size makes playing fun and easy.
Specifications
- Brand – Ohuhu
- Item Weight – 2.8 Pounds
- Item Color – Mahogany
Key Features
- Strap buttons
- Mahogany body
- Aquila nylon strings
What We Like
- Great customer service
- It is easy to tune
- Solid craftsmanship
What We Don’t Like
- Failed in keeping E strings in tune
3. Enya Concert Ukulele Nova U
The next concert ukulele we want to talk about is the Enya Nova U Concert Ukulele which is made with composite polycarbonate carbon fiber material for durability and long lasting use. Trust the Enya Nova U concert ukulele to produce bright sounds compared to wooden ukuleles, while its side sound hole provides unique self-resonance while playing. It boasts of a super lightweight design that makes it the best travel partner, and its ability to withstand humidity and temperature makes it suitable for more trips and travels. This is best for all level players whether you are a professional or beginner, but before making a payment for this ukulele, you should know that it isn’t compatible with metallic and wooden strings.
Specifications
- Brand – Enya
- Item Weight – 4.44 Pounds
- Item Color – Pink
Key Features
- Cutaway body
- Radius fretboard
- Arched back
What We Like
- It has an excellent quality
- It delivers crisp sounds
- It feels comfortable and light when held
What We Don’t Like
- It doesn’t come with a tuner
4. Official Kala Learn to Play Ukulele Concert Starter Kit
The KALA brand is famous for making high quality musical instruments, and the same quality is what the Official Kala Learn To Play Concert Ukulele carries. This musical instrument is recommended for schools, and users will be blessed with a quick start guide on tips on how to play this concert ukulele. Its tips are easy to understand and will get users playing in few minutes, and interestingly, this instrument doesn’t require additional accessories before you can learn how to play. This concert ukulele has been used by notable personalities like Zac Brown, Twenty One Pilots, and many more, while its more frets and longer scale makes it sound louder than a soprano ukulele.
Specifications
- Brand – KALA
- Item Weight – 1.72 Pounds
- Item Color – Light Mahogany Stain
Key Features
- Quick start guide
- Logo tote bag
- App + tuner compatibility
What We Like
- This ukulele comes already assembled
- It is well constructed
- It is affordable
- It is very durable
What We Don’t Like
- None
5. Ranch Concert Ukulele 23 inch
Delivering amazing and clean sounds, longer sustain, and deep woody tones is what the Ranch Convert Ukulele is all about, and thanks to its Aquila strings, users are guaranteed their desires tones will come out very clear. This is a well crafted musical instrument with a well fashioned body that produces deep and warm tones compared to a laminate body ukulele instrument, and users will not feel any form of pressure when holding this instrument, thanks to its lightweight design. Just like one of the products we talked about in this guide, this instrument comes with a free online video for teaching people how to play, making it the perfect choice for professionals and beginners. Finally, it comes with a chrome die cast tuning peg for keeping this ukulele in tune.
Specifications
- Brand – Ranch
- Item Weight – 2.64 Pounds
- Item Color – UK-23
Key Features
- Nickel silver frets
- Aquila strings
- Digital tuner
- Microfiber polishing cloth
What We Like
- It is affordable and easy to play
- It is great for starters
- It sounds very good
What We Don’t Like
- Its tuning pegs do not keep this instrument in tune
History Of Concert Ukulele
Based on a theory, the soprano ukulele came to existence first, but there was need for a louder ukulele with a better projection. This is what the large ukulele gives, and you can hear it more clearly and louder than the soprano ukulele musical instrument. This makes it a better option for solo play, and you might be thinking if it is possible for you to switch between ukulele sizes later in the future.
The answer is YES, switching between ukulele sizes in the future is possible, because they share same tuning. However, it might cost you a little bit of adjustment to the different playing size, but this is why the size you go for doesn’t matter much.
It will be wise for you to go for a concert ukulele if it meets all of your needs, and you can end up switching to a soprano ukulele later in the future if you want to. Exceptions can be made when it comes to the baritone ukulele, because it has a separate tuning that’s entirely different from others. The baritone ukulele is considered as a special musical instrument, and it is for people who believe the soprano, concert, and tenor ukulele are not enough.
Final Words
Before hitting the market to shop for a concert ukulele whether you are a beginner or not, it is essential that you carry out a proper research on the instrument you are interested in. It will be wise for you to check if this instrument meets your personal needs, and it will be helpful if you head to a musical instrument shop to check out this instrument physically and play with it.
