Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated: May-08-2019
In our most recent refresh of this baritone ukulele article, we removed two models (including the Oscar Schmidt OU55CE) and then added two models - so it remained a top five! The new additions were the attractive Kala KA-SA-B and Cordoba's 23B.
We come to the biggest of the ukulele sizes – the baritone uke. It’s certainly not for everyone in terms of sound, tunings or playability. However, for those who like a ukulele with a little more oomph, a baritone may well be what you are looking for.
Compared to the smaller sized ukuleles, the baritone is the newest uke size. It was created sometime in the 1940s, although the exact origins are unknown.
It’s said that two men in particular – television star Arthur Godfrey and luthier Hercules ‘Herk’ Favilla – played a major part in the baritone’s development, although no exact details can be verified. However, if you’re interested, here’s
an interesting article surrounding the birth of the baritone ukulele.
When buying a baritone ukulele, there are lots of models crying for your attention. So, to help make your decision a little easier, we’ve compiled a short chart highlighting a handful of the top baritone ukuleles currently on the market.
There are many more, but this chart gives you a good look at some of the most popular, most playable, and best value – ranging from just below $100 to those just pushing $500.
Let’s dive into the chart, then stick around for our guide to baritone ukuleles.
Top 5 Baritone Ukuleles:
What Makes a Baritone Ukulele?
A baritone ukulele is the biggest of all the ukulele sizes, with a typical total length of around 29” (that’s a scale length of around 19”). With its extended length, a baritone uke will have around 18 to 21 frets, which is close to what a guitar would have.
But the guitar similarities don’t end there. Instead of the G-C-E-A you may be familiar with on soprano,
concert, and tenor ukuleles, a baritone features a different tuning. In fact, the four strings are tuned exactly like the highest four strings of a guitar: D-G-B E.
What Does a Baritone Ukulele Sound Like?
A baritone uke has quite a distinctive sound. It doesn’t quite sound like a ukulele… but then, neither does it sound like a guitar!
Here’s a good example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xVQparAJCc
While the materials used in the ukulele’s construction will play a part in the overall tone of the instrument (for example, maple bodies will be brighter while the use of mahogany is always much warmer), all baritones share some qualities.
Because of the bigger body and soundhole, all baritones are acoustically louder than their smaller-sized counterparts. They also offer a deeper, richer tone with more warmth than soprano and concert sized ukes. This is partly down to the size, partly because of the lower tuning.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Baritone Ukulele
Baritones have their cons, but there is a lot going for this wonderful ukulele size. We’ve already highlighted the deeper, richer sound, which some ukulelists – jazz players in particular – prefer.
A baritone is also easy to play – depending on the player as an individual. For example, if you are a guitarist, you’ll be able to play the baritone ukulele with no further instruction as it’s essentially the same experience, albeit without the lowest two strings of the guitar. This means notes and chords are the same. The string spacing and fretboard room is more generous too, so bigger-handed players will find a baritone easy to maneuver around.
However, beginners to the ukulele should steer clear of baritones for the simple reason that learning from traditional ukulele chord sheets and song books – even online videos – will be difficult due to different tunings.
Another slight negative is that there is generally less choice when it comes to baritone models. That’s not to say they can’t be found. However, when compared to the smaller sizes, you’re limited on choice – especially in the budget categories, where baritone models are few and far between. Having said that, as our chart proves, you can find a good budget baritone if you know where to look!
What are the Alternatives?
As we’ve established, a baritone ukulele is a wonderful instrument – but it’s not for everyone.
If you crave a slightly brighter tone, a concert or
tenor ukulele would suit you better. Want the vibrant, happy, traditional Hawaiian ukulele sound? A
soprano ukulele would be the size for you.
For complete beginners, we always recommend a concert ukulele, as these are a great all-rounder – offering the typical ukulele sound, standard ukulele tuning, and a decent sized fretboard to get to grips with.
The Final Word
There we have it – baritone ukuleles discussed and digested! If you’re ready to try one out, you’ll need to get your hands on one.
Watching videos online, reading reviews, and – where possible – trying out a range of ukuleles is the best way to know which model is right for you. Although if you start with the five on our chart, you’ll see what the benchmark of a good baritone ukulele is.
Good luck with your search for your ideal baritone ukulele!