Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated: May-09-2019
We gave this article on the best concert ukuleles a little bit of attention to bring it up to date for mid 2019. This included the removal of the out-of-production Fender Mino’Aka CE, with the addition of the sweet Luna Flora Series Concert uke and the Mitchell MU70.
On the hunt for a new ukulele? Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced player, a concert ukulele is perhaps the most versatile of the four main uke sizes. A great all-rounder!
Introduced in 1920, the concert uke – also known as the ‘alto ukulele’ – was offered as a larger alternative to the traditional
soprano ukulele. Of course, it proved successful, as it’s still one of the most popular sizes nearly 100 years later.
When looking in stores, both online and physical, many of the models you’ll see will be concert ukuleles. In fact, you may be overwhelmed with the choice of concert ukes out there. There are so many price ranges, construction woods, styles, and electronics on offer.
So, we’ve constructed a short chart to highlight eight of our favorite models. This reflects a good cross-section of the current market. There are some budget models, some higher end; some traditionally designed, some more modern; some with electronics, some without. But they all share one common factor – they are concert size!
Browse the chart, then check out our guide to concert ukuleles below.
Top 9 Concert Ukuleles:
What Makes a Concert Ukulele?
While there are little differences between some manufacturers, a standard concert ukulele will be around 23” in total length. A concert ukulele will also typically have around 15 to 18 frets, although some models will have more. As for tunings, the normal concert uke tuning is G-C-E-A, which is identical to soprano and
tenor models, so making the change from any of these sizes is a cinch.
What Does a Concert Ukulele Sound Like?
As with any acoustic instrument, much of how it sounds is a result of what woods are used in the construction of the body, as well as whether it is made of solid or laminated material.
However, when it comes to a concert ukulele, compared to a smaller soprano uke, the sound will be deeper and richer. You still get the classic bright and tinkly ukulele tone, but with a slightly bigger sound that projects better.
On the other hand, compared to a larger tenor or
baritone ukulele, the concert is quieter. But in general, a concert ukulele provides a versatile, middle-of-the-road sound.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Concert Ukulele
As we’ve established, a concert ukulele sits in the middle of the size spectrum, so is a great compromise between a soprano and a tenor.
You’ll find concert ukes offer you a great market to choose from compared to some other sizes. For example, some brands offering unique models, such as the FLEA Ukulele or Epiphone’s Les Paul Uke, only offer their models as concert size. So, for picking up something which will turn a few heads, narrowing your search to concert is a good start.
A concert uke will typically feature a length of around 23”, and a scale length (the distance from the nut to the saddle) of 15”, which boils down to a slightly longer neck and wider fretboard than a soprano. This means there is more room to maneuver, with the frets marginally further apart from each other, so players with average-sized adult hands would struggle less than they may with a soprano uke.
A concert ukulele also offers a wider range of notes than a soprano, due to the additional frets, so it gives you more scope for making music. And, like a soprano, a concert is still quite compact, so it’s good for travelling.
A final advantage is that a concert ukulele will be cheaper than a baritone or tenor of the same model. On the flip side, however, the concert version will generally be more expensive than a similar soprano model.
What are the Alternatives?
A concert ukulele is very versatile, and particularly good for beginners, but it’s not for everyone.
If you want something with a deeper, richer tone, and more acoustic projection, a tenor or even a baritone ukulele is the size to consider. The added advantage of these ukulele sizes is that they are excellent for those players with larger hands, or guitarists trying a ukulele for the first time.
On the other side of the coin is the soprano, which would suit you if both your budget and hands are smaller!
This helpful video is very good at explaining the differences in size and tone in soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22u4gauHJ6U
The Final Word
When it comes to buying a ukulele, there is no right or wrong. However, if you are a beginner, a concert uke is a great place to start. As we’ve highlighted several times throughout this review, a concert size gives you a typical ukulele sound with a little more depth than a soprano, along with a bit more playability.
Before you buy, make sure you read some reviews of your favorite-looking ukes, watch videos of them in action, and – if possible – try some out.
Just don’t forget to come back and thank us when you’re wowing your audience with a great ukulele!