The Soprano Ukulele

The most well known ukulele in the world has been the Soprano Ukulele which makes a unique sound.This soprano is the smallest of all the major types of ukuleles.  It offers 4 strings for its users and it is usually tuned to the ‘G-C-E-A’arrangement.  One of the major advantages of the soprano ukulele is the price tag.  This instrument is the least expensive of the bunch.  Yet, this distinction only applies to the price tag and not to the overall quality of the ukulele shop.  The cheaper price tag is one of the major reasons why the soprano has become the instrument of choice for beginner ukulele players.  Being that this piece of equipment is not as expensive, someone who is not sure about their playing future, it would be wise to invest in this item for beginners.  The Scale comes in around 13” overall, while the total size of the instrument averages 21” total.  The small scale length means that it’seasy to stretch for chord shapes.  The smaller size of this musical piece can prove difficult for players with larger hands. On the flip side, this makes a very suitable instrument for people with smaller hands, or for children.

The Pitch of  Soprano Ukulele

The high pitch sound it makes is one of the key selling points for this ukulele.  Music enthusiasts of all types have fallen in love with the compact size and the high pitch tone of the soprano.  The convenient size and overall portability of this instrument makes it easy to pack and take on trips or vacations, or to school.   With the smaller scale on this instrument, it is easier to learn how to play, but it takes much more practice in order to perfect your skills.  Beginners have traditionally used the soprano ukulele because of the reasonable price and quick mobility and then moved on to other ukes as their skills progress. Another great selling point for this item is the fact that it’s the most known and recognizable of the ukuleles.  Whenever someone hears or thinks of the word ukulele, the picture that comes to mind is usually of a soprano uke.

Roy Smeck the famous Soprano Ukulele player

Roy Smeck, nicknamed “The Wizard of the Strings” is a famous soprano ukulele player.  Smeck,a musician not really known for his vocal abilities,invented dances and trick playing of the ukulele to incorporate into his performance act.  This Helped to show the flexibility of this instrument during performance.  For those without great vocal skills, the soprano’s sound can almost substitute for a voice and for this reason has been loved as an instrument.  Another very famous soprano ukulele performer goes by the name of Herb ‘Ohta-san’Ohta.  He began playing the soprano ukulele when he was only 7 years old.  He has been known to make all kinds of music from rock to jazz, pop to Latin music using his uke, showing the flexibility of the instrument.Another modern day popular soprano uke player fans can look into is Shigeto Takahashi who has toured the world with his ukulele.

For the player who is beginning his/her ukulele career, the soprano ukulele is,and has been the optimal choice.  The size and learning curve of this instrument makes it a must have for all beginner musicians.  Even in the unlikely case that the performer does not like the instrument the soprano ukulele is not expensive, so it’s worth giving a try. This item’s popularity is only growing, and the uke’s history has proven its universality over time. It’s the main reason the ukulele is still making its presence felt in the modern music scene today.