Collection: Soprano Ukuleles

Soprano ukuleles from THE CLASSIC, Ohana, EMUS and PUKANALA. This is the standard size, about 21 inches long, and the one most classroom programs buy.

The short scale puts the frets close together, which suits small hands, and the body size gives the bright, plinky tone most people associate with the instrument. The tradeoff is that adult fingers can crowd on the upper frets, which is why some teachers move to concert size for their own instrument while keeping sopranos for the class.

Construction here runs from mahogany and willow laminate through spruce and mahogany solid tops to fully solid models. Laminate is the practical choice for a set that lives on a cart. EMUS sopranos come in a range of colours, which helps when instruments are assigned to students.

Two things worth knowing. The Ohana O'Nina sopranissimo is smaller again than a soprano, pitched higher, and is more a novelty and travel instrument than a first ukulele. The long-scale soprano gives soprano body tone with concert fret spacing, which is a useful middle ground.

A DIY soprano kit is also stocked for building an instrument as a class project.