Ukulele (Baritone) — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Ukulele (Baritone)Type: instrumentThe largest ukulele size, tuned like the top four strings of a guitar and offering a warm, mellow tone bridge between ukulele and guitar.## History The baritone ukulele was developed in the 1940s and gained popularity in the 1950s, particularly through the work of Arthur Godfrey, whose television show featured ukulele playing and introduced the instrument to millions of American viewers. The baritone was designed to provide guitarists with an easy entry point to the ukulele family—its D-G-B-E tuning matches the guitar's top four strings exactly. This practical tuning, combined with its larger body and warmer tone, made it appealing to guitarists while still maintaining the ukulele's portable charm. The baritone occupies a unique niche: too large and low-pitched to be confused with a soprano ukulele, yet too small to replace a guitar. ## Construction The baritone ukulele has a scale length of approximately 19 inches and an overall length of about 30 inches, with a body width of 9 to 10 inches at the lower bout. This makes it roughly the size of a tenor guitar or a very small parlor guitar. Construction is more robust than smaller ukuleles, often featuring guitar-style X-bracing to support the larger top under the increased string tension of its lower tuning. Bodies are typically mahogany, koa, or spruce-topped with mahogany or rosewood back and sides. Necks are wider and longer, providing comfortable spacing for chord work. Strings are typically nylon or fluorocarbon, though some players use wound third and fourth strings for more definition. ## Tonal Characteristics The baritone ukulele produces a warm, mello…