Buying a ukulele: My 7 best recommendations for 2024
With my recommendation you will find the best ukulele for you. I help with ukuleles for beginners, intermediate and children. Also note the frequently asked questions – there you will find all the important information before buying a ukulele.
This text has been translated into English. Please report spelling mistakes to sebastian@musiksocke.com
What kind of ukulele are you looking for?
Frequently asked questions:
Ukulele for beginners
Since the ukulele is made in five different sizes – baritone, tenor, concert, soprano and sopranino – you should quickly find a suitable one for everyone. The most common models are tenor, concert and soprano.
Even if playing the soprano ukulele, the smallest of the three common models, is a bit more difficult due to the short distance between the frets, it still offers the right Hawaiian feeling. After a little practice, fast melodies and phrases can be played on the soprano ukulele. Guitarists can initially struggle with the short distance between the frets. But they too will quickly get used to it.
Tenor and concert ukuleles offer more leeway. Chords can be played comfortably, especially on the larger concert models. However, the larger the ukulele, the stronger its bass volume. The typical Hawaiian sound gets lost a bit with more bass. Swing and skiffle accompaniment are quickly learned on the tenor and concert ukuleles.
The Aklot concert ukulele 23 inch is a good start, as the set includes a tuner, picks, carrying strap, cleaning cloth and additional strings in addition to the ukulele. You don’t need more at the beginning. The ukulele is solidly built and sufficient for beginners. Because it’s a concert ukulele, it’s very easy to play and produces a nice sound.
The Harley Benton Ukulele Pack Soprano offers a good ukulele with matching strings, picks, bag and tuner. Despite the low price, the ukulele is a full-fledged instrument and offers the classic high ukulele sound. If you want to get as close as possible to the “original” sound of a ukulele on a small budget, you should choose this soprano ukulele. Due to the cheap processing, the ukulele often has to be retuned. Experienced musicians will be annoyed by this and should therefore follow my recommendation for advanced players.
Ukulele for advanced players
Advanced ukulele players will already know exactly what kind of instrument they would like to own. In addition to the various sizes, there are also different qualities. This is no different with ukuleles than with their predecessors, the cavaquinhos or with guitars. There are also ukuleles with or without a pickup.
If you prefer to take the instrument with you on trips or want to sing a few songs at parties, you will probably opt for a tenor or soprano ukulele. The concert ukulele is often found among members of a jazz band or orchestra.
Many musicians own ukuleles of different sizes because ukuleles of different sizes that are plucked or struck together often produce a very atmospheric and cheerful sound. For many people, of course, the look also plays a major role. How nice that there are ukuleles in a wide variety of colours or even brightly painted instruments.
Most ukuleles are made from koa, a Hawaiian type of wood that gives a very rich sound. Mahogany is also a popular tonewood for these instruments, as it emphasizes the mids more. Spruce wood, the third type of wood used for the construction of ukuleles, is livelier and has a brilliant high end.
There are also ukuleles that have a top and bottom made of laminated wood. Again, there can be instruments with a good sound. However, if you want to be on the safe side, you should use instruments made of solid wood. When varnishing, it should be noted that high-gloss varnish must be applied much thicker and thus influences the sound much more than matt varnish. There are definitely glossy lacquered ukuleles with the best sound, but they tend to be found in the upper price range.
The Ortega Earth Series Ruocean is a good concert ukulele for advanced players. This new range from Ortega offers acoustic and electric ukuleles and a variety of colours. Above all, the processing and the sound are important: Both are at a significantly higher level than the cheap ukuleles for less than 50 euros. Despite the size, the sound comes very close to the classic soprano ukulele. Together with the extraordinary colours a good choice for advanced users.
The Lanikai Mahogany Soprano Ukulele MAHS is a high-quality soprano ukulele with a great sound. Due to the slightly wider neck, this model is easier to play than classic soprano ukuleles. There is also an attachment for a harness. Only one bag is included. In my opinion one of the best models of this size.
Ukulele for kids
Of course, because of their size, ukuleles are particularly suitable if a child wants to learn to play an instrument. Here it is always better to buy a real instrument and not a child’s toy. Often ukuleles from the toy store are not even made of wood and the fret accuracy also leaves a lot to be desired. A ukulele under 20 euros cannot be of great quality.
Experience has shown that children learn to play the ukulele very quickly. The enthusiasm for this instrument will last longer, the better it sounds and the more reliable it is. Soprano nuclei are particularly suitable for children. It is important that the strings are not too high above the fretboard and that the mechanics have a working translation. Cheap toy store ukuleles don’t tune well, which also kills the fun.
The Harley Benton Kahuna-S is a soprano ukulele that is very suitable for children. It is nice and small and handy and therefore ideal for children’s hands. There are variants with different motifs such as a turtle, a dolphin, a tiki sculpture and more. The ukulele is very inexpensive for the quality it offers, which is why many music schools use this model.
The Cascha Sopran Mahogany Ukulele Set consists of a robust ukulele, a bag and three picks. The soprano ukulele cannot be compared with high-quality instruments for professionals, but it is perfectly adequate for the first contact with a musical instrument. The sound is pleasant and sounds like the typical ukulele sound to laypeople. The workmanship is relatively robust and can withstand one or the other improper use. In my opinion, a good introduction for children to the world of ukuleles.
Ukulele for crazy people
Marilyn Monroe played her, as did Doris Day. But the true old masters on the ukulele were Roy Smeck, Cliff Edwards, Eddie Kamae, Herb Ohta and Bill Tapia. But also Taimane Gardner and Stefan Raab brought and bring us closer to the instrument.
Today artists like Jake Shimabukuro, Eddie Vedder and Taylor Swift shine on this instrument. If you want to fill halls that are just as large, at least in your mind, you are probably dreaming of a very exclusive instrument. And indeed, there are also unusual models among the ukuleles, which stand out due to their look and special wood.
A particularly successful ukulele for crazy people is this one:
How do I recognize a good ukulele?
Above all, a good ukulele should also be well-made. Experienced players can immediately recognize poor workmanship by the sound. For laypeople and beginners, the price provides initial information. Better to go for the slightly more expensive model.
The surface should be smooth overall. All edges must also have an even finish. The ends of the frets should not protrude beyond the fretboard. Bund purity is also particularly important. Precisely because ukuleles have such a short fretboard, the risk of impurity in the frets is very high. Cheap ukuleles easily have defects in the mechanics and in the gluing. The wood used plays a particularly important role. Solid woods such as mahogany, spruce or koa are always best.
Especially with ukuleles you can often find the most beautiful decorations. It is important to ensure that the sound is not negatively influenced. Glossy paints are often applied thicker than matte ones. Too much paint can degrade the sound. In the upper price category, however, the manufacturers have this under control. With very cheap models, the sound can deteriorate due to a thick coating.
String action is important in two ways. Playing is easier when the strings are close to the fretboard. Strings that are too low, on the other hand, can also jingle quickly. Too high a string action not only makes playing more difficult, it can also lead to unclean tones.
What accessories do I need?
Special picks are best suited for playing the ukulele. I recommend hard felt picks, but other materials will do as well. Beginners should buy a trial set and then specifically buy their favourites. The Timber Tones Felt Tones Mixed Ukulele set made of 4 to 5 mm wool felt has a good selection.
Good and reliable tuners are also useful. Preferably models that can be attached to the instrument with a clip. In my opinion, the Thomann CTU-10 ukulele tuner for less than 10 euros is completely sufficient. A small, lightweight tuner that allows for easy tuning of the ukulele with simple operation. Professionals need more expensive devices, which then react more finely, this tuner is sufficient for everyone else.
A stand that fits your ukulele is also important. There are different variants for numerous different applications. Special stands can be screwed to the wall or you can use a padded stand that stands on three feet on the floor. The Millenium US-2010 stand has been specially developed for ukuleles. It doesn’t take up much space and fits any ukulele. At the low price you can’t go wrong with it. In my opinion, that’s enough.
The ukulele is actually played without a strap, but rather placed in the arm. Nevertheless, there are special belts. If you prefer to play the instrument with a strap, you need additional strap buttons that can be screwed to the body. The Cascha Ukulele Strap is chic and practical. The strap is adjustable from 76 to 139 cm, which is usually sufficient. Above all, a belt like this has to please. There are countless variants in light, dark or colourful shades. Make sure that the strap you choose is adjustable and therefore fits you and your ukulele.
Of course, a ukulele should always be transported and stored safely. Suitcases or bags are available for every size. I personally prefer bags (as well for storage at home) and have had good experiences with the Ibanez Ukulele Gigbag Concert. With dimensions of 59 x 19 x 6 cm (LxWxH), most ukuleles fit in.
Last but not least, it is always an advantage to have strings in stock. It can always happen that a string breaks. New strings are also useful if you have bought a very cheap ukulele. Savings are often made on the strings and then you can still get a lot of sound out of the instrument if you put on high-quality strings and then tune them optimally. The best place to buy ukulele strings is from Aquila. The Aquila Corde Regular Soprano Ukulele Strings are available for little money and produce a pleasant, accentuated sound. The set contains 4 strings, which are easy to assign to the right note thanks to the coloured markings at the ends.
And if you want to amplify the ukulele, you can choose from a large selection of special pickups. When it comes to electronic devices, I have had good experiences with K&K. K&K is an American company that focuses on pickups and amplifiers. The K&K Aloha Twin was specially developed for ukuleles for internal pickup in the instrument.
Learning the ukulele is not difficult and with the right textbook the first successes come quickly. There are numerous apps and digital courses, but I prefer the “analogue” options when learning. A nice textbook for beginners is the Let’s Play Ukulele, which simply explains the most important basics and contains many nice example songs. It then quickly becomes demanding, but those who remain motivated will also be able to master these challenges.
Which ukulele brand is the best?
I created this list of the best brands for ukuleles together with experienced musicians. An important criterion was consistent quality and high-quality processing of the instruments over the past decades.
How much does a good ukulele cost?
A good ukulele costs between 70 and 150 euros. However, beginners can also use cheaper models to find out whether they will stick with their new hobby for longer.
To get started, ukuleles range in price from 25 to 70 euros. The difference to high-quality instruments lies in the workmanship and the sound. As soon as the practice phases get longer and you realize that playing the ukulele is great fun, you should switch to ukuleles for advanced players. A good ukulele feels much higher quality and the sound is cleaner.
My recommendation of concrete models for good ukuleles.
What is the best ukulele for beginners?
The best ukulele for beginners is the Aklot concert ukulele 23 inches for about 65 euros. The set includes essential accessories and a ukulele that offers good value for money. The price is very good for all the equipment. For starters, that’s perfectly adequate.
If you play your ukulele more often and are ready for the next step, you should get an advanced ukulele. For individual instruments (without a set) you will have to pay between 80 and 160 euros. The Ortega Earth Series Ruocean for about 150 euros is recommended.
More details on my recommendations for beginners.
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The product recommendations made here are based on my experience and conversations with expert musicians. All products presented here meet the criteria of the checklist.
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All prices are incl. VAT plus shipping costs. The amount was estimated by me and may differ from the actual price. As an Amazon partner, I earn on qualified sales. This also applies to Thomann, Kirstein and all other partners.
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