Best Ukulele For Beginners in 2021

What is the first thing you think of when a Ukulele comes to mind?

Hawaii?

Serenading your special someone to a love song?

For most people it does but regardless of what attracted you to a ukulele, one thing is for sure, this little stringed instrument will immediately put a smile on your face and the people around you.

Let’s get right into it.

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Ukulele Sizes

There are 4 sizes of Ukuleles. Starting from the smallest to the largest.

• Soprano (For kids and adults with smaller hands)
• Concert (Most popular choice)
• Tenor
• Baritone

Also, did you know the real local Hawaiian pronunciation of the word Ukulele is “oo-koo-lay-lay”.

Pretty unique eh?

Plus a lot of people refer to ukuleles as ‘ukes’.

It’s just a little nickname for these wonderful little things.

By the way, a Kala ukulele seem to be the best in the business (No matter what the size). Kind of like Pioneer is for DJ controllers.

As a beginner Ukulele enthusiasts, just thought I’d share that with you.

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Best Soprano Ukulele for Beginners

The 2nd most popular type of ukulele after the concert ukulele, the Soprano is basically for kids and male / females with smaller hands.

Keep in mind though, the Soprano is shorter only by a couple inches when compared to a concert ukulele.

Kala Soprano Ukulele

This is one slick looking soprano ukulele kit. Don’t be intimidated by the all black colors on this one, it actually comes in 6 other colors as well. I mean I don’t mind looking cool every once in a while but a black ukulele? Aren’t ukuleles suppose to be happy music instruments? I can understand a black on black bass guitar but I guess to each it’s own. It’s nice to have the option though right?

Anyways, once you pick your color, it’s time to put in some work. This entire set is designed with the beginner player in mind and that’s why it comes with color codes on it’s fretboard (Neck of the guitar where you put your fingers).

The Kala brand is already known for quality and producing a great sound in the ukulele market so it’s really nice to see them focus on beginners like this as well. Going back to the color codes, this ukulele comes with it’s own app (That’s right) so you can play your favorite songs using the color codes on the fretboard.

Great way to practice no doubt. They also offer free online lessons so now there is no excuse to not learn how to play a Soprano ukulele. As far as the sound goes, most experienced ukulele players suggest that it’s not as loud but still perfect for casual play around the campfire, etc. All and all, great for beginners.

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Donner Soprano Ukulele

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The Dus-31 soprano ukulele by Donner produces a nice bright sound. All thanks to the nice mahogany construction. Surprisingly, this soprano is great for people with slightly large hands as well (Since sopranos usually tend to be smaller in size). Overall, this is a great complete ukulele package as well with one minor downside. Despite the overall great quality of Donner products, the thin strap it comes with could really use an upgrade. Other than that, it’s great for not just beginners but experts as well. The only thing not included is a nice one month all inclusive trip to Waikiki.

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Kala KA 15s Soprano Ukulele

One of the soprano ukuleles that are on the lower end of the price spectrum, yet equally match with most of the higher end ukuleles out there. Great starter ukulele but there are issues with tuning it properly. I feel like some people have issues with that and some don’t so at this stage, although I recommend it, if you are not used to tuning stringed instruments before, it’s best to skip this one for now.

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Beginner Mahogany Soprano Ukulele

Kmise went out of there way to get this soprano ukulele package together. Probably one of the most well-reviewed ukuleles – period, this kit contains everything you need and then some. Let’s talk about the ukulele first though . . . like most ukuleles here, this one is another quality instrument.

However, it’s all about the little things. Like the tuners on this uke actually, have some coverage on it. Which makes it unique and gives them an added bit of protection/style. A cool look overall. As far as the sound goes, it’s loud and produces a nice vibration. Another killer soprano uke package.

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Kala KA 15s Soprano Ukulele

Mahogany body with the Kala name behind it, here is another solid wood (Not veneer) uke to help you get in the game and fast. The KA 15S even comes with a nice case. I don’t recommend that you use it if you are flying or what not (Hard ukulele cases are better for those) but if you are just bouncing around town, or hopping around your friends from one beach to another, this case works just fine.

Although a great package for beginners, once you start getting good at it, just make sure to upgrade the stock strings. This way you’ll really bring out the sound from this little wonder.

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Donner Soprano Ukulele

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Donner has introduced this traditional soprano ukulele that comes with get this . . . patented guitar tuners. What’s so amazing about that? It means you hardly ever need to tune this guitar. This automatically makes this is a great soprano style ukulele for beginners. Although I would argue that isn’t tuning your own ukulele part of the fun?

Well at least for me it is. Regardless, Donner has made another gem of a ukulele and this DUS-1 model won’t disappoint most people. Sounds quite clean when you play high no Also knowing that the tuner comes with it’s own batteries, just makes it extra special.

I mean how often to do you come across a ukulele that uses special “cured” wood? I find this extra fascinating because it reminds me of how Cuban cigars are cured. It truly speaks to the longevity of this ukulele as some people have owned this model for years. Perhaps the Donner DUS-1 can be considered the “Cohiba” of ukuleles? I’ll smoke to that.

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Mahalo Rainbow Soprano Ukulele

Dear artsy friends, this Uke is for you. Probably the most number of colors you can find in a ukulele (Or any stringed instrument) for that matter. Try 11 different colors. However, don’t let the many color choices take away from the fact that this is a real professional soprano ukulele.

Mahalo ukuleles are usually considered great for entry level enthusiasts or if you want to get your little one involved in music. Overall a great package but I would recommend you upgrade to better strings. Perhaps learn how to tune a soprano ukulele first so you can do it yourself. Seems to be an issue with a few ukuleles in the market.

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Hricane Beginner Soprano Ukulele

Seems to be a favorite for people who like to bring their ukelele along with them during their travels.

Solid construction and sound and doesn’t need to be tuned quite often either. Now that does sound like the perfect sidekick to your next adventure.

Good job Hricane. Another rare ukulele brand that is passionate about their products. A great size for beginners who struggle with small ukuleles. Nothing is more annoying than learning to play music on instruments that just don’t work. Well this is the opposite.

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Huwawind Beginner Soprano Ukulele

This one comes in two colors. Black and the classic brown. Great overall package for kids and beginners, this soprano uke by Huawind is lightweight and sturdy (“Plasticy” feel to it).

Once you start playing properly, I do recommend that you upgrade as its on of those ‘does the job’ kind of deal. Great for the first timer, but not when you want to improve further.

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ADM Soprano Ukulele

One of the best beginner soprano packages here. Love the option of choosing from 5 different colors. When you see a ukulele package that comes in many colors, it basically meant for kids or the budding enthusiast. That said, this model by ADT is actually praised by a lot of professional and amateur musicians alike. Especially it’s construction which plays a key role in creating a nice sound.

Overall it’s a great instrument but make sure you tighten up the strings when it arrives. Seems to go out of tune a lot. More than usual. That said, still highly recommended for kids and a wonderful package to give as a gift.

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Best Concert Ukulele for Beginners

A concert ukulele is most popular ukulele size around.

Unlike the Soprano ukulele, the concert size is suitable for mostly adults.

Average size for a concert ukulele is around 23″.

Here are our our picks for the best concert ukuleles for beginners.

Lohanu LU-C Concert Ukulele – Best Soprano Ukulele

This is a great starter ukulele package by Lohanu is great for beginners. Lohanu of all the places, it’s actually based in Vancouver, BC but their products are made in China.

These are not those knockoffs or cheap ukulele that you may expect. Lohanu actually makes pretty high quality ukuleles and this model is one of them. Even experienced ukulele players will tell you that.

This ukulele is also perfect for people residing in warm temperatures. All thanks to the laminated finish.

If you’ve tried the Koaloha brand, this comes super close to it and it’s something that most people will be able to get. Just make sure you regularly tune this ukulele (Every few weeks?) because like all stringed instruments, the weather and other factors can mess up a soprano ukulele’s tuning.

A good tip would be to keep it indoors. Unless this ukulele gets messed up in shipping, everything should be good. If this is the first time you’re getting a ukulele, then I highly recommend this.

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Hola Music Concert Ukulele

Another awesome ukulele by Hola Music. This is a whole package and great choice if you are thinking about gifting. It comes in various wood types such as Solid spruce pro, spalted maple and even zebrawood. I love the fact that the headstock is actually from a classical guitar which gives it a unique look and own sound.

It’s actually made out of Nato, a mahogany type wood (Found in Asian countries) that creates a very clear sound. Comes with quality Italian strings as well. Probably the most international ukulele here and why not? After all, music is an international language. Hola music did a great job with this one. One of the most beloved ukulele I’ve ever come across for sure.

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Umiee Concert Ukulele

Another all in one Ukulele kit that includes everything. This one is by Umiee and best part is once you tune it, you only need to re-tune it every week or so. Of course that depends on how much you play but once a week should do the trick. Most stringed instruments have to be tuned regularly for obvious reasons but this ukulele can hold it’s own a little longer than usual which always helps.

The kit comes with a soprano ukulele tuner as well so no worries. Most people report that this Umiee ukulele is great for beginners and to pass on as a gift as well. Nice wooden body (Produces a great sound) and just an all around good bundele.

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Evershine Mahogony Concert Ukulele

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This Mahogony beauty by Evershine is another example of great craftsmanship on a ukulele. It also comes with Aquila strings which are considered by many to be the best strings in the game. Enjoy great sound and nothing like a 2 year warranty for that peace of mind.

Most actually report that it’s a lot louder than expected which in most cases is a good thing. If your apartment has concrete walls, don’t worry about annoying the neighbours anytime soon. It’s not like you’re banging on a drum set.I love how people think that these Ukulele kits here are like toys but once they actually get the product, they are completely blown away. This ukulele is one of them. Like most products here, great for yourself to learn or share it as a gift.

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Aklot Concert Ukulele

Aklot did a great job with this ukulele which also comes with industry leading aquila strings. Great for the fingers and the sound they produce as well. Might not be a big deal to most but I love Aklot’s branding on this. The bridge is a nice little dove holding the strings. Giving out a nice message of creativity and peace.

What could be better right? This 4 string Ukulele is a hit with the adults (Experienced players as well) and the kids. It also comes with a few online lessons which are great for the beginner enthusiasts. Aklot went above and beyond with this one and if I had to pick one ukulele package that does it all, it would be this one. This is my pick for the best ukulele for beginners.

Kmise Concert Ukulele

If you’re looking for that classic Hawaiian style ukulele sound (Feel free to imagine the beaches and the sand while you’re at ait), this Ukulele is it. Considereing the size, some serious thnking and crafstmanship went in this one. This Kmise’s Ukulele is what I would call a “players” ukulele. Not because you need to be an expert to play it but just how precise everything is.

Kmise has done a great job in producing a decent ukulele that can be enjoyed by people of various financial backgrounds. Plus if you are a beginner, don’t worry about practicing hard because it comes with an extra set of strings. Now you have no excuses to get your “Ukulele” on. Once you start playing fairly well, I would upgrade to a higher quality set of strings. That’s my only little issue with this model.

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Mugig Concert Ukulele

The construction on this Ukulele really takes the cake. I want to share something really quick here and I hope other manufacturers of musical instruments are listening . . . if you properly construct an instrument, the sound will naturally be amazing. Mugig’s ukulele (Along with Kmise) are great examples of this. If you make it properly, you’ll get great sound and hats off to Mugic on this one.

They literally beat out some of the more high priced Ukuleles as far as the overall sound is concerned. Great package overall and quite popular between couples as well.

I don’t know when Ukuleles became an excellent choice for a Valentine present but who am I to complain. I personally don’t know any girls who would like this as a gift but one of my recent friends actually did gift his wife with one. Guess I better get with the times right?

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LHI Concert Ukulele

LHI went against the grain with this one by using Rosewood instead of the usual mahogany. I think it’s fair to say that it paid off. LHI has produced a solid ukulele here that comes with strings that are soft for everyone including beginners. A great looking ukulele that looks great as well.

The only place where LHI fell short was with the construction of their tuners. Regrettably, you’ll be tuning this ukulele more than usual. The sound is definitely there (Some report is as a tad bit high pitched) but they fell a little short on the construction of the tuners.

I hope they take this as positive feedback and simply improve their next line of ukuleles. Definitely recommended for beginners but not so sure for intermediates. Maybe as a backup Ukulele if you know how to play one?

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Ranch Concert Ukulele

Here is another professional ukulele that produces a top notch sound. Ranch really hit a home run with this one as it sounds fantastic. Not too loud and perfect for a Hawaiian style ukulele. Great Ukulele for beginners and if you’re usually at a gig or two, get this one as your backup.

The quality is great and will fit most people’s budget. You’ll also get access to 12 online ukulele lessons so you can get started immediately. Add a nice quality ukulele case plus backup aquila strings and you’re all set to rock and roll.

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Tom’s Concert Ukulele

You know you got a great ukulele when even after a few days the strings don’t lose their tuning. This in itself is a testament to the construction and the know how of the company that made the ukulele. In this case, it’s Toms Ukuleles. Based out of Asia, the quality of Tom’s products has made them a star.

After all, it’s not often you come across a company that only makes Ukuleles. The fast shipping is also appreciated and it proves that great product that are delivered on time will create raving customers. Great job Tom’s Ukuleles and I am personally looking forward to more of their products. Hope they expand into studio monitors that most of us can enjoy.

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Lohanu Concert Ukulele

This is another gem by Lohanu. It is also the only electric cutaway Ukulele here. My dear beginners, don’t be intimidated because even you can get started on this one. Not sure if you need an electric ukulele but at least you now have a choice.

Also don’t forget about the lifetime warranty this ukulele comes with (Yeah that’s not a typo). If you are looking for an amazing sounding ukulele that you expect to perform with, this Lohanu ukulele is a great choice. Did I mention that it comes with it’s own book of Hawaiian songs? By the way, just because it’s electric doesn’t mean you need an amplifier for it to work. It works just fine without one as well. Like a regular ukulele.

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Lohanu High End Concert Ukulele

Now this is a definitely a high end ukulele. Not required for beginners but it’s something to look forward too once you get really good at playing a ukulele or if you have the budget for it.

Now this Lohanu has amazing sound as well but what really takes it to the next level is the richness of the sound. It comes with an arched back which somewhat “extends” the sound a little to give it that full feeling. If you like the finer things in life, this ukulele is for you.

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Best Tenor Ukulele for Beginners

Add another dynamic sound to your music production game with a tenor ukulele.

Second biggest size for a ukulele, the tenor ukulele is loved by guys due to being slightly larger in size vs the Soprano and Concert ukuleles.

Below are our picks for the best tenor ukuleles in 2021.

Kala Tenor Ukulele

The Kala Makala MK-T Tenor Ukulele bundle is something special. Like most of the ukuleles here, it is a quality all around piece but comes with one special thing. Your very own polishing cloth. It’s a nice little touch and hey you can’t blame them for trying to stand out.

Okay maybe I was just playing there but it comes with it’s very own tenor ukulele hard case. Yeah a proper quality hard case. I believe it’s the only ukulele package on this page that offers that. That’s an incredible value on it’s own. Not a big fan of the look of this tenor ukulele but the sound is great.

If you upgrade the strings (I think you should do that), then you got a really good beginner ukulele in your hands. Overall it’s a quite a neat package for sure.

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Huawing Tenor Ukulele

This deep sounding tenor ukulele is a favorite of many, especially if you are new to playing a ukulele. Great construction overall but the plastic strings don’t do it for me. A lot of people report getting cuts from it so I would think about upgrading the strings. Good part is it comes with all the necessary ‘fixins’ for the first time to get started.

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Donner Tenor Ukulele

As far as Tenor ukuleles go, this Donner model is one of the most well reviewed ukuleles available today. If you are looking for your very first ukulele or even a back-up version, this one fits the bill quite well. The body is not all wood but it does the job and then some.

The sound created has a nice resonance to it with more “brightness” on the highs. I don’t like the original strings it comes with but I do appreciate the extra set of strings it comes with (Which I think are a little better). That said, the tuners are quality and just require some minor adjustments to properly tune the guitar.

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Lohanu LU Tenor Ukulele

Lohanu does it again with this beautiful Tenor ukulele. Great product overall but what really puts these guys in the good books for me is their customer service.

I love a great product but if I get good customer service with it then it’s just makes the whole transaction extra special. Now going back to this Tenor ukulele, it produces great sound and the construction is solid as well. Great package for anyone looking for their first Tenor ukulele.

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Huwaind Tenor Ukulele

Huawind tenor ukulele created a great overall package here. Nice mahogany body helps produce a rich sound and the overall finish of this ukulele is quite good.

I recommend this for personal use but a little hesitant to push it as a gift. Main reason is the strap it comes in is kind of cheap. Other than that, I have no issues with this ukulele.

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Hricane Tenor Ukulele

Hricane has created a wonderful Tenor sized ukulele with the UKS-3. Hricane itself is considered one of the best uke brands out there (Uke is short for ukulele by the way). It’s well crafted, creates great sound and comes with strap.

I think straps are essential especially if you are going to give these out as a gift to a child or something. At least this way it will stay around their neck. This is a nice sturdy ukulele which will be perfect for all beginners. Some consider this one better than Kala, Oscar Schmidt and many other brands.

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Vangoa Tenor Ukulele

As far as tenor ukuleles go, Vangoa seems to be the new kids on the block. Not necessary new in the musical instruments game but definitely in the world of ukes. That said, they are impressing everybody in the business. Not just the tenor ukulele enthusiasts but even the DIY guys who are astonished at Vangoa’s craftsmanship.

If you are looking for a great product and wouldn’t mind giving the new guy a shot and enjoy a great product in the process, the Vangoa team seems to fit the bill pretty well. This tenor ukulele is definitely not just limited to beginners but recommended for intermediate / experts as well.

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Makanu Tenor Ukulele

One of the most transparent companies out there and when you are a new manufacturer, that always helps. Makanu are very open to the fact that they just started in 2014 but since then, have quickly established themselves as one of the best tenor ukulele brands out there.

Three years is pretty fast to establish yourself as a brand and that usually happens due to putting out great products. They are very upfront about producing these Ukuleles in China and want you to judge for yourself after giving them a try.

The Makanu brand prides itself for using ‘aged’ or ‘cured’ wood (Dried for a couple years actually) and that serves as a great resonator of the sound their Ukulele produces. Nice mahogany construction (Laminated) and overall it does sound good. Just replace the original strings with Aquila or something similar. I recommend these guys. They are new, driven and are creating great tenor ukuleles.

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Donner Tenor Ukulele

As you know, Tenor ukuleles are great for people who seem to have bigger hands or thick fingers. Well this Denor model in DUT-1 would be a great fit. This uke model looks good (A lot of people love the look of this tenor ukulele) and plays well.

Best part, you have a good uke brand that stands behind it. Another great choice for Tenor Ukuleles. There is a downside and the font size on the instruction included are quite small. Not a deal breaker but love to see the Donner team improve that part.

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Ranch Hawaiian Tenor Ukulele

One of the best sounding Tenor ukulele around, Ranch really did a number with this one. Great uke and overall package. It’s good looking, feels great in your hands and comes with a soft case. If they added a hard case, this would be one of the best ukulele packages ever assembled.

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Best Baritone Ukulele for Beginners

Baritones need to be tuned differently than a Soprano, Concert or Tenor ukulele. The DGBE is the standard setting for a Baritone ukulele.

Baritone ukuleles are so popular that even rap music instrumentals are being translated to chords so you can practice them.

Imagine playing a Master P’s song . . .  Why not?

Kala Baritone Ukulele

Overall a nice baritone ukulele but not that high on quality. It’s like finding a good pair of used Studio monitors. Does that make sense? This baritone ukulele by has that kind of feel to it.

If are just looking to dabble into the world of ukulele than by all means take the plunge but if you have some experience, you won’t enjoy the somewhat lack of “finish” on this instrument. It does the job and if that’s what you’re looking for, then it’s a decent ukulele.

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Kala MK-B Baritone Ukulele

Kala MK-B is a great Baritone sized uke for entry level enthusiasts. The wood gives you this nice classic look of a high level ukulele while creating a good sound. Comes with a case and a few other things to make sure you get started right away. As I said, great for beginners.

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Kala Mahogany Baritone Ukulele

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If you have some experience playing around a baritone sized ukulele than, than might as well avoid this one. However, if you are new to playing a uke than and only then you should try this one out. Its solid built all round Uke that is designed for someone who doesn’t care about the bells and whistles and just want to learn how to play a uke. If that’s who you are than this is a great choice.

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Kmise Baritone Ukulele

Great entry level baritone ukulele but it does have a few things that need to be improved on. Shipping a tad bit longer than expected because it ships directly from China. If you don’t mind the wait, then go for it. Some have also reported broken parts here and there as well. The action on it needs to be adjusted as well but other than that, it’s an okay purchase for the budget conscious.

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Caramel CB103 Baritone Ukulele

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Most people love it because of the affordability factor. It’s not often you get a decent baritone ukulele in this price range. If that’s a factor, this Baritone ukulele by Caramel should be a good choice. It’s not the best if details matter to you but it does produce a great sound (Lots of people report on this). All in all, a lot of consider this a great baritone ukulele for beginners. My diagnosis is if this ukulele arrives like it’s supposed to, then you’ll be happy.

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Kala-KA-B-Mahogany-Baritone-Ukulele

If you have a cheap ukulele right now, this is the uke that you should replace it by. The difference you will feel would be night and day. Especially when it comes to the sound. The Kala KA-B is a great baritone ukulele. However, some have experienced broken strings and other minor damages which may be caused by bad shipping practices. I hope in the future the Kala team works on a better shipping process so these things don’t occur.

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Alvarez RU22B Baritone Ukulele

Alvarez recently put out the regency baritone ukulele series but overall, it has been received quite well. The body is not fully laminated but definitely one of the best sounding baritone ukes out there. As I mentioned earlier, a good sound is a direct reflection of the overall construction. So in this, this Alvarez ukulele wins in that area as well. A great looking ukulele that creates amazing sound.

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Caramel CB203 Baritone Ukulele

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Caramel went to the next level with this uke. They are the only one on the list that have added an adjustable neck on this baritone bad boy. Great looking, solid sound but the action seems a little higher than usual. Overall though, a fine uke for beginners and intermediates.

Oscar Schmidt Baritone Ukulele

Oscar Schmidt does it again with the OU52 Baritone Uke. I do recommend a change of strings to truly bring out the sound of this ukulele. Also if they can put it better tuners, I think most of us will really appreciate those.

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Kala KAA 15B Baritone Ukulele

The Kala KAA-15B Baritone Ukulele is one of those rare gems that can be easily compared to the higher more expensive and the so called good ukulele brands out there. Great sound, great finish (Nothing fancy) and with a little adjustment of the action (Yes you can do this by separating the bridge from the saddle of the uke) and than off you go.

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Anatomy of a Ukulele

Like most stringed instruments, a ukulele shares most of the terminology for it’s parts from a guitar.

Head: Contains the 4 Tuners and also known as the top of the guitar. Connects with the neck of the guitar. Obviously an essential part of a Ukelele.

Tuners: Part of pretty much every stringed instruments. The strings are wrapped around each tuner and when adjusted, the desired sound / tune is achieved. Usually made of metal (Chrome) that have the uke’s nylon strings wrapped around it.

Nut: Serves as a ‘bridge’ that separates the neck from the head of a ukulele. The nut is found attached to the bottom of the head

Fret Markers: See those little dots on top of the usual black part of the neck (Top), those are called fret markers. They are used to help you determine certain notes. Frets represents the placement of certain notes on the ukulele.

Fretboard: Top part (Usually black) part of a ukulele’s neck. Frets are found on this black part hence the name ‘Fretboard’. The fretboard is placed right under the strings on the neck.

Body: This is the heart of a ukulele. It also contains the sound hole that creates the sound in the first place. In addition, the body of a ukulele is also home to the bridge, strings and the saddle that holds them. If you don’t have a body, you won’t be getting any sound out of your uke anytime soon.

Saddle: Opposite end of the head that holds the strings down. The saddle holds the strings from the bottom end of the ukulele in conjunction with the head.

Bridge: The saddle is placed on the bridge. It holds it.

Sound Hole: The hollowed out part of a ukulele. As mentioned earlier, when you strum a ukulele, this is where the sound is produced. The ‘cut out’ hole is pretty standard on each ukulele so what makes the sound different really is the material of the wood that is used.

Neck: A very important part of the ukulele as it connects the head and body together.

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Best Ukulele Brands

There are literally hundreds of ukulele brands out there. However, I will only showcase the most popular ones. I’m sure any ukulele from one of the following brands would work out just fine.

Kala

One of the top selling ukulele brands of all time. You can’t go wrong with this one. Kala produces ukuleles for kids, adults and everyone in between.

Overall, their ukuleles are known for quality, being long lasting and come in all the major wood types like mahogany (The most popular wood type), koa (Considered the best type of wood for ukulele), spruce, cedar, rosewood and maple.

Kala Soprano Ukuleles on Amazon

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Luna

If design or the look of a ukulele is important to you (Perhaps you want to gift a ukulele to someone), than nothing beats Luna. Their ukuleles come with some incredible unique designs.

The ‘exotic’ factor that Luna brings to the table has also helped them carve their own niche in the ukulele industry.  To put it simply, Luna ukes make beautiful ukuleles that create wonderful sound and . . . lasting memories.

Luna Soprano Ukuleles on Amazon

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Oscar Schmidt by Washburn

If quality is important to you get a Oscar Schmidt soprano ukulele. They have some great beginner ukuleles but I would recommend this brand more for intermediates. Although they do have a great line of beginner ukuleles, I’ve found as a first timer, you can easily get by with a Luna or Kala uke.

As far as experience goes, Oscar Schmidt has been making stringed musical instruments (Banjos, Guitars, etc) since 1872 so you can’t argue with that. They do make premium products mostly so if that’s more of you cup of tea, an Oscar Schmidt is what you need (Wow that rhymed).

Oscar Schmidt Soprano Ukuleles on Amazon

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Lanikai

The birthplace of the Ukulele. Lanikai is another great brand for ukulele players of all level After all, who else can make a better uke than a company from Hawaii right? Lanikai focuses more on the intermediate to pro uke player’s needs than a beginner like yourself.

This doesn’t mean they don’t have some good beginner ukulele models that will appeal to you. Most of their ukes are also in the mid range or higher so if budget is an issue, you might want to start off with a Kala or Luna ukulele.

Lanikai Soprano Ukuleles on Amazon

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Mahalo

Highly recommended for beginners as their ukes are light when you pick them up and light on the wallet as well. They make great entry level and professional ukuleles. Mahalo ukuleles was founded in 1999 and they have not looked back since. In fact, in 2013, they sold their two millionth ukulele.

Like the Luna, the Mahalo brand also produces some very unique looking ukuleles so at the end of the day, you now have two quality ‘creative’ brands to choose from.

Mahalo Soprano Ukuleles on Amazon

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Cordoba

If you are an intermediate and looking to go to the next level, Cordoba is your brand. I like to call this the Ferrari type brand of ukuleles.

The amount of professional ukulele players that use this brand is staggering like Carlos Gallardo-Candia, The Gipsy Kings (Yes THE Gipsy Kings), Brian Spainhower and the list goes on. If this is the level that you are trying to reach with your ukulele skills than look no further.

Cordoba Soprano Ukuleles on Amazon

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Martin & Company

Well if you want the Bentley of Ukuleles, this is the brand for you. Quality comes with price and as far as the first part is concerned, Martin and Company got it covered and than some. After all, they’ve been in the game for close to 200 years. With the likes of Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, John Mayor and many more, Martin ukuleles have been used by some of the greatest musicians in human history.

Martin Soprano Ukuleles on Amazon

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History Of The Ukulele

Introduced in Hawaii by the Portuguese, the ukulele quickly began to spread around. It was during the 19th and 20th century that it made it way around the US and than as they say, the rest is history.

What’s the difference between aquila string and nylon string?

Aquila is the name of a brand that makes ukulele strings. It’s an Italian company that used a mix of nylon and ‘gut’ strings and have created their own winning mix. So nylon strings are great (My choice for sure) but if you can get the Aquila brand, you wouldn’t need to change your ukulele strings any time soon. They are like the Honda of ukulele strings. People love them and many people use them.

What is the difference between a concert and soprano ukulele?

Main difference is the size. Concert ukulele is a bit bigger at 23” and the Soprano is the smallest at 21”. That’s how big it is (Give or take a few centimetres). Concert ukulele is the most popular size. As far as the battle of soprano vs concert ukulele goes, there isn’t any. Just pick the size that’s right for you. Men usually go for Concert, kids usually go for Soprano. Pick whichever one you like.

Is a soprano ukulele good for beginners?

Soprano ukulele is great for beginners but only if you’re a kid or have small hands. The most popular ukulele for beginner is the concert size. Seems to be good for full grown adults (Men and women) and the kids as well. Overall Soprano’s are usually good.

How many frets does a soprano ukulele have?

On average, around 12 to 15. If you don’t know what a fret is, frets are those little black rectangles on most stringed instruments. Hence the word ‘Fretboard’.

Are soprano ukuleles good?

Depends on which one you get but overall, they’re the second most popular type of ukuleles out there. First one being concert ukuleles.

What is the best soprano ukulele?

This really depends on your own preference. Generally speaking though if a soprano ukulele is built solid, Is made by a brand that has a good reputation and the model itself has some decent reviews, than you can consider it one of the best ukuleles on the market.

A good start would be though to find a ukulele that is a perfect fit for you “physically”. Few other things to consider would be the sound created of course and how the strings feel when you strum them.

Set the end of the day the best soprano ukulele that’s the one that fits the best for you. The only way to achieve that is to try out different models are you just might get lucky with your first one. Don’t worry though, when it comes to picking the best soprano ukulele, you don’t have to kiss a lot of frogs.

What are the best strings for a soprano ukulele?

Nylon strings are the best for a soprano ukulele. To be honest, I believe nylon strings are the best for any ukulele. They produce a certain sound that to most people create that typical “Hawaiian style” ukulele sound that we all love and crave. there are a few other options but I just don’t think they are necessary. especially for a beginner or casual user such as yourself. Other types of ukulele strings come in animal guts (Goat, Sheep, etc), Fluorocarbon (Same material as common fishing lines) and synthetic gut strings.

How do you tune a soprano ukulele (4 Strings)

Soprano ukulele are tuned in the GCEA format. Regardless the brand (Makala or not), this is just the standard string layout for them.

Compare this to the scale on a piano or keyboard which is CDEGGABC. As you can see, on a ukulele, tuning a ukulele is a little bit different.

Concert and tenor sized ukuleles are tuned in the same format by the way. You can even do some tuning by ear if your music understanding is a bit deeper than most. Like in this Youtube video:

How to Tune a Soprano Ukulele in Standard Tuning GCEA

Tuning with a guitar tuner is fun too as you can literally see which note the current string is in. When you’re using an electric tuner, you use it in the same way like with any guitar.

So next time you’re thinking, how do I tune my soprano ukulele? Now you know exactly how to do it.

Can you tune a soprano ukulele to dgbe?

Of course you can. You can tune it to anything you like but should you? DGBE is the standard tuning for baritone ukuleles so doing it for a soprano really wouldn’t make any sense. So can you tune it to DGBE? Yes. Should you? Not really.

Can you tune a baritone ukulele like a soprano?

As I mentioned above. Yes but you shouldn’t. The reason it’s called a Baritone is because of it’s size and the way the strings are arranged. So if you want to tune a soprano ukulele to a baritone or vice versa, you could but why?

Do soprano and concert ukuleles tuned the same way?

Yes. Soprano, Concert and Tenor Ukulele are tuned the exact same way. Their string settings are GCEA

How to tune a soprano ukulele online?

There are lots of sites today that offer these services and to my surprise, can be fairly accurate.
Some of the main ones can be easily found on Google.

How to tune a soprano ukulele to a baritone?

To tune a soprano to a baritone, simply change the tuning from GCEA to DGBE.

How to tune a soprano ukulele with a chromatic tuner?

The same way you would with another regular ukulele or guitar tuner. Just make sure you know what string formation you want before getting your “tuning” on.

How to tune a soprano ukulele with a piano?

This is similar to how to tune your ukulele online. Just keep playing the note until you can mimic it on your ukulele.

How to tune a soprano ukulele with a tuner?

To tune a soprano ukulele, you need to do it the same way you would with a guitar. Simply attach the tuner

What is a soprano ukulele tuned to?

To tune a soprano ukulele, you need the strings to be in the GCEA format. From the top to the bottom of your playing position. If you are left handed, simply tune it the opposite way.

How long is a soprano ukulele?

A soprano uke is about 21 inches.

Sources:

• 7 Reasons You Should Play the Ukulele
• Top Ten Ukulele Tips For Beginners
• Is the ukulele a serious instrument?