Buying Your First Ukulele
- Lloyd Crowley
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
Buying your first ukulele can be quite daunting - there are a lot of options, and you will probably have a lot of questions. Luckily I've put together this handy guide to help you know what to look for!
Always Buy In Person
Many people buy their first ukulele for £20 from the internet. Heed my warning - do not do this! Quite often you'll find you get what you paid for - a badly made, nasty sounding ukulele. This immediately puts people off because you can't make it sound good, therefore think it's your fault and that you're bad at the ukulele.
Always visit a music shop to try out the ukuleles - see how they feel, how they look, how they sound. If you don't know any chords, it isn't a problem; the staff will be happy to help you out by strumming a few chords and making some recommendations.
Size
Ukuleles come in a few standard sizes: soprano (the smallest), concert, and tenor (the largest). They all have the same tuning: G-C-E-A. It's a good idea to try them out at your local music shop to see which one you like best. If you have bigger fingers, you might find a tenor easier to play because it has more space between the frets. Kids usually start with a soprano since it's a nice fit for them.
Baritone ukuleles are a bit different; they’re tuned D-G-B-E and are larger than tenors. They're a great choice if you're already used to playing guitar chords.
Sound
The sound of your uke is obviously very important - it's what you'll hear every time you play after all. Some ukuleles will have a brighter, sweeter sound, whilst others will sound more mellow.
The wood plays a major part in the sound of the ukulele. I don't want to overwhelm you with explanations of tonewoods here as that's probably a bit too in-depth for your first instrument. Suffice to say that different woods create different sounds, and each person's preference is unique.
Build
Ukuleles can be built from laminate wood (layers of wood pressed together) or solid wood. Each has its benefits:
Laminate wood (layers of wood pressed together) is budget-friendly, tough, and great for those just starting out.
Solid wood offers a deeper, richer sound but costs more and can be more affected by changes in temperature.
You should also check out the finish and build quality – make sure the fret edges are smooth, there aren't any sharp parts, and it feels good and sturdy overall.
Price
Most people don't want to spend too much on their first ukulele - taking up an instrument is quite a commitment. You can pick up good quality beginner instruments for under £100. For children who might bash it around a bit, you can buy ukes for under £50 even.
Make sure your budget is realistic, and shop around for the best price on a model that you like.
(Pro tip: a lot of music stores are happy to price match if you find a good price elsewhere. It's always worth mentioning!)
Bear in mind that lower-end instruments can often struggle to stay in tune, and you might have to change the strings if they come with cheap factory strings.
Reviews
It's a good idea to see what other people's experience of a ukulele is. Looking up reliable reviews will help you to see if you can expect any issues with the instrument or whether it's one people like to stick with.
Looks
Although you should never value looks over sound or functionality, it is important to have a ukulele you love the look of, whether it's the colour, grain pattern, or unique design. Just as long as it makes you smile!
Extras
There are a few bits of kit that are very important for any ukulele player to have:
Case - this will keep your ukulele safe, and make it easy to transport
Tuner - essential for keeping your ukulele in tune!
Strap - to help you hold your ukulele
In Summary
That's an awful lot to think about when buying your first uke, but don't forget that you can ask for help from your local music shop, or even from me! If you have questions about buying your first uke then you can get in touch at lloydukulele@hotmail.com and I'll do my best to help!
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