Grab One of the Best Ukuleles on Amazon

Musicians of all levels can benefit from learning how to play the ukulele, a versatile instrument that can be played in a variety of ways. The uke differs from the tenor in that it features a lower E-string, which makes it easier for a beginner to produce a clear, stable tone. Ukuleling, also known as ukile, can also be referred to as string guitar or ukes. If you’re interested in learning more, keep reading. However, if you are ready to purchase a ukulele, consider one of the highly rated options that we‘ve recommended.

How We Chose Our Selection of Ukuleles

There are many different factors that went into our selection process, including our in-depth investigation of the features you need to consider in your first instrument. Here is a look at our top five considerations.

Brand

We’d like to say that we're fans of every brand, but unfortunately, that's not the case. Sometimes, you‘re lucky enough to find a brand you connect with and are loyal to. If you don‪t know the brand (and the reviews aren't always trustworthy), that can lead to disappointment. When we were looking for the best ukulels, we searched for companies with a solid reputation for making beautiful instruments.

Price

You can't put a price on an instrument that will make you feel like you know your instrument inside and out. Ukules are not a complicated instrument, and you won't find an overly complicated way of tuning them. The one thing you definitely need is an inexpensive uke that you can play to your hearts content.

Reviews

When you want to get an idea of how a product will perform, reading reviews is crucial. There, customers can tell you how they're feeling about a specific instrument and give you their honest opinions. We read hundreds of reviews for each ukes we review, culling the most positive ones from the rest to help us make a decision.

Features To Look For In Ukuleles

There's a lot to think about when purchasing a ukulele, so we won't go into great detail about each one of them, except to point out that a quality instrument means good sound, easy playing, beautiful tone, durable construction, decent intonation, an overall comfortable feel, a comfortable carrying case, comfortable padding, quality materials, compact size, built-in pickups, footswitch, onboard storage, USB input, tuner, carry case and more.

Ukulele String Size and Adjustment Difficulty

The best way to tell if a string size is going to work for you is by checking how many frets you have available. Once you get a feel for how it feels to play, you can start to tighten the string until you find the perfect size for your hands. If you know you only have a couple of fretted notes, then you’re good to go. However, if you play regularly and are committed to learning how to improve your Ukuleling, one of the best things you could do to increase your string gauge is to buy a set of ukulele locking tuners. These are available from just about any instrument retailer. You can then tune your instrument with these tuners, and you won't need to cut any strings in order to achieve the desired pitch.

Another thing to consider is the tension of your strings. Too little tension will make the instrument impossible to control, while too much tension could make it impossible for the ukulele to function properly. While you should never compromise on the quality of a uke string, it's really not that big of an issue. Much of this is down to personal preference and the style of ukulele you prefer.

Ukulele Playing Tips

You don’t have to be an expert musician or teacher to carry out this basic exercise. With a few basic exercises, even a beginner can learn how to play the ukulele.

You need to practice with a uke to get it just right, but the technique can be learned. Here are a couple of exercises for getting started.

In the first exercise, you need two hands to perform the "A" note on the lowest string. Next, place your thumb on top of the second string (G) and your fingers on either the top or bottom of that string as you play "C." Once you know how the fingers work together, move on to the next exercise by placing your index finger on G (A#) as well as your middle finger (D). Once again, your aim is to feel the beat as the notes are played. If you can feel them, the exercise is complete. Once your hand can “feel” the beats, try the same exercise with the other strings. Now you“re ready to move onto the most difficult note of all — the fifth string, which is the highest note in the guitar. Play the following exercise and try to hear the sound as it is played — a high-pitched, steady note with no buzzing.

Ukulele Pricing Guide

For $30 or Less

Ukulele stands that may have metal heads and necks made of plastic. You’ll find a few options in this price range that come with a case.

$35 to $40

You can find decent beginner and intermediate ukuleling stands in both wood and plastic that are good for beginners and those with less experience.

Between $50 and $60

These stands may come as part of a set, or you can buy a stand that includes a bag. If you”re looking for a solid wooden stand, you will find quite a bit of choices in the $70 to around $100 range.

Above $130

The highest-quality uke stands can cost anywhere from $140 to well over $300. We recommend spending a little more money to get a more durable stand and to avoid the hassle of carrying your ukes everywhere.

Final Thoughts

Reviews

Taking the time to read through customer reviews is important, especially when it comes to buying a product that you’re going to use every day. We will go through a few of our favorites in the reviews section, but you can also check out other user reviews if you want to get a better idea of how the instrument sounds to live with.

Price

Ukules are a pretty pricey instrument, and it‘s not surprising. They're a fairly simple instrument and there s a lot to consider when buying one. A lot of the features are customizable, which saves a bit of money, while they–re not as readily available in stores as other instruments. It's important to understand the price range of a particular instrument before buying it. Many people can play them for less than $50. These are the easiest to play, easy to learn, durable, efficient, fun, compact, versatile, all-around good instruments to start with and can grow with the student. The best Ukulele to buy for a beginner is probably going be around $100. That' still a good price for many people, so if it sounds good to you, go for it.

Brand

The brand is not the most important feature when you are buying an instrument like this, because you don't want it to sound like another instrument. But it is good if the brand conveys a certain level of quality. If it doesn't, then you should probably look into other brands or get another Ukulator. Popular brands that have a decent reputation for ukuleles are Yamaha, Steinberger, Yamaha USA, Gibson, Gretsch, Schecter, Squier, Fender, Bell & Ross, Reagana, Böker, ABP, Prestige, JHU, Anker. All of these brands are known for their high-quality instruments, even if they don't make all of them.