Buying your first ukulele can be overwhelming. With so much choice out there, how do you choose a good instrument that you’ll enjoy playing again and again? Read on for tips on how to choose a good ukulele for beginners.
Written by John Allnutt / Published January 28, 2025
Last updated: N/A
I can remember the first time I looked for a ukulele. I already had a couple of guitars around and I loved the aesthetic of Fender guitars. This helped me decide what to look for in my first ukulele.
However, I do wish that someone had shown me the ropes about other important aspects of buying a ukulele. Most importantly, a great ukulele should produce lots of sound when desired and should be very easy to play.
In the following article I have outlined essential things to know about ukuleles to make an informed first purchase.
Choosing a Ukulele Size
In general, there are three main ukulele sizes; soprano, concert, and tenor. All three sizes share the same tuning (GCEA).
Soprano
Soprano ukuleles are the smallest but also the original ukulele size. They are travel friendly but can sound “plinky”. They are also generally the most cost effective since there is less building material.
A great starter soprano ukulele is the Kala-15s. The instrument feels well made, is lightweight, and has large tuners that really help to dial in accurate tuning.
Best Soprano Ukuleles for 2025
Concert
If a soprano ukulele seems a bit too small in your hands and sounds too “plinky”, a concert ukulele will probably feel more comfortable in your hands. Generally, the body and neck are a bit larger on a concert ukulele allowing the instrument to produce more sound. There is also a little more room to move around with on the fretting hand.
Best Concert Ukuleles for 2025
Tenor
If your hands still feel a bit too cramped on a concert ukulele or you would like to produce a bit more sound, tenor ukuleles may be more your style. The larger body does help to amplify the sound but also helps to bring out lower tones from the instrument.
Best Tenor Ukuleles for 2025
Baritone
The last ukulele size that I will list here, different from the rest, is a baritone ukulele. Baritone ukuleles are the largest size ukulele overall but their notes share the same notes as a guitar (minus the two lowest strings) with the notes DBGE.
I generally do not recommend baritone ukuleles to most beginners unless they truly want to move onto guitar or if the student is going to study with a guitar teacher who isn’t comfortable teaching the ukulele.
I recommend Caramel brand baritone instruments for beginners. Baritone ukuleles are a lovely addition to a ukulele group and will help to make the sound of the ensemble more rich.
Best Baritone Ukuleles for 2025
How to Choose the Right Size Ukulele
Finding the right size ukulele for you largely depends on personal preference and hand size. With younger children, soprano or concert ukuleles generally fit their hand best. The ukulele neck from instrument to instrument varies widely as they have different shapes and thicknesses.
I generally gravitate toward tenor ukuleles myself because I lead ukulele classes and perform often and want to make sure that I am heard while students are playing.
If in Doubt, Try it Out
The best way to get to know if a ukulele is a good fit for you is to go and try out as many ukuleles as possible at a music store. A ukulele that suits you well will feel easy to play and will create lots of sound. When shopping for a ukulele, if you have an experienced ukulele player with you it can help a lot as well.
The salesperson in the store may try to upsell you or sell you an instrument you don’t like so make sure you visit a reputable store if possible. Do your research beforehand, pick your top three ukuleles there, then purchase the best ukulele you can afford.
Choosing a Good Ukulele for Your Budget
So what do ukuleles cost? The first important bit of information is to be able to differentiate between a toy resembling a ukulele and a proper ukulele. A toy instrument, also sometimes called a souvenir ukulele, does not stay in tune, may not have a straight neck, may sound thin, have sharp fret ends, and generally feels like it was manufactured quickly and cheaply. I would honestly stay away from any ukulele less than $50.
Expect to pay about $50+ for an average beginner ukulele. At this price, expect to take the instrument to a local shop to have it “set up” to work out any flaws it may have. The tech may also be able to tell you if the instrument is worth keeping before committing to any work.
If the instrument feels too cheap, spending a bit more for a quality instrument is always recommended in the ballpark of $75-$150 for a laminate ukulele. The adage, “You get what you pay for” generally rings true for ukuleles and most musical instruments.
Best Ukuleles for Under $100
Examining Ukulele Construction
Solid vs. Laminate Ukuleles
The body on cheaper ukuleles (ukuleles in the $50-$200 range) are made of laminate wood or thin pieces of wood glued together. This is a great option for a first ukulele purchase as it usually costs much less than a solid wood ukulele and requires less maintenance. The negative side of a laminate ukulele is that it does not “sing” as loudly or as sweetly as a quality solid top ukulele.
For the most premium option, not generally recommended for beginners, there are solid top ukuleles. However, the starting cost for such an instrument begins at around $400 and may be too steep if you are unsure you want to pursue the ukulele long term.
These instruments require the most upkeep; you must keep the ukulele in a humidified environment in the winter time, keep them in a temperature controlled environment, and are the most delicate ukuleles to maintain that I have recommended.
My current personal favorite wood for solid ukulele tops are spruce-top ukuleles. The tonewoods of solid wood ukuleles do change over time and can sound sweeter with age – like a fine vintage!
Best Sounding Ukulele Tonewoods
Check the Ukulele Finish
Firstly, pick up an instrument and feel the fret ends to see if they are sharp. Fret ends that are sharp indicate that the instrument was finished quickly without much care. Also, see if the instrument is easy to chord in your fretting hand. It is common for ukuleles that are straight from the factory to not be “set-up” – meaning that the strings sit too high on the nut of the instrument.
Companies nowadays are doing a better job making sure that ukuleles are playable right away but this is definitely a consideration when looking for an immediately playable instrument.
Also, it is also a good idea to check that the frets themselves aren’t too uneven up and down the neck. This can be checked with a fret-rocker and the store you may purchase it from may be able to show you this. A ukulele with the above qualities should play and stay in tune when playing.
Sound Projection
There are a couple of things to remember about ukulele construction. Generally think of the body of the ukulele like an equalizer. A larger ukulele body cavity can emphasize more tenor rich tones than a small soprano ukulele. A small soprano body will typically have a light and bright sound.
If you feel that the instrument is lacking volume or doesn’t produce much sound when plucking or strumming you may want to reconsider your options.
Often beautiful looking ukuleles are sometimes “overbuilt” and have too much lacquer or decoration to let them sustain easily. Doing some comparative analysis can really help you make a decision while selecting an instrument at a ukulele store.
Ukulele Neck Profile
The neck profile on ukuleles can vary greatly and that just generally means the shape of the back of the neck. There are a few shapes that may feel better to you than others. These include (but are not limited to) a C, D, V, U shape. Also, a wide C, a soft V, and an asymmetrical shaped neck are available.
The last important piece to look at is the quality of the neck. It is important for a ukulele to have a straight neck and you can check this by looking down from the head of the ukulele to the bottom of the body. It should be straight with no bend in the neck.
Other Considerations When Choosing a Ukulele
Travel Ukuleles
If you love camping, boating, or generally being outdoors, the following ukuleles and brands may be just right for you.
These ukuleles include (but are not limited to) Enya Nova ukuleles, Outdoor ukuleles, Klos and Kala Waterman ukuleles. I personally own two Enya Nova ukuleles (concert and Pro Tenor), and an Outdoor Banjolele (yep, banjoleles are a thing). These instruments are made out of a mixture of carbon and plastic.
Ukulele Accessories
A few ukuleles do come as a bundle and may include; a tuner, strap, instrument case, cleaning cloth, and capo. These items can be very handy if you do not own them already though you should know that these items also factor into the overall price of the ukulele and may detract from the overall quality of the ukulele itself.
Conclusion
Ultimately, choosing a ukulele is a highly personal choice. If you pick up a ukulele and feel connected to it and its sound, you may have found a winner! Always, choose the best ukulele that you can afford. Surprisingly, it may not always be the most expensive option. Trust your instincts and ask lots of questions.
I hope that this article helps you to make an informed decision about purchasing your first ukulele.
John Allnutt
Writer & Ukulele TeacherJohn has been teaching music since 2008 and resides in Richmond, Kentucky with his wife Laura and dog Sam. In his spare time he enjoys growing and cooking food, roasting coffee, playing board games, and spreading joy through playing and teaching music.
