What Ukulele Should Beginners Buy? (Easy Guide to Choose Right)

Your First Ukulele: How to Choose the Right One (Beginner Guide)

• Table of Contents
• What Ukulele Should Beginners Buy?
• What Should I Look For When Buying My First Ukulele? (What Criteria Matter Most?)
  • Size
  • Sound
  • Comfort
  • Brand
  • Which Material?
  • Price
  • Looks
• Can Beginners Learn on any Ukulele?
• Sound (one of the most important)
• How Much Should a Beginner Spend on a Ukulele?
  • Should Beginners Buy a Cheap or Mid-Range Ukulele?
  • Think abour your neighbours
• What is the Best Ukulele Size for Adult Beginners? Soprano ? Concert ? Tenor ? Baritone ?
  • Is a Soprano Ukulele Better for Beginners?
  • Is a Concert Ukulele Better for Beginners?
  • Is a Tenor Ukulele Better for Beginners?
  • Is a Baritone Ukulele Better for Beginners?
  • Final Words About What is the Best Ukulele Size for an Adult?
• What Size Ukulele Should Beginners Choose for Kids
• With Which Material Should a Ukulele be Made?
• How Many Frets Do You Need?
• What Strings Should a Beginner Ukulele Have?
  • Best Beginner Ukulele Strings
  • Got a Cheap Ukulele? Change the Strings
• Are Tuning Pegs Better on the Side or at the Back?
• What Ukulele Brand Should You Choose?
• Comfort
• Industrial or Hand Made by a Kraftsman?
• Should You Buy a Second-Hand Ukulele?
• Should You Buy a Ukulele Bundle?
• Buy From a Local Music Store
• Should You Buy Online or In A Shop?
• Avoid Amazon and General Purpose Web Shops
• My Personal Advice (After Teaching Many Beginners)
• Conclusion
• FAQ ❓

What Ukulele Should Beginners Buy?

If you are starting out, I always recommend a simple, good-quality ukulele—nothing fancy, nothing too cheap.

What matters most is this: you should enjoy the sound. If you love the tone, you’ll want to play more. And that’s how real progress begins.

If you love the sound, you’ll want to play more. And that’s how you progress.

I’ve seen too many beginners quit because their ukulele sounded dull.

It’s frustrating when your instrument doesn’t keep up with your enthusiasm. So here’s my simple advice: go to a music shop, try a few, and pick the one that makes you smile when you play it.

There isn’t one “perfect” ukulele for everyone.

The best one is the one that feels good in your hands, sounds right to your ears, and makes you want to play every day.

That said, I often guide my students toward:

• Concert ukuleles → a bit bigger, more comfortable
• Soprano ukuleles → smaller, more traditional sound

If you’re unsure, start with a concert. It’s a safe, popular choice—and it’s what many of my students (including adults over 40) find most comfortable.

What Should I Look For When Buying My First Ukulele? (What Criteria Matter Most?)

Here’s what I personally check when helping a beginner choose their first ukulele:

Size

Does it feel comfortable in your hands? For most adults, a concert or soprano size is ideal. If you have larger hands, a tenor might feel better—but start simple.

Sound

This is the number one thing. Play a few notes, play a few chords. Listen carefully.

Choose the one whose sound you prefer.

Not the prettiest one.

Not the cheapest one.

But choose the one that sounds right to you.

Comfort

• Does it feel good in your hands?
• Are the strings easy to press?

If it feels awkward now, it won’t improve later. Your fingers will thank you.

Brand

For beginners, reliable brands like Kala, Mahalo, or Flight are great starting points.

Which Material?

As for wood types, the body material (mahogany, spruce, laminate) affects tone, but what really matters is how the ukulele sounds to you.

Price

I usually advise my students to spend between 50€ and 80€ for a soprano, up to 110€ for a concert. Why? Because below 50€, quality is often poor, and that can slow your progress. A slightly better instrument sounds nicer, feels easier to play, and keeps you motivated—especially in those early weeks.

Looks

Of course it's great to buy a beautiful ukulele.

But if it sounds bad, it'll stay on the shelve and serve as decoration.

I once buy a dijeridoo. I had the choice between a beautiful one, and a nice-looking one that had tiny holes here and there, but one that I could play better and that sounded better.

I choose the beautiful one. And I never play it.

If I had chosen the other one, I would have had played it much more! I would have enjoy it so much.

Can Beginners Learn on any Ukulele?

Technically, yes.

But in reality, not all ukuleles are equal.

A bad instrument can:

• make your playing less enjoyable
• slow your progress
• hurt your fingers
• make practice frustrating

A decent ukulele will do the opposite.

It will make learning smoother, more enjoyable, and more motivating.

Sound (one of the most important)

The sound of your ukulele sets the tone for your entire journey.

Here’s what to listen for:

• Volume: How loud it can play. A ukulele that’s too quiet may feel frustrating, while one that’s too loud could overwhelm in quiet spaces.
• Pitch: How low or high it sounds. Sopranos tend to be bright and punchy, while concerts and tenors offer warmer, fuller tones.
• Harmonics: These add a beautiful, shimmering quality, giving your playing a richer, more professional feel.

Ultimately, the right sound is the one that makes you want to keep playing.

Trust your ears—if it resonates with you, it’s the perfect match!

How Much Should a Beginner Spend on a Ukulele?

Should Beginners Buy a Cheap or Mid-Range Ukulele?

This is where many people go wrong.

I don’t recommend buying the cheapest ukulele you can find.

Instead, aim for 50€ to 80€ for a soprano, up to 110€ for a concert.

Why?

• below 50€ → often poor sound
• 50–100€ → good enough quality to enjoy playing and keep you motivated
• above 100€ → not necessary at the start

Think of it this way:
you are investing in motivation.

Go for a good beginner ukulele, not the cheapest one.

A very cheap ukulele can sound weak. That won't help you enjoy even more playing ukulele.

That makes practice harder.

A better instrument (even slightly) will:

• sound nicer
• feel easier to play
• keep you motivated

And motivation is everything at the start.

Think abour your neighbours

However, you can get a cheap alternative with a quiter sound if you have neighbours.
A cheap soprano ukulele is perfect.

I even have an electric ukulele without a body - it's a long neck only. That way it's even quiter! It's like a big stick with strings, but it's quite enough for the people nex room to have silience.

What is the Best Ukulele Size for Adult Beginners? Soprano ? Concert ? Tenor ? Baritone ?

There are 4 main sizes:

Size	Feel	Sound	Best for	Tuning
Soprano	Small	Bright, classic	Most beginners, small hands, travellers	Standard G-C-E-A
Concert	Medium	Warmer, fuller	Most beginners, fat fingers	Standard G-C-E-A
Tenor	Bigger	Rich, deeper	Fingerpicking, stage, comfort	Standard G-C-E-A
Baritone	Biggest	Guitar-like	Guitar players, lower pitch	D-G-B-E (like the top four guitar strings)

For most adults, I suggest:
soprano or concert size as a first choice.

The baritone is tuned differently, so it feels more like a guitar.

Is a Soprano Ukulele Better for Beginners?

Soprano is the “original” size and has that classic Hawaiian vibe.

Most of the ukulele you can see out there are sopranos.

I play soprano ukuleles myself—even though I’m 183cm tall—so I don't have tiny fingers.

I love their portability and bright sound.

But many adults find them fun, enjoyable, and easy to carry everywhere.

I love this instrument. I like its sound. I like its vibes.

Is a Concert Ukulele Better for Beginners?

Concert ukes are easier to play for most adults because the frets are slightly more spaced out.
They still sound full and are very portable.

If you’re unsure, concert is the safest choice.

-

I once had a student with thick fingers who struggled on a soprano. When he switched to a concert, his playing improved overnight.

And I’ve met a 70-year-old student who chose a concert because it was much easier for him to place his fingers comfortably.

Is a Tenor Ukulele Better for Beginners?

Tenor ukuleles have a richer, deeper sound and are great for fingerpicking or stage performances.

But they’re bigger and slightly more expensive.

Best to try a few first!

Is a Baritone Ukulele Better for Beginners?

The baritons are tuned diffently than the 3 other ukulele sizes. It means that the chords are played in a different way than on a soprano/concert/tenor size ukulele.

Its sound is louder, and lower. Pretty much closer to the sound of a guitar than the sound of a ukulele one can say.

Guitarists like it because it feels more like a guitar than the other sizes, with the vibe of the ukulele all the same.

I have a baritone because I sometime want to have a lower and louder sound than my others.
I pick it up time to time, and it's so much funand so much joy.

Final Words About What is the Best Ukulele Size for an Adult?

Concert or soprano. If unsure pick concert.

It’s the most beginner-friendly size for adults of all ages.

In any case, try them out one after the other and compare them.

What Size Ukulele Should Beginners Choose for Kids

Always soprano! It’s small, light, and perfect for little hands.

With Which Material Should a Ukulele be Made?

Many beginners worry about wood types. For the body, you’ll often see mahogany, spruce, or laminate—each with a slightly different tone. For the neck and fingerboard, common woods are mahogany, walnut, or rosewood.

What really matters? Simple. The sound you hear when you play it. If it sounds good to you, that’s the right choice—not the wood, not the look.

If it sounds good to you, that’s the right choice.
Not the wood. Not the look.

How Many Frets Do You Need?

You might notice that some ukuleles have more frets than others.

There is sometimes a link between more frets and higher quality.
But it’s not always true.

As a beginner, you won’t use many frets at all.

👉 12 frets is already more than enough to start

So don’t overthink this.
Focus on comfort and sound instead.

What Strings Should a Beginner Ukulele Have?

Best Beginner Ukulele Strings

Strings make a big difference.

I often recommend Aquila strings.
They sound warm and are very popular with beginners.

If you get new strng, refer to the sound that they will make, rather then how they look.

Long time ago, I bought strings just because they were red, and it looked good on a black ukulele. Noadays, I check first the sound description from the string maker. How they look shouldn't be important.

Ready to tune them? Use my tuner for beginners to easily tune your ukuele!

Got a Cheap Ukulele? Change the Strings

As mentionned abobe, strings make a big difference.

If your ukulele comes with unknown or very cheap strings,
changing them can improve the sound a lot.

It’s a small upgrade, but it can make playing much more enjoyable.

And when you change your strings, you can use my tuner to tune them easily.

Are Tuning Pegs Better on the Side or at the Back?

You’ll see two types of tuning pegs:

• Side pegs (like guitars)
• Back pegs (straight through the head)

Both work fine.

But if you are unsure, I suggest:
👉 choose side pegs

I’ve seen students with back pegs struggle with precise tuning.

What Ukulele Brand Should You Choose?

There are many good brands out there.

For beginners, I often suggest looking at:

• Kala
• Mahalo
• Flight
• ...

They offer reliable ukuleles at a fair price.

That said, don’t focus too much on the brand.

👉 A good ukulele is the one that sounds and feels right to you

Comfort

This is subjective. Try different ukuleles and see which one feels best in your hands.

Industrial or Hand Made by a Kraftsman?

"Industrial" made are cheaper and great to start with. The quality and their sound are great.

However, handcrafted instument have most of the time a beautiful sound. Try them to see if you prefer the sound and see for yourself.

Should You Buy a Second-Hand Ukulele?

I’m a bit careful with second-hand instruments.

If you don’t know what to check,
it’s easy to miss small problems.

I remember thinking the same about other hobbies.
If I don’t understand the gear, I prefer something safe.

So for your first ukulele, I suggest:
👉 buy new, unless you alredy know the seller and you trust this one

It removes a lot of doubt and stress.

Should You Buy a Ukulele Bundle?

Many ukuleles come with bundles.

But honestly, most accessories are not very useful.

You don’t need picks.
You don’t really need a tuner if you use an online one, like this great free online tuner, perfect for beginners.

Gig bags are often thin and not very protective (it's better to buy a well-padded one separately).

One thing I do recommend:
👉 a good strap

It makes playing much more comfortable, and it makes things easier.

(Get a good strap at your local music store if you can).

If you need accessories, it’s often better to choose them yourself.

Buy From a Local Music Store

If you can, go to a local music shop.

It’s the best way to try different ukuleles and compare them.

Ask the seller to tune them for you.
Then strum a few chords and listen.

If possible, go at a quiet time.
You’ll have more space and better advice.

And remember: you don’t need to spend a lot (see How Much Should a Beginner Spend on a Ukulele?).

If you like the sound, that’s what matters most.

Should You Buy Online or In A Shop?

I usually recommend buying in a shop.

You can try, feel, and hear the instrument.

If you buy online, one option is to order a few models, compare them at home, and keep your favourite.

But this means returning the others, which is not ideal.

So if you can: go to a shop and trust your ears

But...

Avoid Amazon and General Purpose Web Shops

On Amazon, it’s hard to know if a ukulele is actually good. Reviews can be misleading because beginners often rate based on shipping speed or looks, not sound quality.

I’d much rather use a website dedicated solely to music!

My Personal Advice (After Teaching Many Beginners)

If I had to summarise everything:

• go to a music shop and try a few ukuleles
• choose the sound you love
• pick a concert ukulele if unsure - but test soprano models as well.
• spend 50€ to 110€
• avoid the cheapest models
• get a strap in your music store

Then start playing right away.

And if you stick with it for 6 months or more (which many of my students do), you can always upgrade later to a better instrument.

---

If you’d like a clear and simple path to start, my 4 Weeks Kickstart helps you build a calm, steady routine from day one.
No overwhelm, just small steps that work.

Start my 4 Weeks Kickstart

Conclusion

Choosing your first ukulele doesn’t have to be stressful.
You now know what really matters.

If you’ve been hesitating or overthinking, that’s completely normal.
Many beginners feel the same at the start.

Right now, you could walk into a shop, try a few instruments, and pick one you enjoy.
That’s already a great first step.

Your first ukulele doesn’t need to be perfect.

It just needs to make you want to play again tomorrow.

That’s the real secret.

If you have five minutes today, listen to the sound of two different ukuleles.
Notice which one makes you want to keep playing.

I’ve helped many adult beginners start from zero, and I’ve seen how simple, steady practice makes everything easier.

Keep it simple. Stay consistent. Enjoy the sound.

I hope this guide has made things clearer for you.

If you’d like a bit of guidance to get started, you are very welcome to reach out.

FAQ ❓

If you have any more question, feel free to ask me.

If you’d like structured guidance to start chanting and playing confidently, you can
join the You’Cool’Ele Club (I offer the first session).

Inside the Club, I guide members step by step:

✔ Building a simple weekly practice routine
✔ Learning chords and strumming without overwhelm
✔ Staying motivated with clear, small steps
✔ Turning practice into a steady, enjoyable habit

---

Would you like some help on the regular basis?

Why not book a lesson .

You'll have the help of an expert to progress and improve, while keeping it fun.

---

I hope this article has helped you :)

Have a fantastic day!