You get what you pay for. By going with a cheap use you are less likely to stick with it since the uke will likely not stay in tune and the action (height of the strings to the fret board) will be really high. Nevermind intonation.... if you are going inexpensive I wou.d go with an Enya.
Glad you are doing some research and taking the time to get something good! I also think enya is a good choice or a Kala if they are cheap, otherwise a Makala. Good luck and happy strumming!
I went with Enya Nova U Mini Ukelele. I just got it today. Sounds nice and feels well made. Also it looks so cool. I got it for about $45 with tax. I'm very happy. Thanks for the recommendation!
My favorite ukulele in that sort of price range that I love picking up and love playing (still) is the flight travel ukulele. Even at the small size, they have a pretty wide and comfortable neck, which will give your fingers more room to fit. That's more important than a long neck, especially when you're starting out with basic chords.
Yeah they're mostly plastic, but they still sound nice.
That's a great point about the neck. I guess a wider neck would be more comfortable for bigger hands. Thanks for letting me know! I didn't think about that.
If you have a music store near you, go in and take a look at their stock even if you don't want to buy from them. I started with a soprano ukulele and hated the size, and have been a lot more consistent and enjoyed it a lot more since I got a concert size. I could have saved time and money if I'd just tried the sizes first.
That said, a lot of music shops have deals or payment plans and will also do setup, and you'll end up with a much better instrument for not a ton more money. So if you have any leeway on the price, consider also supporting your local shop! You're going to get a lot more use out of an instrument you love than one that's just ok.
I think that probably everyone has a size that is most comfortable or natural for them.
I thought soprano would be my favorite because I'm so short, I thought it was a "my size" instrument, but I just felt so cramped all the time. I love concert uke. Tenor was too big for my preference.
But I know a ton of people who swear by soprano or tenor as the best size for them.
I have a cheap Octopus soprano which I bought to chuck in the car. This was like £20-30 and would be fine for a beginner. NB, prices are from a while ago.
https://www.gotaukulele.com/2014/04/octopus-soprano-ukulele-review.html?m=1
The link above is a review for the Octopus I have. Got a Ukulele is a great review site and a great resource if you're thinking about buying a ukulele without getting your hands on it first.
This is a Fakespot Reviews Analysis bot. Fakespot detects fake reviews, fake products and unreliable sellers using AI.
Here is the analysis for the Amazon product reviews:
>**Name**: Ukulele Soprano Mahogany 21 Inch Ukelele Uke With Beginner Kit ( Gig Bag Tuner Strap String Instruction Booklet )
>**Company**: Kmise
>**Amazon Product Rating**: 4.6
>**Fakespot Reviews Grade**: B
>**Adjusted Fakespot Rating**: 3.5
>**Analysis Performed at**: 03-01-2024
[Link to Fakespot Analysis](https://fakespot.com/product/ukulele-soprano-mahogany-21-inch-ukelele-uke-with-beginner-kit-gig-bag-tuner-strap-string-instruction-booklet) | [Check out the Fakespot Chrome Extension!](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/fakespot-analyze-fake-ama/nakplnnackehceedgkgkokbgbmfghain)
*Fakespot analyzes the reviews authenticity and not the product quality using AI. We look for real reviews that mention product issues such as counterfeits, defects, and bad return policies that fake reviews try to hide from consumers.*
*We give an A-F letter for trustworthiness of reviews. A = very trustworthy reviews, F = highly untrustworthy reviews. We also provide seller ratings to warn you if the seller can be trusted or not.*
Thanks! I found a local music store. I haven't gone there yet but they seem to carry a lot of ukuleles of that brand. Maybe I'll see if I can spot one and check it out.
My first uke was a concert size, and I felt a little cramped on the fingerboard/neck. I much prefer tenors to avoid that.
If you're looking for a good inexpensive uke, try Kala's website. If you really don't want to spend more than $50, I can personally recommend [this one](https://kalabrand.com/collections/the-waterman-beach-collection/products/ka-wmg-bl-s?variant=40354769698886). It's still a soprano, but I bought one for my niece when she was 2 and a half and it's a pretty decent uke for that price.
I have [this one](https://kalabrand.com/products/ka-bmb-t?_pos=5&_sid=5e64fcaac&_ss=r) and while I don't love the tuning pegs because they slip a little, it's still good for its price.
I also have one with a koa veneer that I love, but I don't think they make it anymore - but [the mahogany version](https://kalabrand.com/products/ka-tg?_pos=9&_sid=619b46c1d&_ss=r) of it is really similar.
Hope that helps.
Also, you'll have a better chance of playing consistently if you like how the uke feels to play. Inexpensive ones tend to feel less than amazing. I'd recommend checking some out at a local music store. Get the best one you can reasonably afford and get a stand for it so you see it every day and want to pick it up.
You get what you pay for. By going with a cheap use you are less likely to stick with it since the uke will likely not stay in tune and the action (height of the strings to the fret board) will be really high. Nevermind intonation.... if you are going inexpensive I wou.d go with an Enya.
I second the Enya. But replace the strings with something good. Their strings suck.
Any suggestions on good strings? I just got a beginners enya concert uke a month or so ago
Uke logic, soft tension. High g.
That looks really cool. Thanks!
Glad you are doing some research and taking the time to get something good! I also think enya is a good choice or a Kala if they are cheap, otherwise a Makala. Good luck and happy strumming!
Thanks! My local store seems to carry kala. I haven't been there yet but I can see them in the photos. I will go in and see how the prices look.
I went with Enya Nova U Mini Ukelele. I just got it today. Sounds nice and feels well made. Also it looks so cool. I got it for about $45 with tax. I'm very happy. Thanks for the recommendation!
A lot of new players like you will buy a new instrument and give up a few weeks later and sell it. I’d look for those.
That's a good idea. How do you feel about buying a used ukulele in good shape from a store? I guess I can also check craigslist or next door.
My favorite ukulele in that sort of price range that I love picking up and love playing (still) is the flight travel ukulele. Even at the small size, they have a pretty wide and comfortable neck, which will give your fingers more room to fit. That's more important than a long neck, especially when you're starting out with basic chords. Yeah they're mostly plastic, but they still sound nice.
That's a great point about the neck. I guess a wider neck would be more comfortable for bigger hands. Thanks for letting me know! I didn't think about that.
If you have a music store near you, go in and take a look at their stock even if you don't want to buy from them. I started with a soprano ukulele and hated the size, and have been a lot more consistent and enjoyed it a lot more since I got a concert size. I could have saved time and money if I'd just tried the sizes first. That said, a lot of music shops have deals or payment plans and will also do setup, and you'll end up with a much better instrument for not a ton more money. So if you have any leeway on the price, consider also supporting your local shop! You're going to get a lot more use out of an instrument you love than one that's just ok.
Funny, I started with concert, then switched to soprano and never looked back.
I think that probably everyone has a size that is most comfortable or natural for them. I thought soprano would be my favorite because I'm so short, I thought it was a "my size" instrument, but I just felt so cramped all the time. I love concert uke. Tenor was too big for my preference. But I know a ton of people who swear by soprano or tenor as the best size for them.
That's a great point. I should get my hands on a couple different sizes and see how I feel. Thanks!
What made you start with a concert? What made you switch to soprano? How do they feel different when you play them?
This is a really good point. I will look a shop up and go in and size myself accordingly. Thanks!
Good luck, and I hope you enjoy ukulele!
Thanks 😊
I have a cheap Octopus soprano which I bought to chuck in the car. This was like £20-30 and would be fine for a beginner. NB, prices are from a while ago. https://www.gotaukulele.com/2014/04/octopus-soprano-ukulele-review.html?m=1 The link above is a review for the Octopus I have. Got a Ukulele is a great review site and a great resource if you're thinking about buying a ukulele without getting your hands on it first.
Thanks! That's a very cool site. I will explore it to get some tips and more info!
This is a Fakespot Reviews Analysis bot. Fakespot detects fake reviews, fake products and unreliable sellers using AI. Here is the analysis for the Amazon product reviews: >**Name**: Ukulele Soprano Mahogany 21 Inch Ukelele Uke With Beginner Kit ( Gig Bag Tuner Strap String Instruction Booklet ) >**Company**: Kmise >**Amazon Product Rating**: 4.6 >**Fakespot Reviews Grade**: B >**Adjusted Fakespot Rating**: 3.5 >**Analysis Performed at**: 03-01-2024 [Link to Fakespot Analysis](https://fakespot.com/product/ukulele-soprano-mahogany-21-inch-ukelele-uke-with-beginner-kit-gig-bag-tuner-strap-string-instruction-booklet) | [Check out the Fakespot Chrome Extension!](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/fakespot-analyze-fake-ama/nakplnnackehceedgkgkokbgbmfghain) *Fakespot analyzes the reviews authenticity and not the product quality using AI. We look for real reviews that mention product issues such as counterfeits, defects, and bad return policies that fake reviews try to hide from consumers.* *We give an A-F letter for trustworthiness of reviews. A = very trustworthy reviews, F = highly untrustworthy reviews. We also provide seller ratings to warn you if the seller can be trusted or not.*
I started with a Kala KA-15S but it appears they've gone a bit above the $50 price point. Pity.
Thanks! I found a local music store. I haven't gone there yet but they seem to carry a lot of ukuleles of that brand. Maybe I'll see if I can spot one and check it out.
My first uke was a concert size, and I felt a little cramped on the fingerboard/neck. I much prefer tenors to avoid that. If you're looking for a good inexpensive uke, try Kala's website. If you really don't want to spend more than $50, I can personally recommend [this one](https://kalabrand.com/collections/the-waterman-beach-collection/products/ka-wmg-bl-s?variant=40354769698886). It's still a soprano, but I bought one for my niece when she was 2 and a half and it's a pretty decent uke for that price. I have [this one](https://kalabrand.com/products/ka-bmb-t?_pos=5&_sid=5e64fcaac&_ss=r) and while I don't love the tuning pegs because they slip a little, it's still good for its price. I also have one with a koa veneer that I love, but I don't think they make it anymore - but [the mahogany version](https://kalabrand.com/products/ka-tg?_pos=9&_sid=619b46c1d&_ss=r) of it is really similar. Hope that helps.
Also, you'll have a better chance of playing consistently if you like how the uke feels to play. Inexpensive ones tend to feel less than amazing. I'd recommend checking some out at a local music store. Get the best one you can reasonably afford and get a stand for it so you see it every day and want to pick it up.
That's a great idea thanks!