10 Best Ukuleles for Beginners in 2022 (Donner, Enya, and More)
Are you looking to learn a new instrument, but not sure exactly which one yet? What about the ukulele? The ukulele is fun, portable, and easy to learn! Ukuleles have this rich and warm sound that will easily adapt to any song you want to play. It also comes in smaller sizes that you can bring anywhere you go. Plus, it only has four strings making it easier for you to learn chords and scales.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, because we did our research and put together a list of the 10 best ukuleles for beginners. Everjoys' Ukulele Beginner Pack found its way to the top because it comes with all the extra accessories that you might need as a beginner. Are you looking for more options? Scroll down and go through the rest of the list! We also made a buying guide for more helpful tips and information.
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How to Choose Ukuleles For Beginners
To choose the best ukelele for you, pay attention to its size, shape, construction, and material. As a beginner, you should also look for one that comes with accessories!
Pick Your Ukulele Depending on Its Size and Tone
Ukuleles come in four different sizes and tonal ranges: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. The size determines the tonal range a ukelele produces.
The original and smallest ukulele you can get is the soprano. It is usually about 21 inches in length and typically has 12 frets. It's portable and ideal for beginners.
A concert ukelele is about 23 inches long. It produces a more profound and louder tone than the soprano but still has a similar sound. This is great if you have larger hands so since they won’t be cramped between the frets.
The tenor ukulele is usually 26 inches long. It produces a deeper and louder sound compared to the concert and soprano. Professional players use this style because it has a longer neck and allows them to hit many notes. A tenor ukulele sounds very similar to guitars.
Although not as common as the three sizes mentioned, a baritone ukulele is about 30 inches long. It produces deeper bass and sounds very similar to a guitar.
Consider the Ukulele’s Shape
There are three basic shapes that ukuleles come in: a guitar or figure 8, pineapple, and boat paddle. The most common shape you’ll find is the guitar or figure 8. As the name suggests, it looks similar to a guitar with its figure shaped like the number 8. This shape is the best for beginners since it's more comfortable to hold.
There are also ones shaped like the rounded body of a pineapple. This shape is a Hawaiian innovation from the Kamaka Ukulele Company. The least common form is a boat paddle. A boat paddle ukelele has an elongated oval-shaped body.
Think About the Ukulele’s Construction and Material
When choosing your ukulele, you should pay attention to the material and construction. The type of tonewood used will affect the sound it produces.
Know the Different Types of Tonewood
Much like the size of ukuleles affects their sound, so does the tonewood they are made with. The most common tonewoods are mahogany, koa, spruce, rosewood, maple, and cedar.
Mahogany is one of the most common woods used to make instruments. You will find that a lot of ukuleles made of other tonewoods have mahogany for their necks. This type of wood helps your ukulele produce soft and warm tones.
Another tonewood you'll usually find is basswood. It's a light brown wood with minimal grain. Ukuleles made with this type of wood produce a rounded but well-balanced tone. It also offers soft and warm tones.
When ukuleles first gained popularity, almost all of them were made from Koa wood from Hawaii. Up to this day, it is still one of the most popular tonewoods. It has a unique and beautiful grain pattern, and it produces a balanced and rounded sound.
Spruce is commonly used for guitars, and it eventually found its way to ukuleles. It gives your ukulele a bright and full sound. Rosewood is commonly used for the back, sides, and fingerboard of a ukelele. It is a tough and dark wood that gives you warm tones.
Maple is a sturdy and beautiful wood typically used for the back and sides. This type of wood will give you a clear and resonant sound. Cedar is less dense and produces a mellow, rounded sound.
Select Solid or Laminated Wood
You also have to pick between solid wood and laminated wood. Ukuleles made of solid wood only have one layer of wood, which means your instrument will produce a richer and more vibrant sound. However, they are vulnerable to the weather and temperature. Just be sure to keep a solid wood ukelele away from water and humidity because the wood will swell.
Laminated wood, on the other hand, is made of several layers of thin wood. This is great if you want to start learning how to play. Although it does not produce the same rich sounds as solid wood, a laminated wood ukelele is durable and requires less maintenance.
Opt for Ukuleles That Come With Extra Accessories
Since you're a beginner, you should look for a ukelele that comes with useful extras like a case, tuner, capo, pick, strap, or maintenance supplies.
A case or a gig bag will help you easily transport your ukulele from place to place. It will also keep your ukulele safe from scratches. Some come with a strap that will make playing easier, especially when you are standing up.
An electronic tuner will make tuning your ukulele much easier. You simply clip it on your ukulele’s headstock. Some also come with felt picks, which are useful if you don’t want to use your fingers or if you like to experiment with sounds.
Another extra you might find useful, especially if you’re learning more advanced songs, is a capo. Using a capo will raise the pitch of your ukulele as it moves further up the frets. Other ukuleles might come with helpful cleaning tools and extra strings, too!
10 Best Ukuleles For Beginners Ranking
| Products | Image | Click to purchase | Popularity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ukulele Beginner Pack, 21 Inch Everjoys |  | No.1 | |
2 | Concert Ukulele Mahogany Donner |  | No.2 | |
3 | Tenor Ukulele 26 Inch Solid Mahogany Aklot |  | No.3 | |
4 | Concert Ukulele Mahogany Kmise |  | No.4 | |
5 | Soprano Ukulele Honsing |  | No.5 | |
6 | Concert Ukulele Enya |  | No.6 | |
7 | Baritone Mahogany Ukulele Kala |  | No.7 | |
8 | Deluxe Soprano Ukulele Hola |  | No.8 | |
9 | Tattoo Mahogany Soprano Pineapple Ukulele Pack Luna |  | No.9 | |
10 | Soprano Ukulele for Beginners Huawind |  | No.10 |
EverjoysUkulele Beginner Pack, 21 Inch
This 21-inch soprano ukulele is made of basswood. Its rainbow-colored nylon strings will help you learn different chords and notes. It comes with all the accessories you might need as a beginner, like a bag, digital tuner, strap, songbook, picks, string, and a microfiber polishing cloth. It's available in several colors, too.
Some reviewers were disappointed that this ukulele doesn't stay tuned for a long time, though this is a common issue with most newer ukuleles. Still, most reviewers said that it's great for beginners and kids, noting that the accessories are very helpful. They also liked the way it sounds and the variety of color options, including pink and blue.
This mahogany concert ukulele has durable nylon strings that produce a warm and rich sound! It also comes with helpful accessories to make learning and taking care of your ukulele easier, like a padded gig bag, a strap, a tuner, extra strings, picks, and a cleaning cloth. You also get free access to online tutorials.
A few users said that this ukulele has to be tuned every time they use it (which should ideally sort itself out as you play the ukulele more). However, many reviewers loved how this ukulele sounds and looks, saying that it's beautiful. They also liked that it comes with useful accessories and is easy to play.
AklotTenor Ukulele 26 Inch Solid Mahogany
If you want a slightly bigger instrument, go for this 26-inch tenor ukulele. It's made of solid mahogany and has Aquila nylon strings. It also has a smooth fret and rounded edges for comfort. The included accessories, like a bag, tuner, and cleaning cloth, will make caring for your ukulele easier.
There were a few complaints about the ukulele not staying tuned. But besides this, most of the reviewers only had good things to say about this ukulele's balanced sound. They also said this set is helpful for beginners.
This concert ukulele features a beautiful laser-engraved pattern. It's made with sapele, a type of wood similar to mahogany. It has a rosewood fret, a metal strap lock, and Aquila nylon strings. You also get a digital tuner and a padded gig bag!
A couple of reviewers said their ukulele broke after just a few uses. However, most of them said it's beautiful and sounds great. They also loved that it's comfortable and fun to play, making learning even easier!
This colorful 21-inch soprano ukulele is made of basswood and has Aquila nylon strings. It also features a smooth fretboard and silver gear tuners. The ukulele comes with a handy gig bag for storage or to travel with.
Some reviewers wish this ukulele's tone was a bit richer. On the other hand, most reviewers said it's great for beginners to practice with. They also liked the colorful design, noting that kids enjoy its fun look.
This unique ukelele is made of carbon fiber, a material that produces a brighter sound than wood. It also makes it lightweight, waterproof, easy to maintain, and durable. It also features a side hole for better sound and resonance.
It comes with online lessons, a case, a strap, a capo, and strings. However, this ukulele does not work with wound strings or any metal strings.
Some reviewers didn't like that its material shows fingerprints easily. Still, a lot of them loved that it's very light and low maintenance. They also liked this ukelele's sleek look and sound!
The baritone ukulele is the largest style of ukulele available. It's excellent if you're already familiar with playing guitar. This model is about 30 inches long and made of durable and warm-sounding mahogany. It has a mahogany neck, a walnut fingerboard, and Aquila nylon strings.
A few reviewers said that they get buzzing on certain strings. However, most reviewers loved this ukelele's full and rich sound. They also said that it's very easy and comfortable to play.
This soprano ukulele is made of beautiful zebrawood and has a subtle laser-engraved design. It also has a nato neck, a walnut fingerboard, a built-in strap pin, and Aquila nylon strings.
It comes with extra strings, a padded gig bag, strap, and picks. Plus, you get two months of free online classes!
A few reviewers did not like the quality of the strings, saying they snap easily. Overall, though, many of them loved that this ukulele feels well made and produces beautiful sounds. Some also said it performs as well as more expensive options.
LunaTattoo Mahogany Soprano Pineapple Ukulele Pack
This pineapple-shaped soprano ukulele has a tattoo design inspired by traditional Hawaiian body art. It is made of mahogany, a walnut fingerboard. You'll also get a gig bag, chord chart, and a pitch pipe to make playing and learning more manageable.
A few reviewers complained that the ukulele produces vibrating sounds and needs to be tuned all the time. Besides these, most of the reviewers loved its unique shape and design. They also thought it sounds great and is easy to play.
If you want a lightweight and colorful ukulele, this is a solid choice. This soprano ukulele is made of basswood and is available in eight bold colors. It has 12 frets and nylon strings. Plus, you get a gig bag to help protect and store your ukulele.
A few reviewers complained about the ukulele's quality. They said it feels like a toy and won't stay tuned. Nevertheless, most of them said it's adorable. Reviewers noted that it's great for children and is just the right size for beginners.
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