But it is spending a little more to get a ukulele the sounds and feels good and is well set up. Most first time buyers get a very cheap ukulele - that's certainly what I did. Your budget is going to play a big part in your decision. But more and more people are buying tenor ukuleles - inspired by the likes of Jake Shimabukuro - which is more suited to solo, instrumental ukulele playing. Most people start on the soprano ukulele since it is the traditional ukulele and, since it is the smallest, it requires less stretching. There are four main sizes: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. If you're after an electric ukulele, take a look at buying the Ovation Applause ukuleles or the RISA. If you're looking to spend a bit (or a lot) more, take a look at the KoAloha ukuleles or the Pono ukuleles. Some of the ukuleles with the best reputation for beginners are Lanikai (particularly the budget LU-21 Lanikai ukuleles) and Kala (their KA-S ukuleles and Makala ukuleles are very popular with kids). Hopefully giving you a much better idea of which ukulele to buy and which to avoid. This section gives you a quick history of each of the major brands, a discussion of the type of ukuleles they make, reviews from Ukulele Hunt readers and a video showcasing the uke (where available). There's a huge range of makes of ukulele out there.
The Ukulele Review section of this site aims to help you make a decision by giving you reviews, information and videos of on a wide range of ukuleles. Jake Shimabukuro - Play Loud Ukulele Price: $14.98īuying a ukulele can be a very tricky task - particularly if you're buying one for the first time. Genre-hopping multi-instrumentalist virtuoso guides you through jazzy and Hawaiian ukulele playing techniques with the help of Ledward Kaapana. Ralph Shaw - Essential Strums for the Ukulele Advanced Instruction Ralph Shaw guides you through basic strumming technique and strumming in different styles. The Complete Ukulele Course taught by Ralph Shaw AdvancedĪ book of tricky arrangements of classical and folk tunes from the master of campanella ukulele John King. It's also worth picking up a chord dictionary like Mel Bay's Ukulele Chords IntermediateĪ great book of straight-forward fingerstyle arrangements by Mark Kailana Nelson. But it is definitely the most comprehensive beginner ukulele book around. A completely biased recommendation since I wrote it.