best ukuleles for beginners

Top 10 Ukuleles for Beginners – Helping You Make The Right Choice

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The ukulele is a whimsical and fun instrument to learn to play. It is small and compact, making it easy to transport.

One of the best things about learning to play the ukulele is its simplicity.

With just a few minutes of learning a couple of chords, you can create beautifully basic music, making this a rewarding instrument to try. 

In this guide, we will review some top ukuleles for beginners.

If you are new to playing the ukulele or simply want to learn, this is a good starting point to help you find the perfect model and brand. 

Table of Contents

What Should You Consider When Purchasing a Ukulele?

There are a few things to consider before you make an instrument purchase. Knowing what to look for makes the buying process less stressful for most people. 

Top 10 Ukuleles for Beginners
  • First, consider your budget. A good starting budget for beginners is $50-$100/£35.92 – £71.83. 
  • You should avoid very cheap ukuleles whenever possible. These are mainly marketed as toys and do not sound authentic. 
  • You will also need to consider the size. There are soprano, concert, and tenor sizes. Most people start with a soprano when they are a beginner because of ease of play and tone, but any of the sizes will work.  
  • Make sure to research carefully, to ensure you are purchasing the right brand and model to help you to learn to play the ukulele fluently. 

Check Out This Helpful Video

Top 10 Ukuleles for Beginners

You have many options for purchasing a beginner ukulele, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming deciding which one offers the best sound and ease of play.

With this review, we will give you the facts on each of our choices and why they were added to this list. You will hear the good and the bad of all, so you can make an easy decision. 

1. Kala Learn to Play Soprano Ukulele Starter Pack

Kala is one of the top-rated ukulele manufacturers in the world. Although they also make guitars, their primary focus is the creation of beautiful ukulele instruments, for people of all skill levels and experience. 

This starter kit has everything a beginner would need for getting started playing the uke. The kit comes with the following. 

  • Kala soprano ukulele
  • Tuning app
  • Kala tote bag
  • Quick start guide
  • Online lessons

This model is made of mahogany, and its dimensions are 3.25 x 8.38 x 22.63 inches. The strings are Nylon, and there are four of them. This is a lightweight instrument, weighing in at only one pound. 

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Pros

  • Made of high-quality mahogany that is very durable.
  • The kit includes everything you need to get started
  • It is highly affordable for beginners who may not want to invest too much money
  • This kit is offered in soprano, concert, and tenor sizes
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Cons

  • This kit does not include a clip-on tuner, but you can purchase one separately for a low price.

Watch This Video for More Info

2. Cordoba Concert Ukulele

Those who have larger hands or fingers may find this model a little easier to fret because it is a larger size. You can also purchase this model in soprano and tenor sizes. 

This Cordoba ukulele is made of mahogany, and its dimensions are 24 x 6.5 x 10 inches. With the pearl button tuners, you can easily tune your instrument. This is an ideal instrument for beginners and experienced players alike. 

The Cordoba concert uke does not come with any accessories, so you will need to purchase them separately. You can start playing this instrument without any accessories, but they always add to the fun. 

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Pros

  • This brand is available in all three sizes, including soprano.
  • This model is ideal for people of all skill levels, including intermediate players.
  • You can purchase an electric version if interested.
  • This model offers a great sound for the price.
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Cons

  • Made of laminate

3. Kala Mahogany Concert Ukulele

This Kala concert ukulele is the perfect size for some beginners, especially those who are transitioning from other stringed instruments that may offer larger fretboards. 

If you are certain you will play the ukulele for the long haul, this is an ideal model to get started with because it is for players of all experience levels and transitions nicely from beginner to intermediate. 

This ukulele is blue and made of mahogany. The dimensions are 25.2 x 25.59 x 9.84 inches. It is also very lightweight, weighing in at only 0.5 Kilograms. 

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Pros

  • Beautiful blue satin finish
  • High-quality construction
  • Deep and rich sound
  • Holds the intonation well
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Cons

  • More expensive than some other brands

4. Cordoba 15CM Ukulele

If you are looking for a concert-sized ukulele, you cannot go wrong with this Cordoba. This model is ideal for beginners and those taking lessons. This instrument offers a vibrant sound due to its mahogany construction. With its sleek satin finish and pearl button tuners, this ukulele is a beauty. 

As mentioned, the front, back, and sides are all made of mahogany. The dimensions of this instrument are 24 x 6.5 x 10 inches. This is the perfect size for ease of play, for those of all skill levels. 

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Pros

  • Beautiful satin finish
  • Durable nylon strings
  • Sturdy intonation
  • Rich and vibrant sound
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Cons

  • Contains some composite wood

5. Kala KA-15S Soprano

Here, yet again, is another Kala model. As with all of Kala’s ukuleles, this is a quality instrument at an affordable price. It offers a traditional ukulele style, with mahogany front, sides, and back. The satin finish is beautiful. 

This instrument features a walnut fingerboard and bridge, with a mahogany neck. It offers Aquila Super Nylgut strings and a shark tooth rosette. The dimensions of this ukulele are 21.06 x 7 x 2.37 inches. It is the perfect size for beginners and children. 

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Pros

  • Offers a beautifully rich sound
  • Affordable price for beginners
  • Perfect size for beginners and children
  • Beautiful satin finish and rosette design
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Cons

  • The tuning app requires Internet service

6. Bondi Concert Ukulele Starter Kit

When just starting out playing the ukulele, it helps to purchase a kit like this Bondi concert ukulele starter kit. It is packed with everything a beginner would need, for beginning to master this instrument. It is also available in many options, with different styles of carrying cases. 

This kit includes:

  • Mahogany concert ukulele
  • Felt picks
  • Tuner
  • Compression sponge case
  • Leather strap
  • Chord stamp
  • Aquila strings
  • Live lessons
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Pros

  • Includes everything a beginner needs for getting started
  • Is available in different designs
  • Offers affordability for beginners
  • Comes with a 20-year warranty
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Cons

  • The chord chart is not as helpful as it could be, but there are plenty of online options

Helpful Video

7. Luna Tattoo Concert Ukulele

Luna is another trusted ukulele maker. Although they offer a range of instruments, there is a reason they are tops in ukulele manufacturing. They offer quality ukulele instruments, at affordable prices. 

This instrument is made of mahogany and has a unique tattoo design. The dimensions are 24 x 9 x 3 inches, and the strings are made of bronze. This ukulele has a satin finish and comes with a gig bag. 

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Pros

  • Offers all-wood construction
  • Unique tattoo design
  • Beautifully clear sound with resonation
  • Is offered in an electric model as well
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Cons

  • Needs better strings

8. Donner DUC-1 Concert Ukulele Starter Bundle

This is another great ukulele kit that is perfect for beginners. This is a classically-designed concert size ukulele that is made of African mahogany. This starter bundle comes with the following. 

  • Concert ukulele
  • Gig bag
  • Strap
  • Picks
  • Cleaning cloth
  • Clip-on tuner
  • Free online lessons

This ukulele is ideal for beginners who are just getting started because it includes everything you need. The dimensions of this ukulele are 4.53 x 26.77 x 10.43 inches. 

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Pros

  • Available in three sizes
  • Highly affordable
  • Offers a pleasantly rich sound
  • Comes with fret position marks
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Cons

  • Not the best choice for children

9. Cordoba 20CM Ukulele

This is another Cordoba model that offers a little bigger size. It is perfect for beginners, but intermediate musicians will also find it to be a solid instrument. 

Cordoba makes all their instruments in China, and there are some composite wood parts, but overall, this instrument is solid in design and construction. 

The dimensions of this ukulele are 24 x 8.25 x 3.5 inches, and it has a natural satin finish. With a rich sound, it is easy to play. 

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Pros

  • Offers a solid mahogany top in a satin finish
  • Comes with Aquila Nylgut Concert strings
  • Offers a rosewood bridge and fingerboard
  • Offers many options, including electric
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Cons

  • More expensive than other beginner models

Check Out This Review Video

10. Lohanu Concert Ukulele Bundle Starter Kit

For many beginners, purchasing a bundle starter kit just makes sense. This Lohanu kit comes with everything you need to get started playing right away. It features the following. 

  • Ukulele instrument
  • Gig bag
  • Strap
  • Tuner 
  • Picks
  • Strings
  • Free video lessons

This ukulele is made of Sapele. The frets on this instrument are more widely spaced, which is ideal for those who are just beginning to learn.

The dimensions of this ukulele are 24.5 x 8.25 x 2.75 inches.

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Pros

  • It is ideal for beginners, with everything necessary for playing
  • Comes in all three sizes
  • Extremely affordable
  • Large enough for intermediate players
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Cons

  • Some people report having trouble getting this instrument to stay in tune.

Check Out This Helpful Video

The Top 10 Ukuleles for Beginners – Conclusion

As you can see, there are so many choices for beginners who want to learn how to play the ukulele. Feel free to click through each of the links and find the perfect instrument to unlock your playing pleasure. 

Author Profile

e66008612cd0c420d29af7274c8d94be?s=100&d=mm&r=g Top 10 Ukuleles for Beginners - Helping You Make The Right Choice
Daniel Johnstone
Daniel Johnstone is an English writer with a love for stringed instruments from around the world.

He shares his love for these instruments through his writing for folkstrings.com, a website dedicated to all things related to folk string music.

Daniel's passion for music started at a young age, and he has since become an accomplished musician, playing guitar, cavaco, and recently, the harp.

His dedication to learning and sharing his knowledge of stringed instruments is evident in his insightful and engaging blog posts. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a beginner, Daniel's writing is sure to inspire and entertain you.

When he's not playing music or writing, you can find Daniel exploring new instruments and seeking out new sounds to share with his readers.

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