Hi guys,
When you decide to buy a ukulele, you might be wondering:
- Which ukulele is best to buy for beginners?
- How can I buy a best cheap ukulele for the money (good sounding ukulele on the budget)?
I used to be in your position, so I researched, reviewed, and picked out a list of good quality ukulele for your reference.
But first, here is 3 things need to be clear about buying the good ukulele for beginners:
1# Soprano vs. Concert vs. Tenor vs. Bariton – Which Ukulele is best for beginners?
- If you buy the ukulele for kids, the soprano ukulele is the good choice because of its small neck and frets.
- If you buy the ukulele for adults, the concert uke and tenor uke is the best choice because once you get some experiences, you will want more frets to play some songs.
- The baritone ukulele is best suited to well-played ukers.
2# Do you really want to PAY for the GOOD ukulele (good sound and good looking)?
If you say “yup!” then great! The good sound and good looking ukulele will inspire you to learn to play it day by day.
Please believe me, a poor sound and ugly uke would soon destroy your passion.
A good ukulele for beginners has the price range from $50 to $100. If you buy a cheap ukulele under $50, it is just a toy rather than a musical instrument.
Here is the list: Top-rated Best Ukuleles Under $100 for beginners of all ages. All of the ukes in this review are under $100 and are sold on Amazon.
Review top rated 3 BEST Soprano Ukulele under $100 for Beginners
The soprano ukulele is the smallest one which looks very interesting and cute. They normally have 12 to 14 frets and has very delightful sounds.
Because of the small and narrow neck so it is best suited for kids and small-hand-players.
Here is top-rated 3 best soprano ukulele:
1. Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele
- Mahogany body and neck
- Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- 12 Brass Frets
Check price and more details about Kala KA-15S at Amazon
The Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele was one of my first uke which I bought from Amazon.
Frets were dressed nicely and the neck is very comfortable for small hands like me.
As for the sound/tone, it has more treble and gives very delightful sounds.
2. Lanikai LU-21 Soprano Ukulele
- Top and Back and Side construction: Nato
- Fretboards construction: Rosewood
- 12 Brass Frets
Check price and more details about Lanikai LU-21 at Amazon
The Lanikai LU-21 Soprano Ukulele is another great choice for those ones who are looking for a good soprano uke.
Note:
Most of the beginners often confuse between Kala KA-15S vs. Lanikai LU-21.
In general, they both produce similar sound but Kala KA-15S has a mahogany wood body and Lanikai LU-21 has nato wood body.
The mahogany wood and nato wood produce a different tone.
However, Kala KA-15S vs. Lanikai LU-21 made from laminated wood so the sound and tone are not different so much.
3. Cordoba 15SM Soprano Ukulele
- Mahogany top, back, and sides
- Rosewood bridge and fingerboard
- Abalone rosette
- 12 Brass Frets
Check price and more details about Cordoba 15SM at Amazon
The Cordoba 15SM Soprano Ukulele has a cool design with abalone rosette.
I played Cordoba 15SM several times (borrowed it from my friend) and it was great by the feel of the neck from the start, it was so smooth and perfectly sized for small hands.
Plus, it has full, rich sound. If you are a strict man, the Cordoba 15SM is best for you.
Review top rated 3 BEST Concert Ukulele under $100 for Beginners
The concert ukulele is slightly bigger than the soprano. That means it produces deeper, fuller and louder sounds.
They’re popular beginner ukes for those with larger hands. Plus, they have 14 to 17 frets which let you play more complicated songs easily.
Here is top-rated 3 best concert ukulele for beginners:
1. Oscar Schmidt OU2 Concert Ukulele
- Mahogany body & neck
- Rosewood bridge
- Chrome tuners
- Satin finish
- Handcrafted quality
Check price and more details about Oscar Schmidt OU2 at Amazon
The Oscar Schmidt OU2 Concert Ukulele offers the best price for beginners.
The intonation and tonal qualities are good. Its sound is perfect for campfires and living room.
In my opinion, Oscar Schmidt OU2 is far better than the others in a comparable price range. It’s a great beginner uke!
2. Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele
- Mahogany top, back, and sides
- Rosewood bridge and fingerboard
- Abalone rosette
- 14 Brass Frets
Check price and more details about Cordoba 15CM at Amazon
If you’re looking for the best concert ukulele at the $100. The Cordoba 15CM is quite impressive in look and sound quality (more mellow and full rich sound).
It gives a really amazing tone for the $100 range.
Besides, if you’re a big fan of Kala, the Kala KA-C Satin Mahogany Concert Ukulele is worth to consider as well.
3. Kala KA-C Satin Mahogany Concert Ukulele
- Mahogany body and neck with gloss finish
- Rosewood Fingerboard and Bridge
- 18 Silver Nickel Frets
- Chrome Die-Cast Sealed Geared tuners
Check price and more details about Kala KA-C at Amazon
I care for sound, playability and nice looking. So I went for the Kala KA-C Satin Mahogany Concert Ukulele and haven’t regretted it.
Its sound is so beautiful with high enough volume and it handles well.
Review top rated 3 BEST Tenor Ukuleleunder $100 for Beginners
The tenor ukulele is a great choice for beginners as well as experienced players who maybe want to perform on stages or clubs.
They have fuller and deeper bass range than both the soprano and concert ukuleles have. The tenor ukulele has 17 to 19 frets give you more notes to work with.
Here is top-rated 3 best tenor ukulele for beginners:
1. Kala MK-T Makala Tenor Ukulele
- Agathis body
- Mahogany neck
- Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Geared tuners
- Satin finish
- 18 brass frets
Check price and more details about Kala MK-T Makala at Amazon
I’ve played the Kala MK-TMakala for several times. The bright and rich sound is good for me.
The Kala MK-T Makala is NOT a bad choice if you’re looking for a good beginner tenor ukulele, especially for the budget-friendly one.
2. Kala KA-T Mahogany Tenor Ukulele
- Mahogany body and neck
- Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Geared tuners
- Traditional white binding
- 18 brass frets
Are you looking for a best beginner tenor ukulele for playing long-term with a nice sound?
The Kala KA-T Mahogany Tenor Ukulele is an excellent candidate for beginners to get started on.
Check price and more details about Kala KA-T at Amazon
However, the price of Kala KA-T is not “very pleased” but it will pay off for you in the long run.
You know “buying cheap means buying twice,” as the old saying goes.
Still, if your budget is really tight, I recommend Kala MK-T Makala as a good replacement.
Note:
Kala MK-T Makala vs. Kala KA-T: Which is better?
I’ve played both and own the KA-T.
The main difference is the wood: Mahogany(Kala KA-T) vs. Agathis (Kala MK-T) but they are both laminated wood.
So as for the sound, it is not different from each other so much. They all have bright and full rich sound.
The Kala MK-T Makala is cheaper and a bit less nice looking (just my own personal feeling) than Kala KA-T because the Kala focuses more on aesthetics.
3. Luna Mahogany Series Tattoo Tenor Ukulele
- Mahogany body and neck
- Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Laser etched Tattoo
- Satin finish
The Luna Tattoo Tenor Ukulele is awesome for those ones who want a cool tenor ukulele. It has a nice mellow sound and great looking.
Check price and more details about Luna Tattoo at Amazon
If you are looking for a great tenor uke at a great price do not hesitate on Luna Tattoo Tenor Ukulele.
You will be very pleased with your purchase. I recommend it for any beginner and anyone would like it as a travel or camping instrument.
Review top rated 3 BEST Baritone Ukulele under $200
The baritone ukulele is the biggest one in the uke family and has 19 to 21 frets. They produce the deepest sound (more resonant, more bass and more sustain) which is great for performances.
Here is top-rated 3 best baritone ukulele for your considering.
1. Kala KA-B Mahogany Baritone Ukulele
- Mahogany body and neck with gloss finish
- Rosewood Fingerboard and Bridge
- 18 Silver Nickel Frets
- Chrome Die-Cast tuners
Check price and more details about Kala KA-B at Amazon
The Kala KA-B Mahogany Baritone Ukulele is good quality for beginners to intermediate level.
Probably the best value for under $200. It has a strong, warm tone and rich bass.
2. Oscar Schmidt OU52 Baritone Ukulele
- Handcrafted quality
- Mahogany top, back & sides
- Rosewood fingerboard & bridge
- Satin finish
- Chrome Die-cast tuners
- Abalone rosette&Abalone binding
Check price and more details about Oscar Schmidt OU52 at Amazon
If you have played guitar and want something fun to play on which sounds harmonic and awesome, the Oscar Schmidt OU52 Baritone Ukulele won’t let you down.
It is a good beginner baritone ukulele which will allow you a chance to get a feel for the instrument without spending a lot more money for an expensive one.
The Oscar Schmidt OU52 has a premium version, that is Oscar Schmidt OU52E which is equipped with an EQ helps you play on stage or club with ease.
3. Cordoba 20BM Baritone Ukulele
- Solid mahogany top
- Mahogany back and sides
- Rosewood bridge and fingerboard
- Natural satin finish
The Cordoba 20BM Baritone Ukulele is very nice looking. The solid mahogany top produces clear, strong and warm sound.
The tone and sustain are very good, it will be better over time if you play regularly as well.
Check price and more details about Cordoba 20BM at Amazon
Note:
If you are beginners in string instruments, I think you should ignore baritone ukes.
The soprano, concert, and tenor are always the best choices because its cute and very easy to play.
So, “What is the BEST Ukulele for a Beginner?”
This is a question that I searched and looked for an answer when I want to buy the best beginner ukulele.
After spending a lot of time on in-depth researching by visiting forums, blogs, and other official uke sites,
I reached a conclusion that there are 3 factors make a quality ukulele. They include brand, materials, and strings.
1# Best ukulele brands for beginners:
As for brands, you can’t go wrong with Kala, Luna, Cordoba, Oscar Schmidt, Lanikai.
Personally, I prefer Kala because my first ukulele is Kala KA-T (bought it 2 years ago) and it has still worked well.
2# Acoustic ukulele vs. Acoustic-Electric ukulele?
Personally, I think both acoustic ukulele and acoustic-electric ukulele are good for beginners as well as experienced players, just a matter of price and quality.
The acoustic-electric ukulele is equipped with EQ and/or pick up that help you play through an amplifier as well as recording easily.
I mean acoustic-electric ukulele is suitable for performing on stage or in clubs.
3# Best wood for ukulele: Solid wood vs. Laminated wood vs. Plastic?
Most of the best ukulele is made from solid-wood and its price is over $100. The benefit of solid wood is the sound will be better over time if you play regularly.
The ukulele is made from laminated wood is less affected by temperature and moisture than the solid ones.
That means it is more durable and becomes a popular choice for beginners as a result. Plus, the price of these ukuleles is very reasonable.
With around $50 to $100, you have many options for a good quality uke to start your passion.
Remember: There are so many cheap ukuleles which are made from plastic. Most of them are just toys for kids rather than real
3# The best strings for ukulele: nylgut vs. titanium vs. traditional nylon or PVDF?
The ukulele strings have an enormous effect on the uke’s sound/tone. There are three main kinds of uke strings: nylgut, titanium, and nylon.
So which one is the best for ukulele? It depends on your taste, in the table below I’ll list down all the characteristics of each on.
What about the best brand of ukulele strings? Aquila and D’Addario are popular choices of most ukers in the world.
I have played with both brand and I feel that:
- Aquilar’s strings are a bit lower in tension and a little bit warmer.
- D’addario’s strings are a bit higher in tension, thicker feeling and a little more bright
Note: Each set of ukulele-string-size will best suit to individual ukulele type. For example, you do not use soprano-ukulele-strings for tenor-ukulele-strings and some things like that.
The last words
In my opinion, if you are beginners, a good choice is the soprano, concert and tenor uke rather than the baritone ukulele.
Because they are easier to learn, easier to get started on, and you can go a long way with them.
“Everyone should have and play the ukulele. It is one instrument you can’t play without a laugh!” – George Harrison.
