The uniqueness of the ukulele has lured many people in learning how to play this tiny instrument, and beginner ukulele brands are always in demand. The good thing about these types of ukuleles is that they are designed to fit new ukulele players. They are easy to handle, and most are easy on the budget.
Most music stores, whether online or in-store, carry ukuleles. While not all of them may have the most advanced versions, they definitely have the brands that offer the simplest features. In choosing a beginner ukulele, one must always remember that being simple and affordable does not necessarily equate to low quality. Know your options and assess well what is most suitable for your playing ability.
What To Consider in Buying a Beginner’s Ukulele?
Learning to play a new instrument is exciting as you can create music through your fingers, and the sound of the ukulele never fails to make anyone smile. To encourage beginners to continue learning, here are things that you need to consider when choosing your first ukulele.
Affordability and Quality
These two may not go hand in hand, but if you have the patience to browse over your choices, you may find a high-quality ukulele without breaking the bank. Due to the electronic way of selling musical instruments these days, there is a wide array of options available. The internet helps even the most analytical buyer end up with the best ukulele for beginners matching your budget limit.
Beginner Ukulele Starter Kits
Since ukuleles are popular instruments with the young and old, ukulele manufacturers offer beginner ukulele starter kits. These kits are specially bundled with the necessary things a new ukulele player would need. Aside from the instrument itself, easy lessons are included, a tuner, tips on caring for it, and a storage bag. Most of these kits come with an affordable price tag. However, not all starter kits offer the same bundle.
Comfort and Size
A beginner can never know which ukulele size would be most comfortable as it comes with experience, but generally, if you have smaller hands, the standard soprano ukulele is most suitable, but if you have bigger hands, it is best to check out a concert-size or baritone ukulele as they have bigger fretboards that would give the player a wider space to work with.
Best Beginners’ Ukulele Brands
1) Cordoba
In the world of stringed instruments, Cordoba has been manufacturing guitars and ukuleles for over 20 years now. It has been founded by Tim Micklaucic back in 1997 and is regarded as an innovator when it comes to using nylon strings. His main designer for his stringed instruments is the popular classical guitarist Pepe Romero Jr., who later focused on creating the best ukuleles.
His brand offers ukuleles for beginners up to the medium-range players. Since they are known to have been producing great quality guitars, they also used the same method and material as they started manufacturing ukuleles.
An excellent example of their brand would be the Cordoba 15CM-E. Do not be deceived by the classic design as it also offers great tone and resonance as well as volume without sacrificing clarity. The price tag is a bit higher than most beginner ukuleles but the quality would ensure the instrument will not only sound great but would last longer than the others especially when properly cared for.
2) Donner
Donner started creating quality stringed instruments in 2012 with its reputable guitars before adding ukulele on their product list. They may not have a rich history as compared to other musical instrument manufacturers but they take pride in producing quality options to musicians. Donner has different types of ukuleles including affordable, less than $100 simple ones with no-frill designs and excellent finish that are suitable for beginners and also for advanced players that are looking for electric bass ukuleles.
3) Enya
Enya is a fairly new ukulele brand in the market with headquarters in Hong Kong but has gained global appreciation from both new and advanced ukulele players. While they are more popularly known as ukulele makers, the company also produces guitars under a different label, Amari. Its innovative design captured the hearts of many musicians. Aside from the ukulele starter kits for beginners, they also made hybrid musical instruments such as “Guitarlele” and the “U-Guitar.” It is a combination of a guitar and ukulele, which is more like small versions of acoustic guitars that mimic the design of the ukuleles.
While the guitar line is mostly available in China, the Enya ukulele X1 series has been a favorite around the world as the company uses a special kind of material such as HPL or high-pressure laminates in creating the instruments. Enya offers ukuleles in four sizes, such as soprano, tenor, baritone, and concert, which are uniquely designed. Someone’s interest will be piqued enough to play a fancy pineapple-shaped ukulele.
4) Hricane
Another ukulele brand that is popular for new players is the Hricane. While the brand offers a limited range of ukuleles, it has given time and resources to create these tiny instruments suitable for beginners. The great thing about Hricane is that its ukuleles do not come with a high price tag but did not skimp on quality features. The brand also offers different sizes that were made with different materials. One of them is the traditional Hawaiian wood called Koa, which gives it a classic ukulele sound.
5) Mahalo
Most experienced ukulele players started playing the instrument using the Mahalo ukulele. It is the top-selling ukulele brand in the musical instrument industry, and arguably the most played ukulele in the world. It is not surprising as the Mahalo brand has a diverse range of ukuleles. They offer high-quality colorful ukuleles even for beginners, while other manufacturers would only offer innovative designs on its intermediate and advanced ukers.
The company promised to deliver real ukuleles with dependable tuner pegs for easy tuning but with an accompanying entry-level price tag that attracted budding ukulele players around the world from all ages. They are manufactured originally in China but now have a factory in Indonesia and are committed to using wood from renewable forest areas.
6) Pomaikai
The only reason this brand was on the list was due to its very affordable price. If one is looking for the highest quality, skip this brand. This brand can be considered one of the top ukulele brands for beginners because most of them are under the $50 bracket, which is very suitable for those who are still not sure if they are going to pursue playing the instrument seriously.
Most of their designs are geared to attract children who may want to play the ukulele but aren’t that serious yet. The price may be low, and it may not be as sturdy as what other brands may offer, but they are still well made.
7) Sawtooth
Sawtooth ukuleles have been getting popular in the market recently as the designs are specifically geared toward beginners. They produce mellow quality sound that would encourage new players to continue learning how to play the instrument. These affordable tiny instruments come with intricate etchings around the sound holes that make them fancy-looking entry-level ukuleles.
These small details have worked to their advantage as new players would want something looking great to play with. The only downside is that strings are not that great, and you could request to restring it using reputable string brands, which are aplenty in any music store.
Most Ukulele FAQs
How Much Should I Spend in A Beginners’ Ukulele?
When it comes to any musical instrument, the budget limitation should always be the buyer’s choice. Priorities differ in many ways with different people. Whether you have the money to spare or not, it is always wise to look for several ukulele brands that were specifically designed for beginners before making the ultimate choice. It is highly recommended to never spend too much on it if it is just for short-term use. You can always upgrade later on.
Conclusion: Which Ukulele Is Best for Beginners?
Most seasoned ukulele players would tell you that there is no such thing as the best ukulele type for beginners. The most popular type would be the soprano ukulele, as it is the most affordable one that is available in the market today, and it produces a bright tone that encourages new players to learn more. People with bigger hands might find it a little bit hard to handle. Other types, such as tenor and concert ukuleles, are also viable options. It would be best to leave the baritone ukuleles to intermediate and advanced players.
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