How to choose your first ukulele: sizes, wood and strings explained
TUREFF• •0
The ukulele is one of the friendliest instruments to start on: four nylon strings, a small neck and chords that need only one or two fingers. Choosing the first one is where people get stuck, because the shop wall is full of sizes and woods that look almost the same. Here is what actually matters.
The four common sizes
Ukuleles come in four main sizes. Exact measurements vary from maker to maker, so treat these as rough guides and check the scale length (the vibrating length of the string, from nut to saddle) listed for any instrument you look at.
- Soprano: the smallest and the classic sound, bright and plucky. Scale length is usually around 13 inches. The frets are close together, which suits small hands and can feel cramped for large ones.
- Concert: a little bigger, usually around 15 inches of scale. Slightly fuller sound and a bit more room between frets. A very common choice for a first ukulele.
- Tenor: around 17 inches of scale, deeper and louder, with more space for fingerpicking. Popular with players who already have large hands or plan to play solo pieces.
- Baritone: the largest, around 19 inches of scale, and tuned differently (D G B E, like the top four strings of a guitar). Lovely if you already play guitar, but most beginner songbooks and lessons assume the other three sizes, so it is rarely the best first choice.
If you are unsure, soprano or concert is the safe place to start. Hold several if you can: the right size is the one where reaching the first few frets feels relaxed rather than squeezed.
Laminate or solid wood?
The top of the instrument (the face with the sound hole) does most of the work in producing the sound.
- Laminate means thin layers of wood glued together, often with an attractive veneer on the outside. It is sturdy, copes well with changes in temperature and humidity, and is usually cheaper. Good for a first instrument, a travel ukulele or one that will live in a room with heating or air conditioning.
- Solid top means the top is one solid piece of wood (sometimes two matched pieces). It vibrates more freely and tends to sound richer, and many players say it opens up with age. It is more sensitive to dry air and knocks.
- All solid means the back and sides are solid too. Lovely, but more than a beginner needs.
A well-made laminate ukulele that has been set up properly will be more enjoyable than a badly set-up solid one.
Playability matters more than wood
Before worrying about wood, check these:
- Action: the height of the strings above the frets. Too high and every chord hurts and sounds out of tune further up the neck. Ask the shop whether the instrument has been set up.
- Intonation: tune the open strings, then play the note at the 12th fret. It should be the same note an octave higher. If it is noticeably sharp or flat, chords further up will be off too.
- Fret ends: run a hand along the edge of the neck. Sharp fret ends that catch your skin are a sign of rushed finishing.
- Tuners: they should turn smoothly and hold their pitch.
Buying from a shop that adjusts instruments before selling them, or that will let you return one, takes most of the risk out.
Strings
Ukulele strings are made from nylon or fluorocarbon and other synthetic materials. Fluorocarbon tends to sound brighter, nylon warmer; both are fine for learning. The cheap strings fitted at the factory are often the weakest part of an inexpensive instrument, so a fresh set can make a surprising difference.
You will also see high-G and low-G strings. Standard tuning uses a high G, which gives the ukulele its bright, jangly sound, and nearly every beginner lesson assumes it. Low-G replaces that string with a thicker one an octave lower; it is worth trying later, not first.
Nice to have, not essential
- A clip-on tuner or a tuning app
- A soft case or gig bag
- A strap if you find the instrument slips (many players use none)
- A simple chord chart for the wall
Tell us which size you chose and why, or ask about an instrument you are considering, in the comments.