Aloha, friends. These are my personal picks for best “first ukuleles.” Pricing begins at $39 and goes up to $118. I have strummed them all, own two, and can recommend each of them for quality and sound.
Of course, the $39 Waterman (decent plastic construction reminiscent of the old Maccaferri Islander’s and perfect for younger strummers) will not sound quite as nice as the $99 Luna Tattoo (lovely, warm sounds from this pretty inked girl). But, for the money, each of the ukes below will serve you nicely as you begin strumming.
(Note: Though marketed as an electric ukulele, the Eleuke is my favorite for quiet practice. I leave it unplugged when I don’t want to wake up the house!)
A couple of things to consider: Size matters. And it’s all about comfort and fit. If you’re a big man with large hands, a tenor or baritone uke will probably suit you. If you’re looking to buy for a child, the soprano is a perfect fit. Ladies tend to prefer soprano and concert ukuleles. Take a peek at the chart below to help determine which ukulele is right for you.