Are you interested in learning an instrument but don't know where to start? Maybe you're worried that learning an instrument will be too difficult or time-consuming? If this sounds like you, don't worry! There are plenty of instruments that are easy to learn, even for beginners, but there’s only one that truly ticks every box for us, and that’s the ukulele. The best beginner ukuleles are inexpensive, simple to learn and offer that instant gratification that will keep you coming back to it, and most of all they’re extremely good fun.
In this guide, we’ll show you our expert picks of the best ukuleles for beginners. From inexpensive models designed to be taken anywhere, to more serious models for the committed learner. Whatever your playing level and budget, we’ve got a beginner ukulele with your name written on it.
If you want to read more in-depth buying advice, head to the bottom of the guide. If you'd rather get straight to the products, then keep scrolling.
Best beginner ukuleles: MusicRadar's choice
If there’s one thing the music world isn’t short of, it’s cheap ukuleles. And, as you’ll discover as you embark on your playing journey, cheap often means sacrificing sound or playability. In this guide, however, we’ve demonstrated that there is value to be found for ukulele beginners.
For total beginners, kids and those with smaller hands, the Kala KA15S is a great choice. Its construction and tone put it above the ‘novelty’ bracket, yet its still keenly priced and will provide a solid entry point to learning the ukulele.
The Mahalo Kahiko Series is inexpensive, yet still delivers in all the ways a learner would want. If you’re looking for something a little higher in the quality stakes, then we can highly recommend the Tanglewood TWT 4, which leans on the brand’s expertise in the acoustic guitar world to deliver an instrument which will provide years of fun without breaking the bank.
Best beginner ukuleles: Product guide
Chances are, if you’ve seen a cheap and cheerful ukulele out in the wild, it’s a Mahalo. The ubiquitous little instruments are, for many, the easiest and quickest way into learning the ukulele. The Mahalo Kahiko Series MK1 is cheap enough to be accessible for most people, yet it offers the same playing experience as instruments costing far more.
As your playing progresses, you’ll likely want to upgrade to something that offers a touch more finesse and class. But, as a starter for ten, you can’t go far wrong with the basic Mahalo model, our top pick for the best beginner’s ukulele.
A step above the bargain entry-level models sits the Kala KA-15S. This one takes the basic outline of those cheaper beginner ukuleles and improves on them in every way. We loved the mahogany body which, with its satin-smooth finish, was a joy to handle.
The choice of mahogany is a sound one, as it balances out the high end of the tone nicely, making for a more rounded, mellow voice ideal for strumming. For us, this is the best beginner’s ukulele for anyone looking to commit to learning all the intricacies of these fun little instruments.
Read the full Kala KA-15S review
For something slightly different, the Cordoba 15CM Concert is well worth considering. It differs from a standard soprano in a couple of ways, notably in larger, more rounded body shape and in the slightly larger scale length. This enables it to deliver a larger, richer tonality that suits alternative playing techniques without losing that inherent playability of a ukulele.
The Cordoba 15CM Concert beginner’s ukulele is constructed from mahogany and with a rosewood fingerboard, elevating above the cheaper models. This makes it a decidedly grown-up instrument you’ll get years of enjoyment from.
As the largest of the ukulele family, the baritone models deliver a deeper, richer tonality and, as such, as well-suited to playing in conjunction with others as part of a ukulele band. In this situation, the increased low-end complements the higher-pitched soprano models to create a wonderful balance.
The Kala MK-B is an ideal first baritone model. For under $/£100 you get a mahogany body and walnut fingerboard which work together to deliver great tones and reliability build quality. We’d have liked something other than plastic at the bridge, but for the money this is one of the best beginner ukuleles around.
While some of the brands on this list are specialist ukulele manufacturers, Tanglewood is better known for its pedigree in the world of acoustic guitars. The Tanglewood TWT 4 shows off its heritage, with a superbly well-made concert uke that shows off the benefits of the classic spruce/mahogany combo in its build.
Being a concert-style uke, the TWT 4 is slightly larger, which would make it ideal for an adult learner, and it’s priced extremely sensibly too for the levels of quality you get for the money.
While it’s easy to equate ‘beginner’ with ‘cheap’, it doesn’t have to be the case. Not everyone learning the ukulele is a kid, and sometimes adults want nice things, right? The Fender Fullerton Stratocaster uke is a frankly gorgeous instrument which brings a smile to the face. It takes inspiration from Fender’s most famous guitar line, and transposes everything down into an attractive, concert-voiced ukulele with style.
The Fullerton Strat features a built-in pre-amp so you can plug it into a guitar amp for extra versatility, while its mahogany and spruce body ensures great projection when playing acoustically. It’s not cheap, sure, but there’s a lot to be said for your first uke being one you can’t keep your eyes off.
The Ibanez UEW5 is a neat concert-voiced ukulele designed to encourage you away from simple chord work. The body features a cutaway segment which opens up the higher frets for access, meaning you can comfortably navigate your way around the fretboard with ease.
This makes the UEW5 a great first ukulele for guitar players, who can translate and transpose licks they know onto the uke, but the general high levels of build and tonality make this a great option for any beginner.
It might be easy to dismiss the Epiphone Les Paul Soprano ukulele as a gimmick, but spend some time with one and you’ll see it’s actually a superb little instrument almost in spite of its quirky looks.
We particularly liked the mahogany body, which gives a real depth to the tone, while the under-saddle piezo pickup means it’ll project itself brilliantly when you’re plugged in.
You’ll possibly be drawn to this uke - or not - because of the way it looks, but even if you’re not a Les Paul fan there’s a lot to like here.
As the slightly larger brother of the other Cordoba in the list, we wanted to highlight some of the benefits of choosing a tenor uke over a smaller concert or soprano model. The Cordoba 15TM is the respected ukulele brand’s entry-level tenor model, and delivers high levels of build quality and a tone that far exceeds what you’d expect at this price point.
Tenor ukes are ideal for older learners (with larger hands) as they can be more forgiving, especially when you’re learning. You’ll find chords easier to fret and the larger body projects a warmer, richer tone which is great for learning simple patterns before you progress to more intricate techniques. In the Cordoba 15TM, there exists a highly playable, great sounding alternative to the smaller soprano models.
Who’s to say a ukulele can’t be as attractive as a high-end acoustic guitar? The Kala Teak Tri-Top is, as far as ukuleles go, quite the picture. The combination of teak, a grainy dark wood from Southeast Asia, with lesser-known woods for the neck and fingerboard make for a visually stunning uke, make no mistake.
The Tri-Top also boasts onboard electronics, so you can amplify the sound for performances, making this an all-round package which – for the price – is pretty hard to beat. We’ve highlighted the tenor version here but there’s also a smaller concert version for those who prefer something dinkier.
Best beginner ukuleles: Buying advice
How much should I spend on a beginner ukulele?
When choosing a beginner ukulele, there are a few things you should keep in mind. People often look first to their budget, which makes the ukulele such an attractive option for many. Basically, ukuleles can range in price from around $/£50 to $/£500. If you are just starting out, you may want to choose a less expensive model, and that’s fine. However, if you are serious about learning to play the ukulele, you may want to expand your search to include factors like build quality, sound and whether it can be amplified or not.
With pricing you should also consider the quality of the ukulele. If you see a super-cheap ukulele, keep in mind that there’s probably a reason why it only costs $/£30. Decent quality ukuleles are made from a variety of materials, including mahogany, rosewood, and koa, each of which offers different benefits tonally and in their durability. Mahogany ukuleles are known for their warm, mellow sound, for example, while koa ukuleles tend to cost the most but have a beautifully balanced tone. There is no right or wrong answer here; try a few out for yourself and see which one feels, plays and sounds the best to you before purchasing.
What size ukulele should I buy?
Second, consider the size of the ukulele. They may look similar, but in reality there are four main types of ukuleles: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. Soprano ukuleles are the smallest and have the highest pitch, and tend to be the most inexpensive and therefore are the type found in schools everywhere. From there, in order, the concert, tenor and baritone ukuleles get progressively larger, and the pitch of their sound gets progressively lower.
The size of the ukulele you choose will depend on your personal preference and the type of music you want to play. Soprano ukuleles are a good choice for beginners because they are small and easy to hold, while concert and tenor ukuleles are a good choice for intermediate players who want a richer sound. Baritone ukuleles, on the other hand, are a good choice for players who want to play the ukulele like a guitar.
How we choose the best beginner ukuleles for this guide
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.
When choosing what we believe to be the best beginner ukuleles available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best beginner ukuleles on the market right now.
Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.
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