Buying a Ukulele Online

Thinking of getting a ukulele online? Here are a few tips!

1. Know what size to get. In the classes I teach, you will want a soprano or a concert ukulele. They are tuned and played the same way. The main difference is that a concert is a little bit bigger and has a little bit fuller sound than the soprano.
2. Read the reviews. Folks will be brutally honest about what they think of a particular instrument. Heed their experiences!
3. Don’t just go for appearance. Sure, you may want a pastel purple ukulele, but don’t sacrifice quality for color. Make sure the instrument you’re looking at has decent reviews and is, preferably, made of some kind of wood. If it checks out AND comes in the color you like, then you’re in luck. But if folks say it won’t stay in tune or that it’s more of a toy than an instrument, you will be frustrated with it, no matter how adorable it is.

I know that I risk this list becoming dated very quickly, but if I had to go and purchase a uke today for under $50 for a soprano ($70 for a starter kit) or $75 for a concert ($100 for a starter kit), here are my favorite options:

• Soprano Ukuleles
  • Mahalo Rainbow Series
  • Diamond Head DU-150
  • Mahalo Java Series
  • Mitchell MU40
• Soprano Starter Kits
  • Kala Makala Soprano Ukulele Pack
  • Cordoba Ukulele Player’s Pack
  • Donner DUS-1 Starter Kit
  • Hola! HM-121MG+ Soprano Starter Kit
  • Kmise Vintage Hawaiian Ukulele Kit
• Concert Ukuleles
  • Kala Makala Concert
  • Mitchell MU40C
• Concert Starter Kits
  • Donner DUC-1 Starter Kit
  • Lohanu LU-C Ukulele Bundle
  • Hola! HM-124KA+ Bundle