Size IS Important!
The smallest
is a Soprano, then a Concert then a Tenor. Bigger again is a Baritone but it is
tuned differently and you will find it harder to learn if you are going to join
a uke-group and learn from watching and listening to other people – and that is
the way that is most fun. My advice – go
for a Concert. It sounds more mellow
than the smallest Soprano. It fits most
hands and the quality is often better.
Tuning Heads Frets and Buzzing
Always go
for geared tuners, not friction ones.
Friction tuners will slip and cause the uke to go out of tune
frequently. Feel the frets, are they
smooth on the edges? Strum the strings
and listen for any buzzing, something you definitely don’t want.
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| Geared Tuners |
Wood Type
Solid wood
ukes provide the best sound but they are more expensive. Mahogany, Koa, Acacia, Cedar, Maple, Mango
and Spruce are all types available. Some
less expensive ukes have a spruce top and cheaper again are the laminated
ones. Just go for the best you can
afford.
You Get What You Pay For
I would
suggest NOT going for the cheapest you can find as it will be hard to play and
will not keep tune. Reckon for up to £50 for a decent Concert.
Manufacturers
Good names are
Kamaka, Oscar Schmidt, Lanakai, Kala and Greg
Bennet. Mahalo are the mass producers of
very cheap ukuleles, whilst these are fun they are not the best.
Play Several Ukes
Before you
buy, try several different ones until you are happy with “the one”. After all you are going to be spending a lot
of time together!
Join A Ukulele Club
Playing with other
people is the fastest way to learn and will be great fun. You will make new friends, learn a new skill and lots of new songs.
Other Things You’ll Need
- Buy a clip-on electronic tuner – about £20 – much less on Ebay. It is not cheating, we all use them and your uke will sound vile if it is out of tune.
- Get good strings. Aquila, Alice or Martin are all good strings (under £10 a set) will make your uke sound like it cost hundreds of pounds not pennies. If you’re not sure about the strings on your new ukulele put some new ones on. If you buy the strings in a shop ask if they can put them on for you. Ask them to keep the packet for you – it will have instructions on how to bed them in. Buy two sets if you can afford it, in case you snap a string (not likely but possible).
- Buy a felt plectrum. You might or might not like to use it some or all of the time but you won’t know until you try – cheap.
- Buy a case for your uke if it doesn’t come with one. Some have shoulder straps like a rucksack, great for when you’re on the move. This is your new baby!!! Try not to roll over and squash it when you take it to bed!
- Strap for your uke. This is optional as many ukeists don’t hold with using one. They hold the uke in the crook of the elbow when playing. Me? I like waving my arms about, clapping and fiddling with my music etc so I definitely need one. Be very very careful when making the holes for the studs. Use a sharp bradawl. I once nearly ruined a brand new uke when the electric drill slipped -expensive! Better still get an expert to fit it for you or use a stick on hook and some ribbon described here. You can buy straps that fit round your neck, under the uke and hook into the sound hole. While these are OK - you can’t clap your hands!
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| Clap Hands! |
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