So...What do you need?
There are four basic kinds of ukulele
Soprano – Really small with a happy piercing sound
Concert – Medium sized with that traditional uke sound
Tenor – Larger still with a similar sound to the concert. Can be tuned or strung differently for a more mellow tone.
Baritone – Larger still, almost like a small guitar and actually tuned just like a guitar (Not recommended for these courses)
So which one is for you? Whatever you feel happiest with, but most beginners find it easier to learn on a Tenor or Concert size ukulele. For some people the width of the neck and frets are a deciding factor and if they have big fingers, they often plump for the larger size ukuleles.
Ukuleles vary significantly in price anywhere from about £20 to £800 so there really is a very wide choice available. If you buy a very inexpensive ukulele it is worth keeping in mind, they are invariably difficult to keep in tune, and owners often have to change the factory supplied strings for a set of premium quality strings (usually between £6 and £10). Reasonable quality ukuleles can be bought for anything between £40 and £90 and you should consider these first.
And remember - Ukuleles are real musical instruments - you can often sell a quality instrument for close to its original price when you are ready to upgrade . Any ukulele from £100 upwards tends to be of excellent quality, using solid woods (rather than laminates) with the rarity and quality of woods, craftsmanship and detail, dictating the price.
Tuners
You will need a Chromatic tuner so that you can tune the strings of your ukulele regularly. Get a clip on type that just clips to your Ukulele's headstock. There are hundreds of tuners available and expect to pay anywhere between £6 and £12.
Soprano – Really small with a happy piercing sound
Concert – Medium sized with that traditional uke sound
Tenor – Larger still with a similar sound to the concert. Can be tuned or strung differently for a more mellow tone.
Baritone – Larger still, almost like a small guitar and actually tuned just like a guitar (Not recommended for these courses)
So which one is for you? Whatever you feel happiest with, but most beginners find it easier to learn on a Tenor or Concert size ukulele. For some people the width of the neck and frets are a deciding factor and if they have big fingers, they often plump for the larger size ukuleles.
Ukuleles vary significantly in price anywhere from about £20 to £800 so there really is a very wide choice available. If you buy a very inexpensive ukulele it is worth keeping in mind, they are invariably difficult to keep in tune, and owners often have to change the factory supplied strings for a set of premium quality strings (usually between £6 and £10). Reasonable quality ukuleles can be bought for anything between £40 and £90 and you should consider these first.
And remember - Ukuleles are real musical instruments - you can often sell a quality instrument for close to its original price when you are ready to upgrade . Any ukulele from £100 upwards tends to be of excellent quality, using solid woods (rather than laminates) with the rarity and quality of woods, craftsmanship and detail, dictating the price.
Tuners
You will need a Chromatic tuner so that you can tune the strings of your ukulele regularly. Get a clip on type that just clips to your Ukulele's headstock. There are hundreds of tuners available and expect to pay anywhere between £6 and £12.