Checklist · 10 picks · 4 categories
Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it never decides a pick. How I make money
Affiliate link.
Want to play a song this week, not next year? Get a uke.
MusicRadar calls it the one instrument that ticks every box for beginners: cheap, simple to learn and seriously fun. Size is the big choice. Sopranos are the smallest and easiest to hold, concert and tenor ukes are bigger with a richer sound, and tenors are kinder to larger hands. MusicRadar also warns that a super-cheap uke is usually cheap for a reason, so don't grab the novelty one from the checkout aisle. Add a clip-on tuner; MusicRadar's picks work on ukes as well as guitars. A uke capo lets you change key without learning new shapes, and a fresh set of strings is the cheapest upgrade there is. Every pick comes from MusicRadar's guides, and each card shows the drawback it called out.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you want to strum full six-string chords; a beginner acoustic guitar is the better buy.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
Pick a budget to see your plan.
Your plan lives in this link. Copy it or email it to yourself so Safari doesn't forget it.
Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 30, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
0 of 2 on your list · tap one to see your options
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahalo Kahiko Series MK1 Soprano Ukulele | budget | $25-50 | finding out if uke is your thing | 1 outlet |
| Kala KA-15S Soprano Ukulele | mid | $50-100 | beginners ready to commit | 1 outlet |
| Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele | mid | $100-150 | a grown-up uke you'll keep for years | 1 outlet |
| Cordoba 15TM Tenor Ukulele | splurge | $100-150 | older learners with bigger hands | 1 outlet |
Best ukulelebudget pick · Soprano
Best for finding out if uke is your thing
MusicRadar's best beginner's ukulele overall: cheap enough for most people, yet it plays like instruments costing far more.
Heads up. Committed players will quickly outgrow it
1 outlet. MusicRadar best beginner's ukulele overall.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link. I may earn a commission at no cost to you.
mid pick · Soprano
Best for beginners ready to commit
MusicRadar's pick for beauty and build quality: a satin-smooth mahogany body with a rounded, mellow voice that's ideal for strumming.
Heads up. Not the cheapest way in
1 outlet. MusicRadar best beginner ukulele for beauty and build quality.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · Concert
Best for a grown-up uke you'll keep for years
MusicRadar's best beginner uke for concert voicing: a slightly bigger body and scale give a larger, richer tone without losing the easy playability.
Heads up. Extra finish options would be welcome
1 outlet. MusicRadar best beginner uke for concert voicing.
$100-150
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge pick · Tenor
Best for older learners with bigger hands
MusicRadar's best beginner's tenor ukulele from a respected brand: easier chords for larger hands and a warmer, richer tone.
Heads up. The plain finish is a bit boring
1 outlet. MusicRadar best beginner's tenor ukulele.
$100-150
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best clip-on tunerbudget pick · Clip-on
Best for a cheap, reliable first tuner
MusicRadar's best clip-on tuner on a budget: a no-frills, reliable tuner that handles the basics with swift tracking.
Heads up. Not exactly discreet on your headstock
1 outlet. MusicRadar best clip-on tuner on a budget.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget pick · Clip-on
Best for leaving a tuner clipped on full time
MusicRadar's best discreet clip-on tuner: small, with a bright, easily readable display, and easy to leave on for good.
Heads up. Some players may prefer a larger screen
1 outlet. MusicRadar best discreet clip-on tuner.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best capomid pick · Ukulele
Best for changing key without retuning
MusicRadar's best capo for ukulele players: light, low profile and adjustable, so you can set just enough tension for your uke's neck.
Heads up. Needs two hands to fit and remove
1 outlet. MusicRadar best capo for ukulele players.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquila Nylgut Ukulele Strings | budget | under $15 | the biggest upgrade for the least effort | 1 outlet |
| Dean Markley 8500 Soprano Ukulele Strings | budget | under $15 | a cheap first restring | 1 outlet |
| Martin M600 Ukulele Strings | mid | under $15 | a brighter sound that holds its tuning | 1 outlet |
Best ukulele stringsbudget pick · 1 set
Best for the biggest upgrade for the least effort
MusicRadar's best ukulele strings overall: the right balance of tone, playability and durability, with an instant leap in tone once fitted.
Heads up. Some may prefer ball-end strings
1 outlet. MusicRadar best ukulele strings overall.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget pick · Soprano
Best for a cheap first restring
MusicRadar's best ukulele strings on a budget: a good quality nylon set that feels great and beats the tired strings your uke came with.
Heads up. May lose brightness quickly
1 outlet. MusicRadar best ukulele strings on a budget.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · 1 set
Best for a brighter sound that holds its tuning
MusicRadar's best ukulele strings from a major acoustic brand: fluorocarbon that feels good, stays in tune and sounded terrific once fitted.
Heads up. Slippy to restring
1 outlet. MusicRadar best ukulele strings from a major acoustic brand.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
MusicRadar says sopranos are a good choice for beginners because they're small and easy to hold. Concert and tenor ukes are bigger with a richer sound, and it suggests a tenor like the Cordoba 15TM for older learners with larger hands.
Not a lot, but not the bare minimum either. MusicRadar notes that a super-cheap uke is probably cheap for a reason, and its top beginner pick, the Mahalo Kahiko MK1, is an inexpensive model that still plays like pricier ones.
Yes. MusicRadar explains that ukulele strings come in specific lengths for soprano, concert, tenor and baritone, and doesn't recommend cutting longer strings down because they can fray. Check your uke's size before you buy.