Here are three common mistakes I see many people make when shopping for their first ukulele.
1) Spending too little
You don’t have to go crazy when budgeting for your first ukulele, but it’s important to know that there’s a huge difference in quality between a $25 uke and a $75 uke.
It’s tempting to save a few bucks on your first uke and buy something cheap, but you may be setting yourself up for disappointment.
Inexpensive ukes often have poor playability, bad tone, and just generally aren’t fun to play! If you want to give yourself a fighting chance, save up for something over $50.
Read my article on ukulele prices to learn what you can expect at different ukulele price ranges.
2) Not learning about ukulele sizes
Many people end up buying a soprano ukulele because it’s often the first thing that pops up first in Amazon and Google searches.
There’s nothing wrong with soprano ukes, but it’s good to know that there are two other popular sizes: concert and tenor.
These larger sizes have a larger, fuller tone and may be easier to play for people with larger hands.
Before you buy, be sure to check out my post on ukulele sizes.
3) Buying based on looks
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a cool-looking ukulele, but if you’re not careful you could end up with a cool-looking piece of junk.
Many ukes that have crazy colors and designs are often very low quality and not worth your money. Be especially wary of what I call “cash grab” products featuring characters from popular movies and cartoons.
Do your homework and try to put quality, tone, and playability ahead of appearance. My guide on how to shop for a ukulele is a good starting point.
