Do you want to purchase a ukulele?

These small instruments from Hawaii are becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. They are beautiful instruments that are fun and easy to learn how to play. However, it might be confusing to know where to start. There are a lot of different options out there, so it’s easy to lose track. This article will help guide you to find a ukulele that’s perfect for you!

Check out our selection of ukuleles!

WOULD YOU RATHER WATCH A VIDEO ON THE TOPIC? CLICK HERE TO VIEW (in Dutch):

What are the different types of ukuleles?

There are four basic types of ukulele: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. The soprano is the smallest of the four and is also the most traditional type of ukulele. Its small size gives it a sparkling sound. If you’re looking for a traditional ukulele, this is the ideal choice. Its only downside is that it might be too small for some to play comfortably, which is why it’s a good idea to try one out before you buy it. However, this won’t be much of an issue for most people.

Soprano

The most popular soprano ukulele for beginners is the Kala MK-S. This soprano by Kala might not be very expensive, but it is high quality and comes with a bag. If you’re looking for a cheaper model, the Tanglewood TWT1 is another great option.

Concert

Next up, the concert ukulele. This type is the most popular. They are slightly bigger than the soprano which gives them a fuller and warmer sound. It is perfect for those who would like a slightly larger model but still want that authentic ukulele sound. The space between the frets is a bit wider, which means there is more room for your fingers.

Our most popular concert ukulele is the Kala KA-C. Kala is one of the biggest ukulele brands in the world, and for good reason. The Tanglewood TWT4 is a more affordable alternative.

Tenor

If a concert ukulele is still slightly too small for you, you might want to consider a tenor ukulele. This type is a size up from the concert ukulele. Its large body provides it with an even louder and warmer sound. Although the consensus is that the tenor doesn’t sound as authentic as the first two. This means tenor ukuleles aren’t usually used for traditional ukulele playing, yet this doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Moreover, its size makes it the most comfortable ukulele to play for most people.

The most popular tenor ukulele in our selection is the Tanglewood TWT19, which is made from a special wood and looks beautiful up close. A cheaper alternative would be the Kala MK-T.

Baritone

After the tenor, there is the baritone. This is the largest and most special type of ukulele. It doesn’t have the standard ukulele strings, but the four highest strings of a guitar (DGBE), instead. This makes the baritone ideal for musicians who already know how to play the guitar. One downside is that it doesn’t sound like a regular ukulele, but more like a small guitar. This means some people don’t actually consider a ukulele, but for guitarists, it’s ideal since you won’t have to learn any new chords.

The most popular baritone ukulele we offer is the beautiful Tanglewood TWT20.

Types of wood

What’s next? The construction and the materials are actually quite important, as well. Every type of wood produces its own sound and so the choice of wood fully depends on taste. You can check out an elaborate explanation of different tonewoods here, but here is a concise summary of the most popular wood types for ukuleles:

Mahogany: This is one of the most popular woods for constructing ukuleles and for good reason. Mahogany isn’t too heavy, has a loud projection and a warm sound.

Ovangkol: This wood type is relatively unknown, but this doesn’t mean it’s less suitable for ukuleles. Ovangkol is a West-African tonewood and a great alternative for rosewood. Ovangkol has a versatile sound that fits nearly every genre of music.

Walnut: Walnut is quite a commonly used wood for ukuleles. It’s relatively heavy, but it has a beautiful appearance. It’s generally known for its pretty and bright sound.

Spruce: Spruce is most commonly used for the tops of western guitars. This is because this wood is very dense and gives the guitar and full and powerful sound. This makes spruce a popular wood in the construction of ukuleles as well.

Ebony: This luxurious wood is quite popular for acoustic guitars, predominantly for fretboards. Nowadays, it’s becoming more popular for ukuleles. The sound ebony produces is rather full and warm.

Semi-acoustic ukulele

Another important thing to consider is whether you like to play amplified. Amplifying a ukulele is important if you’re in a band or if you want to record the instrument. Subsequently, we offer both ukuleles with and without pickups. Popular semi-acoustic ukuleles include the Tanglewood TWT12E and the Tanglewood TWT14E.

Special ukuleles

Of course, not all ukuleles are made in the same way. For example, there are a few distinctive models that sound and/or are constructed just a bit differently. This often pertains to combinations between instruments, such as the banjo ukulele, or ukuleles made for specific purposes. The banjo ukulele is actually a small banjo with ukulele strings; such as the Goldtone BU-1. Another popular model is the Kala Jazz Ukulele. This tenor ukulele is inspired by old jazz guitars from the 1950s and ‘60s. The wood is bent, which helps to deliver a harder and fuller sound. The electronic pickup also allows you to play it amplified, like a real jazz guitar.

Ukulele accessories

There are also a few accessories that can make playing this instrument even more fun or versatile.

Strings

This is the most important accessory. Maybe it shouldn’t even be considered an accessory, as it’s a necessity for playing a string instrument. The strings are what produce the sound; the vibrations of the strings resonate in the hollow body of the ukulele. It’s also important to take good care of them. We advise everyone to replace the strings on their ukulele every six months. But what are the best strings for you? The most well-known string brand for ukuleles is Aquila. These handmade strings sound rich and clear and are used globally by many professional ukulele players. Here, you can find Aquila strings for the soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles. A popular alternative is Ernie Ball. Ernie Ball is mostly known for its guitar and bass strings but also produces good strings for the ukulele. They make two variants: black coloured strings and clear nylon strings. These strings are one size fits all, and can be used for all types of ukulele, except for the baritone.

Capo

There are a few popular songs that are difficult to play with the regular tuning. That’s why a capo is very useful to have. This small clamp can modify the tuning of your ukulele any way you want by shortening the strings. This means that you can play the same chords higher, which thus transforms them into different chords. Clamp it over any fret and these songs will be much easier to play. Click here to see our selection of ukulele capos.

Stand

When you finally have your ukulele, you’ll probably want to display it. So, instead of putting it away in a bag, you can place it on a stand that was specifically designed for it. There are two variants, a stand that you place on the floor or a wall mount you can fit on the wall. Both are suitable for all ukuleles.

Tuner

Another useful accessory is a tuner. A tuner is the most accurate method of tuning your instrument. These devices don’t record sound, but pick up the vibrations of your strings and can tune your instrument very precisely. This means you can use it in any (noisy) environment. Click here to see our selection of tuning devices.