Oscar Schmidt OU5 Koa Concert Ukulele

How To Choose A Good Ukulele

A good Ukulele (pronounced OOHKa-lay-LEE, not YOU-KA-LAYLEE), is usually made of either koa wood (native to Hawaii), mahogany or spruce. How to choose?
The best are solid wood bodies with geared tuner pegs and after that you can get excellent, but more affordable models in laminated woods. For a more unique appearance, you can buy one made of "spalted" woods, which is a naturally formed grain patterns in the wood or engraved designs.
Finish matters as well; a glossy or satin finish will produce a slightly more mellow or "richer" sound than a natural finish, for example. Choose a manufacturer who has a long history of quality in instrument making, preferably with a good guarantee.
Ukuleles come in 4 standard body types, ranging from smallest to largest: Soprano, Concert, Tenor and Baritone. Some manufactures also make a "pineapple" and a cutaway shape. Fender, for example makes a koa wood model with their signature one sided peg head. You can also find some with a slightly wider neck or greater space between the strings (Oscar Schmidt) to help those with larger hands to finger the chords more easily, as well as some with built in pick ups for amplified sound.
Standard uke's are 4 string, but you can find 5, 6 and 8 stringed as well.
Please understand that I am not recommending a "toy". You can find very cheap (in not just the price) soprano type uke's for sale that are just that, toys. They produce no better than a "plinking" sound and the strings do not hold their tuning (even after the "breaking in" period which is normal for most stringed instruments). So, plan on spending at least $60 at a minimum for the least expensive model on then on up for the better quality in materials and sound produced. If you are a beginner, or giving one to a beginner as a gift, you should also get a learning book/DVD/CD at the same time, or a "bundle" that has everything to get playing right away.
When you get your ukulele, you want to tune it properly. Note: new stringed instruments that you buy online generally need to be set up, and tuned. A 4 string is tuned (open) GCEA: "A" being the bottom string and G the top if you are a right hand player. A uke tuner is inexpensive and a great investment, so I recommend you get one when you buy your ukulele. Most stringed instuments will lose their tune at first until the strings "settle in", but it should not take long, and if you have geared tuners the time should be brief that you have to readjust the tuning.
Chord charts are available for free all over the internet, and many are printable, although many instruments come with a basic chart. Practice your chords over and over while strumming with your index finger and thumb together as if you were holding a pick. Use you fingernail to hit the strings in the down motion and the side of your thumb on the upward motion. For best sound, contact the strings at where the neck meets the body. As soon as you are comfortable strumming and sequencing the chords, you can start playing songs, and singing along. It's a lot of fun, especially when you have other people to play or sing with.

Setting Up And Tuning A New Ukulele

When you get your ukulele, you want to tune it properly. Note: new stringed instruments that you buy online generally need to be set up, and tuned. A 4 string is tuned (open) GCEA: "A" being the bottom string and G the top if you are a right hand player. A uke tuner is inexpensive and a great investment, so I recommend you get one when you buy your ukulele. Most stringed instuments will lose their tune at first until the strings "settle in", but it should not take long, and if you have geared tuners the time should be brief that you have to tune it often. The the right is a good little instruction video that should help you.
Chord charts are available for free all over the internet, and many are printable, although many instruments come with a basic chart. Practice your chords over and over while strumming with your index finger and thumb together as if you were holding a pick. Use you fingernail to hit the strings in the down motion and the side of your thumb on the upward motion. For best sound, contact the strings at where the neck meets the body. As soon as you are comfortable strumming and sequencing the chords, you can start playing songs, and singing along. It's a lot of fun, especially when you have other people to play or sing with.
Some brands ship their instruments with the bridge not set in place for fear of damage in shipment.

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Beginner Ukulele's On A Budget

Learning Tips For The Beginner

Check Out Our Other Stringed Instrument Sites:
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