What Is the Best Ukulele for Kids?

Finding the best ukulele for kids is not always an easy task. Working out the difference between a glamorized toy and a great first instrument can be harder than it looks.

However, the best ukuleles for kids will always be well-crafted, come with all the right accessories, and be extra durable to allow for it to withstand some punishment through practice and performance.

Like any first instrument, gifting a ukulele opens up a world of wonder for kids to explore. Whether it is pretending to be a rockstar or falling in love with music, it’s a great present for kids to receive.

It’s why finding the right ukulele is crucial if you want to embrace music early on in life. So just what is the best ukulele for kids out there today?

Revealing Our Candidates for the Best Ukulele for Kids

AKLOT Concert Ukulele

Should you want to invest in a child’s future in music, then the AKLOT Concert Ukulele is the perfect starting option. Their concert ukulele is particularly well-made as it has a mahogany body that is made in the same vein as proper guitars.

Adding to the craftsmanship, the ukulele comes with a reinforced neck and braced inner panels to give it extra rigidity and durability in any environment. All this not only makes it a ukulele that is built to last, but it also generates warm and rich tones as it played.

Pros:

Alongside this, the fretboard itself has been smoothed down to ensure no sharp edges occur anywhere on the piece. It means that little hands won’t get cut as they switch between the frets.

The strings also are set at a lower action too. This reduces the risk of strings snapping as you play the instrument time and time again.

Rounding things off, the headstock also has copper tuning keys helping the strings stay in tune for longer, reducing off-key notes being played after just a few goes. It’s a great first ukulele for young musicians to enjoy as they embark on a musical journey.

• Smooth edges all-round
• Reinforced body
• Holds tune well

Cons:

• No strap pins
• Notes don’t hold for very long

Kmise Soprano Ukulele

Few beginner ukuleles are as easy to play as the Kmise Soprano Ukulele. Kmise has put a lot of effort into tailoring this to younger players with the fully smoothed mahogany body, which is easy to hold and sports no sharp edges.

It’s extremely lightweight to hold as well, and comes with nylon strings that are soft to play as you pluck each one. There’s also a sturdy walnut fretboard that comes with rounded frets that are easy to grip and smooth to touch.

When it comes to the sounds themselves, the nylon strings produce a light and breezy tone that will be pleasant to hear all year round.

Not only is the ukulele easy to use, but it comes with a bunch of accessories to support young players to keep going after their first strum. The Kmise bundle includes a travel case, a spare set of strings and a tuner to help get everything set up to play either at home or school.

Pros:

• Smooth finish
• Lightweight
• Lots of accessories

Cons:

• A string can be too close to the edge of the fretboard
• Frets very close together

Enya Soprano Ukulele

Designed for the modern audience, the Enya Soprano Ukulele allows young players to get a modern take on an ancient instrument.

Sporting a carbon-fibre body, this ukulele is extremely durable, and can be played anywhere and everywhere. It generates a particularly light tone that is emphasized by small grooves on the centre of the body. The body also has a cutaway, making it easy for young children to reach all the frets without having to readjust their playing position. All this contributes to a sharp and dynamic look that few rivals can match.

To add to the modern design, the tuning heads are all gold-plated to give it a sleek look and hold everything in tune. The ukulele is also strung using fluorocarbon strings that are extremely durable and also water-resistant too. This makes Enya’s ukulele great for playing either down on the beach or just by the local pool.

Pros:

• Easy to reach frets
• Durable strings
• Eye-catching look

Cons:

• Difficult to tune
• Slightly tinny sound

WINZZ HAND RUBBED Concert Ukulele

When it comes to an all-around package, there are few ukuleles better than the WINZZ HAND RUBBED Concert Ukulele. The ukulele itself sports a larger concert body, but is still easy to hold and play. It comes with an array of different finishes with a bunch of bright colors to select from.

Alongside the unique finishes, the body is made from linden wood, which helps to generate plenty of light tones as it is strummed. Playing across the smooth surface also ensures that it is pleasant to play all day should you wish.

What makes the WINZZ ukulele stand out is what also comes with it. You will find the usual array of gear such as spare strings, a travel case and a strap. However, it provides one month of online lessons for novices to benefit from. This gives young players the chance to learn songs they know and get a greater appreciation for music as a whole.

Pros:

• Smooth finish
• Different finish options available
• Comes with online lessons

Cons:

• Plastic strings
• Tuner comes without batteries

Kala Learn To Play Ukulele Kit

Should you want a ukulele bundle that is authentic and covers all bases, then Kala’s Learn To Play Ukulele Kit is a great option to explore. The ukulele sports a full mahogany body that is not only durable, but generates great natural tones as it is played.

It also sports a great natural finish that looks fantastic, and showcases the craftsmanship of the instrument. There’s also a graphite lock that helps the strings stay in tune for longer.

When it comes to the accompanying bundle, Kala has put a lot of thought into what they have included in the package. It comes with a case and spare set of strings as expected, but there’s also a lot of media to help get a novice started.

This includes a tuning app to get everything sounding right, as well as access to tutorial videos to show them how to play. It’s a great media package that covers everything a young player would want to know.

Pros:

• Digital resources
• Sturdy body
• Holds tune well

Cons:

• Some issues with tuning pegs
• Lessons only covered by a week’s trial

Havendi Ukulele

Sporting some great natural looks, a lot of thought has been put into the development of Havendi’s Soprano Ukulele. Crafted from a mahogany/sapele body, the sounds generated by the ukulele are light and suit songs of all genres.

It is also very lightweight, making it easy to transport no matter if you want to play it at home, school, or at the beach. You will find that is laced with nylon strings that are soft to play, and accentuate the light tones generated by the instrument.

Not only does it sound great, but it also sports chromed-plated tuning keys. This helps the strings stay in tune for longer and allow kids to play it for hours before needing to be re-tuned. The ukulele also comes with a protective case making it easy to transport when going between home and school.

Pros:

• Sturdy body
• Great natural finish
• Easy to transport

Cons:

• No spare accessories
• No customization options

Vangoa Soprano Ukulele

Designed with plenty of thought in mind, there are only a few ukuleles that are easy to play quite like Vangoa’s Soprano Ukulele. With a fully smoothed and rounded mahogany body, the ukulele is easy to hold at any angle, and can be played for hours on end.

It also has a large and rounded acoustic hole to project sounds louder and promote the light, airy tones of the ukulele. Add in all the patterns and details across the body, and it showcases a finely-crafted instrument.

On top of that, Vangoa has put a lot of thought into the overall durability of the instrument too. This includes the use of nylon strings and a walnut bridge to enhance the quality as you play the ukulele. Furthermore, the tuning pegs are sealed and locked to prevent dust or dirt from affecting the strings’ overall sound and ability to stay in tune.

Pros:

• Well-crafted
• Smooth to hold
• Great sound projection

Cons:

• Poor travel case
• Difficult to tune

What to Look for In the Best Ukulele for Kids?

When it comes to finding the best ukulele for kids, there are some things to keep an eye out for. After all, these can make a huge difference in how much enjoyment kids get from playing their instrument. This includes basic aspects such as:

• Build Quality
• Overall Feel
• Accompaniments

So how do these components affect a kid’s enjoyment of playing a ukulele?

Build Quality

The main difference between a working ukulele and a toy is relatively simple. It’s all about the build quality. Whereas cheap toys are often made from plastic or cheap wood such as plywood or MDF, ukuleles are not.

When you look at some of the best ukuleles for kids out there, you will find that the body is made from legitimate tonewoods such as mahogany or sapele. This not only generates a better sound, but also helps them hear the differences between strings.

It also showcases how well the ukulele stays in tune after it is initially set up. Most toy ukuleles will come with plastic keys that snap the strings if wound too tight. A higher quality instrument will have plated or fully metal tuning keys that will tense the string to the right action, allowing for it to be tuned correctly. This will hold for days without needing to be re-aligned or tuned.

Feel and Comfort

When it comes to playing the best ukulele for kids, the instrument itself needs to feel comfortable to hold and play. This can be gauged in several different ways. First of all, instruments that have rounded-off edges are easier to grip and hold. This allows for a smooth transition when playing as you switch between different frets. 

On top of that, having instruments with a cutaway can help kids adjust to playing larger models should they wish. It helps them gauge how to access the entire fretboard and also find balance as they are playing. It’s a great way to learn the basics before switching to larger string instruments.

Accessories

As well as the ukulele itself, getting a range of accessories with it can make a major difference to how much enjoyment a kid will get from their ukulele. Having a travel case can help if they want to take the instrument anywhere from home, and spare parts such as string sets make it easy to fix any minor breakages.

However, it’s the inclusion of items such as tuners and lessons that make the overall difference. Having access to the tuner makes setting everything up that much quicker. Meanwhile, providing starter lessons is a great way to improve overall engagement with the instrument.

FAQs

Are all ukuleles made from wood?

Traditionally, most ukuleles are made from wood as it promotes their light tones and was accessible in Hawaii where the instrument rose to prominence. Nowadays, some companies may opt to use composite or carbon fiber bodies to provide their instruments with greater durability.

What strings should a ukulele have?

When it comes to finding the right strings, it depends on the sound and feel you are looking for. You will find that many ukuleles are lined with nylon strings to get light tones as well as a soft grip as they are played. However, carbon strings can also be used for greater longevity.

Should all ukuleles have metal tuning keys?

Ideally, the best ukulele for kids should have metal tuning keys where possible. Not only do these stay in tune for longer but they also help reduce the risk of strings snapping. It’s why people advise against choosing an instrument with plastic tuning keys.

Deciding the Best Ukulele for Kids

Searching for the best ukulele for kids has been no easy task. There are plenty of instruments that have unique selling points that are hard to beat.

Some ukuleles come in large bundles that cater for all needs such as the Kala Learn To Play Kit and the WINZZ HAND RUBBED Concert Ukulele. Others, such as the Havendi Ukulele or the Vangoa Soprano Ukulele, look to promote build quality to showcase their ukulele’s attributes.

Despite some models such as the Kmise Soprano Ukulele and Enya Soprano Ukulele providing excellent competition, the best ukulele for kids around today is the AKLOT Concert Ukulele. Not only is it well made, but it also holds tune well and is easy for all ages to play in any environment.