Christmas is right around the corner, and whether you are looking to buy a ukulele for a friend or loved one, or to give yourself the gift of uke, we have you covered with this year’s ukulele buying guide!
Affordable, fun, and easy to learn, the ukulele makes the perfect holiday gift that keeps on giving.
And whether or not you already know anything about the ukulele, don’t sweat it! This ultimate Christmas buying guide will give you everything you need to know to confidently give someone the gift of ukulele and make this their best holUKEday yet!
Ukulele Size
When buying an ukulele for yourself, or someone else, the most important thing to keep in mind is the size. Ukuleles commonly come in 4 sizes, soprano (smallest), concert, tenor, and baritone (biggest). For children, or those with small fingers, the soprano and concert will be your best option. For those with bigger fingers, we recommended tenor or baritone sized ukes.
Check out the article below for more information on choosing the right size: Which Ukulele Size Is Best: You Have at Least Four to Choose From
With this in mind, we’ve broken up this list by size, providing our top two options under $200 for each size.
Starting with…
Soprano
The smallest of the four sizes, soprano ukuleles are best suited for kids, and those with small fingers.
And our first choice for this category is the…
Kala Waterman Soprano – $45
The Kala Waterman Soprano is one of our favorite beginner options. At $45 it’s affordable, and it’s made from a durable waterproof composite material – so it’s great for kids!
Plus, just look at all the color options! Some of our favorites include this glow-in-the-dark one, and this eye-catching translucent number here.
But if you are looking to go a bit more traditional, we like the…
Ohana PK-10 Pineapple Soprano – $75
Nothing says classic ukulele like a pineapple body, and this mahogany laminate ukulele from Ohana offers excellent quality and sound at an affordable price – making it the perfect gift for beginners.
Honorable soprano mention: The Ohana SK-10
Next size up…
Concert
Slightly larger than the soprano, the concert is a good fit for early teens and again, those with smaller fingers.
Our top pick in this size is the…
Enya Nova Concert – $89
Another plastic ukulele, the Enya Nova is durable and stylish. Available in a variety of colors, this is the kind of uke that will turn heads! Plus, this uke comes with a capo, a case, and other goodies for beginners.
Bonus: if you like what you see here, check out the AcousticPlus version of the Nova. It comes with a pickup (so it can be played through an amp), but also has its own internal amp system and built-in effects!
Kala JT-C-CE – $149
This one is a Uke Like the Pros exclusive, designed by Terry Carter, in partnership with Kala Brand. Featuring a cutaway design that allows for easier playing higher up the neck, and a pickup allowing it to be plugged into an amp, this ukulele is the total package. And the Jati and Rosewood Tri-top give it a very unique look you won’t find elsewhere.
Honorable concert mention: The Islander Mahogany Concert
Tenor
The largest member of the ukulele family with the standard G-C-E-A tuning, the tenor ukulele is perfect for adults and those with bigger fingers.
Our top choice for this size is the…
Kala KA-T – $129
The KA line from Kala is one of our favorite options for beginners, especially for the larger sizes. My first ukulele was the KA-C concert version, and I still use it to this day!
Bonus: also available with a snazzy gloss finish, or in an acoustic electric option!
Looking for something a little more colorful? How about the…
Enya EUT-MS-BU-EQ – $159
Acoustic electric, solid wood, and a stylish design… what more could you ask for? Oh, a case, tuner, strap, and several other beginner goodies? Sure, why not! Plus, just look at that floral design on the headstock and that glossy blue body!
Honorable tenor mention: Kala JT-T-CE (just like the JT-C-CE above, but in tenor size!)
Baritone
The biggest of the four ukulele sizes, the baritone is tuned D-G-B-E (unlike the standard ukulele tuning G-C-E-A). This tuning matches up with the bottom four strings of a guitar and this, when combined with the size difference, is why the baritone has a more guitar-like sound than other ukuleles. We recommend the baritone for those with large hands, or those who are interested in the guitar but want to start with something a bit smaller and easier to pick up.
Our top choice for this size is the…
Ohana BK-14 – $179
[insert image and link for the Ohana BK-14 here]
A great baritone for beginners, this mahogany laminate ukulele is over 30” long and features a very clean and stylish binding. This ukulele is on the slightly higher end of the beginner baritone models available.
Of course, given their size, baritones run a bit more than the other uke sizes, but if you are looking for something a bit more affordable, we recommend the…
Kala KA-MK Makala – $99
When it comes to baritones, the KA-MK Makala is about as affordable as you are going to find while still getting a quality instrument from a trustworthy brand like Kala. For the price, you can’t beat this one!
Honorable baritone mention: The Kala KA-B, and Kala KA-B glossy (just like the KA-T, but bigger!)
Well, that does it for this year’s ultimate Christmas ukulele buying guide, we hope you found the right uke, but if not, check out our Christmas uke packages for some more options!
For more lessons on chords, techniques, and songs to help you along on your own uke journey, make sure to check out our site www.ukelikethepros.com. We offer you a bunch of great ukulele content that comes hand-in-hand with an awesome ukulele community that will support you in this journey.
