Any ukulele players here?

GSPBASSES

A friend of mine is coming up for retirement, he's a great harmonica player, he's been thinking of taken up the ukulele. I thought it would be a good idea to buy him a ukulele as a retirement present. If I had time I would buy and make a kit from Stew Mac.  He has quite large hands, so I’m thinking maybe a tenor or concert ukulele would be best.

Any suggestions on a fairly good quality beginners ukulele roundabout the £60 mark.

RichardMarc

Flight are a fantastic brand for beginner ukes, excellent quality feel

Henrytwang

Kala ukes are very good for not a great deal of money. They also do a cheaper range under the Makala brand name. A concert model is probably a good idea for someone with large hands. 

thegummy

I want to get one so I can learn it in anticipation of teaching my son when he's old enough.

After doing a bit of research online I decided on the - Kala Satin Mahogany KA-15S Soprano Ukulele.

£55 quid so right in your price range.

Henrytwang

thegummy said:

I want to get one so I can learn it in anticipation of teaching my son when he's old enough.

After doing a bit of research online I decided on the - Kala Satin Mahogany KA-15S Soprano Ukulele.

£55 quid so right in your price range.

Yes they’re a good choice so many cheap ukes are virtually unplayable but all the new  Kala models I’ve seen have been well setup with quality strings.

olafgarten

Just put a capo on 5th and cut off your top two strings. 

GSPBASSES

Thanks for the info I think it will be a Kala.

 

olafgarten said:

Just put a capo on 5th and cut off your top two strings. 

Thanks that was very helpful

entee

@GSPBASSES  ;rather late to this conversation, but as a guitarist I wanted to try a ukulele, without learning all new chord shapes - baritone ukes are strung DGBE and are a great play ... I have big hands, short fingers and the baritone is perfect for me.

ionian

@entee and anyone else who tries ukulele - just to clarify, the chord shapes are exactly the same on uke as they are on guitar, except you are missing the lowest two strings and every chord sounds a 4th higher (G becomes C, Am becomes Dm etc). But the important thing is that the shapes are the same so the skills transpose across really easily. 

entee

ionian said:

@entee and anyone else who tries ukulele - just to clarify, the chord shapes are exactly the same on uke as they are on guitar, except you are missing the lowest two strings and every chord sounds a 4th higher (G becomes C, Am becomes Dm etc). But the important thing is that the shapes are the same so the skills transpose across really easily. 

is this all ukuleles?  I thought it was only the baritone that kept guitar chord shapes?

thecolourbox

entee said:

ionian said:

@entee and anyone else who tries ukulele - just to clarify, the chord shapes are exactly the same on uke as they are on guitar, except you are missing the lowest two strings and every chord sounds a 4th higher (G becomes C, Am becomes Dm etc). But the important thing is that the shapes are the same so the skills transpose across really easily. 

is this all ukuleles?  I thought it was only the baritone that kept guitar chord shapes?

Yeah me too, I'm pretty sure when I tried to help my dad with his the top string was lower than the bottom two or something like that?

DulcetJones

ionian said:

@entee and anyone else who tries ukulele - just to clarify, the chord shapes are exactly the same on uke as they are on guitar, except you are missing the lowest two strings and every chord sounds a 4th higher (G becomes C, Am becomes Dm etc). But the important thing is that the shapes are the same so the skills transpose across really easily. 

To clarify, "F" on guitar is "Bb" on the uke, and "D" is "G" etc..., but there are several shapes on uke that aren't often found on guitar.  They are pretty easy to pick up if you're already familiar with guitar.

entee

DulcetJones said:

ionian said:

@entee and anyone else who tries ukulele - just to clarify, the chord shapes are exactly the same on uke as they are on guitar, except you are missing the lowest two strings and every chord sounds a 4th higher (G becomes C, Am becomes Dm etc). But the important thing is that the shapes are the same so the skills transpose across really easily. 

To clarify, "F" on guitar is "Bb" on the uke, and "D" is "G" etc..., but there are several shapes on uke that aren't often found on guitar.  They are pretty easy to pick up if you're already familiar with guitar.

On a baritone ukulele, it is tuned to the bottom 4 strings on a guitar - DGBE (http://www.get-tuned.com/how-to-tune-the-baritone-ukulele.php)  hope I am allowed to post a link.  I have been playing the Barilele for over a year and it has been tuned this was when I bought it and ever since.

DartmoorHedgehog

thecolourbox said:

entee said:

ionian said:

@entee and anyone else who tries ukulele - just to clarify, the chord shapes are exactly the same on uke as they are on guitar, except you are missing the lowest two strings and every chord sounds a 4th higher (G becomes C, Am becomes Dm etc). But the important thing is that the shapes are the same so the skills transpose across really easily. 

is this all ukuleles?  I thought it was only the baritone that kept guitar chord shapes?

Yeah me too, I'm pretty sure when I tried to help my dad with his the top string was lower than the bottom two or something like that?

The tuning is the same relative spacing as the treble four strings of a guitar, but the first string on most ukes (i.e. what would be the lowest note on a guitar) is usually tuned an octave up.  So guitar chord shapes still work, but aren't in the same key as on a guitar for the smaller ukes.  Playing melodies is a bit odd because when you get down to the "lowest" string you're suddenly playing an octave too high.

FWIW, my daughter's got a Snail uke that cost just under £100 (for a soprano, with a soft case).  Possibly a little bit over the OP's intended spend, but it sounds and feels so much better than my old cheap one that I was well impressed.

entee

FWIW, my daughter's got a Snail uke that cost just under £100 (for a soprano, with a soft case).  Possibly a little bit over the OP's intended spend, but it sounds and feels so much better than my old cheap one that I was well impressed.

Sound and feel is everything; so much more than cost alone.
I am currently having an electric baritone ukulele (barilele?) built by a luthier - really looking forward to it being finished