Can’t find the best soprano ukulele? You’re in the right place!
Teaching children to play music is one of the best things you can do for them developmentally. From increasing memory capacity to improving their ability to read and do the math, music is proven to be an incredible brain-booster for kids.
An excellent instrument for introducing kids to is the soprano ukulele. It’s small, easy to learn, and fun to play. Soprano ukuleles are also very affordable.
However, there are the right instruments and the wrong instruments out there. So before investing, make sure you know what you’re looking for in a good soprano ukulele.
IN A HURRY? HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS…
Top 9 Best Soprano Ukuleles:
Diamond Head DU-150 Soprano Ukulele (Editor’s Choice)
This is a timeless beauty with classic sound. It is well built, traditional-style ukulele with semi-glossy finish, which gives it a costly appearance. Nickel silver-coated frets are low and smooth, which makes playing easy. Nylon strings deliver true mellow sounds. Guitar-style instrument has smooth action, which makes tuning simple for beginners.
Along with this, you will also get a high-quality gig back made of black nylon and showcase the logo of Diamond Head. Generally, the ukulele is thought of as a toy, and experienced musicians do not take it seriously, but this product has quality construction, and attention is given to each detail which ensures excellent sound and feel of costly instruments. Built and fit is fantastic.
It is not always easy to get a costly ukulele with traditional appearance and sound; however, this compiles impressive attributes in a single package, so you do not have to compromise. In addition, it has an impressive sound which appeals to everyone.
Pros
- Great Sound
- Durable
- Clean construction
Cons
- Sometimes strings feel appalling
Amdini Soprano Ukulele
When you are searching for a handmade ukulele made for beginners or intermediate players, this is where you need to stop. Quality ABS Bridge, rosewood fingerboard, and basswood back, top, and sides provide a feel of comfort playing.
It is a great quality instrument ideal for traveling, so you only need to take the bag to parties and school or road trips.
The length is 21,” and premium quality strings ensure that it produces impressive sound. Silver geared tuners, nylon strings, nickel frets allow you to create pitch-perfect and warm harmonics. It is well made and attractive looking painted with different colors.
It is simple to play, making it perfect for beginners. Children or adults anyone can play this instrument easily.
It also can be the best gift you can give to dear ones. It also includes free accessories like a strap, case, tuner, extra nylon strings, along with a tutorial. So you can use it for live performance or studio confidently.
Pros
- The carrying case is solid
- Suitable for all age
- Good for the price
Cons
- Instructions are a little hard to understand
Flight Travel TUS-35DB Soprano Ukulele
This is an innovative instrument as it comes with an outstanding sound at an affordable price range. Plastic rounded back and Aquila night strings offer clear projection and deliver loud tones. The plastic body and neck result in consistent intonation. This is ideal for children, and plastic frets do not stick out. Most beginner-friendly ukuleles have raised strings that make them hard to play. However, you can easily press strings with this instrument as they are low. In addition, plastic frets make it virtually indestructible.
The product is popular and received excellent reviews. This is a real instrument, so do not get confused by its low price and colorful appearance. It is widely popular and played by renowned musicians. With every purchase, you also get a denim bag. This generates excellent sound projection.
The baby has excellent volume at the middle range compared with other sopranos. The design develops a bright sound that stands out from the rest. However, you have to check on humidity because it adversely affects wooden ukuleles. This is not an issue with this ukulele, as it can resist weathering changes making it durable. So, step out and show your talent to the world with this ukulele.
Pros
- Kid-friendly
- Easy to play
- Bright sound
Cons
- None we could find
Amazon Basics Soprano Ukulele
This is a bundle of joy as it has everything you need to begin playing. It is excellent for adults and kids. This features a smooth and glossy back, top, and side.
Ukulele has a superior quality fingerboard with nylon strings. Easy adjustments can be made by stable and high fiber tuning gear.
The sound quality is impressive, and it is flawless. Moreover, this superior-quality instrument is inexpensive. If you are searching for a playable and true musical instrument, you can get this product that resembles high price models. When considering appearance, this ukulele stands out.
You get quality instruments depending on your budget. This high-end model is affordable and could be the one you need to buy. With this, you can experiment with different tones without spending your savings. You cannot go wrong with this product. If you want more for less, this product is for you.
Pros
- Great value for beginners
- The sound is pretty good
- Decent kit for the price
Cons
- None we could find
Kala Makala Waterman Soprano Ukulele
Every player wants a warm and rich-sounding instrument, and this ukulele easily might be “the one.” There are varieties of colors available to choose from. You get incredible sound with this solid instrument offered by a prestigious brand.
It has a noticeable setup that makes it enough for beginners and experienced players alike. You can play at home or outside with other players confidently. It is well known for high-end ukuleles, and no surprise that it is placed at the top of the pile. The market is flooded with expensive instruments, but this is good quality, durable and affordable. This suits everyone from beginners to professionals alike.
It is easy to understand why the Kala brand has become a quick-growing company. You can sense the fantastic craftsmanship of the product. Kala is a perfect amalgamation of passion, tradition, and standard. High-quality components used in its construction assures durability. This product does not malfunction or break like other beginner and low-priced instruments if played for a few months.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Durable
- Glows in dark
Cons
- None we could find
Lohanu LU-S Soprano Ukulele (Editor’s Choice)
The Lohanu Soprano Ukulele is a great option for kids. Lohanu sells its ukuleles as bundles, including a case, strap, picks, and other accessories, and the Soprano comes in at about $80.
Constructed from a Sapele/Mahogany blend laminate, it is a solidly reliable ukulele that can simultaneously take the roughhousing that’s inevitable with kids’ instruments as well as produce a strong, warm tone.
It stays tuned quite well after you tune the strings the first time and allow the instrument to adjust to the increase in tension. It’s an important feature to look for in a ukulele.
The bundle with this instrument comes with an electric tuner, two picks and a pick holder, straps, and the case. Besides, the ukulele comes with pre-installed strap buttons to make attaching the strap easy and quick.
This ukulele is popular with beginners and experienced players alike. Dependable and well-priced for high quality, it’s a good choice that makes it easy to have everything you need to help your child start practicing.
Pros
- Great build
- Plays well
- Good accessories
Cons
- More expensive than many others on this list
This is our top pick instrument. The Lohanu LU-S ukulele is a great instrument that comes with an accessory bundle that saves you money and makes your child’s experience that much easier, and it doesn’t break the bank.
Kala KA-15S Soprano Ukulele
This Kala KA-15S Ukulele is another reliable choice for a ukulele for your child. Coming in at $75 for a bundle that includes a gig bag and an electric tuner, among other accessories, this is a good deal on a good instrument.
The Kala KA-15S is made out of mahogany laminate, which has a strong, warm sound. In addition, it comes with gear tuners that are easy to tune and reliably stay that way.
There are some minor intonation issues higher up on the fretboard. However, it’s not wildly noticeable and doesn’t seriously detract from the quality of the instrument. As mahogany instruments are apt to be, this one is sturdy and well-designed, usable by both kids learning how to play and experienced players who want a cheaper instrument to travel with.
The bundle includes an electric tuner, a polishing cloth, and an instructional DVD to help your child learn the basics of ukulele. This ukulele sounds excellent, and your kid can enjoy playing it for several years before they decide to upgrade.
Pros
- Good quality build and sound
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Intonation issues at the top of the fretboard
This ukulele is a reliable option for kids looking to learn how to play the ukulele seriously. If your child decides to quit earlier than expected, you aren’t breaking the bank with this instrument.
Kala MK-S Makala Soprano Ukulele
The Kala MK-S ukulele is a little easier on the budget, though the difference in price between our top choice and this is small enough that the sacrifices you make in quality might be worth considering.
This ukulele is available with and without the bundled accessory options; about $50 without the bundle, and $70 with the gig bag, electric tuner, polishing cloth, and instructional DVD.
Two things stand out in this ukulele. First, the tonewood. This ukulele is made of the more unusual and inexpensive Agathis wood, which is a budget imitation of Mahogany. It is lower-quality wood, so it is not as sturdy.
Additionally, it comes with low-quality strings, so you might need to invest in some better strings reasonably quickly.
The sound quality on an instrument made with cheap wood tends to deteriorate over time – as does the instrument. Therefore, it will be necessary for the first few weeks to continuously retune the ukulele, which may be frustrating or difficult for younger children.
Pros
- Cheaper than other options
Cons
- Fragile
- Lower quality of materials
- Deteriorating sound
Overall this instrument is an option for those who would rather spend a little bit less. However, there are cheaper options for similar quality, and there are better options for just a little more.
Mahalo MR1 Soprano Ukulele
The Mahalo MR1 ukulele is a bargain for the price point – at just around $60, this ukulele doesn’t have a nasty bang for your buck at all. Made of a mixture of hard Mahogany and soft sengon tonewood, it can withstand a bit of rough play from children, and projects sound decent.
It comes with high-quality strings and a carrying bag. It will take a few days for your child’s ukulele to stay in tune as the strings need to be stretched, and the pegs do a decent job of staying in tune.
This ukulele comes with a gig bag but no other real accessories. This is certainly not a wrong choice for your child unless accessories are vital to you. However, the price of buying them all together afterward might bring the overall cost for this one up a bit.
Pros
- Sturdy
- Good strings
- Good sound
Cons
- Not as sturdy as mahogany laminate
This is undoubtedly a good option for you to consider for your child. It won’t break the bank, and it comes in a variety of fun colors that could appeal to children.
Donner DUS-1 Soprano Ukulele
Popular with both beginning and experienced players, the Donner DUS-1 ukulele is at a lower price point and arguably a higher quality level than most good beginner’s ukuleles. Built out of Mahogany, the construction is very sturdy – and gorgeous.
The ukulele comes with the right strings, stays tuned easily, and sounds beautiful and mellow.
The biggest surprise is the price. Even with some great add-ons, this ukulele comes in at about $55. The only potential downside for this instrument is that it has more frets than some other ukuleles, making it challenging to play. However, it should work great for small kids.
Accessories include a gig bag, a strap, and an electric tuner – the minimum essentials for your child’s beginning experience with a ukulele.
Pros
- Affordable price
- High quality of materials
- Great sound quality
Cons
- Some intonation trouble higher up
- More frets mean less space to play.
Consider this option as a very close second pick from us. The price is excellent, and the only real downside is some minor discomfort while playing it. However, it plays great and is built great.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best Ukulele for Your Kid
Real vs. Toy Ukuleles
Ukuleles are affordable instruments. However, don’t be fooled by prices that seem too cheap. Ukuleles are cute and can come with many attractive designs, which means manufacturers will often put out super-cheap, $20 toy ukuleles with fun characters or colors on them.
A rule of thumb is if a ukulele costs so tiny that you don’t need to think twice about it, think twice about it. Nothing is more discouraging to kids than trying to learn to play on a ukulele that plays badly, doesn’t stay in tune, and can’t produce music.
Common Ukulele Sizes
Ukuleles come in several sizes. This buying guide will focus on soprano ukuleles, the smallest of the typical sizes, and the best one for children.
- Soprano ukuleles are the classic size, at 20 inches in length and with the highest pitch; most people picture soprano ukuleles when picturing one.
- The next size up is the Concert ukulele at 23 inches; this size is a little louder, and the bigger size allows for more effortless playing for those with more “adult” sized hands.
- At 26 inches, the Tenor ukulele is closer in size to a guitar and has a more resonant sound, with even more projection capability.
- Finally, at 30 inches in length, the Baritone ukulele is very similar to a classical guitar, except for the strings’ number and tuning.
Materials
Like guitars, ukuleles can be constructed from different kinds of tonewoods, which would impact the instrument’s sound. Ranging from expensive, local Hawai’ian woods to more common woods, each one affects the instrument’s sound.
When you’re buying an instrument for a kid, you may not be as concerned with the instrument’s particular tone. However, it would be best if you were assured it’s made of quality wood that will be usable after your child has established an interest in continuing to play. The important thing is knowing the basics of common woods and their vocabulary.
Laminated woods have layers of expensive tonewood on the outside, with the inside being sourced from cheaper woods. That makes the instrument more affordable. However, that also means it doesn’t sound as good as the more expensive solid woods. For kid’s ukuleles, laminated instruments with appropriate tonewoods are a great option.
Solid woods are made entirely from the tonewood made to use it. It stays true to the sound of the wood, and it’s the choice of professional players. However, the consequence of using exclusively tonewood to build the instrument is that it becomes costly.
Common woods for ukuleles include Mahogany for more mid-level instruments. It’s a good option but slightly more expensive than some other options as warm-sounding and well-projecting hardwood.
Spruce is another common wood. It’s a little softer and not as bright or warm. Anyway, it is a great wood used often in guitars as well.
Koa is a Hawai’ian wood that traditional ukuleles were made from. A very sturdy and warm wood for the most beautiful ukuleles. However, this material also makes ukuleles extremely expensive. So that is the wood for professionals.
Accessories
You should consider having a few things if your child intends to learn how to play ukulele. Ideally, these things should come with your first purchase.
Gigbag
It’s also known as a carrying case. These are usually soft, sometimes padded bags with various pockets and zippers for the other accessories you might want to bring around. A carrying case is the easiest way to transport all your things. It would cost about $20 for a soft case or $40 or more for a hard case if you were to buy it “a la carte.”
Electric Tuners
It’s an excellent tool for kids learning how to play. An electric tuner can help your child tune their instrument and develop their ear; it will cost about $10 to buy separately.
Straps
These make it easier for your child to hold the ukulele when standing up. There are a few different types; some you can attach to the hole on the front of the ukulele, others you can attach to pins on the side of the ukulele if they come with them or if you decide to add them. A cheap strap will run about $10.
Aquila Strings
This particular brand of ukulele strings is the best way to improve sound on a cheap ukulele. However, they can’t improve sound quality if your ukulele is meant to be a toy. Ideally, your ukulele will come prestrung with these, but if not, they only run about $5-6.
Capo
It’s not necessarily required for beginning students. However, in my opinion, a good capo will make it easier for your child to experiment with any piece without being limited by whether or not they require a capo to play. A capo will cost about $10.
Final Thoughts: the Best Soprano Ukulele for Kids
The most important things to consider when buying a ukulele for kids are comfort, ease, and lifespan. Getting a good quality ukulele with suitable accessories is not an expensive endeavor, nor is it difficult as long as you know your needs.
You want an instrument your child will enjoy playing for as long as possible. However, you also know that children’s interests can change pretty quickly. There’s no need to drop hundreds on a ukulele. Your child might not want to play again in a month, although getting a good quality instrument like those on this list will help prevent that.
We made this list to help you figure out what you need to know when buying an excellent ukulele for your child. Even if your kid grows disinterested, this fun instrument is something you can keep for yourself.