Beginner ukuleles under $200

Two things decide whether a first ukulele gets played or abandoned, and neither is price. The first is geared tuners: friction pegs slip, and an instrument that will not hold tune teaches a beginner that they cannot hear pitch. The second is setup, which is the height of the strings above the frets. Set too high, every chord is harder than it should be, and the beginner assumes the fault is theirs.

Everything on this page has geared tuners and has been set up on our bench before it ships, whatever it cost. Under a hundred dollars buys a genuinely playable instrument now, which was not true fifteen years ago.

Not sure which size? Concert suits most adults, soprano suits children and travel. Read the guide to the four sizes.