Ukulele

[Pranmasghost]

My six year old grandson is desperate to have a ukulele for Christmas. I went to a music shop (Back Alley in Chester) yesterday and they had a huge selection from plastic at £25 to hand crafted at well over £100. I was recommended a soprano ukulele at £69 but wondered whether anyone had any recommendations before I go back to the shop tomorrow.

[rageagainsttheBIL]

Honestly for a 6 year old I wouldn't bother spending that much.

I've got one from Lidl or Aldi last year which is perfectly fine for that age IMO. It does go out of tune fairly easily but learning to tune it up is a valuable skill.

[WiryElevator]

My DD (9) plays guitar and is starting ukulele band next week. I got her a £22 one from Amazon that does the job perfectly.

[TheSpectreOfMorningtonCrescent]

Hmm, for a 6 yr old (unless they already play guitar) id be going for something cheaper. Look on Amazon, mahalo or similar brands would be OK for that age. Dd started with one at 11, taught herself and now has several tanglewoods of various sizes.

[rageagainsttheBIL]

Just to add it was wooden and seemed nicely enough made for the price, which was about £15. The strings on it aren't very good but could be changed.

Alternatively Mahalo is a good beginner make.

I've never seen a plastic ukulele!

[Mouthfulofquiz]

I bought a mahalo wooden one with a case and a beginners book for about £35 last year - it made a really nice present and the quality is fine.

[Aftershock15]

It's changing the strings that will make the change in tone to make it less twangy. Swapped to Aquila strings and the sound is much better. It's a cheap ukelele, & I was going to buy a new one but the shop recommend strings only and it worked.

[OSETmum]

Ds's ukelele also came from Amazon and was about £30. It's also wooden and fine for a 6 year old!

[originalmavis]

We got a mahalo - where I worked we had a music director and I asked him for a recommendation. It's a nice instrument.

[Pranmasghost]

Thanks everyone you may have just saved me some money!

[BikeRunSki]

DS is 7, and has a Pure Tone uke fur his school band. I was provided by school, but I believe it cost about £20.

[ChippyMinton]

shop.sueryder.org/for-children/musical-instruments/ukuleles.html

Sue Ryder charity shops sell new ones. I got them for my DC and added Aquila strings. One DC still plays, for the others it was a five-minute wonder, so was happy to have only spent £15 plus the strings.

Get a clip-on tuner too.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

My parents got d2 a wooden one on Amazon a few years ago, when she was around 14 or so - it was about £30. She taught herself to play it and has had lots of fun with it. I deffo wouldn't spend more than £30 on one for a 6 year old.

[originalmavis]

Aren't they fun? Anyone can get a tune out of one and and they do make people smile!

[AtAmber]

There is a music shop by Argos in Birkenhead. The
Ukeleles start at £25.00. The man there said that they recommend those ones for children as they stay in tune really well. There were about 10 different colours to choose from. I'm going to get one for ds for Christmas.

[herecomesthsun]

I suggested getting our two kids ukeleles now so they can learn Xmas tunes. I said maybe I could get myself one as well to learn with them. DH groaned pitifully, put his head in his hands and mumbled "no, no..."

[originalmavis]

Get him one too!

[herecomesthsun]

He has 4 guitars, including acoustic, electric and I think 2 basses, plus amps. He is rather good, if out of practice since we had the kids. I did get my son an electric guitar, hoping DH would enjoy teaching him, but sadly this hasn't happened.

[originalmavis]

Dear God, add a clarinet, a sax and some drums and that my dbil!