Now if every parent watched this before buying their children souvenir ukuleles, we would save so many children from being disappointed! Lovely video :)
My family on occasion were asked if they would contribute towards more expensive family gifts. School friends bought my daughter a pool table which certainly surprised us and thank goodness we had a verandah big enough. So grateful my children were exposed to both chess and music during their primary school years. I found part time work to pay for group lessons and bought second hand instruments.
Man. People are really having issues with this video. Which is reasonable I guess because me too. My first ever ukulele was a kala brand soprano size. It was only $40 and it was super nice and stayed in tune very well.I don't think it was right to say that Sopranos are for children. It's mainly about what kind of tone you want to come out of the instrument. I would like to get a tenor hopefully at some point soon but I'm still very happy with my soprano that I only spent $40 on
hi R Finch, ive owned like 20 ukes, they are little classical guitars without truss rods; fickle to the wind an climate just have one tenor coming in Hartwood Renaissance Electro, Im a sonwrit an one thin ive noticed along my years is that very many songs were composed with such like musical instrument like ukulele, i live in a block of flats by misellf for two years now an d music seems to be a curse word let alone ukulele.... i guess its aform of jeaousy/envy but still i play my Yam Pac 112Vs headphones with great success! got to go to sleep its 5 at midnight an the neighboors think its good mornin Vietnam.....Man. K
He’s talking about Hawaii, ukes are probably more expensive there. Because they’re deemed as “more original” I guess. But sopranos aren’t just for children, it depends on the person, some big guys would be fine with a soprano. And some small children would be fine with a Tenor.
You can actually get a really nice uke for around 60 dollars they are made out of nice wood and have an amazing sound if you want one like that i recommend the Kala brand but keep in note these are just beginners ukuleles!
I purchased the Kala brand ukes for my students who have Special Needs about five years ago, and it is still in perfect condition. I do believe it's how we train kids to take care of their ukes when using and storing them.Our Kala ukes have been used in a number of school performances, with excellent results! For experienced uke players, one would obviously purchase a more expensive uke.
Oscar Schmidt makes a really nice concert (OU2) for about $100. I have an OU5 concert and love the sound - I've hear the OU2s sound even better, and they're cheaper! Their sopranos - OU12 and OU13 are both under $100. Whatever you buy, it will probably need to be set up. Most cheap sopranos don't get a lot of love at the factory, and the action is set high. If you buy from Mim, you cant go wrong. She sets up even her cheapest ukes. reverb.com/shop/mimsukes?sort=price%7Casc&page= This one is an awesome deal: reverb.com/item/10120665-mims-ukes-ohana-soprano-sk-20-all-solid-mahogany-top-lam-back-sides-ukulele-uke-402
23-year acoustic guitar player here, looking to buy his first ukulele... Thanks so much for the awesome crash course purchasing guide! I'll be looking for a concert-size at minimum for myself!
Generally good advice, but saying soprano ukes are only played by small people is incorrect. Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (Brother Iz) is exactly the opposite of a small person (over 6 feet tall and close to 1000 pounds when he died) and he frequently played a soprano ukulele. If you like the sound of a soprano uke, then don't let the size of the instrument intimidate you.
That's a good point in my opinion. I really want to buy flight's pineapple ukulele witch is a soprano, and I'm quite tall so you're comment encourage me that it is okey to get it.
Oms... I absolutely _adore_ the sound of the one at 10:47, holy heck... I just stood there stunned for a moment the first time I heard it, I think I'm in love
Aloha! We really like that one too. That baby is a tenor Koaloha. Right now we have some of their non-glossed ukes (same tone, just no shiny) coming in this week. Let us know if we can give you more info on it!
Thanks Jason for your intro in Uke world. I enjoyed chatting to you and your staff at the store during the week. I was the gent on the worship team in Boston. Looking at your video I definitely want to be able to fingerpick and of course I love that beautiful angelic harp sound the Koala. Yikes!! I'll be in touch. Thanks again. Paul
Got that first Makala for $10 at a garage sale, case included. Im more of a guitar guy but that buy opened me up to the ukulele world and eventually did upgrade
If you want to buy a cheap one that isn't bad, I would choose a Shelby brand. But you need to check if there is this brand in your country, because this is a Brazilian brand 🇧🇷 and if there is, buy one with Mahogany wood because it makes the sound better 👍🏼
Thanks. I think you just saved me from buying crap. What I really want is an Uke that plays well but still comes in the fun rainbow colors. Like I don't appreciate the assumption that I grew up just because I got older.
One you might like is the Kala Exotic Mahogany in blue (Ka-TEMB or KA-CEMB). Jason's not as big a fan of the stain on it, but I (Heidi) love it and we both agree the tone is great!
I just decided I wanted to get into uke one day. Went to my local music store (hour away) and they had the small $30 ones, than the sopranos were $150+ and then, at the very end I found a baritone for $90. That was all the money I had. Bought the baritone, and have been playing for 4 months now (having played guitar and bass in bands) and it’s definitely a gem. Not the best quality ever but has a lovely harmonic sound. I’d recommend baritone to most people who enjoy a deeper and smooth sound.
So glad I watched this before my purchase! Size matters! I'll be going to my local music store in the next few days and now have a much better understanding of what size Ukelele to search for, not to mention the construction materials that fit my budget. Thanks for posting!
I've recently purchased a couple (mid-range price) ukes lately. I'm a guitar guy, and wanted the " oh gee, a cute ukulele factor" when kitchen jamming. Because we all know ,ukulele's just make people smile. Your video is spot on. Not unlike the guitar world, parents spend $125 on the cheap guitar, and wind up with a useless dust collector with zero resale value. But then again, if they pay $400 (on a good guitar), the kid may have a much better chance at sticking with it and again, the resale may only be $275, so the parent loses $125 anyhow. Moral of the story... you often get what you pay for, so get something good , knowing the investment is likely to come with a loss regardless.
Ha, great, RUclips recommends this video one hour after I bought a 15 buck ukulele at Aldi. 😅 I only bought it for decoration purposes and as a toy for my kids, but although it's not too well crafted, the wood is dull and feels like plywood and I'm not sure if strings mean to be from *that* kind of plastic... it actually sounds surprisingly nice. 😮 I hadn't expected that, when I tuned it just for fun. But I then googled some ukulele chords, practiced for a few minutes, taught my daughter three chords, and we sang ring of fire and follow me and amazing grace. I hadn't expected it to be that easy to play, too. So it's good to know what to look for when we're going to buy a real ukulele next week. 😂
Thank you for your video, I wish I knew that before I start Ukulele 6-7 month ago. I first bought a tenor and paid a guitar teacher that knew nothing about Ukulele. Long story short, I listen to your other video and throw all I knew and practice to the garbage. Now I have a concert and it fit perfectly and feel more natural. No more pain from the wrong holding of the intrument.
My grandmother bought the one with turtles on it (2nd one) and I did lose interest in it. In fact, I lost interest in all stringed instruments until my 40's. Lately saw a young gal playing a bass Uke in a Bluegrass Band and it sounded GREAT! I have a mandolin now and having trouble with the steel strings because my fingers and a disagreement with a table saw. No feeling in the middle finger UNTIL I press a string. Great advise.
Thanks to this video, I upgraded from a soprano to a Kala Cedar Cutaway, and I'm having much more fun playing a size that accommodates my frame and fingers! I can't thank you enough!!!
I'm 5'1 and I bought a Freeman uke for about 80$ in BOLIVIA! It has all metal parts, mahogany wood and it sounds pretty good. I might move up to a better one further on but I'm in love with my soprano ukulele. It fits my little fingers perfectly :)
Thank you! I have been playing Ukulele for a while now and figured it is time to get a new one with proper intuition. But with your video, I also noticed that I also need one that is grown-up already. All in all very informative and pleasant to watch.
That was my first uke - and it's quite good. So much so that my GF became jealous and bought one for herself. I then bought a very nice KALA, then went whole-hog and bought a Kanilea when I realized how very much I love playing the uke. "Uke acquisition syndrome" - there's no cure!
I just bought my first ukelele a month ago but I have no any idea by that time which ukelele is the best for me until I watched your video now. Feb 2020
Nice informative video, since I'm planning to buy one sometime soon. I think he's just pointing out that comfort is one of the keys to enjoy playing it especially for those starting out. If you're happy with the small size, go ahead. As long as you enjoy playing. 😄
You saved me and my wallet!!! I´m here in Helsinki and here are many Music-Shops all around... and i haded the idea to buy an ukulele... but Heaven... i didn´t knew what you had to think about it... at the end 65 Euro saved... Thank you so mutch... i´ll buy a right one in germany... ;D
Wantsome Funny I have a nice ukulele made in west Germany, Bruko a nice spruce top, well made, nice sound, not the least expensive, but has a good reputation.
Bought it from a garage sale fixed it myself. Bought strings and put them on it learned on my own with a cord sheet and some tutorials for songs on RUclips for the strumming pattern and order of chords then write it down. i have a Johnson uk-120 im 27 my mom comes to me and says i got this for a dollar can you do something with it i said yep. I play it daily. This was 2 to 3 weeks ago.
As a helpful tip to any uke player; classical guitar strings are AMAZING alternatives to normal uke strings,and a few bucks cheaper. 1st e=G&A 2nd=E 3rd=C you can also use a wound D (4th) string for a low G.
Jason, you "meet & exceed all audience expectations" as Rush Limbaugh puts it. How? You elicit much input from a wide range of audience viewers who span from novices to those dedicated to the performance of various ukulele makes, models and quality of sound. It benefits me by knowing the various factors to consider in making an informed decision in purchasing a ukulele that is appropriate for me personally (arm length, as well as tone based on uke size are essential factors). Well done and thanks for sharing your expertise, Jason! Thanks to all those offering input based on discerning experience & insight. Very helpful!
Mine costed 35 pounds for a concert ukulele. I really liked it, it sounds really good and its great quality. It's great for beginners, of course when I get more experienced then I'll upgrade it for a much more expensive one
I got my first ukulele for $60 ish dollars , it was a simple design but amazing, my most recent one , $120 ish sounds the same , just fancier, both are wood Michelle concerts, it's just the brand and quality, I've had a cheap $20 soprano that sounded amazing
Dang, as if I needed any more reason to go back to Lahaina -- loved that town, love Maui in general. I've been thinking about learning `ukulele so this vid was extremely informative. Mahalo.
I can’t believe I missed you when I was on Maui last year! I really wanted to get a ukulele when I was there, but never saw any that weren’t toys. See you when I get back next year!
Just bought a gently used Tenor Uke (Kala Ka-fmtg) for 175. The guy knew what he was talking about and said he got it for his son who never got into it so he wanted some money back. I did some research and the one I got is originally 326 dollars on the Kala website. I've been using a 30 dollar garbage one I got years ago from my parents so I'm EXTREMELY excited for this to get here.
I appreciate your time and effort to inform and educate! Thanks! However, you auditioned the more expensive models far more differently than the cheaper ones. You fingerpicked the more expensive ones which makes their sound more 'attractive' than the sound produced using a strumming pattern on the cheaper ones. I wish I could hear the more expensive ukuleles played in the same style as the cheaper ones, so a more accurate comparison could be recognized. Having taught guitar for 25 years, and hearing 1000's of guitars, I can safely say 2 things about sound quality; firstly, sound is a very individual thing. Some players prefer far different voicings than other players. Secondly, price is not something on which to determine sound quality. It's a very general factor. One of the sweetest sounding guitars I've heard was the day a student showed up with a $150.00 guitar. He really struck gold..... I've heard far more expensive guitars sound far inferior to this one. But again, I haven't forgotten that sound is a very individual thing, so there are no absolutes. I would like to suggest that the same can be said for ukuleles. In any case, thanks for taking the time to do this video. By the number of hits you've received, and the quality of your presentation, much was learned by many, from your efforts. With gratitude, Derrick
Aloha Derrick! Thank you for the detailed and really nuanced feedback. Right now, Jason's working on an instructional book project, so we haven't made updated versions of these videos, but we'll definitely take your feedback about picking versus strumming to heart. I agree wholeheartedly about tone coming from the instrument rather than the price point; this video is intended to demonstrate what the different ukulele price ranges are like and what you get when you jump up. In the shop, we find that a lot of people, even guitarists, are surprised that ukuleles come in different quality ranges at all. The sampling here is only about a 5th or 6th of the variety of ukuleles we carry, so there are voicings for everyone (warm vs. bright, sustain vs. forward tone, etc). Again, Mahalo for your feedback and for giving us great ideas for what new videos we can make. Aloha from Maui, Heidi
We bought a Baritone Uke in your store during our last vacation there in Maui. We got it for $187 including a case and it’s brand is Kala Uke. It’s sounds great!
Ha ha. I went into Lahaina Music and bought a $1000+ uke... 1st uke but I play fingerstyle guitar and have for 25+ years. I am having an absolute blast with it.
Aloha Jason. I lived on Maui for a couple years. Then moved to North Shore Oahu. I enjoyed the free lessons you did at the Cannery...are you still doing that? That was nice of you to do... especially for free. The tourists enjoyed it for sure. Don't pay attention to the haters on this. Keyboard warriors for sure...lol. Hope all is going well for you. Jim (Maui webs)
To be honest I'd definitely recommend getting the cheapest ukelele to start off with (that actually plays). You have trained ears, and practice and you know you like playing, but most people don't. I got my first one for 10 pounds at a grocery store and to be honest, one of the best investments I made since it was cheap enough to buy without even thinking about it, and it was good enough for the first few months of learning where I would've sounded like crap anyway. My brother made the mistake of buying a 250 pound guitar staight off the bat, and he sold it a few months later because he never touched the stuff.
Ukulele sizes doesn’t Match human sizes it’s not clothing, The reason why so many people want to play ukulele is because most are looking for that classic ukulele sound or they want to pick up an string instrument. and your also trying to convince people just because something is expensive it’s going to be the best, just Because some Ukes are more expensive doesn’t always mean the quality will be there. There are plenty of ukes for starters that are in the 50-60 dollar range that are great for beginners or someone looking for something more affordable, I suggest the ranch concert ukulele for those who already have the basics down and as for beginners the hola soprano uke. Also another tip if your are purchasing online go out to your local music store first to try and test out the ukes so you can have knowledge of what each uke will sound like because every uke is made differently and sounds differently, once you have an idea of what they sound like you can go from there and purchase the uke online or from your local music store, and there are so many great resources for learners such as Yousician and RUclips and even fender provides lessons online or see if your local music store is hosting classes or uke events.
I bought a uke in Hawaii and haven't been able to find a uke teacher. So frustrating! I'm always watching uke videos and tutorials but I need a real hands on teacher. Thanks for showing the different ukes. Mine is an Islander MC4 mahogany which cost about $120.00. I think it is a decent starting uke if I can only find a teacher.
No Kanilea models? Love my K-2T! Started playing ukes after hearing/seeing Konoka & Azita. here on YT. They convinced me to quickly step up the the Kanilea, since they've appeared with Kanilea.
Aloha! Right now, we don't carry Kanilea in stock, but we like 'em a lot! For the purposes of this video, we wanted to highlight some different price points and wood types, rather than covering every model made (or even in our store, for that matter).
I play the harp but I would love to play the ukulele. but here in Louisiana I am not sure. but still I am looking for a ukulele say with low G string, your technique is all most like the lute which l love as well. I have been playing the harp for just over 20 years. I wanted to learn classical guitar but I don't like Spanish so that went out the door. but when I saw Elvis Presley in blue Hawaii play the ukulele I thought that would be perfect to go along with my beautiful harp.
*_Watching this the moment after I buy my ukulele_*
Sh*t bought mine just now, and this vid showed up😂😂
draco's mochi laugh SAME
SAME 😆
draco's mochi laugh 😂 same
Rude
"I studied philosophy, that's why I'm teaching Ukulele"
Man, I can relate to that, hahahaha.
Congrats for the great video, it helped a lot.
Now if every parent watched this before buying their children souvenir ukuleles, we would save so many children from being disappointed!
Lovely video :)
Bernadette Teaches Music IM IN LOVE WITH YOUR CHANNEL!! ❤❤
lol How rich do you have to be to give your kids ukuleles as SOUVENIRS?
My family on occasion were asked if they would contribute towards more expensive family gifts. School friends bought my daughter a pool table which certainly surprised us and thank goodness we had a verandah big enough. So grateful my children were exposed to both chess and music during their primary school years. I found part time work to pay for group lessons and bought second hand instruments.
That depends on if they are actually going to try to play it or it's going to wind up in the back of the closet or hanging on the wall in a month
Bernadette Teaches Music to
The first two seconds: "Aloha and Howdy"
this is too much information
Man. People are really having issues with this video. Which is reasonable I guess because me too. My first ever ukulele was a kala brand soprano size. It was only $40 and it was super nice and stayed in tune very well.I don't think it was right to say that Sopranos are for children. It's mainly about what kind of tone you want to come out of the instrument. I would like to get a tenor hopefully at some point soon but I'm still very happy with my soprano that I only spent $40 on
Richard Finch thank you! That helped Im looking at ukuleles tomorrow and I didn’t know how good the soprano was and it’s 46$ wich I think is good
hi R Finch, ive owned like 20 ukes, they are little classical guitars without truss rods; fickle to the wind an climate just have one tenor coming in Hartwood Renaissance Electro, Im a sonwrit an one thin ive noticed along my years is that very many songs were composed with such like musical instrument like ukulele, i live in a block of flats by misellf for two years now an d music seems to be a curse word let alone ukulele.... i guess its aform of jeaousy/envy but still i play my Yam Pac 112Vs headphones with great success! got to go to sleep its 5 at midnight an the neighboors think its good mornin Vietnam.....Man. K
He’s talking about Hawaii, ukes are probably more expensive there. Because they’re deemed as “more original” I guess. But sopranos aren’t just for children, it depends on the person, some big guys would be fine with a soprano. And some small children would be fine with a Tenor.
"AloHa, DoN't Go AnYwHeRe"
Me: R u n s a w a y
No, its Aloha, Howdy, Don't go anywhere.
T h a t s c a r e d m e. W h a t i s i t. A l o h a o r h o w d y.
You can actually get a really nice uke for around 60 dollars they are made out of nice wood and have an amazing sound if you want one like that i recommend the Kala brand but keep in note these are just beginners ukuleles!
Kala is a good place to start for a beginner or someone not sure if a uke is for them. Not great but better than some.
Lily Chapman Thannkkk Youuuuu
I purchased the Kala brand ukes for my students who have Special Needs about five years ago, and it is still in perfect condition. I do believe it's how we train kids to take care of their ukes when using and storing them.Our Kala ukes have been used in a number of school performances, with excellent results! For experienced uke players, one would obviously purchase a more expensive uke.
Oscar Schmidt makes a really nice concert (OU2) for about $100. I have an OU5 concert and love the sound - I've hear the OU2s sound even better, and they're cheaper!
Their sopranos - OU12 and OU13 are both under $100.
Whatever you buy, it will probably need to be set up. Most cheap sopranos don't get a lot of love at the factory, and the action is set high.
If you buy from Mim, you cant go wrong. She sets up even her cheapest ukes. reverb.com/shop/mimsukes?sort=price%7Casc&page=
This one is an awesome deal: reverb.com/item/10120665-mims-ukes-ohana-soprano-sk-20-all-solid-mahogany-top-lam-back-sides-ukulele-uke-402
This is probably the best RUclips video I have ever seen! This guy is a natural born talent and the video is very helpful.
Mahalo! I'm humbled and happy to serve. Aloha! - Jason
As an introduction to ukuleles, this is a thoroughly informative and professionally-done video; thank you very much.
Those pricey ones sound so good 😁
check out moore bettah ukes, gorgeous art and amazing sounding, but it will empty your wallet
23-year acoustic guitar player here, looking to buy his first ukulele... Thanks so much for the awesome crash course purchasing guide! I'll be looking for a concert-size at minimum for myself!
Generally good advice, but saying soprano ukes are only played by small people is incorrect.
Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (Brother Iz) is exactly the opposite of a small person (over 6 feet tall and close to 1000 pounds when he died) and he frequently played a soprano ukulele.
If you like the sound of a soprano uke, then don't let the size of the instrument intimidate you.
He said "sure you can teach a guy to play the soprano but it's not going to be as efficiant"
That's a good point in my opinion. I really want to buy flight's pineapple ukulele witch is a soprano, and I'm quite tall so you're comment encourage me that it is okey to get it.
boy that 1300 dollar uke sounds absolutely beautiful !
*silence*
aloha!
me: *DIES LAUGHING*
lo me too XD
Tbh, "Aloha" is how I greet my friends all the time :D (like, really)
Howdy
No.
He didnt just say aloha!
He said: Aloha! Howdy!
That is too much info.
why do i always watch these videos *after* I've ordered them
Oms... I absolutely _adore_ the sound of the one at 10:47, holy heck... I just stood there stunned for a moment the first time I heard it, I think I'm in love
Aloha! We really like that one too. That baby is a tenor Koaloha. Right now we have some of their non-glossed ukes (same tone, just no shiny) coming in this week. Let us know if we can give you more info on it!
Finally! A video teaching people about ukulele’s and they say the word ukulele correct! Mahalo!!
Mahalo!
Thanks Jason for your intro in Uke world. I enjoyed chatting to you and your staff at the store during the week. I was the gent on the worship team in Boston. Looking at your video I definitely want to be able to fingerpick and of course I love that beautiful angelic harp sound the Koala. Yikes!! I'll be in touch. Thanks again. Paul
For the longest time, I’ve had the uke at 3:00 until recently, my dad got me the exact same uke that he suggested buying straight after that.
Got that first Makala for $10 at a garage sale, case included. Im more of a guitar guy but that buy opened me up to the ukulele world and eventually did upgrade
"I studied philosophy, so that´s why I´m teaching the ukulele!" Haha! - Never heard that one before ;D
THANKS for showing how the ukulele should sit based on height/arm length. When I'm in HI I'll come visit.
Can't wait to meet you! - Heidi
Im looking to buy a ukelele to teach myself/ watch videos to learn how to play it. this is really good advice thank you
If you want to buy a cheap one that isn't bad, I would choose a Shelby brand.
But you need to check if there is this brand in your country, because this is a Brazilian brand 🇧🇷 and if there is, buy one with Mahogany wood because it makes the sound better 👍🏼
OH THANK GOD FINALLY SOMEONE WHO SAYS IT RIGHT!
Love the presentation! Clear, honest, funny, human! If I wasn't in AZ, I'd stop on by!
12:32 HERE COMES THE SUN
princessdaisy300 MUM THE BEES ARE HOME
What I thought too!
Thanks. I think you just saved me from buying crap.
What I really want is an Uke that plays well but still comes in the fun rainbow colors.
Like I don't appreciate the assumption that I grew up just because I got older.
One you might like is the Kala Exotic Mahogany in blue (Ka-TEMB or KA-CEMB). Jason's not as big a fan of the stain on it, but I (Heidi) love it and we both agree the tone is great!
I just decided I wanted to get into uke one day. Went to my local music store (hour away) and they had the small $30 ones, than the sopranos were $150+ and then, at the very end I found a baritone for $90. That was all the money I had. Bought the baritone, and have been playing for 4 months now (having played guitar and bass in bands) and it’s definitely a gem. Not the best quality ever but has a lovely harmonic sound. I’d recommend baritone to most people who enjoy a deeper and smooth sound.
So glad I watched this before my purchase! Size matters! I'll be going to my local music store in the next few days and now have a much better understanding of what size Ukelele to search for, not to mention the construction materials that fit my budget. Thanks for posting!
I've recently purchased a couple (mid-range price) ukes lately. I'm a guitar guy, and wanted the " oh gee, a cute ukulele factor" when kitchen jamming. Because we all know ,ukulele's just make people smile. Your video is spot on. Not unlike the guitar world, parents spend $125 on the cheap guitar, and wind up with a useless dust collector with zero resale value. But then again, if they pay $400 (on a good guitar), the kid may have a much better chance at sticking with it and again, the resale may only be $275, so the parent loses $125 anyhow. Moral of the story... you often get what you pay for, so get something good , knowing the investment is likely to come with a loss regardless.
Thank you so much! I now know what I am looking for in a ukulele. Again, thank you!
Ha, great, RUclips recommends this video one hour after I bought a 15 buck ukulele at Aldi. 😅 I only bought it for decoration purposes and as a toy for my kids, but although it's not too well crafted, the wood is dull and feels like plywood and I'm not sure if strings mean to be from *that* kind of plastic... it actually sounds surprisingly nice. 😮 I hadn't expected that, when I tuned it just for fun. But I then googled some ukulele chords, practiced for a few minutes, taught my daughter three chords, and we sang ring of fire and follow me and amazing grace. I hadn't expected it to be that easy to play, too.
So it's good to know what to look for when we're going to buy a real ukulele next week. 😂
Thank you for your video, I wish I knew that before I start Ukulele 6-7 month ago. I first bought a tenor and paid a guitar teacher that knew nothing about Ukulele. Long story short, I listen to your other video and throw all I knew and practice to the garbage. Now I have a concert and it fit perfectly and feel more natural. No more pain from the wrong holding of the intrument.
Excellent video with very useful information. Thank you.
OMG! I just about passed out when I heard the tone of the KoAloha Ukulele. Just gorgeous!
Next, listen to a Kanilea - check out "Konoka & Azita" channel here on YT - it was because of their use of the Kanilea that I bought one.
My grandmother bought the one with turtles on it (2nd one) and I did lose interest in it. In fact, I lost interest in all stringed instruments until my 40's. Lately saw a young gal playing a bass Uke in a Bluegrass Band and it sounded GREAT! I have a mandolin now and having trouble with the steel strings because my fingers and a disagreement with a table saw. No feeling in the middle finger UNTIL I press a string. Great advise.
Thanks to this video, I upgraded from a soprano to a Kala Cedar Cutaway, and I'm having much more fun playing a size that accommodates my frame and fingers! I can't thank you enough!!!
Hooray!
I'm 5'1 and I bought a Freeman uke for about 80$ in BOLIVIA! It has all metal parts, mahogany wood and it sounds pretty good. I might move up to a better one further on but I'm in love with my soprano ukulele. It fits my little fingers perfectly :)
I bought a Fender and it is GREAT. Been playing guitar for 35 years though so I know what to get :-P The Fenders are amazingly nice.
Very good guide, I'm getting closer to parting with decent money after this.
Such an informative video! Thanks! Nice playing, too.
The size remarks hit some nerves. The advice seems good, and the tone difference is audible.
Thank you! I have been playing Ukulele for a while now and figured it is time to get a new one with proper intuition. But with your video, I also noticed that I also need one that is grown-up already.
All in all very informative and pleasant to watch.
I got a Lohanu Concert Ukulele from Amazon for like $80.00 I highly highly recommend.
That was my first uke - and it's quite good. So much so that my GF became jealous and bought one for herself. I then bought a very nice KALA, then went whole-hog and bought a Kanilea when I realized how very much I love playing the uke. "Uke acquisition syndrome" - there's no cure!
Very very very good video. The explanations, the tips, the extra details, the way of talking and the contend. Thank you so much!
Mahalo!
Mahalo! So glad you liked it!
@@lahainamusic7439 Gracias!
10:47 y’all I’m selling free replay buttons, this is so smooth and pretty!
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Goldie Doodles Art Indeed! The best one for me!
I just bought my first ukelele a month ago but I have no any idea by that time which ukelele is the best for me until I watched your video now. Feb 2020
Nice informative video, since I'm planning to buy one sometime soon. I think he's just pointing out that comfort is one of the keys to enjoy playing it especially for those starting out. If you're happy with the small size, go ahead. As long as you enjoy playing. 😄
well put.
You saved me and my wallet!!! I´m here in Helsinki and here are many Music-Shops all around... and i haded the idea to buy an ukulele... but Heaven... i didn´t knew what you had to think about it... at the end 65 Euro saved... Thank you so mutch... i´ll buy a right one in germany... ;D
Wantsome Funny I have a nice ukulele made in west Germany, Bruko a nice spruce top, well made, nice sound, not the least expensive, but has a good reputation.
Bought it from a garage sale fixed it myself. Bought strings and put them on it learned on my own with a cord sheet and some tutorials for songs on RUclips for the strumming pattern and order of chords then write it down. i have a Johnson uk-120 im 27 my mom comes to me and says i got this for a dollar can you do something with it i said yep. I play it daily. This was 2 to 3 weeks ago.
I got mine from “Long & McQuade” and mine is just fine
What are the cords for the melody you play. It's so nice !
Wow! Great job. I never played but I understand and trust you already your knowledge is obviously seasoned
As a helpful tip to any uke player; classical guitar strings are AMAZING alternatives to normal uke strings,and a few bucks cheaper. 1st e=G&A 2nd=E 3rd=C you can also use a wound D (4th) string for a low G.
Jason, you "meet & exceed all audience expectations" as Rush Limbaugh puts it. How? You elicit much input from a wide range of audience viewers who span from novices to those dedicated to the performance of various ukulele makes, models and quality of sound. It benefits me by knowing the various factors to consider in making an informed decision in purchasing a ukulele that is appropriate for me personally (arm length, as well as tone based on uke size are essential factors). Well done and thanks for sharing your expertise, Jason! Thanks to all those offering input based on discerning experience & insight. Very helpful!
Had much fun listening to your review...much many a lot of thankss...great professional review..blessings to U and your wife
Mine costed 35 pounds for a concert ukulele. I really liked it, it sounds really good and its great quality. It's great for beginners, of course when I get more experienced then I'll upgrade it for a much more expensive one
Aloha! After conversion to USD that sounds like you're right in the range for a decent starter uke. Enjoy!
Very informative. Thank you
i bought a AWESOME Ukulele for 50 bucks.
Lucero Rev what brand? Was it a kit? He doesn't specify "quality for price" including kit.
I bought mine from Amazon for 60 it's a soprano I've been playing it for 5 months.....it was a good beginner uke
Very informative video! Thank you
thank you for the good video and info...the sound.. I could hear the differences in them...
hi and thanks for the video
i want a Kala and all solid (like acacia -Mahogany)
but i hesitate between a Kala cutaway concert eq too
I got my first ukulele for $60 ish dollars , it was a simple design but amazing, my most recent one , $120 ish sounds the same , just fancier, both are wood Michelle concerts, it's just the brand and quality, I've had a cheap $20 soprano that sounded amazing
do you know this guy tyler joseph he is playing on a small ukulele when he is in concert
DolphinCloud Tyjo
yey :)
tyler usually plays a concert ukulele
:)Ø
Actually, Tyler's ukulele in Blurryface era is a tenor. A Kala Tenor.
Dang, as if I needed any more reason to go back to Lahaina -- loved that town, love Maui in general.
I've been thinking about learning `ukulele so this vid was extremely informative. Mahalo.
Great video! Very helpful. It really showed the differences between the price variations. Thank you!!
Thank you! This is an invaluable tutorial.
I am a basic guitarist but would like to try the Uke. Thanks for the advice
Great video for a parent looking into buying a ukelele. Thanks!
my ukulele is a Luna Soprano ukulele, and I actually think it's amazing. Highly recommend.
I can’t believe I missed you when I was on Maui last year! I really wanted to get a ukulele when I was there, but never saw any that weren’t toys. See you when I get back next year!
I brought a £45 ukulele and it is really good and decent and is the exact same as one that was £105 . It was also made out of mahogany
This is an awesome video🙏🙏❤ I wondered why holding my Makala felt unstable and awkward
Just bought a gently used Tenor Uke (Kala Ka-fmtg) for 175. The guy knew what he was talking about and said he got it for his son who never got into it so he wanted some money back. I did some research and the one I got is originally 326 dollars on the Kala website. I've been using a 30 dollar garbage one I got years ago from my parents so I'm EXTREMELY excited for this to get here.
Good for you!
I appreciate your time and effort to inform and educate! Thanks! However, you auditioned the more expensive models far more differently than the cheaper ones. You fingerpicked the more expensive ones which makes their sound more 'attractive' than the sound produced using a strumming pattern on the cheaper ones. I wish I could hear the more expensive ukuleles played in the same style as the cheaper ones, so a more accurate comparison could be recognized. Having taught guitar for 25 years, and hearing 1000's of guitars, I can safely say 2 things about sound quality; firstly, sound is a very individual thing. Some players prefer far different voicings than other players. Secondly, price is not something on which to determine sound quality. It's a very general factor. One of the sweetest sounding guitars I've heard was the day a student showed up with a $150.00 guitar. He really struck gold..... I've heard far more expensive guitars sound far inferior to this one. But again, I haven't forgotten that sound is a very individual thing, so there are no absolutes. I would like to suggest that the same can be said for ukuleles. In any case, thanks for taking the time to do this video. By the number of hits you've received, and the quality of your presentation, much was learned by many, from your efforts. With gratitude, Derrick
Aloha Derrick! Thank you for the detailed and really nuanced feedback. Right now, Jason's working on an instructional book project, so we haven't made updated versions of these videos, but we'll definitely take your feedback about picking versus strumming to heart.
I agree wholeheartedly about tone coming from the instrument rather than the price point; this video is intended to demonstrate what the different ukulele price ranges are like and what you get when you jump up. In the shop, we find that a lot of people, even guitarists, are surprised that ukuleles come in different quality ranges at all. The sampling here is only about a 5th or 6th of the variety of ukuleles we carry, so there are voicings for everyone (warm vs. bright, sustain vs. forward tone, etc).
Again, Mahalo for your feedback and for giving us great ideas for what new videos we can make.
Aloha from Maui,
Heidi
We bought a Baritone Uke in your store during our last vacation there in Maui. We got it for $187 including a case and it’s brand is Kala Uke. It’s sounds great!
Wish i saw this before i wasted my money. Now I know! Thank you!
Guess I'm insane I paid $150.00 for mine it's perfect, no plastic and all wood.
What type did you buy?
mytube821 I paid £70
Ha ha. I went into Lahaina Music and bought a $1000+ uke... 1st uke but I play fingerstyle guitar and have for 25+ years. I am having an absolute blast with it.
Aloha Jason. I lived on Maui for a couple years. Then moved to North Shore Oahu. I enjoyed the free lessons you did at the Cannery...are you still doing that? That was nice of you to do... especially for free. The tourists enjoyed it for sure.
Don't pay attention to the haters on this.
Keyboard warriors for sure...lol.
Hope all is going well for you.
Jim (Maui webs)
Aloha! The free lessons are still going strong, and we've actually added more. www.lahainamusicmaui.com/lessons/
Informative + love your sense of humour!
this is explains why my favorite uke is my cheapest. It is perfect for sitting back and quietly practicing.
so helpful!! what is the name of the $208 Uke?
Thank you for the video, it was most informative and has stopped me making an impulse buy. If your shop was in Melbourne i'd be happy to buy from you.
Hey thanks much for the informative video.
Glad it was helpful!
I am definitely a beginner and I appreciate all the information you provided in this video I now know what to look for quality wise.
Hahaha...thankss brother...a pleasure ! Lovv philosophy too...it fits music perfectly..heart and mind!
I just bought my ukulele before watching this😀
Thank you for this Great content, enjoyed watching it and love it
To be honest I'd definitely recommend getting the cheapest ukelele to start off with (that actually plays).
You have trained ears, and practice and you know you like playing, but most people don't.
I got my first one for 10 pounds at a grocery store and to be honest, one of the best investments I made since it was cheap enough to buy without even thinking about it, and it was good enough for the first few months of learning where I would've sounded like crap anyway. My brother made the mistake of buying a 250 pound guitar staight off the bat, and he sold it a few months later because he never touched the stuff.
him: aloha
me: G'DAY MMATEE
Ukulele sizes doesn’t Match human sizes it’s not clothing, The reason why so many people want to play ukulele is because most are looking for that classic ukulele sound or they want to pick up an string instrument. and your also trying to convince people just because something is expensive it’s going to be the best, just Because some Ukes are more expensive doesn’t always mean the quality will be there. There are plenty of ukes for starters that are in the 50-60 dollar range that are great for beginners or someone looking for something more affordable, I suggest the ranch concert ukulele for those who already have the basics down and as for beginners the hola soprano uke. Also another tip if your are purchasing online go out to your local music store first to try and test out the ukes so you can have knowledge of what each uke will sound like because every uke is made differently and sounds differently, once you have an idea of what they sound like you can go from there and purchase the uke online or from your local music store, and there are so many great resources for learners such as Yousician and RUclips and even fender provides lessons online or see if your local music store is hosting classes or uke events.
That helps a lot in my hunt for another ukulele, thanks! I am currently playing a Mahalo Soprano uke, and about 5 foot 8 (Still growing).
A very nice presentation. keep up the good work!
I bought a uke in Hawaii and haven't been able to find a uke teacher. So frustrating! I'm always watching uke videos and tutorials but I need a real hands on teacher. Thanks for showing the different ukes. Mine is an Islander MC4 mahogany which cost about $120.00. I think it is a decent starting uke if I can only find a teacher.
Thank you very much for taking the time to make this video. Very helpful.
No Kanilea models? Love my K-2T!
Started playing ukes after hearing/seeing Konoka & Azita. here on YT. They convinced me to quickly step up the the Kanilea, since they've appeared with Kanilea.
Aloha! Right now, we don't carry Kanilea in stock, but we like 'em a lot! For the purposes of this video, we wanted to highlight some different price points and wood types, rather than covering every model made (or even in our store, for that matter).
I play the harp but I would love to play the ukulele. but here in Louisiana I am not sure. but still I am looking for a ukulele say with low G string, your technique is all most like the lute which l love as well. I have been playing the harp for just over 20 years. I wanted to learn classical guitar but I don't like Spanish so that went out the door. but when I saw Elvis Presley in blue Hawaii play the ukulele I thought that would be perfect to go along with my beautiful harp.
Terrific video very intested in a buying one like right now
If you're still interested, we just launched our online store and will be adding more models all throughout this week!