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Not only can a ukulele make beautiful music in and of itself, but it is also a great way for children to familiarize themselves with instruments. In the test, we, therefore, took a close look at popular models for children and put the three best children’s ukuleles in our list of the best for you. Before you buy a model, however, you should know the different types, deal with the processing in general, and know the rough price range in which a ukulele for children should be.
The test has also shown that cheap children’s ukulele is usually completely sufficient, especially for the beginning.
What Are the Best Kids Ukuleles in India?
Hape Ukulele Guitar
The model from Hape prevailed as the test winner. Although it is marketed as a kid’s guitar, it is a four-string ukulele. It measures a total of 53.5 centimetres in length, so it is exactly in the range of classic soprano ukuleles.
It is solidly made, brightly painted, and is recommended for about three years. Most children will not be able to play on it until they are five or six years old. But even the very little ones already have a lot of fun playing the instrument and plucking the strings.
Due to the sturdy construction made of wood (the body is made of linden wood), plastic elements, and metal, you can’t break a lot, even if things get a little rough. The strings are all made of nylon, are easy to play on, and do not hurt your fingers so quickly. The mechanics are solid, yet smooth-running. A bag is not included in the scope of delivery and unfortunately, a belt cannot be attached either, but at under 500 grams, it is so light that this is not necessary.
The bottom line is that the model sounds good, offers a very good price-performance ratio, and is therefore highly recommended.
Janod Make Ukulele Music
The manufacturer markets the instrument as a confetti ukulele, which goes very well with the colourful paintwork. Within the confetti series, Janod markets an entire music collection for children that teaches young musicians how to playfully learn and use instruments.
It is made of wood and is ideal for children from around 3-4 years. Overall, the sound is still good, but the workmanship leaves something to be desired here and there so that it is by no means suitable for very small children, who sometimes handle the instrument a little rougher.
Compared to a real ukulele, it does not sound quite as clean and the mechanics are not so good either, because the tuned strings warp faster. It should therefore be seen more as a toy to introduce the little ones to the operation and handling of such an instrument.
Baby Einstein Magic Touch Ukulele Wooden Musical Toy
The ukulele by Baby Einstein measures 43 centimetres in length, making it suitable for children from around three to four years of age, but also older children and adults because it is not a downright children’s instrument.
The fingerboard and bridge are made of WPC, a composite material made of plastic and wood, the body and neck are made of lime wood and the scope of delivery includes the instrument itself, a bag, and three picks.
The mechanics work well, because the tuning is kept well, but can also be easily changed. The mechanics may be a bit stiff for smaller children, but this also keeps the tension of the nylon strings better.
The price-performance ratio is very good overall, the ukulele looks noble and high quality due to the brown paintwork and solid workmanship but is still very cheap as a set. Optionally, you can also purchase the complete set including a textbook with CDs and tuners for a very small surcharge.
Buyers Info
Different types of ukuleles
Ukuleles only have four strings compared to guitars. In terms of design, children’s ukuleles differ from classic ukuleles only in that they are usually slightly smaller. However, most of the children’s ukuleles in the test were based on classic soprano ukuleles in terms of size.
Ukuleles are divided into four common sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. The GCEA mood is usually used for the first three variants. This corresponds to the tuning of the first four guitar strings, with the G side usually being tuned an octave higher. The ukuleles of different sizes sound different because the strings (scale length) are longer or shorter.
Smaller soprano ukuleles are recommended for children, as the little ones can better reach the fingerboard and strings. After all, arms and fingers are shorter than in adults. At the same time, this also means that you do not necessarily have to buy an explicitly designated ukulele for children, because a conventional soprano ukulele works just as well. It is also the most popular and usually the cheapest of all types, which also makes it interesting for children.
Material and Quality
In the case of instruments for children the look and appearance also play a major role, so that the children accept and play them. They are therefore often brightly painted and decorated. However, it is not advisable to use ukuleles for children whose bodies are made of plastic, because they always sound empty and simply noticeably worse than wooden instruments.
Depending on the price range, a ukulele is either made of solid wood or veneered. In general, models with a solid top are a bit louder and more dynamic, i.e. offer a slightly larger sound spectrum. However, there is nothing wrong with plywood either, because it is a little less sensitive to moisture and usually cheaper. A solid wood ukulele is also no better per se than a model made of plywood.
Regarding the types of wood, there is a wide range of woods that are used for the instruments, as well as for guitars. This is almost a science, and everyone swears by something different here. Mostly cheaper models are made from cheap Asian woods such as spruce or cedar. The sound images are already very good here too. Mango, acacia, or other woods are also used and each one has its specific sound properties. Do not delve too deeply into this topic, especially with a children’s ukulele, because this criterion is certainly not the decisive one in the end.
It is much more important than the body is smooth, the edges are well processed, and the paint or decoration has been applied cleanly. There must be no glue anywhere and the machine heads should be solid, suitable for children’s hands, easily adjustable, but at the same time firm to keep the strings at the correct tension.
Price range
The price range for ukuleles is very wide. In the test, however, it became clear that both good soprano ukuleles and models for children usually start between 1000 and 3000 Rupees. This is a price range where you can get good models to start with. That is why we focused purely on models under 2500 Rupees, even if there are sometimes much more expensive variants.
Most people imagine a children’s ukulele to be a solid, inexpensive, and clean-sounding instrument for children’s hands. This is available in this price range.