Ukulele Diary: Buying a Ukulele

You've done your research and have all this information about which kind of ukulele you want to buy when BAM so many choices in your face when you get to the store. Then there's this little voice in your head going:

What to do?! 
What to buy?!
OH MY GOSH THAT'S SO PRETTY!

The Store

Hold up. I get it you can get all googly-eyed but no, no, no don't be fooled by the number of choices. The #1 thing to keep in mind when going to buy a ukulele for the first time is to go to a store that specialises in ukuleles or has good knowledge on it. Depending on where you are, do a little research on which stores are good ukulele stores around your area. I live in Singapore so I can recommend two stores in Singapore:

• Davis Guitar Music Centre 
  Address: 3 Coleman Street #B1-40/41
  Peninsula Shopping Complex
  
  This is a great store for those who are just starting the ukulele. They've a good range of budget ukuleles, sopranos starting from SGD29. The staff was very helpful, friendly and had good knowledge on the ukulele. Peninsula Shopping Complex itself is packed with stores that sell great ukuleles, so do some looking around in the area as well. Some stores even offer free gigbags (the soft case which you store your uke in) and chord books.
• Ukulele Movement
  Address:
  Address: 66 Kampong Bugis, Level 5, Kallang Rivergreen Building
  
  Personally, I've never been there but, it's where it all started in Singapore. It's THE ukulele place. I've looked around their website and they offer workshops for all ages. THE store to start off the whole journey. I didn't go there since: a) It was too far from my house and b) they don't sell the cheap ukuleles I was looking for

Looking Around

When you look around keep these in mind:

1. Ask for help but don't pretend you don't know shit. 
2. Try out different size ukuleles to see which one feels right in your hands. Maybe you were going for a soprano but right now a concert feels better in your hands, then go for it. A concert really is not as different it just has a higher range of notes and (as the store staff told me) a lower, fuller tone. 
3. Keep an open mind. You might've a particular brand that you're ready to buy but remember to see what the store already has. They might even have something better than your original plan. 
4. Look around at other stores ,if possible. This store might have the one you've been searching for but if something in your gut says to look around ,go with it. 
5. Make sure your budget includes a ukulele and essential accessories. These accessories include a gig bag and tuner.

Deciding The One

So you've taken a look around now when it comes to the right one I just have one important tip, go with your gut. Go. With. Your. Gut. Nothing more. A sales staff can stuff so many options down your throat that you drown in them but once you see the one that feels right you'll it in your gut. Of course other tips include:

• Stick to your budget. No matter how much you want that ridiculously expensive ukulele it's only worth it when you get better. Plus, if you find that the ukulele is not the instrument is for you at least you didn't dig your piggy bank a grave. I can't stress this enough. 
• Avoid ukuleles with fancy shapes and detailing. A little bit of colour and design is good but is too much is just a distraction from playing. The flying-v shaped ukuleles should be avoided for beginners since they poke you and is just plain uncomfortable.
• You can play it. Yes, seriously. If the edges are rough and the strings sound pathetic but it looks good then it's not worth it (unless you're buying just for that).
• The fretboard doesn't have the metal things stick out. 
• The strings sound good.
• The tuners are geared. You can buy friction tuners but they tend to get out of tune quickly (as the store staff said) and unless they're quality friction tuners get geared ones. Friction tuners (like on violins) rely purely on the friction between string and pathetic peg of wood for it to be in tune. Gears (like on guitars) rely on the tiny gears plus the metal pegs. 

A Mini You

Not exactly a mini you but a representation of you. There are so many ukuleles out there that you bound to find one that represents you. The cuteness and the look really encourages you to play it more often. It's like the wands in Harry Potter, the uke choose you. *dramatic music* No two are the same! Ok... that's taking it too far, but you get the idea. This is one of the greatest thing about ukes is that unlike other instruments you can actually customise and find one that suits you.

Ni