The ukulele for kids: a first instrument guide

The ukulele is a small instrument with four strings, from Hawaii. A child strums it with one hand and presses the strings with the other to make chords. It is light, the strings are soft, and a beginner can play a song in the first week. It suits children of five or six and up.

Quick facts

• Family: strings, plucked or strummed
• From: Hawaii, in the 1880s
• Strings: four, made of nylon or a similar soft material
• Usual tuning: G, C, E, and A
• Sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone
• Good first age: five or six and up

Where it came from

In 1879, a ship from the Portuguese island of Madeira reached Hawaii. Some of the workers on board had brought small guitars from home. Hawaiian makers built their own version, and the king of Hawaii, Kalākaua, had it played at his court.

The name “ukulele” is often said to mean “jumping flea.” One story says the name fits the way a player’s fingers hop along the strings.

The four sizes

Size	Length	Who it suits
Soprano	About 21 inches	Young children. This is the classic size.
Concert	About 23 inches	Older children and adults
Tenor	About 26 inches	Players with larger hands
Baritone	About 30 inches	Players heading for the guitar. It is tuned like the top four strings of a guitar.

A soprano is the usual first ukulele for a child.

How to tune it

Hold the ukulele in playing position. From the string nearest your chin to the string nearest the floor, the notes are G, C, E, and A.

The G string is tuned higher than the C string beside it. That is what gives the ukulele its bright sound.

A clip-on tuner or a tuning app makes the job simple. New strings stretch, so a new ukulele needs tuning often for the first week or two.

The first four chords

Chord	Fingers	How
C	One	Press the string nearest the floor at the third fret
A minor	One	Press the string nearest your chin at the second fret
F	Two	Add a finger to A minor: the E string at the first fret
G7	Three	A small triangle of fingers on the first and second frets

Start with C. Strum down with the thumb, four slow strums, and sing.

Read chords explained for kids.

First songs

One chord. A child who knows C can play along with these.

• “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
• “Frère Jacques”

Two chords. Add G7, and these open up.

• “Skip to My Lou”
• “London Bridge”
• “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
• “The Wheels on the Bus”

What it teaches

• A steady beat. The strumming hand keeps time like a drummer.
• Chords. A child hears how a song changes when the chord changes.
• Singing while playing. Few first instruments allow this.
• Finger strength. The pressing hand gets ready for a guitar, a violin, or a cello.

Buying a first ukulele

• Buy an instrument, not a toy. A toy ukulele will not stay in tune. Ask at a music shop.
• Check the tuning pegs. They need to turn with ease and hold.
• Check the strings. They need to sit low enough for small fingers to press.
• Add a tuner. A clip-on tuner saves time every day.

Lessons or no lessons?

Many children start in a group class at school or in the community. Some schools teach the ukulele in music class. A few lessons at the start help with how to hold it and how to change chords.

What comes next

Some children stay with the ukulele for life. Others move on.

• Guitar. Guitar chords use many of the same finger shapes. Read the classical guitar for kids and guitar sizes for kids.
• Violin or cello. The left hand has learned to press strings.
• Piano. The child knows what chords are.

Things to do together

Strum and sing. Pick a one-chord song. One person strums, and everyone sings.

Chord change game. Call out “C” or “A minor.” The player switches as fast as they can.

Echo strum. Strum a short rhythm. Your child strums it back.

Tune it by ear. After the tuner says the strings are right, pluck them in order and sing the four notes.

Write a song. Pick two chords. Make up words about the day.

Print and play

Mark each day of playing on a 30-day practice chart. Read the easiest instruments for a child to learn, the best instruments for 3, 4, and 5 year olds, and how to choose a first instrument.