Now you’ve got your nice new shiny ukulele, it’s definitely a good idea to look into suitable strings.
Strings that come with beginner uke’s are generally poor. The last thing you need is a new instrument that doesn’t stay in tune. Especially if you’re learning. It can get monotonous constantly tuning up.
You won’t believe how much quality strings improve the sound. Let’s look at the essential steps you can take before you buy strings.
Buying The Correct Strings For Your Ukulele
Uke strings come in many different types and lengths. It’s important to buy the correct ones for your instrument. It’s not as simple as buying a packet and cutting them to size.
Let’s look at the factors we‘ll need to consider:
Scale Length/Overall Length
Ukulele Type
Scale Length
Overall Length
Tuning
Soprano
13”
21”
G-C-E-A
Concert
15″
23”
G-C-E-A
Tenor
17”
26”
G-C-E-A
Baritone
19”
30”
D-G-B-E
Most string packaging shows the sizes of the strings or the ukulele type on the front. If you follow this table above, you now know which length strings to buy.
Nylon is the most popular string type but there are others that you may want to try.
The good thing is the best uke strings are cheap to buy, so I would advise trying out a few sets to find your own sound. Here are the various types of strings (or Ukulele String Names):
Nylon Ukulele Strings
Nylon Polymer strings come in many different types. The overall sound differs depending on the brand.
Nylon strings do stretch over a period of time, you may need to keep tuning it in the beginning.
Humidity does not affect the tuning but a change in temperature can. Perfect for beginners and children.
Fluorocarbon Ukulele Strings
If you’re into fishing, then you may know fluorocarbon is used as a fishing line. You get a brighter sound than nylon and the temperature doesn’t affect the tuning as much. So if you play ukulele outside a lot, then I would try a pack of fluorocarbon.
Titanium Ukulele strings
Titanium Ukulele strings offer more volume and a brighter tone than nylon. They are also stronger and much more durable. Some of the best uke strings are made from titanium. Best for the intermediate players, not so much for a starter.
Wound Nylon Ukulele Strings
The inner part of the string contains nylon which is wrapped with a polymer-made winding material. Usually found on baritone or tenor ukes.
Wound Metal Ukulele Strings
Wound metal strings are made from copper or aluminum. Typically found on the larger size uke. Can be squeaky to play when fretting the notes.
Steel Ukulele Strings
Steel strings are rare on a uke unless it’s been built that way or set up by a professional. If you were to revert from nylon to steel, you may damage your instrument as the steel-string exerts a lot of tension on the neck.
A Quick Glance At The Pros And Cons
Nylon (+)
Soft on the fingers, great for kids/beginners
Warm sounds at a nice volume
Classic ukulele tone
Not affected by humidity and won’t deteriorate as quick as steel
Nylon (–)
Affects tuning when there’s a change in temperature
Not good if you play near an air conditioning unit
Fluorocarbon (+)
Not affected by temperature changes, so stays in tune better
Can be cut to the desired length unlike wound strings
Clearer, louder sound
Fluorocarbon (–)
None
Titanium (+)
More durable than Nylon and Fluorocarbon
As they’re made of metal you’ve got much less chance of snapping a string
Brighter and louder than the competition
Titanium (–)
None
Steel Strings (+)
Offers a different tone to the standard mellow island tone
Much brighter tones than the competition
Steel Strings (–)
Best used on acoustic guitars
Can damage smaller ukes
Squeaky
Wound Nylon Strings (+)
Used only on larger Ukes, such as Baritone or Tenor. Produces great bass sound on the lower strings which smaller ukes cannot match
Wound Nylon Strings (–)
Cannot cut the strings to length as they’ll fray
Squeaky when fretting, can be annoying after a while
Steel Strings (+)
These are primarily intended for larger ukes and when musicians need a boost in the lower end of the frequency range
Steel Strings (–)
Again, can be squeaky unless you like the mousey tone
Pros: Great Strings For Any Size Uke, Pro Sound, Good Mixture Of Other Tunings available, Produced By A Most Respected Names In String Production, Superior Sound To Nylon
Cons: None
Aquila ukulele strings a very popular in the ukulele world. They come at a very affordable price and boast elevated resistance wear under tension.
The pack I’ve reviewed here is for a ‘Soprano’, but if you have a Concert, Tenor or Baritoneyou can easily follow the links and choose the correct string type.
Aquila has its own ‘Nygut’ brand of strings. These strings and made from three synthetic components, the first of this kind to boast a near vintage gut string tone. They mirror the original 19th and 20th-century gut strings.
The Aquila stay in tune longer, offer more accurate fret intonation, and are very stable through moisture changes. A professional, clear, and concise sound.
The more expensive uke’s are sold with Aquila strings already fitted, this tells you a lot about the quality.
A good starting string for every player. Can’t go far wrong with Aquila.
Pros: Brighter Than Aquila, Various Types Of String Type Available, Modern Tone, Covers all Uke Type Instruments
Cons: None
D’Addario are a huge player in the string market. They cater mostly to guitar strings, but also produce accessories and strings for orchestral instruments.
These ‘Low G Tenor’ strings are the pack I’m reviewing, but D’Addario also has this range for Soprano/Concert and Baritone.
These ‘Pro-Arte Carbon’ ukulele strings are designed for the perfect blend of tone and projection. These fluorocarbon sets are ideal for progressive ukulele players looking for a bright, modern sound.
If you’re already a guitar player, I would suggest these are a good match for you. This particular type of string would suit an intermediate to advanced player.
They provide a bright warm sound, that sustains better than the nylon-based strings.
The Fluorocarbon string are a little better at staying in tune. 100% worth trying these if you’re still trying to find your own sound.
Whether you’re starting out, looking for strings for your kids, or a seasoned pro, D’Addario can cater for you.
Pros: Great Price, Anchored Strings, Trustworthy Brand, Clear And Loud.
Cons: Black Strings Look A Bit Ugly
Ernie Ball strings are another brand guitarist’s will know well. I sometimes use the Slinky range of strings from Ernie Ball on my electric guitar.
When I saw these I thought, they must be of a good standard. You kinda know what you’re going to get.
These particular strings come in black color and instantly feel like a fluorocarbon to me.
Straight away I can tell the difference in volume and clarity compared to the ‘traditional’ nylon sound. They have a warmer, darker tone to them.
On the packet, they advertise a ‘Ball End Nylon’. The strings basically have a small plastic washer at the end. This acts as an anchor and works brilliantly if you have a pin bridge (like an acoustic guitar).
You can still fit the strings in the traditional figure 8 technique (just snip the ball off). I like this anchor feature as it’s very much like the guitar-based strings, it’s also easy for a complete beginner to string a ukulele.
Pros: Value For Money, Mellow And True, Longer Resonance, Reliable Brand, Better For Staying In Tune
Cons: None
If you haven’t heard of Martin & Co, they produce outstanding acoustic guitars. Naturally, they’d turn their hand to strings and eventually ukulele strings.
Martin uke strings are capable of being drawn out or stretched to improve tuning and consistent true tone.
Once again these strings are made of Fluorocarbon, so you’re guaranteed a rich amplified tone. The strings allow less elongation and therefore resist tone loss from stretching.
Martin Fluorocarbon strings are denser and thinner than traditional nylon. This results in a more powerful tone.
Players looking for a warmer tone and softer touch strings should check the martin range out.
Pros: Strings Are Labelled, 2 Packs For The Price Of 1, Felt Picks Included, Great For Kids,
Cons: Not As Reliable, Lower Quality Sound
Chengu is not a household ukulele name, in fact, they make all types of random products from China.
The reason I’ve added these strings into the review is; there will be a lot of you out there who’ve just purchased a lower-priced uke, you may need some replacement strings.
Your toddler may want to give the ukulele a go, but you don’t want to pay too much at this time.
These nylon strings are a better replacement than the ones that come on the uke from the factory. The fact that you get two packs for such a lower price is an absolute winner.
This basic pack is fine for someone who is finding out if they want to pursue playing. They are nylon and soft in touch, so your kids can bash away, and if a string breaks, you have plenty of spare.
Although the quality is lower than the rest of the reviewed strings, the Chengu option is very popular, and a safe bet for beginners.
D’Addario Ukulele Strings are my clear winner. Simply because they provide strings for all ukuleles/alternative tuning and the whole spectrum of sound.
From classical warm beach sounds to clear resonated concert tone.
They’re a brand that you can trust. They cover the soft thin Soprano ukulele strings for children right up to the pro player. The price is also pretty competitive with the rest of the competition.
>>Simply click on your instrument below to check the price on amazon<<
All Uke strings were produced from ‘gut’. Sheep’s small intestines!
Whilst a sheep eats, the lining of the intestine expands and shrinks after digestion. This is what makes natural sheep gut strings so desirable to manufacturers.
I hope you’ve learnt something from our best ukulele strings review and can go away with a little more confidence.
At the end of the day, tone is something only you can judge. It’s your instrument, get yourself a few packets and see for yourself. There are plenty of decent strings on the market today.
The cost is super low and by far the best way to find out what suits YOU.
Lee has been playing guitar for over 25 years. In the 1990's he made a few TV appearances in London and supported a few big bands at festivals. He's recently sung on radio and worked as a full-time guitarist/singer. Lee is the founder of Authority Guitar, a site where he wants readers to enjoy every aspect of learning the guitar.
