Replacing the strings or rather say upgrading the strings is the easiest way you can to change the sound quality of your ukulele. If you bought a cheap ukulele that came with plastic strings. You can change the strings to make the ukulele better.
Before we jump into the main topic that what is the Best Strings Ukulele, It is really important to note that varying ukulele types require different strings.
As we know every uke type has a different scale length, the main difference between string types is just that – The Length..!!
Let’s have a look at the most common ukulele sizes
To be honest, Better strings are not in any way magical strings. They won’t make your $20 ukulele sounds like a $500 ukulele. But, surely, it will be a vast improvement. It may not sound perfect but it will be better compared to the cheap ones.
Soprano (standard)
The soprano is the most common ukulele size in the line. The body measures 21 inches and the scale is 13 inches long. This uke offers a bright sound, so coupling them with suitable strings has an impact on the sound they provide.
Tuning – GCEA or ADF#B
Concert
The concert is a bit bigger than the soprano. It measures 23 inches of body and 15 inches. The sound is a bit deeper. It can get louder than the soprano. The sound you get is pretty similar, so the same thing goes for the strings.
Tuning – GCEA or ADF#B
Tenor
Tenor features a 26 inches body and 17 inches scale making this uke an ultimate great option for anyone with slightly larger hands. The larger body resonates more, thus the sound is noticeably deeper and more resonant.
Tuning – GCEA, ADF#B OR DGBE
Baritone
The baritone is one of the largest of the whole bunch. A 30-inch body and 19 inches of scale given the baritone uke the looks and sounds of an acoustic guitar. Capable of delivering even more low-end than the tenor, it is a great addition to an acoustic band.
Tuning – DGBE
Now you know the sizes of ukuleles and the tuning, but before reading any strings review or making buying decision you must consider the strings – types, quality, made of Pros & Cons.
It has chance that the strings your ukulele is the same with are nylon strings. But do you think? Are all ukulele strings nylon?
NO..!!
Let’s have a look at the quick types of ukulele strings comparison below
It is the most common string type. There are also more different ones, varying in the material of choice, to the method chosen for wounding them.
When it comes to materials, there are many options.
Fluorocarbon (plastic) strings
Fluorocarbon strings are durable, low-maintenance, and very high quality. These strings stretch very little over time, allowing them to stay in tune regardless of the environment which surrounds them.
Inexpensive, suitable options for beginner ukulele players. With a brighter and punchier tone than most other types of strings, they are on the louder side.
It produces the sound like the nylon ones, and they don’t stress out your fingers too much.
The best thing about this string is if you accidentally buy longer strings, you can cut them to size with pair of scissors. Just pay attention to the tuning they are meant for.
Gut strings
As the name suggests, it is made of the guts of different animals. These strings were the first ones to appear alongside acoustic instruments.
- Most musicians prefer this material as it offers a more rich and more complex sound than nylon or titanium.
- Gut strings don’t last as long as metal or plastic.
- These strings are pretty expensive.
Nylon strings
Nylon strings are the most commonly used type of ukulele strings on the market. This is for two reasons:
- Maximum ukuleles are initially strung with nylon strings,
- Nylon strings are extremely affordable.
One of the problems with nylon strings is that they tend to stretch out over time. This can make it difficult to keep in tune. But, if you are a beginner and just starting to learn the instrument it will be an excellent choice.
Titanium strings
If you are looking to make your uke as loud as possible, you should go for the Titanium strings. These strings are more like guitar strings and are capable of projecting across a hall room.
These strings are durable and low maintenance, they pack a brighter punch. They are very similar to fluorocarbon (plastic) strings.
Steel strings
Steel strings are not common for the ukes but the acoustic guitars. On occasion, you will see a ukulele based strung with steel strings. This is when that instrument is a hybrid with a guitar, banjo, or another stringed instrument.
Wound nylon strings
Wound nylon strings process a nylon base. This base is completely wrapped in a synthetic polymer which helps to bring a bass-like low-end to the sound of the uke.
Wound nylon strings have a warm and full tone that comes across as downright pleasant. As a beginner, there’s no reason to stay away from wound nylon.
Wound metal strings
Wound metal strings are very similar to wound nylon strings. That procedure has a full, bass-like sound. However, where wound nylon strings have a warm tone, wound metal strings have a punchy tone.
Because they are wound, they can make a bit of scraping noise as you run your finger across them.
So many strings options, right..!!
Now you are might be thinking about which types of strings you should go for. Which will be the best strings for the ukulele?
or You further thinking, Which is the best ukulele strings soprano? Which are the best ukulele strings for concerts? Which are the best ukulele strings for tenor? Which are the best strings for the baritone ukulele?
Okay, let’s dive into the solutions for your queries.
Best Strings for Ukulele | Review & Buying Guide 2023
Starting from the smallest ukulele size, let’s check out the best ukulele strings soprano available on the market.
Aquila AQ-4 (Nygut) | Soprano Ukulele Strings
High-G
Aquila is a very famous brand for strings not only for the ukulele but also for other instruments. Aquila is known for its high-quality strings.
This AQ-4 soprano ukulele string provides more clear and more soft sound than your regular nylon or PVDF or fluorocarbon strings. As they are made of nylgut, a special polymer that imitates the characteristics of old-school gut strings.
Aquila is accurately gauged and manufactured. The durable and best part is affordable. It will be one of the best ukulele strings soprano.
Pros
- Bright and clear sound
- Fast settling
Cons
Some users didn’t like the sound of the C string
** If you are looking for a solid-sounding pair and durable strings, this Aquila AQ-4 is a really good option to consider.
D’Addario EJ87S (Titanium) | Soprano Ukulele Strings
D’Addario is a very famous company, especially among guitar players. Their products are widely used.
This EJ875 Titanium soprano ukulele string is made in the US. It offers the most favorable performance and quality. This Titanium is made of monofilament material for brightness and projection.
Pros
- The snappy and bright tone
- Very dynamic and rich in volume
Cons
They can feel a bit sharp
**Many users found that these strings made their ukulele sound quality much better.
Let’s move ahead to the best ukulele strings for the concert. Want to know what fits your ukulele best?
Aquila Red Series AQ-86 | Concert Ukulele Strings Low-G (Sale 12%)
Aquila brand with its Red series strings offers a more comfortable playing experience coupled with a greater sound and volume.
Enhanced intonations are achieved as all of the strings are similar in diameter and differ in material density.
This Aquila red series string feels way more responsive across the fretboard and offer a unique environment for your skills to shine through.
Pros
- High-quality materials
- Bright and snappy sound
- Uniform feel
Cons
- A bit more expensive
**If you are a bit advanced ukulele player this Aquila AQ-86 would be the best option. You must check the user’s reviews.
Martin M600 | Concert Ukulele Strings
Martin is a great solution for your concert ukulele if fluorocarbon strings are a thing. The manufacturing process used by Martin makes these strings perfect for precise tuning as the higher tensile strength gives them the ability to hold tuning for extended periods.
Martin M600 Offers a rich, amplified tone, designed to give you a very clear, mellow, and warm sound. The M600 will shock you with its performance and its affordable price.
Pros
- Amazing build quality
- Improved harmonic output
- Hold the tuning quite nicely
Cons
These tend to be a bit thinner than other strings
**If you are looking for the best ukulele strings for concert that hold the tuning amazingly, you should go for this Martin M600.
If you are looking for the best ukulele strings for tenor check these ukulele strings.
Aquila 115U(Lava Nylgut) | Tenor Ukulele Strings
Low-G
This Aquila 115U with Lava Nylgut is around double the price than the previous ones, but they offer a really unique playing experience.
The Aquila Lava series featuring gray-black colored strings that are inspired by volcanic rocks of Hawaii. They provide a very solid and vibrant tone. This strongly made in Italy.
The material used in Aquila is the famous super nylgut, which imitates of far more expensive gut strings. This Low-G is wound as well but in this case in silver copper for added durability as well as sustain.
Pros
- Premium Materials
- Cool gray-black design
- Very nice sustain and projection
Cons
- Can be a bit stiff
**If you can go for the slightly higher price point, we would recommend the Aquila 115U (Lava Nylgut) the best strings for tenor.
D’Addario EJ65TLG Pro-Arté Custom Extruded (Nylon) | Tenor Ukulele Strings
Low-G
These D’Addario EJ65TLG tenor ukulele strings are carefully and precisely manufactured to provide you with the best playing experience.
The whole process of manufacturing these is guided and inspired by D’Addario’s expert ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro. So, you can expect an improvement in your sound quality.
This pack of tenor ukulele strings is the Low-G strings which are wound and it will give you an extra deep tone and sustain.
Pros
- Mellow Tone
- Solid sustain
- Durable
Cons
- Some may find the G string too loud
**If you are want something with unsurpassed intonation and a projecting acoustic tone then you definitely should check these EJ65TLG Tenor Ukulele strings.
Now, the final one the largest one of the bunch, let’s check out the best strings for the baritone ukulele.
Martin M630 | Baritone Ukulele Strings
This M630 is made from clear fluorocarbon. These strings are guaranteed to perform nicely for a longer period.
These strings wrapped with Aluminum wire alongside silver-plated copper is used to give your ukulele that needed punch in the low end.
These strings are cheap but they don’t squeak as much as other wound strings tend to. They can be a bit harder to tune at first but once you have given them a proper stretch they hold the tuning amazingly very well.
Pros
- Nice feel under the fingers
- Easy to play
- Vibrant and clear sound
- Consistent tuning
Cons
- Some users found the wound string unraveled on the end
**This will be a budget best or would say a budget-friendly string as the best string for baritone ukulele.
D’Addario EJ65B Pro-Arté (Nylon) | Baritone Ukulele Strings
We already mentioned the characteristics of this D’Addario Company and there is no doubt that they provide the best strings for guitars and ukuleles.
However, there is a little different but important between tenor and baritone and this are optimization. This EJ65B is perfectly optimized for baritone ukuleles. Especially for the standard tuning – DGBE.
D’Addario Pro-Artes extruded clear nylon strings, which will give the ukulele a very crisp and balanced sound and pleasing highs.
As the Baritone ukulele needs a good boost in low-end, the 3rd & 4th strings feature a nylon core wrapped with a silver-plated copper wound.
Pros
- Very durable and long-lasting
- Clear and balanced sound
- Nice contrast between the nylon and wound strings
Cons
- The wound strings can be noticeably louder than the nylon ones
**If you are looking for the best strings for baritone ukulele which are also pretty affordable then you check out this D’Addario EJ65B Pro-Arté Custom Extruded (Nylon)
In conclusion
Above this whole blog, we have covered pretty much all important factors to consider the best strings for ukulele, best ukulele strings for beginners available on the market.
Before buying ukulele strings think about the sound quality you prefer, what is most important for you? The sound quality? Durability? Price? Or maybe you just want a pack of strings that feel comfortable under your fingers after hours of playing.
Whatever your need may be, going for any of the options we have recommended is going to make a difference when compared to stock strings on your ukulele that desperately need changing.
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