Ukulele advice please read!?

Question

So, I've wanted to learn how to play ukulele for a while. For the longest time my mom wouldn't let me buy one, but finally she did! It was a 40 dollar soprano at a little shop just out of town. Unfortunately the inonation is so completely horrid I can't play anything on it. Even when it is tuned perfectly chords sound awful and I can't learn anything on it. Also I looked online and the same uke is 22 dollars online so i got ripped off. I have two options here.

ONE: I can live with it till christmas and try to learn as much as i can from it. (im getting a nicer one then)

TWO: I could buy the nicer one now and return the crappy one.

My mom will probably be pissed if i want to return it, buy I gotta do what I gotta do...

Answer 1

If i were you, i would buy a new one. I have a $60 soprano and it was fine, but some of hte chords always sounded funny. Chances are the ukulele you bought wasnt a well made ukulele, probably more of a souvineer. I convinced my mom to let me buy another and i bought my own tenor ukulele for about $140 and i absolutely love it.  

Answer 2

Khung,

If you're mom will let you I'd return it and get the nicer one.  Some stores, I'm sorry to say, don't deal much in ukuleles b/c they can make more money selling a guitar to a novice.  So, they a ukulele at double the cost thinking they'll be able to switch you to a guitar....and make more money.  Tsk!  Most ukuleles under a hundred dollars have bad intonation....but do sound pretty good when strummed.  Only when they're picked do you really hear the bad intonation.  

If you can't return the ukulele for a full refund try some of these tips.

Does your ukulele have friction tuners?  If so, tighten the s***w on the tuning peg so it won't slip....thus preventing you from going out of tune.

Put Aquila Nylgut strings on it.  I'm guessing you have a soprano ukulele.  Be sure and get the right size strings for the right size ukulele.  http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUILA-SOPRANO-Nylgu... I've found has Aquila strings at the best price.

Before you buy your new ukulele check out http://ukulelehunt.com/ for tips on buying.

Also http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigatio... is a good site to buy a nice uke.  I'd go for the Lanikai LU-21C  Yes, it's double what you paid for the last one.  But you won't  be disappointed.

Check http://www.fleamarketmusic.com/directory... or http://www.ukuleleclubs.com/ and see if there's a club near you.  Lot's of knowledge and fun playing with others.  You're mom may even want to join.

Have fun,

CowUkeA