You probably spent a good deal of time researching your first ukulele. The instrument itself is a one-time buy, but as you progress as a player, you may discover that you want to experiment with or change your sound a bit.
Luckily, it's easy to improve your sound with high-quality ukulele strings. Ukulele strings are made of a variety of materials, and they come in a range of gauges. In this article, we'll tell you what you need to know to choose the right ukulele strings to suit your playing style. We'll also take you through our top 10 picks for the best ukulele strings.
Our Top 10 Picks for Best Ukulele Strings
Make | Model | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Ernie Ball | Ukulele Nylon Strings | ||
D'Addario | EJ99SC Pro-Arté Carbon | ||
Martin | Fluorocarbon M600 | ||
Aquila | Nylgut AQ-9 Concert | ||
D'Addario | EJ87S Titanium | ||
Hawaiian | GHS H-10 Nylon Strings | ||
Dunlop | DUQ301 Soprano Pro | ||
Lanikai | Nylgut Strings - Soprano | ||
AmazonBasics | Modified Nylon Strings | ||
Mudder | Nylon Soprano (Key of C) |
Review of our Top 10 Picks
Ernie Ball Ukulele Strings -- Best Nylon Strings
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Ernie Ball is a brand known for high-quality strings -- whether it's a guitar, a bass, a mandolin, or a ukulele, you'll find quality yet affordable Ernie Ball strings for it. These strings are made of monofilament nylon for durability and clear sound, and they come in gauges of .028/.032/.040/ .028. They have ball ends for quick, easy installation.
Our Star Rating
We think these are the best all-nylon strings on the list, and we give them four out of five stars.
D'Addario EJ99SC Pro-Arté Carbon Ukulele Strings -- Best Fluorocarbon Strings
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When it first hit the ukulele scene, fluorocarbon was an exciting new material. It tends to be a little louder than nylon, but the overtones never seem to drown out the fundamentals. These fluorocarbon strings for the ukulele offer a different playing experience, and we think they're a must-hear.
Our Star Rating
We think these are the best fluorocarbon strings on the list. We give them four out of five stars.
Martin Fluorocarbon Ukulele Strings M600 -- Best Value Fluorocarbon Strings
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You've probably heard of Martin's legendary guitars. If you're like us, you may have been surprised to learn that Martin makes strings for a ukulele as well. While these strings are made of the popular fluorocarbon material, they are much more affordable than many other fluorocarbon strings on the list. These are made for the soprano ukulele, but you can find them in just about any size.
Our Star Rating
We think these are the best-value fluorocarbon strings on the list. We give them five out of five stars.
Aquila New Nylgut AQ-9 Concert Ukulele String -- Best New Nylgut Strings
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The first stringed instruments had strings made from the gut of animals. New Nylgut is a composite material that retains a lot of the feel of gut strings with more durability. Aquila is one of the most well-respected makers of ukulele strings, but it is important to note that their strings are sold individually and not as a set.
Our Star Rating
We think these are the best new nylgut strings you'll find, although they are expensive. We give these ukulele strings four out of five stars.
D'Addario EJ87S Titanium Ukulele Strings -- Best Titanium Strings
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If you're looking for something a little different, you might want to check out D'Addario's EJ87S titanium strings. Titanium may sound odd as a string material, but it's similar to the steel strings found on many guitars. These strings are each made of a single piece of titanium, and they have a bright sound that projects easily.
Our Star Rating
We think these ukulele strings are the best titanium option. We give them four out of five stars.
GHS H-10 Hawaiian Ukulele Black Nylon Strings -- Best Black Nylon Strings
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We've been through several different string materials so far, but we haven't picked out too many regular nylon uke strings. This set is from GHS, a respected string manufacturer, so you can be assured that the strings are higher quality than budget nylon strings. This set will also fit either a concert ukulele or a soprano ukulele. They are made of black nylon, which will give your uke a sleek aesthetic.
Our Star Rating
We think these are the best black nylon strings on the list. We give them four out of five stars.
Dunlop DUQ301 Ukulele Strings, Soprano Pro -- Best Budget Buy
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If you need a spare set of strings and don't want to spend much, these nylon uke strings are worth a look. They are made by Dunlop, a company that mainly sells guitar accessories, so that may give you some pause. These strings are made of clear nylon.
Our Star Rating
We think these are the best budget-priced ukulele strings on the list, and we give them three and half out of five stars.
Lanikai Nylgut Ukulele Strings - Soprano -- Best Affordable Nylgut Strings
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If you're a uke player who has heard of Nylgut and wants to see what the hype is about, these relatively affordable strings from Lanikai offer you a way to try them out. These nylgut strings are made by Aquila in Italy. But unlike true Aquila strings, these ones are sold as a set rather than as individual strings. Nylgut has great tuning stability and an incredible tone, making them a worthy investment for serious players.
Our Star Rating
We think these are the best affordable nylgut strings out there. We give them five out of five stars.
AmazonBasics Ukulele Strings - Nylon -- Best Affordable Modified Nylon Strings
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Purists may look askance at these strings -- after all, they're made by AmazonBasics, which isn't exactly known for making great uke gear. However, they offer an affordable way to bring a backup set of strings with you. These strings are modified nylon, and they're made of nylon with a silver-plated copper wiring. The strings also have an anti-rust coating. They sound a little brighter than plain nylon, but the sound isn't as impressive as the sound of higher-end materials.
Our Star Rating
We think these are the best affordable modified nylon strings on the list, and we give them three out of five stars.
Mudder Nylon Soprano Ukulele Strings (Key of C) -- Best Backup Strings
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Mudder may not be the biggest brand in existence, but it's a ukulele manufacturer and maker of strings. This set of ukulele strings is a great backup set. They may not be the greatest ukulele strings in existence, but they are affordable nylon, making them a good choice to keep in your case just in case you break a string.
Our Star Rating
We think these are the best backup strings to have in case you break a string. We give them three and a half out of five stars.
What Should You Know Before Buying Ukulele Strings?
Choosing new strings can be exciting -- after all, a good set of strings can really change your sound for the better. But before we dive into our top picks, let's look at a few things you may want to keep in mind before you buy.
Material
Like most types of strings, ukulele strings come in a range of materials. If you aren't sure which material is right for you, try listening to sound demos. We've made up a brief list of some common string materials and what they sound like:
Nylon
Nylon strings are fairly common, and well-made ones tend to have a mellow and warm sound (somewhat like that of nylon-string guitars). However, cheap nylon strings can sound very dull. If you've purchased an inexpensive ukulele, the stock strings are likely inexpensive nylon. Upgrading to better uke strings will often improve your instrument's tone. Higher-end nylon strings are often worth the investment if you like the mellowness of nylon but feel that your uke's strings sound cheap.
Fluorocarbon
Many players consider fluorocarbon strings to be a sonic improvement over nylon strings. Fluorocarbon is similar to fishing line, and it's denser than nylon. This leads to thinner strings, which may be a little harder on the fingers. These strings usually are loud and clear, and they don't give off especially noticeable overtones. They tend to e a bit more expensive than nylon strings.
Titanium
Titanium uke strings aren't particularly common. If you've ever heard an acoustic guitar with steel strings, the sound of titanium is similar -- it's bright and projects well. If you're looking for something a little different, you might want to give these a try.
Nylgut
Nylgut is a unique string type that is designed to sound almost the same as natural gut strings. However, Nylgut has much better durability and tuning stability. It's a proprietary composite made by Aquila, a company known for making high-end strings for the ukulele and other stringed instruments.
If you want to learn more about the different types of uke strings out there, check out this helpful video.Size
This probably sounds obvious, but you do want to make sure you get the right size of strings. Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone (check out this video for more info on uke sizes). The ideal ukulele strings for you need to be the right size for your uke.
In Conclusion
Choosing the right ukulele strings can be hard, but it's important to remember that if you don't like a certain set of strings, you can always try a different set next time you change your strings. We think you can't really go wrong with anything on this list, but our top pick is Martin's M600 fluorocarbon strings. These are strings that sound great, but they're noticeably less expensive than many sets of strings we could find.
We also think that Lanikai's nylgut strings are an outstanding value, and they are some of the most affordable nylgut strings on the market. If you've been curious about the impressive tonality of nylgut, these strings let you try them out for a relatively low price.Of course, if you're a high-level player or just want to spring for something that produces an amazing sound, we recommend any of the Aquila strings on the list. Just remember that these strings are often sold individually and not in packs.
Hopefully, you enjoyed our list and found it helpful in your quest for the best ukulele strings you can find.