The ukulele is a Hawaiian instrument used for upbeat folksy tunes. It is a good alternative and complement to the guitar because their sounds blend well. If you are a devoted guitar player who is looking for another instrument to master, the ukulele might be the perfect instrument for you. The best part is that you can make one yourself.

When you go to a music store, you will see quite a number of ukulele models. You will notice that some of them look like primitive makeshift items, while others resemble guitars. Years ago, you could have purchased a ukulele and not made a dent in your budget, but no, the ukulele has become a fine musical instrument, which equates to stiff pricing. Fortunately, you still have a chance to get a good ukulele for the nearly half the price if you purchase a ukulele kit.

The Ukulele Kit Advantage

The ukulele kit is built to make things easier for you, when you plan to create your own ukulele. It comes with all the ukulele parts shaped, carved and designed for your convenience. You simply need to put the parts together, string the instrument and provide a nice elegant finish.

Materials Used:

• ukulele kit
• wood glue
• mechanical drill
• router drill head
• box of screws
• glossy varnish
• paint
• paintbrush
• sandpaper

Purchase the Tools and Materials

The very first step is to buy a top quality ukulele kit. Visit a music store and check their collection of ukulele kits. Inspect each kit. See if the parts are shaped right, can be easily connected and are complete. After you examine the kits, purchase the best ukulele kit then head on to a hardware store. Get all the tools and equipment that you need.

Master the Assembly Guide

When all the tools and materials are ready, your next step is to review the assembly guide of your ukulele kit. Open the ukulele kit and find the assembly guide. In it, you will find the dimensions of each part, how the parts are connected and the appearance of the finished product. Review the guide carefully because a few assembly errors can damage the finished product. Remember that a crack in the instrument’s frame or a misplaced hole can adversely affect the sound of your ukulele.

Assemble Your Ukulele

After you review the guide, you can finally begin the assembly of your ukulele. Get the ukulele parts from your kit and put them together in accordance with assembly guide. Use your mechanical drill and the router drill head to provide connection points for some of the pieces. Some of the parts need to be screwed, while others are easily connected. Have your box of screws and wood glue ready. Once you have assembled your ukulele, take the strings and attach them to their respective tuner, saddle and bridge. Make sure that you tighten the strings so that they do not easily fall off your ukulele.

Smoothen and Paint

Smooth the surface of your ukulele with sandpaper. Be particularly careful with the fret boards since the frets are made with thin pieces of wood. Once done, refer to the assembly guide and see the parts of your ukulele that you will need to paint. Apply paint and glossy varnish on the appropriate areas. When the paint and the varnish settle, you will have a ukulele that looks and sounds just as good as the pricey items displayed in music stores.

As you strum a few tunes with your ukulele, you can watch your friends clap their hands, shake their heads and do a little chicken dance.

Watch The Video

Building A Ukulele (Part 1)

Building A Ukulele (Part 2)