Ukulele Buddy Review 2024

Note: Ukulele World is reader supported. If you purchase using a link on this site, we may get an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

For many, the ukulele is one of the easiest instruments to learn. Yet, to learn it right, you’ll need top-notch courses delivered by professional instructors. And since we’re in the digital era, online ukulele lessons are the way to go. Just with a preliminary search, you’ve probably come across Ukulele Buddy.

For many reasons, this platform certainly deserves its ranking among the top online ukulele lessons’ platforms. In this review, I’ll provide you with an in-depth run-through of what makes Ukulele Buddy what it is.

Ukulele Buddy
Instructors & Teaching Styles5/5
Prices & Moneyback Guarantees5/5
Lessons’ Variety3/5
Trial Period3/5
Exclusive Features4/5
Overall Score: 4.5/5

A Quick Review of Ukulele Buddy

Honestly, I’m one of those people who love the “learn at your own pace” concept. I’m not a fan of having an instructor stress me out or having to learn the ukulele in a specific duration. If you’re like me, you’ll love what Ukulele Buddy has to offer.

Following a pre-recorded video format, you simply need to make a one-time purchase to get access to all courses and keep them forever. The videos are easily digestible, lasting as little as 15 minutes each, and they’re geared towards beginners to a great extent. 

The lessons are led by instructors JP Allen and Mitch Chang, graduates of the University of Hawaii who are now ukulele pros. It’s fascinating that both of them share the same origins with the ukulele! Since the lessons are targeted at beginners, JP Allen and Mitch Chang adopt simplistic teaching methods that keep you going at a steady pace to eventually become a pro.

Advantages:

  • Learn at your own pace approach
  • Minimal interaction with instructors
  • Ideal starting point for beginners
  • Leading professional instructors

Disadvantages:

  • Not catering to advanced ukulele players
  • Video quality is average

Buy Ukulele Buddy If:

  • Interaction with your ukulele instructor isn’t a priority
  • You’re a beginner looking for a kickstart to the ukulele world
  • You want to learn at your own pace
  • You’re looking for an affordable yet high-quality platform for ukulele lessons

Ukulele Buddy Full Review

Now that you’ve gotten a broad picture of the platform, let’s go further and explore the courses’ particulars.

Step Into the World of Ukuleles 

With Ukulele Buddy, beginners are of prime importance. If you’re about to start your path to ukulele mastery, be sure that you’ll gain a solid foundation to advance your playing.

Don’t worry about falling behind; Ukulele Buddy brings together a diverse range of ukulele players, from those who just know how a uke looks to those who tried to learn on their own with no luck. Regardless of where you’re at, the course structures ensure that everyone is on the same page and getting equal learning.

Enthusiastic Instructors 

Instructors can make or break your ukulele learning experience. Here, you don’t have to worry about that. The courses are led by two professional musicians, JP Allen and Mitch Chang. Both have an inspiring music history, and their outgoing and high-spirited personalities take away the courses’ formality.

JP Allen is actually super interested in the harmonica, which he frequently plays during the courses, while Mitch Chang sticks to the ukulele. Fusing the two instruments during the lessons breaks the routine and provides you with a very well-rounded experience.

I also loved their take on teaching. Call me traditional, but I love whiteboards! And that’s exactly what they use to illustrate the ukulele’s fundamentals, supporting their theoretical talk. Most of the time, the first half of lessons is dedicated to just listening, while in the second half, you’ll play along.

With their support, you’ll need minimal time to get going with your ukulele playing. Just play along with them and do some practicing on your own––that’s literally it.

Short, Concise Videos 

We’ve grown to have very short attention spans. If you share my thoughts, you’ll be delighted with how short the courses are, typically lasting between 7-15 minutes.

Don’t get tricked into thinking that since they’re short, they’re non-inclusive. That’s far from the reality––they’re super concise and to-the-point, with absolutely no fluff additions. 

I have to mention that the video quality isn’t the best. You’ll feel like they’re a bit outdated, but nonetheless, they’re crystal clear with closeup angles. Just by observing, you’ll be able to play like a pro and know the exact finger placements for the best tunes.

Structured Learning Path

As I’ve mentioned, the platform mainly targets beginners. Accordingly, the courses are structured in a manner that caters to the learning path of absolute beginners. The primary two lessons are basic introductions to the ukulele. Starting from the third, you’ll be able to play your first chord.

Following your acquaintance with chords, you’ll proceed to two-chord progressions in the form of song-style jams that make the experience super engaging and fun! 

That’s when it’s time to progress to more complicated chords and get acquainted with some of the best uke techniques along. You also practice with different genres, including reggae grooves, blues, and more. You’ll be able to play both your favorite songs and some of the most popular ones. 

Ukulele Buddy Memberships – What Do You Get? 

There aren’t really “memberships” per se; there’s just a one-time purchase option. While that’s not the most convenient, being extremely affordable makes up for that. Let me just say that full access to all courses for a lifetime costs approximately the same as the cost of a couple of face-to-face lessons. 

With the $67 subscription, you get a 60-day money-back guarantee and lifetime access to all the courses, around 72 videos, playable on different devices. Additionally, you receive a decent batch of printable materials, including music e-books, and an online metronome link. 

Ukulele Buddy – Alternatives

Today’s online ukulele lessons market is oversaturated with options, and as a beginner, it can be quite challenging to choose the best one for you. Accordingly, let’s take a glimpse of how Ukulele Buddy compares to other top ukulele lessons.

Ukulele Buddy vs. Uke Like The Pros

Uke Like The Pros is by far one of the best online ukulele lessons’ websites; yet, its approach to learning is quite different from Ukulele Buddy.

Ukulele Buddy is predominantly focused on beginners, which is why the course structure starts from scratch. On the other hand, Uke Like The Pros targets all ukulele players, from beginners to advanced ones. So, for lessons specialized for beginners, Ukulele Buddy is the way to go. Then, when you become more advanced, you should consider Uke Like The Pros.

The two lessons’ providers are also quite different in membership plans. While Ukulele Buddy offers just one subscription model, Uke Like The Pros has several membership plans, ranging from free to $19.95. Additionally, they offer individual course purchases for those not looking for a membership. While that’s certainly attractive, Ukulele Buddy is still relatively affordable.

Additionally, Ukulele Buddy doesn’t offer any trial options while Uke Like The Pros does. Nonetheless, both share the money-back guarantee, which makes up for that, in my opinion.

Lastly, Ukulele Buddy adopts a self-paced model in its lessons, making interaction with instructors very minimal. This is convenient for anyone who’s tight on time or simply doesn’t enjoy interactions. As for Uke Like The Pros, the lessons are highly engaging and interactive, with live videos, Q&A sessions, challenges, and more.

Ukulele Buddy vs. ArtistWorks

Compared to Ukulele Buddy, ArtistWorks ukulele course has different membership plans, including three, six, and twelve-month options. While those are distinctive plans, ArtistWorks doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee. So, in this area, Ukulele Buddy takes the lead.

Not to mention, the plans’ pricing ranges from $23.25 to $35 per month, while Ukulele Buddy offers a one-time payment for lifetime access, putting it ahead once more.

Similar to Uke Like The Pros, ArtistWorks also offers lessons for different levels of uke players, not just beginners. Plus, it offers lessons for many instruments, including the guitar and more.

When it comes to instructor interaction, ArtistWorks has a level of interaction to it, where you can send videos of your practicing to your instructor, who provides you with tailored feedback. You can also opt for one-on-one lessons.

Overall, if you want to take lessons on more instruments in addition to the uke, ArtistWorks would be of interest to you. If not, and you don’t prioritize personalized feedback, you should stick to Ukulele Buddy.

FAQs:

Does Ukulele Buddy Have a Money-Back Guarantee?

Yes, a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Does Ukulele Buddy Offer a Free Trial?

Unfortunately not. Yet, you can opt-out of the lessons anytime through the money-back guarantee.

Is Ukulele Buddy Good for Beginners?

100%! It’s actually created especially for beginners.

Is Ukulele Buddy Expensive Compared to Other Sites?

I wouldn’t say that, no. It’s super affordable and gives you lifetime access.

Final Thoughts

Ukulele Buddy is genuinely one of the best platforms for online ukulele lessons. It’s affordable, led by professional instructors, has a structured learning path, and provides a super solid foundation for beginners.

In no time, you’ll find that you made much more progress than you thought you would. It offers excellent value for money.