Ukulele

	Name:	Ukulele
	Other Names:	Uke
	Classification:	String instrument. (nylon or gut-stringed, usually plucked or strummed.) The ukulele is a member of the guitar family.
	Hornbostel-Sachs classification:	321.322 (Composite chordophone)
	Related Instruments:	Machete (otherwise known as Cavaquinho). The various instruments of the guitar-family.
	Developed:	The ukulele is a Hawaiian take on a Portuguese instrument, called the machete. The ukulele began to be manufactured in Hawaii in the 1880's by Portuguese immigrants. From the 1900's through to the 1930's the ukulele became particularly popular in America.
	Types:	Soprano, concert, tenor, and the baritone ukulele. Variants of the ukulele include the pineapple uke, bass ukulele, banjo ukulele and guitalele.
	Tuning:	Soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles are tuned to G4-C4-E4-A4 - although the tenor ukulele is sometimes tuned with a low G-string (G3). The baritone ukulele is tuned to D3-G3-B3-E4.
	Playing Range:	The ukulele has a very small melodic range due to its one-octave re-entrant tuning. A 12-fret soprano will have a range of 22 half-tones (C4-A5), whereas the tenor and bass ukuleles without re-entrant tuning may have up to twice that.
	Musicians:	Elvis Presley, Israel Kamakaiwo'ole, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Jake Shimabukuro, Amanda Palmer.

The ukulele is a small four-stringed instrument that is either picked or strummed. Ukuleles vary significantly in size, shape, tone and tuning -for several different reasons. The main reason why the ukulele varies so much is because it has quite a small range (number of notes between the lowest and highest notes it is possible to play on an instrument). The ukulele has a limited range because it is so small, and because it is tuned differently to other instruments. This has led to the development of different types of ukulele (such as the concert, tenor and baritone) which are all different sizes, and can cover different ranges - the baritone covering the lowest range, and the soprano the highest.

Ukuleles are an extremely versatile instrument, and have been adopted by many different players from varying stylistic backgrounds. This has meant that while the ukulele is traditionally a Hawaiian instrument, it has been introduced into Jazz, Country, Alternative and Popular (pop) music (as well as others). The ukulele has undergone periods of 'revival' where it becomes more popular for a period of time. The ukulele is currently working through this process at the moment around the world, and is being used more frequently as both a solo or orchestral instrument (usually played with a group of ukulele players all playing different types of ukulele; a group of such is usually referred to as an 'orchestra').

The ukulele is a great beginner's instrument, and as there are lots of different types of ukulele, you can move on to other types of ukulele and styles of music with relatively little trouble. It travels well, as it is so small, and you can pick up soprano ukuleles almost anywhere around the world, making it the perfect instrument for busking/traveling. It is equally as useful as a solo instrument as it is as a vocal accompaniment, and is great for get-togethers and group playing as well.

• The History of the Ukulele
• Types of Ukuleles
• Parts of the Ukulele
• How to Tune the Ukulele
• How to String a Ukulele
• How to Play the Ukulele
• Articles about the Ukulele

History of the Ukulele

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The ukulele was developed in Hawaii in 1880, by Portuguese immigrants who based the ukulele upon two similar Spanish/Portuguese instruments. The ukulele was used to play local Hawaiian music, and was quickly adopted into Hawaiian culture. The ukulele gained in popularity in the United States in the early 1900's when a popular ensemble group introduced the ukulele to mainland America. The ukulele was then adopted by mainland musicians, who used it to play their own genres of music as well as traditional Hawaiian-style music. The ukulele has had periods of popularity and decline over its lifetime, becoming particularly popular in the 1960's and then again in the 1990's. The ukulele has continued to grow in popularity since its revival in the 1990's, and it is now common for the instrument to be used in ensembles and as a low-cost learner instrument for children.

For more information on the history of the ukulele, see our History of the Ukulele article.

Types of Ukulele

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Types of ukulele can be roughly categorized into three groups: standard ukulele types, hybrid ukulele types and variations of standard ukuleles. Standard ukulele types include the four main types of ukulele - the soprano, the concert, the tenor and the baritone. Hybrid ukulele types include any instrument that has been 'crossed' with a ukulele; such as the banjolele, the harp ukulele and the bass ukulele. Variations of standard ukuleles mainly include ukuleles that vary in body shape such as the pineapple ukulele or the cutaway ukulele.

For more information on different types of ukulele, see our Types of Ukuleles article.

Parts of the Ukulele

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To learn more about the different parts of the ukulele, see our Parts of the Ukulele article.

How to Tune the Ukulele

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The various types of ukulele are often tuned differently. However, the most popular tuning for the soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles is G4-C4-E4-A4. This kind of tuning is called re-entrant tuning as the strings do not run sequentially from highest to lowest.

For more information on how to tune the ukulele and its variants, see our How to Tune the Ukulele article. This article contains information on how best to tune your ukulele, and tips to make tuning your ukulele easy!

How to String a Ukulele

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Ukulele strings are usually made from nylon rather than metal. Although this means the strings have more flexibility, nylon strings can still break or become damaged. Whether your strings have broken, been worn down, or you simply want to try out higher quality strings, you'll need to learn how to restring your ukulele. While it can seem like a daunting task the first time, restringing the ukulele can be a fun and pleasant experience if you learn how to do it right.

To learn how to restring a ukulele, see our How to String a Ukulele article.

How to Play the Ukulele

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The ukulele can be held across the upper chest, perched on the leg, or held half-tucked under the right arm while being strummed. The ukulele can be played standing or sitting, although it is easier to learn sitting down, as you do not need to worry about dropping your ukulele. There are two main methods used to play the ukulele - strumming and picking. Strumming is used when the ukulele player is playing chords, often while singing or accompanying a singer or melody instrument. Picking is used to bring out the melody of a piece of music, so no melody instrument is required. Ukulele players read either tab or music written on the treble clef. Ukuleles have a limited melodic range due to re-entrant tuning.

To learn more about how to play the ukulele, see our How to Play the Ukulele article.

Articles about the Ukulele

Humidity and your Ukulele

Temperature and humidity can have a large impact on your ukulele and its tuning. Learn all about it and how to keep your ukulele in great working condition.