The ukulele is a very small guitar that originated from an island in Portugal called Madeira. This instrument was called “braguinha” in Portuguese. In 1879, travelers took a ship from the island of Madeira to Hawaii. Craftsmen who witnessed this instrument being played were fascinated and began producing it for Hawaiians. The instrument was nicknamed “ukulele,” which actually means, “jumping flea.” It is also called “uke” for short.
Ukes are different from guitars in several ways. They are usually very lightweight and easy to carry. Original style ukes are easier to learn to play because they have fewer strings. They are also easier on the fingers. Ukes are, however, limited in the range of notes that can be played. They are great for musicians who want simplicity!
Today this instrument is still very popular in Hawaii and is being shipped to music lovers around the world. Let’s take a look at the types and styles of ukuleles.
Four Types of Ukuleles
There are four standard types of ukuleles, which are concert, soprano, tenor, and baritone. The most commonly used type is the soprano ukulele. Each...