What is a ukulele and what is it for. How to choose a ukulele? A detailed guide for a beginning musician

Today we will talk about an instrument that is rapidly gaining popularity all over the world. is a miniature four-string ukulele. Translated from Hawaiian, “ukulele” means jumping flea. The ukulele is common on various Pacific islands, but is associated primarily with Hawaiian music.

This compact, lightweight, plug-in tool has already become one of the most popular tools among young people. Add to that the affordable price and ease of learning, and you've got even more incentive to learn to play the ukulele.

Miniature four-string guitars arose relatively recently, but quickly conquered the world with their sound. The ukulele sounds great when playing traditional Hawaiian music, jazz, country, reggae and folk.

The ukulele was invented by Portuguese Manuel Nunez in the 1880s. He based the new instrument on a braguinha (a miniature guitar from the island of Madeira) and a cavaquinho (a Portuguese miniature guitar). The ukulele quickly spread to the Pacific Islands and became known in Europe and North America thanks to the touring of Pacific musicians in San Francisco in the early 20th century.

As noted above, the ukulele is very easy to learn. If you know how to play the guitar even a little, you can “make friends” with the ukulele in a matter of hours.

Ukulele Types

The size of the instrument determines its sound, so it is important to choose the option that is most suitable for you. There are four types of ukulele.

Picking involves the use of three fingers: thumb, index and middle, with the thumb responsible for playing the lower strings (third and fourth), and the index and middle fingers for playing the upper strings (first and second).

Fighting can be done using the index finger or a pinch. Downward strokes are carried out with the nail of the index finger, upward - with the pad of the finger. In this case, the blows should be calm, confident and strong.

Having acquired the skills of playing by combat and brute force, begin to combine them when playing. Regular practice of playing the ukulele will help you develop stable skills. At least 30 minutes of practice a day will help you become a real master in this matter.

Make sure the tool and body are in the correct position.

Keep the rhythm, don't neglect the metronomes.

Learn minor and major chords.

Learn songs in their entirety. The Internet can help you.

Exercise daily.

Use only a special felt pick; a regular one will quickly wear out the strings.

Use a special case to transport the instrument.

When learning from a tutorial or video tutorial, try to have a professional ukulele player as an observer who can point out errors in playing technique.

Tune your instrument before each game, use a tuner.

Leave the new strings tightly tightened overnight to stretch them to their optimal shape.

How to choose a ukulele

It's no secret that for every beginner, choosing a ukulele or guitar is a difficult task; to solve it you need to know what to choose from and ultimately understand what you want!

When choosing an instrument in a music store, pay attention to the following points:

You just have to like the tool.

Look carefully to see if there are any cracks on it.

Ask the seller to set up the instrument. If you are tuning the instrument for the first time, you will have to repeat the tuning process several times, since the strings have not yet been stretched and they will break down for several days. You should lightly tug on the string before tuning it. You need to tune the string from low to high pitch.

All frets on all strings should be checked to ensure they are in tune and not ringing.

The strings should be easy to press (especially on the first and second frets). The distance between the strings and the neck should not be large.

Nothing inside should rattle when you play. All strings should be equal in volume and clarity.

Check if the bar is straight.

If the instrument comes with a built-in pickup (“pickup”), ask to connect it to a guitar amp and check that everything works. Make sure the battery in the pickup is new.

Be sure to consider several tools before making your choice. Sometimes a cheap tool from some unknown company can surprise you.

The ukulele is a musical instrument with a light and cheerful sound. Thanks to its compact size, the ukulele is easy to handle and can be mastered by musicians of any age. Start learning to play the ukulele on your own and one day you could become a virtuoso!

Musical instrument: Ukulele

The most famous landmark of the Hawaiian Islands is the smallest, but very proud guitar, which received the funny name ukulele. This word has two meanings: the first is a jumping flea, and the second, if you divide the word into two parts, is coming gratitude. Due to its small size, the instrument, more reminiscent of a children's toy, quickly gained popularity among many music lovers in all corners of the globe. Easy to learn and compact in size, the ukulele makes it possible for music lovers of different ages to play music on the instrument. Melodic, with a special inimitable sound, the instrument reflects the colorfulness of the Pacific coast with its mysterious romance.

Read the history of the ukulele and many interesting facts about this musical instrument on our page.

Sound

The interesting sound of the instrument is characterized by lightness and cheerfulness. The timbre is as sunny as the smiles of hospitable Hawaiians.

The ukulele, like all guitars, is a plucked string instrument and its sound is the result of the vibration of the strings.

Range small, only two octaves. Build: 4th string – “G”; 3 – “before”; 2 – “mi”; 1 – “la”.

The main methods of producing sound on a ukulele are plucking and striking the strings, which are produced with the fingertips of the right hand, and sometimes with a special felt pick (plectrum).

In addition to the basic ones, performers use all kinds of guitar sound production techniques on the instrument: barre, arpeggio, arpeggiato, legato, tremolo, ascending and descending legato, bend, vibrato, glissando, staccato, tambourine, golpe, harmonics.

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Interesting facts

There are three versions of why the tool has this name. First: When Hawaiians first saw and heard the ukulele, they were intrigued. It seemed to them that the performer's fingers were jumping along the strings like fleas, hence the name, which means jumping flea in Hawaiian. According to the second version: an Englishman named Edward Purvis, who knew how to play the ukulele, served as chamberlain for King David Kalakaua of Hawaii. The chamberlain was short, and when he played music on the instrument, he grimaced greatly, because of this he, and with him the Englishman’s favorite instrument, was nicknamed the jumping flea. And the third, last one: Queen Liliuokalani of the Hawaiian Islands used the word ukulele to describe a gift from afar, literally “coming gratitude” (uku - gratitude and lele - to come).
The first ukulele sold for just 75 cents.

The popularity of an instrument can be judged by how often we see it on our TV screens. The stern Dr. Gregory House, the hero of the beloved TV series of the same name, and the funny Stephanie Gooch in the TV series “Scrubs” play the ukulele.
The ukulele is also found in animated films, for example, in the popular Walt Disney cartoon Lilo and Stitch, which took place in Hawaii.
In the world-famous film comedy Some Like It Hot, the inimitable Marilyn Monroe, who played the role of Darling Kane, played the ukulele in the orchestra.
The “King of Rock and Roll” Elvis Presley was also a fan of this musical instrument.
In Russian literature we find mention of the instrument in I. Ilf and E. Petrov.
The Japanese first became acquainted with the ukulele in 1929, when a Hawaiian by birth, Yukihiko Haida, brought it to the country. He even organized the “Association of Ukulele Lovers”, as the instrument gained great popularity in Japan.
The current craze for the instrument is so great that Louis M. Glackens released a cartoon in 1916 that satirizes the current craze for the ukulele.
In the 50s, when the plastic boom began in the United States, one of the most popular gifts were plastic ukuleles. These instruments were less expensive and had a slightly different sound.

There is a very popular ukulele orchestra in the UK that performs with great success all over the world. The orchestra's repertoire includes musical compositions by David Bowie, the American rock band Nirvana, and even works by P. I. Tchaikovsky.
The first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong loved to play the ukulele. After his space flight, he spent several weeks in quarantine strumming his instrument.

George Harrison, the legendary lead guitarist of the Beatles, was a ukulele fan. While on vacation in Hawaii, where the musician had his own home, he bought instruments in large quantities and then gave them away to all his friends.
Today, there are many ukulele manufacturing companies in Hawaii and other parts of the world. Some tool manufacturers have made huge profits in recent years
The Chinese company Xiaomi has released a smart electronic ukulele called Populele. To learn, you only need to connect the instrument to a mobile application and 72 LEDs built into the instrument body will tell you how to place your fingers on the fingerboard.
The length of the world's largest ukulele is 3 meters 99 centimeters.
Now the price of an instrument made from the Hawaiian acacia koa is very high and can be up to two thousand US dollars.

Design

The design of the ukulele is the same as that of a guitar and consists of a hollow body with a sound hole and a neck.

The body is usually shaped like a figure eight, but there are other options: round, square, which were made from wooden cigar boxes, shaped like a pineapple or an oar. The body has two decks: upper and lower, connected by shells. A tailpiece is attached to the top soundboard.
The neck is usually carved from a single piece of wood that is harder than the body of the instrument. On one side, the neck is attached to the ukulele by the heel, and on the other, it has a head on which pegs are located to tension the strings. A fingerboard separated by metal saddles is glued onto the fingerboard. The saddles divide the fretboard into frets. Between the neck of the neck and the head is the nut.

The following tree species are used to make ukuleles: ash, agathis, acacia, mahogany, maple, rosewood, spruce, and walnut. However, cheaper tools are made from laminate and plastic.

There are four strings on the instrument and usually nylon strings are used.

The total length of the ukulele is 53 cm.

Varieties

The ukulele family is quite diverse and includes seven types of instruments. The most common types are soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Less commonly used are piccolo (bambino), bass and double bass ukuleles.

The soprano is the most popular instrument; its sound is considered classic. Length is 53 cm, tuning: G, C, E, A, number of frets: 12-14.
Concert - a little more than a soprano and sounds a little louder. Length 58 cm, tuning: G, C, E, A, number of frets: 12-14.
Tenor – has a rich, deep, velvety sound. Length 66 cm, tuning: G, C, E, A, number of frets: 15-20.
Baritone – has a rich sound. Length 76 cm, tuning: D, G, B, E, number of frets: 15-20.

Sometimes there is another type of ukulele, which differs from the others in having paired strings. Each string has a duplicate that is tuned in unison.

Famous artists

Hawaiian music with its unique national flavor has always attracted and inspired people in different parts of our planet. The ukulele, a small instrument with great capabilities, has also attracted the attention of music lovers, and has now moved from the camp of exotic instruments to the camp of revered and popular ones. Performers of various genres are increasingly decorating their musical compositions with the sound of the ukulele. The instrument has taken root well in genres such as traditional Hawaiian music, jazz, country, reggae, folk, gospel, pop, country, ragtime, swing and even techno.

Many talented musicians, keen on playing it, without knowing it, contributed to the popularization of the ukulele.

One of the most famous ukulele players was the hard-to-pronounce Hawaiian, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, who was affectionately called the gentle giant and also a true ukulele god.

The islanders rightly called Gabby Pahinui, who together with Eddie Kamae created the group “The Sons of Hawaii”, a true patriot. The compositions of this group reflect the beauty of the national music of Hawaii.

The magicians and wizards of the instrument were:

Roy Smeck is an American musician, nicknamed “The Wizard of Strings,” a ukulele virtuoso, in his hands the instrument turned into an extraordinary miracle.
Lyle Ritz - American jazzman with ukulele; Cliff Edwards is a popular American singer, actor and musician who masters the ukulele.
George Formby is an English actor, comedian, and singer who perfectly accompanies himself on the ukulele.
Also worth mentioning are such famous ukulele players as Jim Beloff, Herb Ohta, Troy Fernandez, Kimo Hussey and Chalmers Dawn.
Nowadays, the ukulele sounds expertly in the hands of Jake Shimabukuro, a performer and composer, a young guitar virtuoso from Honolulu who has become famous for his amazing technique and has been nicknamed “the Jimmy Hendrix of the ukulele.”
Rocky Leon is a traveling musician, something of a cosmopolitan. Travels the world and sings his songs to the accompaniment of the ukulele.
James Hill is a Canadian musician who plays techno on a ukulele using sushi sticks and a comb.

Among the famous stars of rock and popular music who decorated their concerts with the sound of the ukulele, it should be noted Brian May, George Benson, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Eddie Vedder, Jimi Hendrix, Dick Dale, Syd Barrett, Joe Brown, Amanda Palmer, Andrey Makarevich.

Story

The history of the instrument begins in Europe, because miniature varieties of the guitar first appeared there, which can confidently be called the predecessors of the ukulele. The Portuguese cavaquinho and braguinha were modified in the Hawaiian Islands into an instrument that later became known as the ukulele, which means jumping flea in Hawaiian. There is a legend that four brave Portuguese from Madeira - M. Nunez, A. Diaz, H.E. Santo and J. Fernandez, in search of a better life, decided to try their luck on one of the Pacific Islands, on sugar plantations. Ultimately, three of them: M. Nunez, A. Diaz, H. E. Santo, cabinetmakers by profession, decided to settle in the small town of Honolulu to open their own furniture production there. However, the dreams of the Portuguese did not come true: the Hawaiians did not like the Portuguese furniture.

Then the friends decided, in order to survive and somehow earn their living, to try making musical instruments - small guitars that they brought from their homeland: cavaquinho and braguinho. The result of their experimental endeavors was a new instrument.

It is not known for certain when this happened, and which of the friends made the first ukulele, but the name M. Nunez is on the instruments that have survived from that time, and the estimated time is 1886. However, it is known for sure that the first virtuoso musician who became famous for playing the ukulele was J. Fernandez.

At first, the locals did not like the instrument of foreigners at all, and they did not call it anything other than “disgusting.” But the Portuguese did not give up - they even organized nightly street concerts, which were announced in local newspapers. But King David Kalakaua, who ruled Hawaii at that time and was nicknamed by his contemporaries the “cheerful monarch,” liked the ukulele. Hiring a Portuguese immigrant to teach him how to play the instrument, he subsequently advocated for Hawaiian folk songs and the national hula dance to be performed to the accompaniment of the ukulele. Kalakaua loved the instrument so much that he introduced it into the royal orchestra, and the sound of the ukulele began to accompany royal receptions.

The locals were inspired by the fact that the ukulele was made from a tree that on the islands reflects respect for nature, the Hawaiian acacia - koa. Before immigrants arrived with their instruments, the folk art of the local population was dominated by monotonous songs (oli), and national dances were accompanied only by drum rhythms. With the advent of the ukulele, Hawaiian culture was actively transformed, as the indigenous people, who quickly mastered the instrument, associated it with their folk art. The popularity of the ukulele grew every year, and within 10 years it became a symbol of Hawaii, embodying the national cultural identity.

World fame for the ukulele came a little later. In 1898, after the US annexed the kingdom of Hawaii, the small guitar began to appear more and more often on the American continent. And in 1915, after the debut performance of the Royal Quartet from the Islands in San Francisco at the International Pacific-Panama Exhibition, the “uke” began its triumphal march and won the hearts of people not only in the States, but throughout the world. The popularization of the instrument was facilitated by the increased interest in Hawaiian culture, the ease of learning the ukulele and its relatively low cost. The instrument, which has become a fashion brand, is often used in the performances of famous artists. It is recommended as a cure for depression. Three American companies have put ukulele production on stream. Work is actively underway to improve the instrument, resulting in new varieties: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone.

The coming “black” October of 1929 made its own adjustments to the lives of Americans, who were no longer having fun and forgot about the ukulele for some time. It was only after the end of World War II that the instrument returned to American life thanks to soldiers stationed in Hawaii who carried the ukulele as an exotic souvenir. Interest in the instrument flared up with renewed vigor, famous artists contributed to its popularization. The ukulele again began to appear on stage and cinema screens.

Today people live in a world of high technology and high speeds. But sometimes you really want to escape from your problems and plunge into the world of wonderful dreams. An elegant instrument from the Pacific Islands can be a good help in this. Easy to learn, because in just 30 minutes you can learn 3 or 4 chords, which are enough to accompany a simple song; the compact instrument will always brighten up your leisure time, lift your spirits, and most importantly, give you pleasure from playing. Another important argument about the benefits of the ukulele is that it can help your children begin their musical education and develop fine motor skills. A child can become familiar with such an instrument from a very early age.

Video: listen to the ukulele

If you want to play jazz, reggae and folk, then you cannot do without a special guitar - a ukulele. It's fairly easy to learn if you have basic skills on a regular six-string guitar. Many beginners are intimidated by the question of how to use their ears or a digital tuner to do this. Now it is even possible to configure it online, through a regular microphone.

Varieties

Before buying a ukulele, you need to decide what type it belongs to. After all, the system may differ from this.

1. The most common type is soprano. Its length is 53 centimeters, and the tuning is adjusted according to the GCEA scheme.

2. The length of the concert ukulele is 58 centimeters, and the tuning is the same as for the soprano.

3. One of the largest varieties of ukulele is tenor, the length of the instrument is 55 centimeters, and it is tuned according to the DGBE scheme.

4. The baritone is the largest ukulele - its length is 76 centimeters, and the tuning diagram is DGBE.

Nowadays, musicians can find unusual ukuleles with eight strings. In this case, they are divided into pairs, each of which is tuned in unison. It will sound more spacious. So, before you tune your ukulele, measure it. The system will depend on the obtained value.

Several ukulele tuning options

Most often, musicians can find soprano ukuleles, which are tuned in accordance with the notes: G-do-mi-la. Three strings (C, E, A) are tuned as usual - from low to high sounds, but problems often arise with the fourth. The G must be in the same octave as the other sounds, so the string produces a higher sound than the second and third strings.

If you are looking for how to tune a baritone or tenor ukulele, then you need to remember the rule that one of the strings of this small ukulele is always higher than the rest. In the case of a tenor, the notes are as follows: D-sol-si-mi. In this case, the note “D” is taken for tuning from the same octave as the other sounds.

Setting methods

If you know how to tune a regular guitar by ear and know the location of the notes on the fretboard, then you won’t have any problems adjusting the tension of the ukulele strings. In this case, you can use the fret clamping method.

If you have minimal communication skills with string instruments, then it is better to use a digital tuner or special computer software that replaces it. In this case, you will need a microphone that is installed forty centimeters from the strings. Take turns plucking the strings and following the tuner's prompts.

If you have a synthesizer or piano at home, then the following answer to the question of how to tune the ukulule will be useful to you. Press the piano keys one by one and tune the ukulule strings according to the resulting sound. You need to achieve a harmonious and uniform sound. Now you know how to tune your ukulele.

The problem of finding a suitable instrument is familiar to modern musicians: in former times, there was a shortage of such exotic goods, now the problem of choice dominates due to the huge number of options offered. The small ukulele can be found at any major musical instrument store, as well as several online stores.

Choosing a ukulele is not so easy; you need to know the main, basic characteristics of a small guitar, and also soberly assess what exactly you want: to entertain yourself and friends with simple picking or try to get to the top of the instrumental Olympus.

Types of ukulele

Ukulele musical instruments are divided into several types, which differ from each other in sound and external characteristics. The ukulele, with Portuguese roots, has only four strings. They differ in size; the larger the scale, the lower the tuning the instrument sounds.

The smallest guitar in size is soprano, length is 53 cm. Its purchase is the best choice for a beginner guitarist. The soprano will appeal to young musicians; this type can easily be called a children's ukulele. The neck of the guitar is small, it will fit well into small hands. It is impossible to play very complex pieces of music on this instrument; it has only 12 frets, but the funny sound of the smallest guitar is popular and is often used in small groups. This option is suitable for travelers: the instrument will easily fit in a suitcase or backpack. The ukulele store offers inexpensive options for every taste.

Concert model ukulele is a small, slightly larger guitar, intermediate between soprano and tenor. The length is five centimeters longer, there are 18 frets, the instrument sounds fuller, it can be recommended for performances on the amateur or professional stage. There are only four strings for the ukulele, but such a simple but very cute design evokes so many pleasant emotions. The price is higher, but there are more opportunities to use your musical abilities.

Ukulele tenor- an even larger type of small guitar, sounds louder, length - 66 cm. You can play complex compositions on it, which is what all famous performers of this musical segment do. An ideal instrument for instrumental music.

Ukulele baritone The sound is almost no different from a regular six- or seven-string guitar, and has a standard EBGD tuning. It is essentially a six-string guitar without the fifth and sixth strings. The length reaches 76 cm. The baritone can be considered as another option for a travel guitar.

Bass The ukulele is exactly the same size as a baritone, but has a sound corresponding to its name, which can decorate any ensemble with its sound, including a mixed composition. A small guitar can be connected to an amplifier, this allows you to use the instrument as part of a rock band. Professional bass players often use a small copy of a large guitar when traveling; it can even be played on public transport if fellow travelers don’t mind.

Additional tips for choosing a guitar: Your first ukulele shouldn't be too expensive. Maybe you change your mind, something goes wrong, you never know what reasons might force you to quit playing music. Or a more optimistic option: you will master the basics so quickly and with apparent success that you will need a more serious tool, on which you will definitely not mind spending more serious money. The first experience can be passed on to a child or an adult beginner, and you yourself can try to move further along difficult, slippery, but such wonderful and inspiring musical paths.

The traditional look of the small guitar is made of wood and delights listeners with an acoustic sound. The electric ukulele replaces the electric guitar, but takes up much less space. This guitar has a classic or original shape, ergonomic design, and is equipped with a pickup.

The appearance of the instrument you buy depends on your preferences. Bright colors for childhood and adolescence, strict colors for more mature years. Natural shades are always in fashion: be it mahogany or solid spruce.

Which ukulele to choose is up to you. The answer to the question “which is better?” depends on what exactly you want to get from a small guitar. In any case, you should like the instrument you purchase. It fits comfortably and pleasantly in the hands, despite some small details that can and should be ignored even at the expense of price or sound. You can buy any of the listed types of ukuleles in an online store; it won’t take much time and won’t ruin your wallet. Ukulele strings will become your mood, your friends, your life.

There has never been a better time to start playing the ukulele. Why? - you ask. At the moment, manufacturers offer more than a thousand models of this tool, and all you have to do is choose it and start learning. You'll also find a wealth of educational resources to help you learn to play the ukulele and develop your skills.

Previously, this instrument was considered a toy for children, but musicians such as Paul McCartney, Eddie Vedder, Dhani Harrison and Jason Mraz have breathed new life into it. Jake Shimabukoro's amazing craftsmanship has proven that in the right hands, the ukulele can create a unique musical sound. His adaptation of George Harrison's song collected over 15 million. views at the time of writing this article.

Jake Shimabukoro performs “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on this ukulele.

The popularity of the ukulele should not be surprising. With only 4 strings, it offers a wide range of playing possibilities and a low barrier to entry for beginning musicians. In this article we will talk about the history of the ukulele, what types there are, and finally, how to choose a worthwhile instrument that suits your ambitions and budget.

A Brief History of the Ukulele

The ukulele was first made in 1880 in the Hawaiian Islands, when Portuguese emigrants made an instrument similar to one popular in their homeland. The interesting thing is that they were furniture manufacturers! The ukulele quickly gained popularity thanks to the support of King Kalakaua, whose entourage often performed with the ukulele. By the way, the name comes from the “jumping fleas” that are regulars on the islands.

The popularity of the ukulele reached the United States (around 1920), when American composers, inspired by the culture of Hawaii, began to compose works using this particular instrument. The musicians proved their popularity on the stages of vaudeville (a stage show that was popular in the United States and Canada between 1880 and 1930) and after that, the small instrument became closely associated with the Jazz era. At this point, instrument manufacturers such as Martin and Harmony began mass producing ukuleles throughout the country.

Although the ukulele's presence in pop music continued between 1940 and 1960, thanks to the production of millions of inexpensive plastic models, the instrument's popularity began to decline. Returning as early as 1990 thanks to the resounding popularity of the compositions "Over the Rainbow" And “What a Wonderful World” performed by the legendary Israel Kamakawiwo'ole on television. Since then, the ukulele has completely captured the hearts of its fans and has cemented its popularity with countless covers on YouTube.

Ukulele Types

Most ukuleles fall into one of four categories:

I would like to clarify what is meant by "scale length". The scale length is the distance between the nut and the bridge.

"Soprano"- This is the original type of ukulele. It is the smallest instrument in the family and typically has a scale length of 13" and an overall length of approximately 21", making it ideal for small children. Soprano-type ukuleles have a bright, glassy sound.

Next comes the ukulele type "concert", which has a scale length of about 15″ and an overall length of 23″. It produces a deeper and louder sound compared to the soprano, but at the same time, its tone is almost the same.

"Tenor" The ukulele has a deeper, resonant sound that is a result of the body size, which is a 17″ scale length and an overall length of 26″. Its looser neck allows for comfortable playing even with larger hands.

"Baritone" The ukulele has a deeper bass sound than its smaller brothers. The scale length is 19″ while the overall length is about 30″.

Ukulele body shapes

Eight: This shape is the most popular among all ukulele body shapes. Resembling a guitar, the shape has a curved top section that is usually smaller than the bottom section. The narrow part between them is simply called the waist. Some modern ukuleles also have a cutout on the top of the body, allowing easier access to the upper range of notes.

Pineapple: As you might have guessed, this type has a body shape very reminiscent of a pineapple. This form of ukulele was an innovation and was first manufactured by the Kamaka Ukulele Company.

Boat: The name speaks for itself. This form is considered the least popular, both among musicians and manufacturers.

Ukulele design

Headstock: the part of a guitar on which pegs are attached to change the tension of the strings. The headstock is attached directly to the fingerboard.

Pegs: They are a controlled mechanism that holds the strings in tension. Necessary for tuning the instrument by changing the tension of the strings.

Bone or saddle: Works in conjunction with the nut and is necessary to keep the strings at the proper height from the fingerboard.

Neck: Attaches to the bottom of the instrument body. This is where the fretboard is placed.

Fingerboard: Frets are glued into it and quite often marked with dots for better orientation of the musician along the fretboard.

Body or deck: Consists of top, back and side parts. The upper part is responsible for transmitting vibrations from the strings. The round hole (or resonator) at the top of the cabinet is designed to amplify and distribute sound.

Bridge: It is attached to the upper part of the body, into which the top threshold is placed. The strings are attached to specially designed grooves.

Ukulele construction methods and wood

There are many types of wood and construction methods used to make a ukulele. For example, some manufacturers offer models made of synthetic materials and metal. We'll talk about the most common types of wood below. The sound of a ukulele depends on many factors including: body shape and size, soundhole size, tuning and string type. There is no ideal wood for a ukulele; there are ideal combinations of different species to suit specific needs and tastes.

Hardwood vs Sheetwood

High quality instruments are usually made from hardwood, while more affordable models are made from sheet wood (several thin layers of wood glued together). In some cases, the bottom and sides of the cabinet are made of sheet wood, while the top is made of solid wood. All this is due to the fact that the upper part has a huge influence on the sound of the instrument, and therefore, it is made of spruce or cedar.

Tools that are made from sheet wood are prone to peeling and cracking, especially in cold or dry climates. Those made from hardwoods do not have these drawbacks and instead tend to produce a softer, richer sound over the years. Leaf ones sound exactly the same (regardless of age).

The most popular types of wood

Koa: This is a tropical wood that is the traditional choice for Hawaiians when making ukuleles. It is also the most popular in those circles for its fine, grainy patterns, wide range of colors and balanced tone. Acacia, which is botanically related to Koa, has similar properties.

Mahogany: Since it includes many variations in different regions of the world, it is very difficult to draw a conclusion about its sound. Typically, mahogany has a warmer, darker sound. It is very often used to make the neck of a ukulele.

Spruce: A favorite choice of guitar makers for its loud and light tones.

Cedar: Produces a softer, rounder tone. It is also a good choice for emphasizing the bass notes produced by tenor and baritone ukuleles. Western red cedar is one of the more popular varieties.

Sequoia: Tonally, sequoia falls somewhere between spruce and cedar, offering more of the clarity of spruce and the warmth of cedar. Due to excessive harvesting, it is a very rare and expensive wood.

Rosewood: Commonly used to make fretboards. This dense wood is also excellent for making cabinets.

Maple: Another wood that is widely used in making both guitars and ukuleles.

Today, you will find ukuleles that are made from a variety of woods, including ovankola, cocobolo, beech, cherry, African rosewood, mango, African mahogany and many more.

Special ukuleles

Along with the enormous popularity that the ukulele has gained, many manufacturers began to offer instruments with various modifications and features. Here are a few of them:

Electro-acoustic ukulele: This type of ukulele is equipped with a built-in pickup that detects the vibrations generated by the ukulele string and converts them into electrical signals. They are then sent to the built-in pre-amplifier, where it converts them into sound waves and outputs them to an external speaker. Electro-acoustic ukuleles are ideal for those players who play in a group. A pre-amp usually includes volume and tone controls that help get the natural sound out of your instrument after it has been processed by the pre-amp. Some electro-acoustic ukuleles are equipped with a USB connector, which allows you to directly record sound from your ukulele or connect additional devices for recording and processing sound.

Six-string and eight-string ukuleles: These types of ukuleles usually belong to the baritone or tenor types. As the name implies, they have from 6 to 8 strings and, due to their small dimensions, are great for trips and travel.

Hybrid ukuleles

Some manufacturers make instruments that specifically blur the lines between the traditional ukulele and other instruments (such as the banjo).

"Banjolele", combines a banjo-like headstock, body type, and resonator into one. Some of them are tuned exactly like a traditional ukulele, but at the same time, they give a very non-standard ukulele sound.

Another hybrid is "resonator ukulele", which borrows elements from traditional metal resonator guitars. Instead of ordinary wood, the body of the instrument can be made partly or entirely of metal. The aluminum body produces a characteristically unusual, loud sound.

Ukulele tuning

The three smallest types: soprano, concerto and tenor are usually tuned in G-C-E-A tuning. The baritone type of ukulele typically has the tuning: D-G-B-E (the first four strings on a standard guitar have the same tuning). Tuning in D (D) is also very popular and has the following form: A-D-F#-B. Tuning into alternative tunings is also possible, but I would recommend that you experiment with them only after you have gained some experience.

For easier and more convenient tuning of your instrument, use an electronic tuner. Many modern tuners have a built-in ukulele mode that allows you to tune it without any hassles.

Keep in mind that new strings tend to go out of tune quickly, which can cause some inconvenience for a beginner. Don't worry, this is a normal phenomenon, just keep playing, adjust periodically and in half an hour or an hour everything will return to normal.

The quality of your tuning pegs has a huge impact on how your ukulele stays in tune and how easy it is for you to tune it. Therefore, when purchasing, pay attention to their quality.

Additional Ukulele Accessories

In addition to the tool itself, you can purchase the following accessories for the initial assembly:

Tuner
Case or cover
Mediators
Extra strings

I would say that all of the above is the necessary minimum for any musician, so I advise you to take a closer look.

Summing up

Choosing a decent tool is quite a difficult task, especially for those who have never encountered it. I would encourage you to find an instrument that you feel is most comfortable, sounds great, and has fun playing with. Now you know quite a lot about what types of ukuleles there are, how they are designed and what materials they are made from. Now it's a matter of small things, based on the information you have received about the instrument, let your fingers and ears choose what is right for you.