Ukuleles

Looking for a first musical instrument for your little one? Or something small and rhythmic for yourself? The ukulele offers the best solution to meet these requirements. Read on and we'll help you navigate the wide range.

What is a ukulele?

The ukulele is a musical instrument from the guitar family. It originated in Hawaii and is most commonly used in modern music and folk music. It is played either with a plectrum (pick) or with the fingers.

The instrument has evolved into several types over the years. They mainly differ in sound and size, which relates to the number of available frets.

The soprano ukulele is the most traditional and smallest of these. It has 12 to 15 frets and is tuned the highest of all. Thanks to its small size and ease of playing, the soprano ukulele is a great choice for beginners with smaller fingers. It's also very portable, making it the perfect choice for travelling musicians.

The concert ukulele , aka the alto ukulele, is a popular choice among beginners with larger hands. It is slightly larger than the soprano version and is most often designed to have 18 frets. The concert ukulele has a fuller, warmer sound than the soprano ukulele, it is louder and more resonant. It is ideal for gentle strumming, solo performance and is comfortable to hold and play. It is the second most common size of ukulele.

The tenor ukulele originated in the 20th century and is larger than its soprano or concert sibling. It is a popular choice among professional and advanced players and is also used in ensembles and bands. The tenor ukulele is the third most common size of ukulele, an ideal candidate for those who prefer a larger, yet still compact instrument with increased volume and depth.

The baritone ukulele is the largest and historically the youngest. It typically has 19 or more frets and is tuned lower than its counterparts, so it has a lower, guitar-like sound, is louder and more powerful than other types. It is suitable for those who prefer a larger size, more volume and more depth, and for those wanting to play songs usually rendered on a guitar. Though the least common size, the baritone ukulele has become ever more popular among players in recent years.

A guitalele is a hybrid between a classical guitar and ukulele. It has a standard smaller body and shorter tone axis length than a classical guitar, but is tuned to standard guitar tuning. The result is an instrument that has the playability and portability of a ukulele, but with the range and sound of a guitar. Guitalele is often used by guitarists who want a comfortable option for travel or ukulele players who want to explore more complex chords and melodies. They are also suitable for children or people with small hands who want to learn to play the guitar.

The history

The ukulele, also known as the "uke", originated in 19th-century Hawaii. The instrument was probably developed by Portuguese immigrants who brought small, four-stringed instruments called "braguinhas" or "machete de braga" to the Hawaiian Islands. The instrument quickly gained popularity among the locals and evolved into the modern ukulele we know today.

For more information, we have written an article on how to choose a ukulele. Don't forget to include a case, spare strings or picks with your order to get the most out of your new instrument.