Have you ever wondered what a Ukulele is? Where is the Ukulele from? Are there different types of Ukuleles? So get ready to dive into interesting facts and the complex history of the Ukulele for kids. Teachers and parents can also learn and pick up facts from this article to teach their students and children!
What Is a Ukulele?
A Ukulele is a small instrument that is four-stringed and creates beautiful soft sounds. Think about the Ukulele as the guitar’s little brother! This instrument was commonly used in Hawaiian music but eventually spread around the globe.
The History of the Ukulele
The history of this instrument is deeply rooted in Hawaii and it is credited to be created in the 1880s. When Portuguese immigrants moved to Hawaii between 1870-1880s to work on sugar plantations, the immigrants brought with them a portable guitar. This guitar later on evolved to become the famous instrument now known as a Ukulele.
According the Ukulele Hall Of Fame these three people are credited for the creation of the Uklele:
- Manuel Nunes
- José do Espírito Santo
- Augusto Dias
After the establishment and commercial sale of the Ukulele, it started to gain popularity around the year 1920. From the year 1920 onwards this instrument became famous around the world and got involved in the world of modern pop music.
Types and Sizes of Ukuleles
Ukuleles have various shapes and sizes, like:
- Soprano Ukulele, is the smallest in size and can create bright and soft toned sounds
- Concert Ukulele, is slightly larger than the Soprano and creates more warmer toned sounds
- Tenor Ukulele, is comparatively larger than the Concert Ukulele. The sounds that it creates have more depth and volume
- Baritone Ukulele, is a size larger than the Tenor Ukulele. The instrument creates deep, full sounds similar to an acoustic guitar.
Parts Of A Ukulele
The Ukulele is made of these parts:
- Body
- Neck
- Strings
- Frets
Ukulele vs Guitar
Have you ever thought about what the difference between a Ukulele and a Guitar is? Well let us take you through the differences between the two instruments, the Ukulele and Guitar.
| Ukulele | Guitar |
| Strings: Has 4 strings | Strings: Has 6 strings |
| Size: Generally Smaller in size | Size: Larger in size |
| Weight: Lighter in weight | Weight: Heavier in weight |
| Easier to learn due to less number of strings and less complicated chords | Harder to learn due to the number of strings and complicated chords |
Two Famous Ukulele Players
Here is a list of famous Ukulele players throughout the world:
- Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (1959- 1997) was a native Hawaiian who created the famous song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.
- Jake Shimabukuro (1976, 48 years old) is Japanese and Okinawan, he is famous for his song covers and virtuosic playing style of the Ukulele.
Fun Ukulele Facts and Records
- Ukulele strings were once made from animal gut.
- Ukulele strings are now made of nylon or synthetic materials.
- Did you know the world’s largest Ukulele was over 13 feet long and was created by Larry Stump?
- Its is often said that the Ukulele’s name means ‘jumping flea’ in Hawaiian
- This instrument is said to be the easiest and quickest to learn!
- Ukuleles come in 4 different sizes
- Ukuleles can be made of wood and plastic as well
- The Ukulele is used in orchestras and bands.
- Did you know some Ukuleles are shaped like pineapples?
Frequently Asked Questions
How many strings do Ukuleles have?
Ukuleles have four strings.
Where did the Ukulele originate from?
The Ukulele evolved from a Portuguese instrument which was brought to Hawaii, so it is considered that the instrument originates from both of the lands: Hawaii and Portugal.
Which Ukulele is the smallest?
The smallest and the happiest sounding Ukulele is the Soprano.
Conclusion
The Ukulele is an amazing instrument for kids. This small and easy to play instrument makes kids more confident in their abilities and skills to learn new things. Next time you are strumming a Ukulele think about all the facts you read today.
