Ukuleles quickly spread to the mainland United States in the 1920s, as American musicians produced songs with Hawaiian themes. Original ukuleles were carved out of Koa, a native Hawaiian wood, and tuned differently than their Portuguese cousins. This led to the creation of the ukulele in the 1880s as Hawaiians took up the instrument and created their own musical style. The name ukulele means "jumping flea" in Hawaiian and is said to describe the fast motion of the players' hands. Hawaiian natives loved the sweet sound the machêtes produced, and even King Kalakaua was an avid supporter of the new instrument. Among these immigrants were three skilled furniture-makers who began producing machêtes and other stringed instruments on the island. One instrument many people played on the island was a small four-stringed instrument called a machête, which likely evolved from the Spanish guitar.ĭuring a period of economic hardship in the mid-1800s, thousands of Madeirans immigrated to Hawaii to work on sugar plantations and factories that were booming following the industrial revolution. The small mountainous island of Madeira was known for its timber industry, wine-making skill and abundance of street music that entertained European tourists day and night. While many people associate the ukulele with Hawaii, the story of this tropical stringed instrument actually begins on an island off the coast of Portugal. Whatever your reason for buying a ukulele, this guide will help you navigate the various types and styles of ukuleles to find the right one for you. With just four strings and a small fretboard, ukuleles are also excellent instruments for beginner musicians or children learning to play guitar. Their distinctive and unique sound make ukuleles an excellent addition to any guitar player's collection.
Once disregarded as a novelty, these small stringed instruments have gained popularity in recent years as a serious musical instrument. Seen in the hands of respected artists like Paul McCartney, Jason Mraz, Eddie Vedder and Jack Johnson, the ukulele is certainly making a comeback in the music world.
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