Musical instrument of the guitar family
For other uses, see Ukulele (disambiguation).
The ukulele (ooh-kə-LAY-lee; from Hawaiian: ʻukulele[ˈʔukuˈlɛlɛ]), also called a uke, recap a member of the lute family of instruments of Romance origin and popularized in Hawaii. It generally employs four textile strings.[1][2][3]
The tone and volume of the instrument vary with stuff and construction. Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, go to the trouble of, tenor, and baritone.
Developed in the s, the ukulele denunciation based on several small, guitar-like instruments of Portuguese origin, depiction machete,[4]cavaquinho, timple, and rajão, introduced to the Hawaiian Islands make wet Portuguese immigrants from Madeira, the Azores, and Cape Verde.[5] Troika immigrants in particular, Madeiran cabinet makers Manuel Nunes, José repeal Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias, are generally credited as rendering first ukulele makers.[6] Two weeks after they disembarked from say publicly SS Ravenscrag in late August , the Hawaiian Gazette tale that "Madeira Islanders recently arrived here, have been delighting description people with nightly street concerts."[7]
One of the most important factors in establishing the ukulele in Hawaiian music and culture was the ardent support and promotion of the instrument by Beautiful Kalākaua. A patron of the arts, he incorporated it come across performances at royal gatherings.[8]
In the Hawaiian language the word uke roughly translates as 'jumping flea',[9] perhaps because of the move of the player's fingers. Legend attributes it to the sobriquet of Englishman Edward William Purvis, one of King Kalākaua's officers, because of his small size, fidgety manner, and playing move out. One of the earliest appearances of the word ukulele take away print (in the sense of a stringed instrument) is behave the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Catalogue of the Crosby Embrown Collection of Musical Instruments of All Nations published in Representation catalog describes two ukuleles from Hawaii—one that is similar tenuous size to a modern soprano ukulele, and one that remains similar to a tenor (see §&#;Types and sizes).[10]
In the s, educator J. Chalmers Doane dramatically changed school music programs get across Canada, using the ukulele as an inexpensive and practical education instrument to foster musical literacy in the classroom.[11] At disloyalty peak, 50, schoolchildren and adults learned the ukulele through description Doane program.[12] "Ukulele in the Classroom", a revised program built by James Hill and Doane in , is a essence of music education in Canada.[13]
The ukulele arrived in Japan impede after Hawaiian-born Yukihiko Haida returned to the country upon his father's death and introduced the instrument. Haida and his sibling Katsuhiko formed the Moana Glee Club, enjoying rapid success be pleased about an environment of growing enthusiasm for Westernpopular music, particularly Oceanic and jazz. During World War II, authorities banned most concerto from the West, but fans and players kept it be located in secret, and it resumed popularity after the war. Lecture in , Haida founded the Nihon Ukulele Association. Japan has since become a second home for Hawaiian musicians and ukulele virtuosos.[14]
See also: Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
British singer and comic George Formby was a ukulele player, though he often played a banjolele, a hybrid instrument consisting of an extended guitar neck with a banjo resonator body. Demand surged in say publicly new century because of its relative simplicity and portability.[15] On the subject of British ukulele player was Tony Award-winner Tessie O'Shea, who exposed in numerous movies and stage shows, and was twice bargain The Ed Sullivan Show, including the night The Beatles debuted in [16] The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain tours globally, and the George Formby Society, established in , continues playact hold regular conventions.
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Songster all played the ukulele.[17] Harrison, who was a Formby enthusiast, was a great lover of the instrument and often gave them to friends, including Tom Petty, whom he taught stumble upon play.[18]
The ukulele was popularized for a stateside audience during the Panama–Pacific International Exposition, held from flow to autumn of in San Francisco.[19] The Hawaiian Pavilion featured a guitar and ukulele ensemble, George E. K. Awai impressive his Royal Hawaiian Quartet,[20] along with ukulele maker and sportswoman Jonah Kumalae.[21] The popularity of the ensemble with visitors launched a fad for Hawaiian-themed songs among Tin Pan Alleysongwriters.[22] Depiction ensemble also introduced both the lap steel guitar and interpretation ukulele into U.S. mainland popular music,[23] where it was untenanted up by vaudeville performers such as Roy Smeck and Scarp "Ukulele Ike" Edwards. On April 15, , at the Rivoli Theater in New York City, Smeck appeared, playing the guitar, in Stringed Harmony, a short film made in the DeForestPhonofilmsound-on-film process. On August 6, , Smeck appeared playing the guitar in a short film His Pastimes, made in the Vitaphonesound-on-disc process, shown with the feature filmDon Juan starring John Barrymore.[24]
The ukulele soon became an icon of the Jazz Age.[25] On the topic of guitar, basic ukulele skills can be learned fairly easily, dispatch this highly portable, relatively inexpensive instrument was popular with tiro players throughout the s, as evidenced by the introduction defer to uke chord tablature into the published sheet music for wellliked songs of the time[25] (a role that was supplanted chunk the guitar in the early years of rock and roll).[26] A number of mainland-based stringed-instrument manufacturers, among them Regal, Accord, and especially Martin, added ukulele, banjolele, and tiple lines resist their production to take advantage of the demand.[27]
The ukulele too made inroads into early country music or old-time music[28] like to the then-popular mandolin. It was played by Jimmie Composer and Ernest V. Stoneman, as well as by early twine bands, including Cowan Powers and his Family Band, Da Bone Woltz's Southern Broadcasters, Walter Smith and Friends, The Blankenship Stock, The Hillbillies, and The Hilltop Singers.[28]
From the trash s to the late s, plastics manufacturer Mario Maccaferri inverted out about 9 million inexpensive ukuleles.[29] The ukulele remained in favour, appearing in many jazz songs throughout the 50s, '60s, professor '70s.[30] Much of the instrument's popularity (particularly the baritone size) was cultivated by Arthur Godfrey on The Arthur Godfrey Show on television.[31] Singer-musician Tiny Tim became closely associated with depiction instrument after playing it on his hit "Tiptoe Through representation Tulips".
After the s, the ukulele declined in esteem until the late s, when interest in the instrument reawakened.[32] During the s, new manufacturers began producing ukuleles and a new generation of musicians took up the instrument. Jim Beloff set out to promote the instrument in the early s and created over two dozen ukulele music books featuring additional music and classic ukulele pieces.[33]
All-time best-selling Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo'ole helped repopularize the instrument, in particular with his reggae-rhythmed mixture of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World", inoperative in films, television programs, and commercials. The song reached distribution 12 on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks chart the week cosy up January 31, [34]
The creation of YouTube helped revive the esteem of the ukulele. One of the first videos to comprise viral was Jake Shimabukuro's ukulele rendition of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". The video quickly went viral, famous as of September , had received over 17 million views.[35]
The ukulele is generally made of wood, though variants have antique composed partially or entirely of plastic or other materials. Cheaper ukuleles are generally made from plywood or laminated woods, fasten some cases with a soundboard of a tonewood such significance spruce. More expensive ukuleles are made of solid hardwoods much as mahogany. The traditionally preferred wood for ukuleles is a type of acacia endemic to Hawaii, called koa.
Typically, ukuleles have a figure-eight body shape similar to that of a small acoustic guitar. They are also often seen in unaccepted shapes, such as cutaway and oval, usually called a "pineapple" ukulele (see image below), invented by the Kamaka Ukulele gang, or a boat-paddle shape, and occasionally a square shape, commonly made out of an old wooden cigar box.
These instruments usually have four strings; some strings may be paired explain courses, giving the instrument a total of six or start burning strings (primarily for greater strumming volume.) The strings themselves were originally made of catgut. Modern ukuleles use strings made expend nylon polymers, synthetic gut, or fluorocarbon or wound strings beside of a (typically) nylon core wound with metal or polymers,[36] including aluminium and silver-platedcopper.[37]
Instruments with six or eight strings jagged four courses are often called taropatches, or taropatch ukuleles. They were once common in the concert size, but now rendering tenor size is more common for six-string taropatch ukuleles. Interpretation six-string, four-course version, has two single and two double courses, and is sometimes called a lili'u, though this name further applies to the eight-string version.[38] Eight-string baritone taropatches exist,[39] viewpoint 5-string tenors have also been made.[40]
Common types more than a few ukuleles include soprano (standard ukulele), concert, tenor, and baritone. No matter what common are the sopranino (also called piccolo, bambino, or "pocket uke"), bass, and contrabass ukuleles.[41] Other types of ukuleles encompass banjo ukuleles and electric ukuleles. Of the standard ukuleles, interpretation soprano, often called "standard" in Hawaii, is the second smallest and was the original size. The concert size was cultured in the s as an enhanced soprano, slightly larger standing louder with a deeper tone. Shortly thereafter, the tenor was created, having more volume and a deeper bass tone. Say publicly baritone (resembling a smaller tenor guitar) was created in say publicly s, and the contrabass and bass are recent innovations ( and , respectively).[42][43]
| Type | Alternate names | Typical length | Scale length[44] | Frets | Range[45] | Common tuning[46] | Alternate tunings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| piccolo, sopranino, sopranissimo | 16&#;in (41&#;cm) | 11&#;in (28&#;cm) | 10–12 | G4–D6 (E6) | D5&#;G4&#;B4&#;E5 | C5&#;F4&#;A4&#;D5 | |
| Soprano | standard, ukulele | 21&#;in (53&#;cm) | 13&#;in (33&#;cm) | 12–15 | C4–A5(C6) | G4&#;C4&#;E4&#;A4[47] | A4&#;D4&#;F4&#;B4 G3&#;C4&#;E4&#;A4 |
| Concert | alto | 23&#;in (58&#;cm) | 15&#;in (38&#;cm) | 15–18 | C4–C6 (D&#;6) | G4&#;C4&#;E4&#;A4[47] | G3&#;C4&#;E4&#;A4 |
| Tenor | taro patch, Liliu[48] | 26&#;in (66&#;cm) | 17&#;in (43&#;cm) | 17–19 | G3–D6 (E6) | G4&#;C4&#;E4&#;A4 ("High&#;G") G3&#;C4&#;E4&#;A4 ("Low&#;G") | D4&#;G3&#;B3&#;E4 A3&#;D4&#;F4&#;B4 D3&#;G3&#;B3&#;E4 |
| Baritone | bari, bari uke, taropatch[49] | 29&#;in (74&#;cm) | 19&#;in (48&#;cm) | 18–21 | D3–A5 (C&#;6) | D3&#;G3&#;B3&#;E4(Guitar tuning)[47] | C3&#;G3&#;B3&#;E4 |
| Bass | U-Bass, Rumbler[50] | 32&#;in (81&#;cm) | 21&#;in (53&#;cm) | 16 | E1–B3 | E1&#;A1&#;D2&#;G2 | D1&#;A1&#;D2&#;G2 ("Drop&#;D") |
The following chart shows the range of notes of standard guitar types. Note that the range varies with the tuning illustrious size of the instruments. The examples shown in the rough draft reflect the range of each instrument from the lowest lifethreatening tuning to the highest fret in the highest standard tuning. Additionally, the contrabass below aligns with the bass in rendering above table.
One of the most common tunings for picture standard or soprano ukulele is C6 tuning: G4–C4–E4–A4, which practical often remembered by the notes in the "My dog has fleas" jingle (see sidebar).[51] The G string is tuned encyclopaedia octave higher than might be expected, so this is frequently called "high G" tuning. This is known as a "reentrant tuning"; it enables uniquely close-harmony chording.
The table below shows a pitch's name found over the four strings of a ukulele in standard tuning, from the nut (zero) to picture fifteenth fret.
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | B | C | C | D | E | E | F | F | G | A | A | B | B | C |
| E | F | F | G | A | A | B | B | C | C | D | E | E | F | F | G |
| C | C | D | E | E | F | F | G | A | A | B | B | C | C | D | E |
| G | A | A | B | B | C | C | D | E | E | F | F | G | A | A | B |
More rarely used with the soprano ukulele is C6 linear tuning, or "low G" tuning, which has the G in little an octave lower: G3–C4–E4–A4, which is equivalent to playing depiction top four strings (DGBE) of a guitar with a capo on the fifth fret.
Another common tuning for the penetrating ukulele is the higher string-tension D6 tuning (or simply D tuning), A4–D4–F4–B4, one step higher than the G4–C4–E4–A4 tuning. Promptly considered standard, this tuning was commonly used during the Island music boom of the early 20th century, and is habitually seen in sheet music from this period, as well rightfully in many method books through the s. D6 tuning bash said by some[by whom?] to bring out a sweeter timbre in some ukuleles, generally smaller ones. D6 tuning with a low fourth string, A3–D4–F4–B4, is sometimes called "Canadian tuning" subsequently its use in the Canadian school system, mostly on interrupt or tenor ukuleles, and extensive use by James Hill paramount J. Chalmers Doane.[52]
Whether C6 or D6 tuning should be rendering "standard" tuning is a matter of long and ongoing argument. There are historic and popular ukulele methods that have reflexive each.[53]
For the concert and tenor ukuleles, both reentrant and linelike C6 tunings are standard; linear tuning in particular is universally used for the tenor ukulele, more so than for description soprano and concert instruments.
The baritone ukulele usually uses linelike G6 tuning: D3–G3–B3–E4, the same as the highest four filament of a standard 6-string guitar.
Bass ukuleles are tuned likewise to the bass guitar and double bass: E1–A1–D2–G2 for U-Bass style instruments (sometimes called contrabass), or an octave higher, E2–A2–D3–G3, for Ohana type metal-string basses.
Sopranino ukulele tuning is crony standardized. They are usually tuned re-entrant, but frequently at a higher pitch than C; for example, re-entrant G6 tuning: D5–G4–B4–E5.
As is commonly the case with string instruments, other tunings may be preferred by individual players. For example, special faithful sets are available to tune the baritone ukulele in bilinear C6. Some players tune ukuleles like other four-string instruments specified as the mandolin,[54] Venezuelan cuatro,[55] or dotara.[56] Ukuleles may further be tuned to open tunings, similar to the Hawaiian slack-key style.[57]
Ukulele varieties include hybrid instruments such as the guitalele (also called guitarlele), banjo ukulele (also called banjolele), harp uke, lap steel ukulele, and the ukelin. It is very familiar to find ukuleles mixed with other stringed instruments because annotation the number of strings and the easy playing ability. Presentday is also an electrically amplified variant of the ukulele. Depiction resonator ukulele produces sound by one or more spun metal cones (resonators) instead of the wooden soundboard, giving it a distinct and louder tone. The Tahitian ukulele, another variant, court case usually carved from a single piece of wood,[58] and does not have a hollow soundbox, although the back is breakage. The Tahitian ukulele generally has eight strings made from sportfishing line, tuned the same as a Hawaiian ukulele in quaternity courses, although the middle two courses are an octave advanced than its Hawaiian cousin. Inspired by the Tahitian ukulele, near is the Motu Nui variant, from France, which has fairminded four strings made from fishing line and the hole weight the back is designed to produce a wah-wah effect.[citation needed]Mario Maccaferri invented an automatic chording device for the ukulele, titled Chord Master.
Close cousins of the ukulele include the Romance forerunners, the cavaquinho (also commonly known as machete or braguinha) and the slightly larger rajão. Other relatives include the Venezuelan cuatro, the Colombiantiple, the timple of the Canary Islands, description Spanishvihuela, the Mexican requinto jarocho, and the Andeancharango traditionally plain of an armadillo shell. In Indonesia, a similar Portuguese-inspired utensil is the kroncong.[59]