Middle School Music

Introduction to the ukulele The ukulele is a Hawaiian instruments and a member of the guitar (string) family. It is usually made with four strings. The ukulele was created in Hawaii during the 19 th century. It became popular around the world in the early 20th century.

Types of Ukuleles The tone and volume of the instrument varies with size. Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. The soprano is the standard in Hawaii and is the smallest and original size.

History of the Ukulele Ukulele roughly translates to "jumping flea”. The ukulele was introduced to the Hawaii by three Portuguese cabinet makers.

History of the Ukulele continued… King Kalakaua (the King of Hawaii at the time) helped to make the ukulele popular. King Kalakaua was a supporter of the arts and used the ukulele in performances at royal events.

Construction Ukuleles are usually made of wood. Cheaper ukuleles are made from plywood and more expensive ones are made of hardwoods. Ukuleles have a figure-eight shape, like an acoustic guitar. They can also be seen in shapes like oval (called a "pineapple“ ukulele), a boat-paddle shape or a square shape. These instruments usually have four strings but can have up to six or eight strings.

Tuning The most common tuning uses the notes G-C-E-A. A simple melody that is used to tune the ukulele is "My Dog Has Fleas“.

Ukulele Music Train - Hey, Soul Sister – YouTube

Introduction Video Ukulele For Dummies – YouTube “Ukulele for Dummies”