The different TYPES of UKELELE

Music is the paradise of the creativity and invention. Thanks to all the history and evolution of art we possess today and for our fun and delight, a series of instruments and elements with which we can play to experiment with the sound. Of all the forms, figures and origins, each musical instrument is unique and provides us with different characteristics and qualities that adapt to our needs for artistic expression and sentimental. With so many timbres, we have the opportunity to find an instrument with which we identify ourselves.

In this lesson from a TEACHER we will talk about different types of ukulele that exist, one of the instruments that has become very popular lately. This practical, sweet and fun instrument that we can find in different versions.

The ukulele (the traditional name for "ukulele") is a plucked string instrument of provenance of the islands of Hawaii, Tahiti and Easter Island, that is assimilated to a guitar but much smaller. The ukulele has 4 plastic strings that are tuned differently from the guitar and has a sweet, high-pitched sound. For the most part, the ukeele is played directly with the fingers, but there are those who choose to play it with a plectrum or pick.

Like the guitar and its relatives, the ukulele possesses a soundboard, a hole through which the sound travels to said box, and a fretted neck that is where the fingers are placed to press the strings and change the pitch of the notes. It also has pegs (one per string) that serve to tighten or release the strings and thus change their pitch. The ukulele can produce melodies but it is used mainly as an instrument to produce chords and to perform the accompaniment of the voice or some other solo instrument.

Some instruments related to a ukulele: cavaquinho, charango, cuatro, timple, tiple, guitar.

The word Ukulele comes from the Hawaiian ‘uku lele which means“ flea ”and is actually an adaptation of a Portuguese instrument called "Cavaquinho". This instrument was created precisely by the Portuguese who migrated to Hawaii in the 1880s. The instrument spread to French Polynesia, where they first obtained a stringed instrument.

The popularization ukulele happens from 1915, when in the United States it is presented in an exhibition. Some artists who have contributed to the popularization of the ukulele are Manel, Beirut, Jake Shimabukuro, James Hill, Eddie Vedder, Matato’a, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Tyler Joseph, Frank Sinatra, Melanie Martinez.

Although there may be versions and variations of the ukuleles, we have at our general disposal 4 types of it, which vary according to their tessitura, that is why we call them within the following categories: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone.

Soprano or standard ukulele

The most common ukulele is the soprano or standard ukulele. This, the concert ukulele and the tenor generally have the following string tuning G (G), C (C), E (E), A (A). The baritone ukulele has in contrast the tuning D (d), G (g), B (si), E (e). By changing the type of ukulele, it also allows us more flexibility to change the tuning of its strings to obtain different tuning sets.

Baritone ukulele

Ukulele types change their measurements to affect timbre. In the case of the baritone ukulele, we can say that its sound is very similar to the tone of a guitar. These are the standard measurements in length for each type of ukulele:

• Soprano: 53cm (21 inch)
• Concert: 58cm (23 inch)
• Tenor: 66cm (26 inch)
• Baritone: 76cm (30 inch)

Electric ukulele

The original ukulele is made of wood and is played by its own soundboard. However, its inclusion in popular music and other styles has led to adaptation, causing that today we can find electro-acoustic ukuleles, that is to say they include with a built-in electric sound system to amplify your sound. This is called electric ukulele.

Among the industrial brands that make the most popular ukuleles we find: Donner, Fender, Hricane, Kala, Lanikai, Lohanu, Mahalo and Pomaikai.

Other less common ukuleles

Other less common manufactured versions of the ukulele are the sopranino ukulele (smaller than the soprano ukulele), bass ukuleles and banjoleles. There are also 6, 8 ukuleles, and even ukuleles with double strings and hybrid curiosities like the "longneck" ukulele.

With more knowledge of this curious instrument, you may have the opportunity to look for one to see it in person and perhaps feel the urge to want to learn it. The ukulele is a friendly, sweet, fun instrument that is often used for activities with friends or for celebration.