ukulele

[ yoo-kuh-ley-lee; Hawaiian oo-koo-ley-ley ] show ipa. noun. a small, guitarlike musical instrument associated chiefly with Hawaiian music.

ukulele in British English or ukelele (ˌjuːkəˈleɪlɪ ) noun. a small four-stringed guitar, esp of Hawaii.

The ukulele is an incredibly social instrument because it's not intimidating at all and can be played by anyone, young or old, musician or non-musician. Its happy, joyful tone make it a delight to play and accessible to everyone.

Music Benefits the Brain While learning the ukulele, your brain is actively trying something new, which forces it to focus, concentrate, create and problem solve. Plus, during practice, you are continuously dealing with memorizing patterns as well as repetition, which are some of the things that keep the brain nimble.

The most obvious difference between the guitar and ukulele is their size. The ukulele often resembles a small classical guitar, with a much smaller body and only four nylon strings. The ukulele is tuned differently than a guitar with fewer notes and a much smaller sonic range.

Unique Ukulele Facts

• The ukulele was born in Hawaii, and originally constructed by Portuguese immigrants.
• The first ukulele was made in 1879.
• The word ukulele translates to “jumping flea,” a phrase that Hawaiians said described the motion of a ukulele player's hands when playing.

Here are 5 of the most fun and fascinating facts about the ukulele.

• The ukulele traces its roots back to Portugal.
• The strings of the earlier ukuleles are made from animal gut.
• The ukulele almost overtook the guitar multiple times.
• The ukulele has a high “low” string.

The ukulele has a high “low” string In contrast to the guitar, the ukulele has the so-called “reentrant” tuning. This means that the strings are not tuned upwards continuously like on a guitar or many other stringed instruments. This also gives the ukulele its lovely sound. It is also possible to put on a low string.

Its soft nylon strings are gentler on your fingertips and don't create finger pain like guitars do. The small size reduces wrist tension because the notes are reachable without stretching. Plus, it only has four strings, which makes chord shapes and scales easier to learn.

Obviously, if certain styles of music are very often played with this instrument, there are others which can also be played with the ukulele, but which are a little less common! Among others, we can cite jazz, soul, blues, country, metal, rock. You can also play electro, reggae, or classical music with your ukulele.

The ukulele is easier to learn than the guitar and other stringed instruments like the mandolin. Its soft nylon strings are gentler on your fingertips and don't create finger pain like guitars do. The small size reduces wrist tension because the notes are reachable without stretching.

Like a guitar, a ukulele is a chordophone (i.e., a stringed instrument) and features a long neck, a hollow body, and a sound hole. In fact, the four-stringed instrument looks like a small version of an acoustic guitar. Generally, ukuleles have a neck and body made from solid wood, with nylon or metal-wound strings.