Ukulele

The ukulele (pronounced /ˌjʉːkəˈlɛɪli/ from the Hawaiian ʻukulele, pronounced /ˈʔukuˈlɛlɛ/) is a musical instrument with four strings. It is also called the uke for short. Ukuleles are part of the guitar family of instruments. The strings are usually tuned G, C, E, A or A, D, F_#, B. Ukuleles normally have nylon strings or gut strings.

Ukulele

String instrument
Classification	String instrument (plucked, nylon stringed instrument usually played with the bare thumb and/or fingertips, or a felt pick.)
Related instruments
Bowed and plucked string instruments, namely the cavaquinho

Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Sopranino and bass ukuleles also exist. Sopraninos are tuned to standard tuning, however, baritone ukuleles are tuned to D, G, B, E (the top four strings of a guitar). Bass ukuleles are tuned E, A, D, G (bass guitar and double bass tuning).

The ukulele was invented in the 19th Century AD in Hawaii, where people got the idea from small guitar-like instruments known as cavaquinhos brought to the island by Portuguese sailors.

Ukulele Media

• Little play on soprano (standard) Ukulele

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  1916 cartoon by Louis M. Glackens satirizing the contemporary ukulele craze.

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  Boy in Hawaii wearing lei and holding a Maccaferri "Islander" plastic ukulele

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  A red Makala model Ukulele, manufactured by Kala

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  Soprano pineapple ukulele (left), baritone ukulele (center) and taropatch baritone ukulele (right)

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  Several ukuleles in a music store

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  Ukulele C6 tuning  Play (info • help).

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  Tuning with the "my dog has fleas" mnemonic.  Play (info • help)

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  Chart of common soprano ukulele chords.