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Even though it is small, handy, and somewhat cute – the ukulele is much more than a toy or a simple holiday instrument. Since Hawaiian Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole landed a worldwide hit with his ukulele interpretation of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" in 2007 (over 800,000,000 views on YouTube), the four-string instrument has become extremely popular again.
The ukulele is based on the traditional Portuguese Cavaquinho, which was brought to Hawaii by a Portuguese immigrant in 1879. There, the small instrument quickly gained great popularity and was given the name ukulele ("jumping flea"). The Hawaiians began building their own ukuleles from local koa wood. Some time later, it reached the US mainland with American soldiers, and manufacturers such as National, Gibson, and Martin quickly began to cater to the growing interest in the ukulele with their own models. The small string instrument soon established itself as an original addition to jazz, swing, and skiffle alongside other typical instruments.
Roy Smeck, Bill Tapia, and Herb Ohta popularized the ukulele in the first half of the last century. Today, young artists like Jake Shimabukuro maintain its popularity with YouTube tutorials and wild live concerts. Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam is also a ukulele fan, and in 2011 he even recorded an entire ukulele album. Other stars often seen with a ukulele include Taylor Swift, Amanda Palmer, Lou Barlow, Grace VanderWaal, and, of course, Stefan Raab.
Ukuleles usually have four strings, but sometimes six or eight. The fourth (top) string is typically octaved and thus tuned higher, giving the ukulele its exotic sound. There are five different sizes, from the small soprano ukulele, through the concert ukulele, tenor ukulele, and baritone ukulele, to the bass ukulele. While the soprano instrument measures just over 55 centimeters, the baritone ukulele can be up to 77 centimeters long, with a scale length of 50 centimeters.
The two main criteria for choosing the right ukulele size are the sound and the playability of the instrument. For example, the tenor ukulele offers much more sound volume and a slightly more pronounced bass area thanks to its larger body compared to the soprano ukulele. However, due to the extended scale length, it may make the first chords more challenging for small children's hands. Adult players with large hands, on the other hand, will tend to prefer the larger ukulele sizes to have enough space for chord grips on the fingerboard.
If you are unsure which size is right for you, starting with the soprano ukulele as your first instrument is certainly a good choice. It is by far the most widely used ukulele form and is suitable for lessons.
The most common is the soprano ukulele with a scale length of about 35 cm and tuning g'-c'-e'-a' (alternatively a'-d'-f#'-b'). The slightly larger concert model is tuned identically and, with a scale length of about 38.5 cm, forms the bridge to the larger tenor ukulele. In a musical duo or trio, the tenor model (43 cm scale, identical tuning) with its more voluminous bass area makes sense because it stands out better in terms of sound. The small sopranino and the baritone model are more exotic due to their construction, but the latter is increasingly popular with guitarists. Thanks to the longer scale length (51.5 cm) and different tuning d-g-b-e, similar to the lower four strings of a standard-tuned guitar, the transition is not particularly complicated.
Many ukuleles are also available with a built-in pickup, allowing the instrument to be connected via a jack cable to a concert PA system or an acoustic guitar amplifier. This makes sense only for those who frequently play in front of a larger audience and may need to compete in volume against acoustic guitars, cajon, or keyboard instruments. In an emergency, the ukulele can always be amplified with a microphone.
Entering the world of these instruments starts at around 20 euros for an inexpensive soprano ukulele. Initial musical attempts are easily possible with this and do not cost a fortune. Those who want to engage more professionally with the instrument can spend several hundred or even thousands of euros. For this, you get higher-quality woods, better craftsmanship, better mechanics, and of course, a better, more nuanced sound. The country of manufacture also plays a role in the price: while inexpensive instruments usually come from China, you can get ukuleles from Europe, the USA, or – due to its history, at the top of the list – a handcrafted ukulele from the Hawaiian Islands for significantly more money.
The recent popularity of the ukulele is also evident in the large variety of accessories now available for the instrument. Various straps for carrying the instrument, special ukulele stands, a wide range of bags and cases, capos for changing keys, and many songbooks that even allow you to play artists like Ed Sheeran, Bob Marley, or Nirvana on the ukulele.
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