Ukulele is a member of the guitar family of instruments. It generally employs four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings. Some strings may be paired in courses, giving the instrument a total of six or eight strings.
HISTORY
The ukulele is commonly associated with music from Hawaii where the name roughly translates as "jumping flea", perhaps because of the movement of the player's fingers. Legend attributes it to the nickname of the Englishman
Edward William Purvis, one of King Kalākaua 's officers, because of his small size, fidgety manner, and playing expertise.
The ukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian adaptation of the Portuguese
machete, a small guitar-like instrument, which was introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants, mainly from Madeira and they the Azores. It gained great popularity elsewhere in the United States during the early 20th century and from there spread internationally.
The tone and volume of the instrument vary with size and construction.
Parts Of The Ukulele
It is important to know the names of the parts of the ukulele so that you can tune, restring and look after your ukulele easily. It also helps to know the parts of the ukulele in case you want to talk about the ukulele with other players; although do keep in mind that some parts of the ukulele are known by multiple names - as such, it's best to be familiar with all of the names used to identify a certain part. In this article, we'll run down the common names used to identify the different parts of the ukulele, along with the main features of each part. Feel free to grab your own uke and identify the corresponding parts as we go!
Headstock [also known as the head of the ukulele]
The headstock is the top of the ukulele - the part which holds the tuners. The headstock is also the part of the uke that is furthest away from the body of the ukulele. The headstock is usually made of a solid piece of wood or plastic. It needs to be quite strong to support the tension of the strings and the tuners. the the the
Tuners [also known as pegs, tuning pegs, tuning heads, machine heads or tuning keys]
These four pegs are located in the headstock of the ukulele, and as their name suggests they are used for tuning the strings. Some tuners point backwards, and some point out the side depending on the style of your uke. The top end of the string is threaded through the tuner and then the tuner is turned, causing the string to tighten or loosen, depending on what way you turn.
Nut
The nut is the small ridge in between the headstock and the fretboard that the strings rest on. The nut has small notches on it which keep the strings evenly spaced at the top of the ukulele. The nut also elevates the strings off the fretbmillimetresew millimetres so that you can play the ukulele by pressing down on the strings. The ukulele would be unplayable without the nut, with strings that slip out of place and rub against the frets.
Fretboard
The fretboard is the front surface of the neck, beneath the strings. Usually, it is coloured black, an aesthetic habit that has seemed to stick from when fretboards were commonly made of dark hardwoods like rosewood and ebony. A good fretboard needs to be strong and perfectly smooth so that it can be glued exactly onto the neck.
Frets
The frets are the small bars that are hammered into the fretboard at very specific intervals. The frets stick out a little from the surface of the fretboard so when a finger is placed behind a fret, the fret stops the string instead of the finger itself.
Fret Markers
Fret markers are little inlaid white 'dots' on the fretboard, though fret markers can sometimes be colours shapes and colours too. These little dots help you to find your way from one note to another and are particularly helpful when moving larger distances up and down the fretboard. Fret markers are usually present in the third, fifth, seventh, tenth and twelfth fret.
Neck
The neck is the piece of the ukulele located behind the fretboard. It is curved from side to side to allow the uke players hand to cup around the neck and fingerboard comfortably, and it is usually made of solid material (either plastic or, more commonly, wood). The neck of the ukulele needs to be strong in order to support the tension of the strings. The neck and the headstock are usually made of one solid piece of material.
Body
The body of the ukulele is the main 'box' part and comprises of a backfrontispiecees and a frontispiece. The body of the ukulele is important as it amplifies the sound of the vibrating strings. As such, much of the tone of the ukulele is dependent on the body. Ukulele 'bodies' come in varying shapes and sizes, many of which mimic the classical or modern forms of other instruments. Some ukuleles have a 'cut-away' body shape much like that of some modern guitars, where the shoulder of the instrument has literally been cut away so that the player has easier access to the top notes on the fretboard.
Sound Hole
Located under the strings in the body soundholelele, the soundhole is a round hole that projects out the sound that reverberates inside the ukulele body. When you are playing the ukulele, soundhole over the soundhole you will produce the loudest sound, whereas if toyou strum down or up to the strings further, the sound will be much quieter. Some ukuleles have a pattersoundholeround the soundhole, known as the rosette.
Bridge
The bridge if the ukulele is the part that the strings are attached to on the body of the instrument. The bridge is usually glued to the body of the ukulele and can come in two different types - tie-bar and the standard bridge. Tie-bar bridges have small holes in them which the string is threaded through. The string is then tied to the bridge in a specific way to secure the string. Standard bridgeathave small notches at the end of the bridge closest to the bottom of the ukulele. To secure the strings to the standard bridge, the strings are knotted at the end and then this knot is inserted into the notch.
Saddle
The saddle of the ukulele performs much the same function as the nut, except it is located in the bridge, down the bottom end of the string. The saddle raises the strings to the right height needed to keep them consistently distanced from the fretboard, right the way to the nut. Like the nut, the saddle also has small notches in it to keep the string tos evenly spaced from each other.
Strings
The strings of the ukulele are usually made of nylon on concert and soprano ukuleles. Other types of ukulele, such as the tenor and the baritone, may have a mix of nylon and metal-wound strings. Metal-wound strings are used on these ukuleles in order to create a fuller tone on the lower strings of the instrument.
SIZE
Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone.
TYPES
1. Baritone
2. Tenor
3. Concert
4. Soprano
They are another string musical instruments the which are related to Ukulele.
Like Guitarlele, Banjolele, and Mandolin.
1. Baritone
As you can see from the image above Baritone is the largest of all Ukulele family members. It is almost comparable with the normal guitar. Structure and construction-wise are more or less the same as other members. Due to its big size, the sound which produces is louder compared to others. But the problem is that due to its size the sound quality is not that great.
If you’re a beginner, the baritone ukulele is probably not for you. The tuning and chord shapes are completely different than other ukuleles, and its near-guitar size can make it harder to play than smaller ukulele types. I would rather recommend you to go for Concert, Tenor or Soprano.
Specs:
2. Tenor
The tenor is smaller than Baritone. It is one of the most popular ukuleles in modern music and many musicians enjoyed playing in gigs. As it offers great versatility to someone who loves country songs. This is the reason why it is so popular, especially in Western and Europe. There is no difference at all from Baritone, except the size. But the sound quality is more fuller and deep as compared to Baritone.
If you are a beginner and looking to buy one, then this is definitely the best.
Specs:
3. Concert
If you have noticed, there is no way to distinguish Concert and tenor. Both have the same structural design, except slightly smaller in size as compared to tenor. Both of them generally employs nylon strings. The sound quality is 98% the same as the tenor due to its comparable size.
Specs:
4. Soprano
The soprano ukulele is the most popular and well-known of all ukulele styles, and its sound is the one most associated with the ukulele. If you’ve got an image of a ukulele in your head, this is the type of ukelele you’re probably thinking of. It’s also known as the “standard” in Hawaii because the soprano is closest to the original size.
This is the smallest-sized ukulele, and it typically features 12 to 15 frets that are narrower compared to the others. This may make playing different chords easier since you wouldn’t need to stretch your fingers as much, but it can be tougher for bigger hands to navigate.
EXCEPTIONS
Guitarlele
Guitarlele is a member of Ukulele, the only difference is that it employs six-strings(either nylon or steel string) whereas normal Ukulele employs four -strings.
These instruments are great for guitar players who want to get that ukulele sound without learning a new instrument. They’re also great options for ukulele players wanting to tiptoe into learning guitar.
Banjolele
Banjolele ukulele is small like ukuleles and is tuned the same, but they feature a banjo-style body that gives you that plunky banjo tone. These are some really cool and interesting instruments that we recommend checking out if you want to play around with something different!
Here is a list of the Best Ukulele for Beginners in India
PROS
PROS
Features&details
7. Kala MK-B Baritone Ukulele
Mandolin(eight-strings)
HISTORY
The ukulele is commonly associated with music from Hawaii where the name roughly translates as "jumping flea", perhaps because of the movement of the player's fingers. Legend attributes it to the nickname of the Englishman
Edward William Purvis, one of King Kalākaua 's officers, because of his small size, fidgety manner, and playing expertise.
The ukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian adaptation of the Portuguese
machete, a small guitar-like instrument, which was introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants, mainly from Madeira and they the Azores. It gained great popularity elsewhere in the United States during the early 20th century and from there spread internationally.
The tone and volume of the instrument vary with size and construction.
Parts Of The Ukulele
It is important to know the names of the parts of the ukulele so that you can tune, restring and look after your ukulele easily. It also helps to know the parts of the ukulele in case you want to talk about the ukulele with other players; although do keep in mind that some parts of the ukulele are known by multiple names - as such, it's best to be familiar with all of the names used to identify a certain part. In this article, we'll run down the common names used to identify the different parts of the ukulele, along with the main features of each part. Feel free to grab your own uke and identify the corresponding parts as we go!
Headstock [also known as the head of the ukulele]
The headstock is the top of the ukulele - the part which holds the tuners. The headstock is also the part of the uke that is furthest away from the body of the ukulele. The headstock is usually made of a solid piece of wood or plastic. It needs to be quite strong to support the tension of the strings and the tuners. the the the
Tuners [also known as pegs, tuning pegs, tuning heads, machine heads or tuning keys]
These four pegs are located in the headstock of the ukulele, and as their name suggests they are used for tuning the strings. Some tuners point backwards, and some point out the side depending on the style of your uke. The top end of the string is threaded through the tuner and then the tuner is turned, causing the string to tighten or loosen, depending on what way you turn.
Nut
The nut is the small ridge in between the headstock and the fretboard that the strings rest on. The nut has small notches on it which keep the strings evenly spaced at the top of the ukulele. The nut also elevates the strings off the fretbmillimetresew millimetres so that you can play the ukulele by pressing down on the strings. The ukulele would be unplayable without the nut, with strings that slip out of place and rub against the frets.
Fretboard
The fretboard is the front surface of the neck, beneath the strings. Usually, it is coloured black, an aesthetic habit that has seemed to stick from when fretboards were commonly made of dark hardwoods like rosewood and ebony. A good fretboard needs to be strong and perfectly smooth so that it can be glued exactly onto the neck.
Frets
The frets are the small bars that are hammered into the fretboard at very specific intervals. The frets stick out a little from the surface of the fretboard so when a finger is placed behind a fret, the fret stops the string instead of the finger itself.
Fret Markers
Fret markers are little inlaid white 'dots' on the fretboard, though fret markers can sometimes be colours shapes and colours too. These little dots help you to find your way from one note to another and are particularly helpful when moving larger distances up and down the fretboard. Fret markers are usually present in the third, fifth, seventh, tenth and twelfth fret.
Neck
The neck is the piece of the ukulele located behind the fretboard. It is curved from side to side to allow the uke players hand to cup around the neck and fingerboard comfortably, and it is usually made of solid material (either plastic or, more commonly, wood). The neck of the ukulele needs to be strong in order to support the tension of the strings. The neck and the headstock are usually made of one solid piece of material.
Body
The body of the ukulele is the main 'box' part and comprises of a backfrontispiecees and a frontispiece. The body of the ukulele is important as it amplifies the sound of the vibrating strings. As such, much of the tone of the ukulele is dependent on the body. Ukulele 'bodies' come in varying shapes and sizes, many of which mimic the classical or modern forms of other instruments. Some ukuleles have a 'cut-away' body shape much like that of some modern guitars, where the shoulder of the instrument has literally been cut away so that the player has easier access to the top notes on the fretboard.
Sound Hole
Located under the strings in the body soundholelele, the soundhole is a round hole that projects out the sound that reverberates inside the ukulele body. When you are playing the ukulele, soundhole over the soundhole you will produce the loudest sound, whereas if toyou strum down or up to the strings further, the sound will be much quieter. Some ukuleles have a pattersoundholeround the soundhole, known as the rosette.
Bridge
The bridge if the ukulele is the part that the strings are attached to on the body of the instrument. The bridge is usually glued to the body of the ukulele and can come in two different types - tie-bar and the standard bridge. Tie-bar bridges have small holes in them which the string is threaded through. The string is then tied to the bridge in a specific way to secure the string. Standard bridgeathave small notches at the end of the bridge closest to the bottom of the ukulele. To secure the strings to the standard bridge, the strings are knotted at the end and then this knot is inserted into the notch.
Saddle
The saddle of the ukulele performs much the same function as the nut, except it is located in the bridge, down the bottom end of the string. The saddle raises the strings to the right height needed to keep them consistently distanced from the fretboard, right the way to the nut. Like the nut, the saddle also has small notches in it to keep the string tos evenly spaced from each other.
Strings
The strings of the ukulele are usually made of nylon on concert and soprano ukuleles. Other types of ukulele, such as the tenor and the baritone, may have a mix of nylon and metal-wound strings. Metal-wound strings are used on these ukuleles in order to create a fuller tone on the lower strings of the instrument.
SIZE
Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone.
TYPES
1. Baritone
2. Tenor
3. Concert
4. Soprano
They are another string musical instruments the which are related to Ukulele.
Like Guitarlele, Banjolele, and Mandolin.
1. Baritone
As you can see from the image above Baritone is the largest of all Ukulele family members. It is almost comparable with the normal guitar. Structure and construction-wise are more or less the same as other members. Due to its big size, the sound which produces is louder compared to others. But the problem is that due to its size the sound quality is not that great.
If you’re a beginner, the baritone ukulele is probably not for you. The tuning and chord shapes are completely different than other ukuleles, and its near-guitar size can make it harder to play than smaller ukulele types. I would rather recommend you to go for Concert, Tenor or Soprano.
Specs:
- Scale Length: 17″
- Overall Length: 30″
- Common Tuning: D-G-B-E
2. Tenor
The tenor is smaller than Baritone. It is one of the most popular ukuleles in modern music and many musicians enjoyed playing in gigs. As it offers great versatility to someone who loves country songs. This is the reason why it is so popular, especially in Western and Europe. There is no difference at all from Baritone, except the size. But the sound quality is more fuller and deep as compared to Baritone.
If you are a beginner and looking to buy one, then this is definitely the best.
Specs:
- Scale Length: 17″
- Overall Length: 30″
- Common Tuning: D-G-B-E
3. Concert
If you have noticed, there is no way to distinguish Concert and tenor. Both have the same structural design, except slightly smaller in size as compared to tenor. Both of them generally employs nylon strings. The sound quality is 98% the same as the tenor due to its comparable size.
Specs:
- Scale Length: 15″
- Overall Length: 23″
- Common Tuning: G-C-E-A (High G)
4. Soprano
The soprano ukulele is the most popular and well-known of all ukulele styles, and its sound is the one most associated with the ukulele. If you’ve got an image of a ukulele in your head, this is the type of ukelele you’re probably thinking of. It’s also known as the “standard” in Hawaii because the soprano is closest to the original size.
This is the smallest-sized ukulele, and it typically features 12 to 15 frets that are narrower compared to the others. This may make playing different chords easier since you wouldn’t need to stretch your fingers as much, but it can be tougher for bigger hands to navigate.
Specs:
- Scale Length: 13″
- Overall length: 21″
- Common Tuning: G-C-E-A (High G)
EXCEPTIONS
Guitarlele
Guitarlele is a member of Ukulele, the only difference is that it employs six-strings(either nylon or steel string) whereas normal Ukulele employs four -strings.
These instruments are great for guitar players who want to get that ukulele sound without learning a new instrument. They’re also great options for ukulele players wanting to tiptoe into learning guitar.
Banjolele
Banjolele ukulele is small like ukuleles and is tuned the same, but they feature a banjo-style body that gives you that plunky banjo tone. These are some really cool and interesting instruments that we recommend checking out if you want to play around with something different!
Here is a list of the Best Ukulele for Beginners in India
1. KadenceKAD-UKU 4 Aguila 24 Concert Sized Ukulele( Brown )
KadenceKAD-UKU 4 Aguila 24 is a concert type of ukulele. This is one of the most popular ukuleles for beginners, as it offers all the possible quality you could ask for. From sound quality, well-built, and attractive design.
Featuring a high-quality maple wood body and the fingerboard made from rosewood, this ukulele is built to last for a long time. Its brown colour and smooth outer finish provide the perfect combination of aesthetic looks and function.
Features&details
- Size: 22 inches
- String: Nylon strings
- Body Material: Maple Wood.
- Finger Board: Rosewood Wood
- Bridge Material: Rosewood Great Built quality Great sound quality comes with Kadence KT-01 Digital Tuner.
- Very affordable
- Great sound quality
- Perfect ukulele for beginners
CONS
- The problem arises with the sound quality when connected to an amplifier.
2. VAULT UK-OO3 Soprano
PROS
CONS
3. Juarez JRZ21UK 21″ Soprano Ukulele Kit
Vault UK-003 is a soprano ukulele with huge versatility. If you are looking to buy your first ukulele and don't know which one to choose, this ukulele is definitely the best. Being soprano ukulele, it has a deep and fuller sound. It is made up of Maple Neck, Basswood Back and Sides and Rosewood fretboard adds a variety to the sound of the Ukulele, giving rich, clean and warm tones. Available in 4 different colours, The Vault UK-003 Soprano Ukulele is the best option for beginners and professionals alike.
Features&details
- It is a soprano ukulele with Aquila strings
- Has a gloss finishing
- Ideal for beginners
- Neck: maple
- Back&sides: basswood
- Fretboard: rosewood
PROS
- Comes with gig bag
- Available in a variety of colours: red, black, blue, yellow and white.
- Perfect size for the traveller.
CONS
- Decent body quality
- Low-quality gig bag
3. Juarez JRZ21UK 21″ Soprano Ukulele Kit
Juarez JRZ21UK is also a soprano ukulele with a 21-inch size. This Ukulele is suitable for both kids and adults, suitable for beginners or Basic players. Personal use and gifts are a good choice.
Mahogany body and Okoume neck bring you richer and brighter sound.
Rosewood fingerboard and bridge provides a comfortable playing feel.
4 Aquila (Made in Italy) imported Nylon strings produce really nice clear sound, also protect your fingers. Smooth and accurate, enclosed metal chrome tuners assure your instrument will keep good in tune stable.
Features&details
- Top: Mahogany.
- Back & Side Board: Mahogany.
- String: Imported Nylon Material.
- Fingerboard: Rosewood.
- Bridge: Rosewood.
- Dot: Acrylic.
- Nut & Saddle: Bone.
- Binding: No Decoration.
- Frets: 2.0 White Copper Plated.
PROS
- Compact body design
- Great comfortable
- Excellent sound quality
- Decent body quality
4. Kadence Concert Size Ukulele-Spruce Top with EQ
It is a semi-acoustic ukulele. It is constructed from a variety of woods, rosewood fretboard and bridge, spruce body. This combination makes the ukulele strong and durable, also it gives crips and deep sound.
If you are looking for a stylish look at the same time durable, great quality then this is for you.
With the help of the built-in tuner, you can easily tune your ukulele anywhere, anytime.
Features&details
- Fretboard: rosewood
- Bridge: rosewood
- Body: spruce
- Digital tuner
PROS
- Well-built body quality
- Great sound
- Lightweight
- Very durable
CONS
- Detuned easily
- Noise is heard when used with amplifier
5. Kadence Ukulele Tenor 26 inch with Equalizer, Mahagony Top
Again from the house of Kadence, it's a semi-acoustic ukulele equipped with a digital equalizer. Build from rosewood and mahagony. Fretboard and bridge are from rosewood and body are from mahagony.
If you are looking a ukulele with tuner, semi-acoustic, great quality then this is for you.
Features&details
- Tenor Size Ukulele with built-in equalizer and pickup
- Fretboard Material: Rosewood
- Bridge Material: Rosewood
- Body material: Mahagony
- Battery: included
PROS
- Great sound quality
- Comfortable
- Excellent colours combination and body design
CONS
- Easily loose tune
- The problem arises when connected to an amplifier
6. Vault UG-100 Guitalele
These instruments are great for guitar players who want to get that ukulele sound without learning a new instrument.
Vault UG-100 Guitalele Guitar Ukulele Sized as a standard 17" baritone ukulele, the Vault UG-100 Guitalele Guitar Ukulele from Vault is a mini 6-string Steel-nylon guitar tuned up a 4th from standard tuning to A (low to high: A/D/G/C/E/A) that plays like a standard guitar, albeit at a higher pitch.
Features&details
- Strings Scale: 17" (433 mm)
- Top, Back & Sides: Mahogany
- Body Depth: 2.8 to 2.8" (70 to 70 mm)
- Fingerboard Width : 1.8" (48 mm)
- Fingerboard: Composite Wood
- Bridge: Composite Wood
PROS
- Allow the same way as a guitar player
- No change in the chord shape
- Stylish looking
NO CONS IN THIS CASE!
7. Kala MK-B Baritone Ukulele
This type of ukulele is the biggest. Simply the best entry-level baritone ukulele on the market. For beginners, it is not is recommended. Sound and playability usually suffer at these, type of ukulele. Fantastic sound and looks and easy on the wallet.Features:-Agathis Body-18 Brass Frets-Rosewood Fretboard and Bridge-Mahogany Neck-Geared Tuners.
Features & details
- Agathis Body
- 18 Brass Frets
- Rosewood Fretboard and Bridge
- Mahogany Neck
- Geared Tuners
PROS
- Perfect for travelers
- Lightweight
- Great sound quality
CONS
- The fretboard is too wide for beginners
- Not easy to make the chord shape because of the wide fretboard
After going through all the above-mentioned ukulele, I'm pretty sure that there are many questions and doubts on your mind like 'which one to choose? 'best budget ukulele', ' which type I should go for?
This is up to you, which type of design you like. If you think you want small size and good sound quality then go for soprano ukulele(VAULT UK-OO3 Soprano or Juarez JRZ21UK 21″ Soprano Ukulele Kit), or if you want a bigger size then go for tenor or concert size(Kadence Concert Size Ukulele-Spruce Top with EQ or Kadence Ukulele Tenor 26 inch with Equalizer, Mahagony Top)
CONCLUSIONS
The above-mentioned ukuleles are my personal choice. I really hope you find this post helpful.
Also, read
Also, read
Best Ukulele for Beginners in India(Review 2019)+Buying Guides
Reviewed by frankiebey
on
July 31, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by frankiebey
on
July 31, 2019
Rating:
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