By Keola Kawanako


The ukulele can be described as Hawaiian instrument that resembles a small acoustic guitar. Although it might look like a guitar it is fairly different from an acoustic guitar. It's got 4 strings, instead of 6 strings like a guitar and it's tuned in a different way. It generally is tuned to GCEA, whilst a guitar is tuned to EADGBE. It's also played differently. Although several ukulele enthusiasts will employ a pick like the majority of guitarists utilize, typically, an ukulele is played with the fingertips alone.

This musical instrument was initially introduced to The State Of Hawaii in 1879. It's based upon two Portuguese musical instruments known as the rajao and the cavaquinho, which had been brought to The Hawaiian Islands through the early Portuguese immigrants, that came out here to work on the sugar plantations.

Edward Purvis, the vice-chamberlain of King Kalakaua, heard a person playing the cavaquinho and decided to find out how to play it. Purvis was a smaller and very energetic person. He strummed the cavaquinho with a lot of vigor and because of this; the Hawaiians supplied him the moniker of "Ukulele", which means jumping flea. He received this nickname simply because his dynamic performing style and little stature reminded them of a jumping flea.

Later on, a few cabinet manufacturers from the Portuguese district of Madeira, constructed the first ukulele, basing it on the cavaquinho and rajao, which Purvis played so nicely. Somebody decided to apply Purvis's nickname to this brand new musical instrument and this is the way the ukulele acquired its name. The naming of this musical instrument is twice as apt, due to the fact many point out that the fingers of an ukulele musician mimic jumping fleas, particularly when they're playing a up tempo song.

From its humble beginnings back in 1879, in Hawaii, the ukulele has turned into a popular instrument. In 1920, it initially started to be popular in the U.S. during the Jazz age. And within the 1990s its popularity has started to ascend again through musicians like: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Jake Shimabukuro and even former Beatle, George Harrison.




About the Author:



0 comments: