Ukulele for Beginners
The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Learn the Realms of Ukulele from A-Z
Copyright 2020 by Peter F. Sheldon - All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
The name ukulele is a Hawaiian term for a small string instrument called machete (machete de braga) that had its origin in the Madeira Islands of Portugal. The machete belongs to the guitar family and is a descendent of plucked string instruments such as the lute and guitar. The machete goes by several names, such as a machete, cavaquinho, Cavaco, and braguinha. The machete was introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants who came to the island to work in sugarcane plantations in the late 1800s.
Most of us are only familiar with the standard ukulele, but there are various types of ukulele. On the market, you'll find the soprano, baritone, tenor, and even the banjo ukuleles. These models are most suitable for professional ukulele players. If you're a beginner, it's advisable to stick to the standard style before you can play the advanced models. But with practice, you can play any of the instruments. You may also find the sopranino and bass ukuleles in the market. The baritone ukuleles employ the D, G, B, and E tuning, while the sopraninos are tuned via the standard way. The bass ukuleles are tuned via the E, A, D, and G tuning.
Initially, the ukulele wasn't for anyone; it was for the royals, especially the Hawaiian royals. For instance, Aloha Oe is one of the most famous ukulele songs, and it was written by Queen Lili'uokalani long before the Americans invaded the Hawaiian kingdom. This royal incorporation played a significant role in the popularizing of this musical instrument.
If you are a beginner and interested in learning how to play the ukulele, you will find all the relevant information that will make the process enjoyable, fun, and productive. Like any other musical instrument, you'll need to dedicate adequate time for practice besides purchasing a high-quality instrument and accessories to make the learning process easier. In a few weeks or months, you'll be a professional ukulele player. Learning to play this instrument is much simpler than most string instruments, such as the guitar.
Chapter 1: A Brief History of Ukuleles
Ukulele has been with us for hundreds of years, and it has an exciting history. Although ukes are mainly associated with Hawaiians, this instrument was developed in the 1880s with its predecessor being a Portuguese-based string instrument known as machete de braga. In about 100 years after its development, the ukulele gained impressive popularity in the United States and internationally.
Therefore, the story of ukulele started in Europe, although stringed instruments have a long history. The larger instruments, like lutes and guitars, developed smaller cousins to cater to various groups such as sea-faring musicians. For instance, in Portugal, the guitar shrunk down to a machete retaining the figure 8 shapes, although its size was making it redundant.
A few names, including Augusto Dias, Manuel Nunes, and Jose do Espirito Santo, are credited as the first Hawaiian ukulele makers. These individuals arrived in Hawaii in 1879 from the Portuguese Island of Madeira.
If you want to understand the ukulele history, it's also essential to know the history of Hawaiian immigration. During the mid-to-late 1800s, immigrants arrived from Portugal, China, Japan, and the Philippines to work in sugarcane plantations. Notably, the Portuguese immigrants from Azores and Madeira introduced some deep-fried pastries and small guitars to Hawaii. The machete, also called cavaquinho, which is a small four-stringed instrument, was used by these sugarcane plantation laborers to relax after a hectic day in the fields. The Hawaiians were excited by how the players strummed the strings and named their variation of this instrument "ukulele," a term that translates to jumping flea.
After its introduction to Hawaii, the ukulele grew in popularity among many residents, including King David Kalakaua. The king himself, who was also a musician, is credited with developing a contemporary style of ukulele referred to as modern hula. The king was the patron of the arts and had a great liking for the instrument. In most royal events, King Kalakaua invited various musicians to perform music. The king encouraged the Hawaiians to adopt the ukulele and also enjoyed playing the instrument. His daughter Queen Lili'uokalani is credited for writing the famous Hawaiian ukulele song "Aloha Oe."
Among the over 25,000 Madeirians who arrived in Hawaii, the three woodworkers and their families played a significant role in creating the new instrumentthe ukulele. The poor sea-weary immigrants arrived on Honolulu harbor in August 1879. As soon as the ship carrying the immigrants docked, Joao Fernandes, one of the passengers who was also an accomplished musician, led the rest in song and dance to celebrate their safe arrival. Fernandes led many songs using a machete he had borrowed from a fellow passenger. He had also been entertaining passengers during the long voyage from Portugal. Surprisingly, Fernandes wasn't the only immigrant who could play the ukulele. A few weeks after the immigrants arrived in Hawaii, a newspaper headline highlighted the news of the Madeira Islanders who had arrived in the area and were entertaining locals by hosting nightly street concerts. The article continued to describe the musical instrument the musicians were using, stating that it seemed to be a cross between a guitar and a banjo. Still, it produced breathtaking music in the hands of these Portuguese minstrels.
The three immigrants, Santo, Nunes, and Dias, worked in the sugar plantations for a while in Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui. After they had accomplished their contractual obligations, these men moved to Honolulu, the capital of the kingdom, and the center of commerce with the aim of pursuing their former professions in woodworking. These men were fortunate because Honolulu has a thriving furniture trade at this time with many local woodworking businesses. Santos and Nunes were lucky to land jobs at one of the largest furniture stores in Hawaii called Pioneer Furniture House. On the other hand, Dias set up a small woodworking shop in Honolulu's low-rent Chinatown district in 1884. In this store, Dias made not only furniture but also musical instruments.
