Description:
The
ukulele and its alternate names include machete, ukelele or uke. It is
a plucked lute having a small flat body and a short neck and a member
of the chordophone family. Although most ukuleles have 4-strings some
do have 5, 6 and 8 strings. The 8-stringed ukulele is refered to as the
“tarro patch fiddle” or "tarro patch ukulele". Throughout Polynesia and
Micronesia the Ukulele can be found all the way from Hawaii, Fiji,
Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa, Cook Islands where the instrument is called
"ukarere". The ukulele spread as far as the Easter Islands, Papua New
Guinea and the Philippines. Currently a family of ukuleles are
available they exist in concert, baritone to tenor. The ukulele
continues to grow in its popularity since its arrival in Hawaii and
else where. Around 1886 the name tarro-patch fiddle was also applied to
several ukulele-like instruments. There is a popular legend that speaks
of the origins of the ukulele. Since the introduction the ukulele
enjoyed popularity amongst the Indigenous Hawaiian's. They enjoying
hearing the sound of the ukulele were impressed with the speed of those
who played this new instrument. The name ukulele was given to this new
instrument, in the Hawaiian language the word “ukulele” means “Leaping
Flea”. King David Kalakaua (b. November 16, 1836 d. January 20, 1891) a
ukulele player him self, had laid down the foundations for what
developed later into the "Ukulele boom" and he also contributed to the
"Hula competitions". However it should be mentioned that the tradition
of hula dancing pre-dates the introduction the ukulele. Early History: In the mid 1870s the S.S. Ravenscrag and its Madeiran passengers emigrated to Hawaii for employment to work in the sugar cane fields. Along with those who came from Portugal and Spain. Three of the Madeiran passengers were Jose Do Espirito Santo, Manuel Nuņes and Augusto Dias who constructed the first ukulele sometime during the 1880s. Several published articles from local news papers commented about the arrivals from Madeira and their sweet music. The reception amongst the locals in Hawaii was well received however several news papers had mixed views of the newly introduced ukulele. Since the dawn of the 20th century the ukulele became world-famous.
Arrival in Mainland North America: The ukulele made its debut in the Kiauea Cyclorama Exhibit held in the Worlds Columbian Exposition, Chicago in 1893. Visitors were serenaded by a quartet of Hawaiian Singers that were accompanied by Spanish guitars and the five stringed tarro-patch fiddle. Decades later world-fairs across North America through active promotion spread the exposure and popularity of the ukulele in the North American mainland. The ukulele became quite popular in Vaudeville performances. Due to the simplicity of the ukelele and its tunings make the instrument very early to learn and play songs quickly. Around the 1920s the ukulele became popular in Blues, Jazz, Folk and many other genres.
| Standard | C-G-E-A |
| Tarro Patch Fiddle | C-G-E-A |
| Old Tuning | F-Bb-D-G |
| Concert | A-D-F#-B |
| Tenor / Baritone | D-G-B-E |