Ukuleles have experienced an immense surge in global popularity recently. Thanks to mainstream pop artists such as Steven Swartz, Zach Condon and Stephin Merritt who incorporate them into their music, ukuleles have even made their way into mainstream conversations.
The Ukulele originated on Madeira and is closely related to cavaquinho on mainland Portugal. There have been various theories as to its name ‘ukulele’ coming from, with Hawaiian monarch Queen Lili’uokalani offering one such theory that suggests its meaning is ‘jumping flea’.
Origins
The Ukulele has long been associated with Hawaii, but its origin can actually be found elsewhere: on Madeira island in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Portugal. There it was first created.
The history of the ukulele begins with Portuguese immigrants arriving on Hawaiian islands to seek work and establish themselves. These pioneers brought with them four-stringed instruments known as braguinhas – believed to be precursors to today’s ukuleles – with them.
Soon after hearing of its arrival in Hawaii, locals quickly adopted this instrument, dubbing it the ukulele (meaning “jumping flea” in Hawaiian). Soon thereafter, this music soon became part of Hawaiian culture – including among royalty like King Kalakaua and Queen Lili’uokalani who encouraged native musicians to learn to play it.
Although ukulele’s popularity soared during this era, some critics still voiced harsh judgment against it for being too easy to learn and used this analogy as a means of disparaging its brand name – resulting in some people likening it to child’s toys; such comments gave way to its continued stigma today.
After World War II, ukuleles started becoming popular throughout mainland America as manufacturers began producing cheaper plastic versions that appealed to people wanting to learn to play but couldn’t afford more expensive instruments.
While the ukulele may be best known for its playful nature, it’s an invaluable instrument. Many professional musicians rely on it during concerts, weddings and special events; it is even increasingly becoming popular as more musicians like Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and Jake Shimabukuro use this instrument. From its humble Portuguese import beginnings all the way through becoming an iconic Hawaiian symbol and global phenomenon; its journey truly stands out.
Materials
Examining the materials that go into ukulele production is vital in order to gain a fuller understanding of its workings. Common materials include wood and nylon strings; each has their own lifecycle which has an impactful result for our environment; for instance, harvesting wood from trees requires using fossil fuels for transporting it directly to its location.
After gathering wood, it must be kiln dried in order to prepare it for manufacturing; this step requires fossil fuels as heating sources for its kiln. Once completed, once shipped out for distribution it may consume additional fossil fuels resulting in increased energy use as well as waste disposal costs.
Many of the most sought-after ukuleles are constructed with mahogany, an affordable hardwood with a mid-range sound that is balanced. Mahogany costs less than rosewood but denser than both spruce and cedar, respectively. Maple is another material often used in making ukuleles; this material often produces brighter tones with accentuated high frequencies; maple features beautiful aesthetic variations that include quilted patterns, flamed surfaces, tiger stripes, bird’s eye patterns and bird’s eye designs as well.
Ukuleles made from koa wood are well known for their delicate, warm sound. Koa is an exotic wood found only on Hawaiian islands; the sound produced by it can range from soft yet distinct and clear when well made; mahogany shares similar qualities but emphasizes mids more directly. Other woods that can be used include acacia sapele and nato.
To create a ukulele, the first step involves cutting and sanding wood. Once prepared, this piece of lumber must be placed into a mold specifically designed to shape it into its distinctive curved form of an ukulele neck. After drying in its mold for some time, its two ends must then be fastened together with glue at where its neck will sit; additionally an endblock piece of wood must also be fastened near its bottom for assembly of front, back, neck etc.
Styles
Ukuleles have long been popular musical instruments, but in recent years their prominence has increased significantly. From Tiny Tim to the Ukulele Orchestra of Los Angeles and beyond – more people than ever are picking up and learning to play them, leading to increased environmental pollution and waste as a result. As with any boom, there can be negative side effects; here are ways you can mitigate damage while protecting the environment at the same time.
Wood is an essential component in the creation of ukuleles, with various types of wood being utilized for production. Mahogany is one of the most sought-after varieties due to its balanced sound quality with rich tones and visually appealing figures; alternatively, maple highlights high frequencies while providing visually pleasing patterns.
As part of the production process for an ukulele, the first step involves carving the neck out of wood using either CNC machinery or traditional hand carving techniques. After this step is completed, small grooves are cut into it before thin metal strips called frets are installed into these spaces to enable players to access various notes on the instrument.
Nylon strings are another critical factor in producing ukuleles, often made out of this man-made material created through polymerization involving petroleum and coal resources which release toxic pollutants into the environment, contributing to cancer and asthma. There are ways of decreasing nylon usage through recycling materials or other alternatives that don’t use petroleum-based resources such as making use of recycled material in its place.
Manufacturers
Traditional handmade ukuleles are usually produced by individual artisans, providing quality control throughout the manufacturing process and enabling workers to inspect each instrument as it’s being assembled – this enables workers to inspect rejected parts before the instrument is completed – this also benefits musicians as each ukulele will have its own individual sound; additionally, craftsmen can tailor each ukulele’s specifications according to what their client desires as an outcome.
Although often associated with Hawaiian culture, the ukulele originated in Europe. When Portuguese settlers first came to Hawaii in 1879 they brought an instrument known as braguinha with them; three Portuguese cabinet makers named Manuel Nunes, Augusto Dias and Jose do Espirito Santo adapted this instrument specifically for Hawaiian music styles – creating the modern ukulele!
As is typical with stringed instruments, ukuleles are assembled by gluing pieces of wood together before softening it in water and shaping it with molds into their final forms. Once formed, two sides are then glued together before an end block fastens around its neck for security.
Next, a bridge and saddle must be attached to the ukulele so the strings may pass across it to create its characteristic sound. To secure their position on top, pegs must be inserted into holes drilled on its body before being fastened with screws to its body for stability; once in place a tuning key can be attached so as to be used when fine-tuning its sound.
Today, ukuleles are produced by numerous companies around the globe and come in both mass produced forms made of lower cost materials as well as those constructed with exotic woods like koa and ebony. You can find these instruments anywhere from large chains like Guitar Center to local family owned shops; schools even use them regularly and aspiring musicians of all ages use them regularly!