Ukulele
Four strings. One hundred forty years. A journey from Madeiran shores to global phenomenon.
From Madeira
to Hawaiʻi
The ukulele's journey began with the machete, a small four-stringed instrument from the Portuguese island of Madeira.
In August 1879, the ship SS Ravenscrag arrived in Honolulu carrying 420 Madeiran immigrants—and three cabinetmakers who would become the first ukulele builders.
The Ravenscrag Arrives
Portuguese immigrants bring the machete to Hawaiian shores.
Royal Patronage
King Kalākaua adopts the instrument as a symbol of Hawaiian identity.
Panama-Pacific Exposition
San Francisco's world fair introduces mainland America to the ukulele.
Four Voices
Soprano
The original. Bright, cheerful, quintessentially ukulele.
G4 · C4 · E4 · A4
Concert
The balanced choice. Fuller tone, comfortable frets.
G4 · C4 · E4 · A4
Tenor
The professional standard. Rich, resonant, versatile.
G4 · C4 · E4 · A4
Baritone
The bridge to guitar. Deep, warm, familiar.
D3 · G3 · B3 · E4G–C–E–A. The fourth string tuned higher than the third—re-entrant tuning—creates the ukulele's signature close-harmony sound.
Masters
Israel 'IZ' Kamakawiwoʻole
His medley of 'Over the Rainbow' became one of the most recognized songs of the 20th century.
Jake Shimabukuro
Virtuoso whose YouTube performance was among the platform's first viral videos.
Jacob Collier
A multi-instrumentalist and harmony prodigy who utilizes custom 5-string and tenor ukuleles to push harmonic boundaries.