The Ukulele

During this session we will explore:

 The origins of the ukulele

 The ukulele through history
 The components of the instrument

If working from home with access to a Uke:

 Recap how to read a chord diagram
 Tuning
 Play along
Draw and label a Ukulele
The Origins of the Ukulele
Copy & Complete:

 What are Hulas?

 Where did the ukulele come from originally?
 Who thought it would be a good idea to build them in Hawaii and why?
 What does the name mean?
The Origins of the Ukulele
The Origins of the Ukulele
ANSWERS

What are Hulas?

 Sacred chants/songs that tell the history of the Hawaii (not permitted to be written down)
 Where did the ukulele come from originally? Portugal
 Who thought it would be a good idea to build them in Hawaii and why?
 King David Kalakaua
 What does the name mean?
 Jumping flea/gift from far away.
The Ukulele through time
Copy & complete
1. How many strings does it have?
2. Which 2 decades was the ukulele particularly popular?
3. Why did the solders like the ukulele?
4. In what decade did the ukulele become more widely available? Why?
5. What style of music and which instrument in particular became more popular
(than the ukulele)? 
6. Who made the ukulele popular again in the Sixties and what was their song
about? 
7. Why did the ukulele become less popular again?
8. In the Eighties the uke became popular again as a ’post punk’ instrument in
which country? & How/Why?
The Ukulele through time
The Ukulele through time
answers
1. How many strings does it have? 4
2. Which 2 decades was the ukulele particularly popular? 20s/30s
3. Why did the solders like the ukulele? Small/Portable. Music boosts morale
4. In what decade did the ukulele become more widely available? Why? 1950s mass produced
cheap/plastic models
5. What style of music and which instrument in particular became more popular than the
ukulele? Rock n Roll - Guitar
6. Who made the ukulele popular again in the Sixties and what was their song about? Tiny Tim
with ‘Tiptoe through the tulips’
7. Why did the ukulele become less popular again? Seen as a bit odd – due to the artist
8. In the Eighties the uke became popular again as a ’post punk’ instrument in which country? &
How/Why? Ukulele clubs, the internet & YouTube
Song from the Disney short LAVA set in
Hawaii
If you’re working from home and have an
instrument Tune it!
 https://tuner-online.com/other-instruments/ukulele-tuning
 This site allows you to use the mic on your device to pick up the sound from the ukulele. Take care to tune it in a silent room (it will not work with background noise)
 App for mobile phones are also available free.
# sharp

GREEN

pitch
CATS In tune
EAT
ANTS

b flat
The two outer strings are higher in pitch than the two inner strings
How to tune your ukulele
# sharp

pitch
In tune

GREEN
CATS b flat
EAT
ANTS The two outer strings are higher in pitch than the two inner strings
Chord Diagrams
• The grid is a diagram of the
neck of the ukulele.
• The dots represent where your
fingers should press down on
the strings.
• The spaces are called frets
• If the dots are numbered this
gives you a clue which fingers
are best to use.
UKULELE CHORD
DIAGRAMS

This is the top

of the neck of
the uke, near Am F C G
the tuning
pegs

This is where
you should
press your
fingers down
The spaces
are the frets

You are now playing

CHORDS on Ukuleles
Song from the Disney short LAVA set in
Hawaii Play Along