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Here's Jake Shimabukuro, playing his version of The Beatles "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".

Here's George Harrison, alongside Paul McCartney and Ringo Star, playing "Ain't She Sweet" on the ukulele.

Fun Facts about Ukuleles

The ukulele is best known for its association with Hawaiian music, but it is known to have been derived from two different Portuguese instruments: the braguinha and the cavaquinho. There is a bit of mystery as to how this newer hybrid developed in the 1880's, but it is speculated that a Portuguese traveler arrived in Hawaii carrying a similar instrument, which caught the fancy of the locals.

The name "ukulele" actually means, "jumping flea" in Hawaiian. Whether it was something in the passenger's behavior, the original instruments' histories, or the fact that a player's fingers jump up and down the stringed board quickly, no one seems to remember anymore exactly why the ukulele is known as the jumping flea.

One thing is certain, no matter what its origins, it quickly became a favorite instrument in Hawaii, sometimes even affectionately referred to as the "uke."

The Uke and Hawaiian Culture

The Kings and Queens of Hawaii also became enamored of this new instrument. Many of them became accomplished ukulele players, including Queen Lili'uokalani who composed "Aloha Oe." This association with the noble Hawaiian class greatly enhanced the ukulele's reputation, and it wasn't long before the uke became a Hawaiian favorite. Everyone wanted to know all about ukuleles.

The ukulele was well on its way to being a cultural favorite when it became even more publicized with the Panama Pacific International Exposition. When Hawaii became a state, Hawaiian artifacts, including the ukulele, became very popular all across the U.S.

Ukulele Music

The popularity of ukulele music in the United States has ebbed and flowed, depending on which stars brought the sound to the public. When all things "South Pacific" were in style, so was the ukulele and its music. However, even Tiny Tim using an ukulele in his (in)famous act didn't keep interest in ukulele music from waning during the 1960s. It came back later in the 1990s when another star, Jumping Jim Beloff, started publishing music again for the ukulele.

Now, there are all kinds of activities, all about ukuleles, all around the world, everything from clubs to festivals. It is now a very easy thing to locate an ukulele within the inventory of most music instrument companies.

This website is all about ukuleles and learning to play them. Please look around and, if you don't see what you're looking for, click on the "Contact Us" button to the left. We will do our best to get back to you with your required information as soon as possible.

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