the.com/ukulele
a four-string ambush of joy that fits in a backpack and disarms entire rooms.
means A small four-stringed guitar-like instrument from Hawaii, known for its bright, cheerful sound.
from Hawaiian for "jumping flea" — from 'uku (flea) and lele (to jump), the popular story crediting the nickname to the lively, hopping fingers of players on the small Portuguese instrument (the machete) brought to the islands by Madeiran immigrants in the late 19th century. Hawaiians adopted both the instrument and gave it this leaping new name.
- name meaning
- Hawaiian for jumping flea, named for fast fingers
- portuguese roots
- Born from a Madeiran instrument brought by 1879 immigrants
- royal fan
- Hawaiian King Kalakaua loved and popularized it
- space gig
- Played aboard the International Space Station
- four strings
- Top string tuned higher than the next, oddly
jake shimabukuro — hawaiian virtuoso who performed 'while my guitar gently weeps' on ukulele at tedxhonolulu 2011, gaining millions of views
george formby — british entertainer who made the ukulele a star in 1930s-40s music halls with comedic songs