Martin Smith Soprano Ukulele with Ukulele Bag & Chord Book

Product Information

Ukulele-tinged music may be most dominantly established in Hawaiian culture but during the early 20th Century the instrument found huge popularity in folk, jazz, and vaudeville. That are four common varieties: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. These vary in terms of size, scale length and tuning. Nowadays, some manufacturers even produce guitar-ukulele and bass-ukulele hybrids, designed to more accessible to contemporary players. All very quaint 'n quirky, but what does this teach us? The Portuguese sailors probably favored the cavaquinho because it was simple to play and easy to stow on a cramped sailing ship. Let's face it, they would have struggled to smuggle a piano on board. King Kalakaua, and his court, found it irresistible because it was fun to play and sounds great. So, if you're looking for an instrument that sounds unique, is easy to travel with, and is impossible to put down then go buy yourself one of the best ukuleles in this guide. Are ukuleles easy to play? Now, what's that we can hear? It's a chilled hula band – the hypnotic beat of the Pahu drum, the otherworldly sound of a lap steel in full song, and the unmistakable strum of a ukulele. The fabulous little ukulele, what could be more Hawaiian than that? The ukulele can be heard in a number of musical styles, from traditional folk music to modern pop and everything in between. Here at Andertons Music Co, we’re proud to offer one of the best ukulele selections in the UK. Our range includes offerings from Mahalo, Alvarez, Gretsch, Ibanezand many more, with modern ranges like the Fender California Series taking a step up in terms of quality.

So far, we've been looking at the soprano uke, which is the most popular and widespread model available. But it's not alone in ukedom. The concert ukulele is slightly larger by a couple of inches and usually boasts 14 – 17 frets to the soprano's 12 – 15. Tuning is the same, but it can be easier for larger-fingered players to get their digits around its slightly bigger frame and fretboard. A concert uke should have better bass response too, but the downside is that it's not quite so portable. At MusicRadar, many of our writers play the ukulele whether it's strumming along for fun or using it in their creations. When it comes to selecting the best ukuleles, our team draws on their experience from live performances, studio recordings, and a genuine love for the versatile sounds of this compact instrument. But why would you do that, we hear you ask? Some say that centuries ago it was impossible to reliably manufacture accurate bass strings so a higher string was always used. Others believe that a high fourth string makes certain chord voicings easier to play. Whatever the truth, most of us would agree that it's a re-entrant tuning that gives the ukulele its unique, characteristic sound. The Fullerton Strat ukulele even features a built-in pre-amp, giving you the option to enjoy it unplugged or plugged in to one of the best guitar amps if you so wish. You might not find those Hank Marvin or John Frusciante-inspired Strat tones, but the Fullerton Strat ukulele still sounds rich and pleasing. This projection and tonal warmth is down to the mahogany and spruce body. Honestly, we're thoroughly impressed.

YOUR FIRST STEP TOWARDS PLAYING GUITAR: This small ukulele for kids (to suit the smaller fingers of children) make ukeleles an ideal musical 'stepping stone' to the guitar. Ukeleles for kids have smaller space between frets which makes playing easy and enjoyable. The skills learnt by you/your child on these childrens instruments then transfer into a happy hobby for life - playing the guitar.

If the complexities of ukulele tuning fill you with horror (they really shouldn't) then consider a Yamaha Guitalele, which is essentially a uke-sized guitar. Buy some high-tension strings and you can even tune it exactly the same as your guitar, and get the fretboard map to match. Does the wood make a difference to the sound of a ukulele? The ukulele as we know it took shape in Hawaii, derived from an instrument called a machete that was passed on by Portuguese immigrants. It’s commonly found with four nylon strings and smaller body than the acoustic guitar.Stay in Tune: Mahalo Ukuleles come with geared machine heads, meaning they say in tune longer and keep your music sounding great If you've always wanted a guitar but are unsure about the size of a three-quarters, or even half-sized axe, then a guitalele could be for you. Alternatively, if you're already a guitar player and you can't say goodbye to those two extra strings, then this could be a gateway to the uke. Soprano Design: Easy-to-play ukelele is crafted with a soprano style is the original uke size and most portable. 21" ukulele has a brighter, softer tone with less projection than larger sizes. Its scale length is shorter, with tighter fret space to provide ease for smaller hands and children Released by Yamaha a decade before the current uke boom, they're only just now becoming more widely available. Tuned to A, and without the re-entrant 'G', it really does sit perfectly halfway between guitar and uke, hence the name.