Ukulele Guide

The voice of Hawaii

By Kai Lani | WAHA Surf Shop

The Ukulele Story

The ukulele arrived in Hawaii in 1879 with Portuguese immigrants from Madeira. The Hawaiians embraced the small guitar-like instrument, making it central to their musical identity. Today, the ukulele is heard everywhere on the islands, from luau performances and hula 'auana dances to casual beach jam sessions at sunset.

Ukulele Sizes

Soprano (Standard)

Concert

Tenor

Baritone

Standard Tuning

Soprano, concert, and tenor use G-C-E-A tuning:

Memory trick: "Good Cats Eat Avocados" or "Got Crazy Energy Aloha"

Essential First Chords

C Major

One finger! Press 3rd fret of A string.

G Major

Three fingers forming a triangle pattern.

Am (A minor)

Two fingers on the G and C strings.

F Major

Two fingers, forms an "L" shape.

Four-Chord Songs

Master C, G, Am, and F to play hundreds of songs:

Basic Strumming

Start with down strums on each beat. Progress to:

Buying Your First Ukulele

When shopping, the most important thing is to avoid the brightly colored ukuleles marketed as toys. These instruments have poor intonation, meaning they will not stay in tune as you move up the fretboard. A $50 Kala soprano will sound dramatically better than a $20 novelty uke from a gift shop. If you can, visit a music store and hold a few different sizes. The soprano fits best in smaller hands and produces that classic, tinny Hawaiian sound. The concert is slightly larger and gives you more room between frets without losing the traditional tone. Most adult beginners find the concert size to be the sweet spot.

For the best selection and expertise, shops like the Ukulele Site in Hawaii or online retailers that specialize in ukuleles (rather than general music stores) will steer you right. Look for solid wood tops rather than laminate if your budget allows it. A solid mahogany or koa top resonates better and actually improves in sound as you play it over the years.

Famous Ukulele Players You Should Know

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, known to most people simply as "Iz," brought the ukulele to global attention with his medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World." Recorded in a single take at 3 a.m. in a Honolulu studio, the track has been streamed billions of times and introduced countless people to both the ukulele and Hawaiian music. Iz used a tenor ukulele and had a gentle fingerpicking style that made complex arrangements sound effortless.

Before Iz, there was Eddie Kamae, who modernized the ukulele's role in Hawaiian music during the 1950s and 60s with the Sons of Hawaii. Kamae treated the uke as a lead instrument rather than a simple rhythm accompaniment, inspiring a generation of players. Jake Shimabukuro, often called the Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele, pushed the instrument into rock, jazz, and classical territory with virtuoso techniques that redefined what people thought was possible on four strings. His YouTube video of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" went viral in the early days of the platform and proved the ukulele could stand alongside any instrument.

Outside Hawaii, Taimane Gardner blends flamenco intensity with Hawaiian soul, and James Hill from Canada has turned ukulele education into an art form with creative teaching methods used in schools worldwide. The Smithsonian's musical instrument collection includes historic ukuleles that trace the instrument's journey from Portugal to Hawaii to the global stage.

Choosing the Right Size for Your Playing Style

Each ukulele size serves a different musical purpose, and understanding this helps you pick the right one beyond just hand size. The soprano is the original Hawaiian sound. It is bright, percussive, and cuts through a mix when strummed at a luau or beach gathering. It works best for simple chord strumming and traditional Hawaiian songs.

The concert gives you a warmer tone with a bit more volume. The extra fret space makes fingerpicking easier and lets you play more complex melodies without cramping your fingers. If you plan to play Hawaiian slack-key influenced pieces on your uke, the concert or tenor is a better choice.

The tenor is the professional's choice for recording and performing. Its deeper resonance projects well in a room, and the wider string spacing makes advanced techniques like tremolo and harmonics more accessible. The baritone, tuned like the top four strings of a guitar (D-G-B-E), is essentially a small guitar and appeals to guitar players who want a ukulele's portability without relearning chord shapes. Just know that baritone chord charts are different from standard ukulele charts, which can be confusing when following along with most online tutorials.

Island Music Guide