History of the Ukulele: From Portuguese Shores to Global Stages

Few instruments capture the imagination quite like the ukulele. Small in stature but enormous in character, the ukulele has travelled from the fishing villages of Madeira to the beaches of Hawaii, through the jazz clubs of the 1920s, and into the bedrooms of millions of modern players worldwide. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned musician, understanding the ukulele's rich history makes playing one all the more rewarding.

Origins: Portugal and the Machete

The ukulele's story begins in the 19th century on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Local craftsmen played a small, four-stringed instrument called the machete (also known as the braguinha or cavaquinho), a descendant of the Renaissance guitar family. When Portuguese immigrants arrived in Hawaii in 1879 — many of them sugar plantation workers — they brought their beloved machetes with them.

Legend has it that one of the first passengers to disembark, a cabinet maker named João Fernandes, began playing his machete on the docks of Honolulu, delighting the watching crowds with his nimble fingerwork. The Hawaiian word ukulele is commonly translated as "jumping flea" — a vivid description of the rapid, dancing movement of the player's fingers across the strings.

Hawaii: The Ukulele Finds Its Home

Hawaiian craftsmen quickly adopted and adapted the machete, refining its shape, tonewoods, and tuning to suit local tastes. By the 1880s, the ukulele had become deeply embedded in Hawaiian culture. King Kalākaua, a passionate patron of the arts, championed the instrument at royal gatherings, cementing its status as a symbol of Hawaiian identity.

Early Hawaiian ukuleles were typically crafted from native koa wood — a tonewood prized for its warm, resonant tone and striking grain patterns. The soprano ukulele, the smallest and most traditional size, became the standard form during this era. Its bright, cheerful sound perfectly complemented the gentle rhythms of Hawaiian music.

The Four Sizes: Soprano, Concert, Tenor and Baritone

As the ukulele evolved through the 20th century, luthiers developed larger variants to offer players greater volume, sustain, and tonal depth. Today, four main sizes define the ukulele family:

• Soprano — The original and most compact size, typically around 53cm in total length. Bright, punchy tone with a classic "uke" sound. Perfect for beginners and traditionalists alike. A beautiful entry point is the Kala Burled Meranti Soprano Ukulele KA-20S — a real wooden instrument with warm tone and gorgeous burled grain, ideal for players who want an authentic acoustic experience from day one.
• Concert — Slightly larger than the soprano (around 58cm), offering a fuller tone and more fret space. For those seeking premium tonewoods, the Kala Hawaiian Koa Concert Ukulele KA-KOA-C is exceptional — crafted from the same native Hawaiian koa wood used by the earliest island luthiers, it delivers a rich, warm voice steeped in tradition.
• Tenor — Favoured by professional players for its rich, warm tone and extended range. Larger body (around 66cm) allows for greater projection and fingerpicking complexity. The Kala Tenor Ukulele in Satin Hawaiian Koa is a superb choice, combining the prestige of koa with the tenor's expressive depth.
• Baritone — The largest of the four, tuned like the top four strings of a guitar (D-G-B-E). Ideal for guitarists transitioning to ukulele. The Kala Satin Hawaiian Koa Baritone Ukulele KA-KOA-B is a beautifully crafted instrument with a deep, mellow voice that suits fingerstyle and jazz playing perfectly — and the koa body only improves with age.

The Bass Ukulele: A Fifth Member of the Family

In recent years, a fifth member has joined the ukulele family: the bass ukulele, or U-Bass. Developed by Kala in the late 2000s, the U-Bass uses thick polyurethane strings to produce a full, deep bass tone from a body barely larger than a baritone ukulele. Tuned E-A-D-G — the same as a standard bass guitar — it has become a favourite of double bass players, upright bassists, and anyone who needs a portable, acoustic-friendly bass instrument for sessions, travel, or small-venue performance.

The U-Bass punches well above its weight acoustically, but most models include onboard electronics for plugging into an amp or PA. At Music Bits we stock a carefully chosen selection of Kala U-Bass instruments across a range of tonewoods and price points:

• The Kala Striped Ebony Fretted Acoustic-Electric U•BASS — a striking instrument with a bold striped ebony body, fretted neck, and built-in electronics. Ideal for players who want the visual drama of exotic tonewoods alongside plug-in versatility.
• The Kala Pacific Walnut Acoustic-Electric Fretted U•BASS with Bag — crafted from warm Pacific walnut with a fretted fingerboard and a gig bag included, this is a superb all-rounder for gigging bassists who value portability without compromise.
• The Kala Quilted Ash Acoustic-Electric Fretted U•BASS — featuring a stunning quilted ash top, this model combines eye-catching aesthetics with a bright, articulate tone that cuts through a mix beautifully.

Whether you're a seasoned bassist looking for a travel-friendly alternative or a ukulele player curious about expanding into the low end, the U-Bass is one of the most exciting developments in the instrument's modern history.

The 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition: The World Discovers the Ukulele

The ukulele's global breakthrough came at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, where Hawaii had its own pavilion. Hawaiian musicians performed daily, and audiences were captivated. Within months, ukulele sales across the United States had exploded. Tin Pan Alley songwriters began incorporating the instrument into popular music, and by the 1920s the ukulele was a bona fide craze.

Vaudeville performers, jazz musicians, and early recording artists all embraced the uke. Cliff Edwards — better known as "Ukulele Ike" — became one of the biggest stars of the era, recording dozens of hits and later providing the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Disney's Pinocchio. The ukulele had arrived on the world stage.

The Banjolele: A Jazz Age Innovation

During the 1920s jazz boom, players needed more volume to cut through the noise of dance halls and early recording sessions. The solution was the banjolele (or banjo ukulele) — a hybrid instrument combining the ukulele's tuning and playing style with the banjo's resonant drum body. The result was a louder, punchier sound perfectly suited to the era.

The legendary British comedian George Formby made the banjolele his signature instrument, becoming one of the most popular entertainers in the UK throughout the 1930s and 40s. His rapid, syncopated strumming style — known as the "split stroke" — remains a celebrated technique to this day. You can explore this fascinating instrument yourself with the Kala Brand Concert Banjo Ukulele (Banjolele) with Gig Bag — a superb quality instrument that honours this rich tradition.

Mid-Century Decline and the Folk Revival

The post-war years saw the ukulele fall somewhat out of fashion as electric guitars and rock 'n' roll dominated popular culture. However, the instrument never disappeared entirely. Arthur Godfrey's popular US television show kept the ukulele in the public eye throughout the 1950s, and the folk revival of the 1960s brought renewed interest in acoustic, accessible instruments.

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's iconic 1993 medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World" — recorded on a simple ukulele — became one of the most downloaded songs in history and introduced the instrument to an entirely new generation of listeners worldwide.

The Modern Ukulele Renaissance

The 21st century has seen an extraordinary ukulele revival. YouTube tutorials, social media, and the instrument's reputation as beginner-friendly have driven sales to record levels. The ukulele is now one of the best-selling instruments in the UK and US, beloved by children, adults, schools, and professional musicians alike.

Modern manufacturers continue to honour traditional tonewoods while making quality instruments accessible at every price point. For players seeking a step up from entry-level, the Kala Burled Meranti Concert Ukulele KA-20C offers genuine wood construction with a beautifully figured body at an approachable price — a perfect bridge between beginner and intermediate playing.

Whatever size or style you choose, protecting your instrument is essential. Our range of TGI Extreme Series padded gig bags — available for soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone ukuleles — offer robust protection for gigging and travelling players.

Keeping Your Ukulele in Tune

Standard ukulele tuning is G-C-E-A (for soprano, concert, and tenor), and staying in tune is crucial for developing a good ear. A quality clip-on tuner makes this effortless. The Snark 1 Rechargeable Chromatic Tuner works brilliantly with ukuleles of all sizes and is an essential accessory for any player.

Why the Ukulele Endures

The ukulele's enduring appeal lies in its accessibility, portability, and sheer joy. It requires no amplification, fits in an overhead locker, costs a fraction of most instruments, and can be learned to a playable standard in a matter of weeks. Yet in the hands of a skilled player, it is capable of extraordinary nuance and expression.

From the shores of Madeira to the royal courts of Hawaii, from the jazz clubs of 1920s New York to the living rooms of modern Britain — the ukulele's journey is one of the great stories in musical history. And with such a wealth of quality instruments now available, there has never been a better time to begin your own chapter in that story.

Browse our full range of ukuleles and accessories at Music Bits — expert advice, fast UK delivery, and instruments chosen with care.