Did you know that the word 'ukulele' in Hawaiian means jumping flea?  One legend tells that the musical instrument was so named because the way the player's fast-moving fingers jumped around the strings looked like fleas jumping over the keyboard! The instrument was originally known as the machete de braga and had been brought into Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants during the late 1800s. The making and playing of the instrument gained in popularity in Hawaii and it became known as the 'ukulele'. (See Get-tuned.com) The ukulele is a member of the lute family of plucked-string instruments (which includes the guitar, mandolin, banjo, sitar, etc) and generally has four strings. Playing the ukulele spread to other countries including New Zealand. The traditional Hawaiian term 'ukulele' has also had the variant spelling of 'ukelele' occurring.

Learning the ukUkele:

Want some tips on how to tune your ukulele, play it and take care of your beloved instrument?  Check out Ukuguides.com  Learners wanting to play the ukulele can choose to learn by teaching themselves (e.g. beginner-friendly books and free online lessons, including Youtube videos and ukulele websites). Or they may choose to learn through online classes and/or in-person lessons with local music clubs/schools and private ukulele teachers (e.g. NZ Music Teachers Online: Ukelele Lessons New Zealand). 

The charitable organisation, the New Zealand Ukulele Trust, which supports schools, teachers, and communities to enrich children's lives through music, provides instructions on its website for teaching and learning the ukulele and songs to play. The Trust also supplies ukuleles to schools and runs workshops and competitions. See website and Facebook page. 

UkUlele performances:

Ukulele festivals are held in various parts of New Zealand and performances are often listed on Eventfinda. You can also play the ukulele on World Ukulele Day held each year on 2 February since 2011. The day's slogan is "bring the world together, four strings at a time".  Find out more: Days of the Year: World Play Your Ukelele Day. Events held around the world are also listed on various websites, including: Ukeleletravels.com: Festival calendar.

Styles of Ukulele:

The ukulele is a small guitar-like musical instrument with four-strings and can range in length from Soprano (21”) to Concert (23”) to Tenor (26”) to Bass (30”).

Listen to the sounds of the ukulele:            

(And who remembers seeing Tiny Tim singing and playing "Tiptoe through the tulips"!?  See Youtube clip.)

Players over the years:

The DigitalNZ story was updated May 2025