The ukulele: it’s simple to learn, fun to play, and you can take it just about anywhere.
Think of it as the guitar’s happy little cousin.
The uke was invented in Hawaii, way back in the 1880s, when Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a hot new book release, Coca-Cola was just starting to appear on store shelves, and famed composer Igor Stravinsky was only a toddler.
It steadily gained popularity in the US, after being featured at the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915, held in San Francisco. From there, the little instrument with the big sound went on to find fame in vaudeville shows, jazz clubs, and country roadhouses, hitchhiking on the backs of light-traveling musicians. By the 1920s, the ukulele had gained a dedicated following of enthusiasts, both amateur and professional, and ukes and ukulele sheet music were produced on a massive scale.
It’s hard to argue with the raw power of distorted electric guitars, and the rock ‘n’ roll invasion of the ’50s and ’60s pushed the ukulele out of the limelight, for a while. But these days, the mighty ukulele is making a serious comeback, and not just among roots-revivalists. This versatile little instrument is strumming its way into all types of music, just as it did the first time it took the world by storm.
Learning to play the ukulele is an awesome way for budding musicians to have their first adventure into the world of making music. It’s lightweight, relatively inexpensive, and fairly easy to learn. Not only that, but it’s a blast to play.
Have you ever wanted to learn to play the ukulele?
What are you waiting for? Now’s the time! No musical experience is necessary.
Learn Guitar PDX is now offering ukulele lessons for kids and adults!
You’ll learn cool, old-timey songs. You’ll read notes and play songs from tablature. We’ll also cover some cool advanced strumming techniques sure to add some extra flavor to your playing.
Get in touch for a free intro ukulele lesson today!