Tiny, light sound and four strings? Sounds like a uke to me!
The ukulele, while of Portuguese origin, is a staple of Hawaiian culture and music. However, its popularity isn't limited to Hawaii. The small, guitar-like instrument with a light sound is made by guitar manufacturers worldwide including Gibson and Martin. Like any musical instrument, your ukulele requires special care to keep it in tip-top shape. Fortunately, caring for your uke is easy, though it might cost you a little extra to protect your investment.
Instructions
1. Get a case for your ukulele. Without a case, your ukulele is exposed to the elements, meaning it's more prone to scratches, dents and dings, and to being crushed when not in use. Hard cases offer the best protection. Since ukuleles vary slightly in size from model to model, bring yours with you when buying a case to make sure the instrument fits. The ukulele should fit snugly in the case, but you should never have to struggle to fit it in. A little extra space is OK.
2. Keep your ukulele at room temperature as much as possible (roughly 70 degrees). Extreme hot and cold cause the wood or plastic to warp, ruining the sound of the instrument. Hot temperatures also affect the glue holding it together, which may cause your instrument to fall apart.
3. Wash your hands before playing or handling your ukulele. The grease and oils from hands and fingers dirty the instrument, affecting the strings wood, and sound. Keeping the ukulele clean by washing up before use saves a lot of time and keeps your instrument shining.
4. Keep your ukulele in tune. The standard turning for ukuleles is GCEA (G is the string closest to you when holding the instrument). Use a piano, electronic tuner or an online tuner (link below) to match the pitch of each string to this sequence. Twist the tuning pegs at the top of the ukulele's neck to raise and lower the pitch. Match it to the pitch of the tuner if using an audio tuner. Electronic tuners display the pitch played by the string on a small screen so you can see the note the string plays.
5. Change the strings every three to six months. The more you play, the more you need to change the strings. Remove the old strings by twisting the tuning pegs at the top of the neck. Pull the strings from the bridge of the ukulele. Then insert the new strings through each hole in the bridge (if your ukulele uses pegs to hold the strings in, insert the strings and then the pegs). Then insert the strings into the holes on the tuning pegs and turn each peg so the string wraps around it several times (this keeps it tight). Tune the strings using the method in Step 4.
6. Clean the ukulele using a soft cloth whenever it is dirty. Ukulele cleaners and polishes are available at instrument retailers as well. While unessential, these products are easily used when restringing your ukulele. Use these products sparingly, and always read the instructions on the bottle to make sure they're safe for use with your uke.
7. Keep a humidifier in your ukulele's case if you live in an especially dry area. If the air is too dry, your ukulele could crack or take damage. The ideal humidity for your instrument is 45 to 55 percent. Instrument stores sell humidifiers made for instrument cases. They're small and fit in the case, leaving room for the instrument.
Tags: your ukulele, insert strings, tuning pegs, your instrument, case your, case your ukulele, each string