All About String Musical Instruments – Things You Should Know as a Pianist

Since stringed musical instruments like viola, bass, cello and violin create music with strings vibrating to a certain pitch; they are known as the cousins of piano. What makes them distinct from each other is that the violinist or other string players pluck the strings with their fingers (which is instructed as pizzicato in music) while the strings of the piano are hit by the hammers to produce sound. Bass, viola cello and violin are not entirely instruments in the orchestra. Country, jazz, bluegrass and other types of music can also be created with the use of these wonderful and flexible instruments.

Piano in a way can be compared similarly to that of hammered dulcimer since the strings of the piano are being hit with the hammers for the tones to be created. Every single string of the hammered dulcimer is easily accessed by the musicians since they are exposed not like the piano. In creating chords, around four strings can be struck all at the same instance. Playing the strings in combination to create chords and melodies, the player makes use of two and at times four shaped hammers made of wood. Popular for its distinct sound, a hammered dulcimer is found widely in folk music.

The harpsichord, having the keyboard and notes produced by plucking (hitting) the strings is even more alike to the piano. Although the sound as well as the style is entirely dissimilar for both instruments, a good deal of music written for the piano can be played on the harpsichord and vice versa.

Harp, ukulele, banjo, mandolin and guitar are also classified as stringed instruments. In similar way and the same key, all of these instruments are tuned just like the piano. Unlike other instruments like the saxophone and trumpet, the pianist needs no transposition at all when using these instruments. Since the range of the piano is over eight octaves, all the notes created by these instruments can be found on it. Just like the guitar, since it only has four and a half octaves, the notes it makes can still be found on the piano’s range.

Loosening or tightening the tension of the particular string is the method of tuning all stringed instruments and piano is included in the group. The string vibrates faster and at a higher frequency as it is tightened and made shorter. The pitch will be higher as the string gets thinner. The brass, bronze and other metals wrapped tightly around the piano core are the components of the lower sounding strings whereas piano wire alone is the component of higher pitched strings. The strings of piano cannot be used as guitar strings and guitar strings cannot also be used on banjo, ukulele and mandolin even though they are created of similar materials.

The strings themselves are not the only ones creating the sound of the stringed instruments, but they also are responsible for making vibrations on other parts of the instrument. A good example is the guitar. More than its back and sides, the guitar’s top makes a lot of contribution to the entire sound. This also proves to be true to mandolin and other stringed instruments. Creating the beautiful melody of the piano is made possible by the important parts which are the soundboard, harp and its basic framework. The tone of the instrument will be of good quality if the components are also great. The biggest contributor to the quality of sound of the instruments is the age and type of wood being used.

The Ukulele – A Traditional Hawaiian String Instrument

The ukulele, or uke, is a Hawaiian stringed instrument. This instrument was developed in the late nineteenth century in Hawaii, and was based on a small instrument similar to a guitar brought to the islands by immigrants from Portugal. In particular, three cabinet makers are credited as the inventors of the first ukulele. The Portugese immigrants were known to play folk songs on the dock, where native Hawaiians were impressed not only by the sweet sounds of the instrument, but also the fast fingers of the players. Roughly translated, the name ukulele means jumping flea, a reference to the action of the player’s fingers.

The ukulele’s quick rise in popularity has been credited in part to the ardent support of the instrument by King David Kalakaua, the last king of the Kingdom of Hawai’i. Serving from 1874 until 1891, he was in office when the first ukuleles were played in 1879 and 1880, and soon made them an integral pat of royal performances. Several members of the Hawaiian royalty learned how to play this instrument; it also became popular with Hawaiians from all walks of life, including fishermen and taro farmers. Today, the ukelele is often associated with music from the Hawaiian islands due to its use in popular music originating there.

During the early and mid twentieth century, this exotic instrument also gained popularity on the mainland of the United States. This is due in part to the Panama Pacific International Exposition, which took place in San Francisco throughout 1915 and featured a guitar and ukulele band hailing from Hawaii. The popularity of this exhibit at the Expo launched a fad for Hawaiian-themed music on the mainland during the Jazz Age of the 1920s.

This enjoyment of all things Hawaii would continue following World War II and the resulting popularity of tiki culture. The ukulele fit right in with this midcentury fad. From the 1940s through the 1960s, over 9 million inexpensive plastic ukuleles were produced to satisfy the demand from Tiki aficionados. Today, the ukulele can be found in many musical styles around the world. It is particularly popular in Japan.

The ukulele is known as a relatively inexpensive and portable instrument, making it a favorite of amateur players since the 1920s. On the other end of the spectrum, some of the most valuable ukuleles, made from Hawaiian koa wood prized for its tone and attractive coloration, can cost thousands of dollars.

A subset of the guitar family, most ukuleles have four strings. The sounds emanating from a ukelele depends on its size and how it has been constructed. There are four common sizes of this instrument: baritone, tenor, concert, and soprano. The soprano, the smallest uke, is the original size. In Hawaii, it is known as the standard ukulele. Athough traditional ukuleles have a body shaped like a figure eight, similar to the body of an acoustic guitar, there are also oval ukuleles (sometimes referred to as a ‘pineapple’ shape), boat paddle shaped bodies, and occasionally square bodies, which are often constructed from a wooden cigar box.

Broken Heart on a Six String Ukulele

This Kanilea one of a kind is not even broken in and strings not yet settled but I could not wait to answer a request to hear and see it. I have no idea what I’m doing, yet here I am. I love ‘Ukulele. A very new instrument to me (7 months…once a hack always?) but answering a life long call back to where I belong.

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Kanua 8 string ukulele intros – Beginner

Beginners intros to start of ukulele songs

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How do i tune and play my 8 string ukulele thing i bought in the cook islands?

i like to buy instruments from different countries and i bought this in the cook islands and the man who sold it to me and made it said that it is a ukulele. but i can’t figure out how to play it and tune it. But i really want to:( please help me
Here is a picture:http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo1ib6.jpg

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