A ukulele is a small, guitar-shaped instrument with four strings that originated in Hawaii in the late 1800s. It looks like a miniature guitar and produces a bright, cheerful sound that many people associate with Hawaiian music and tropical islands.

Portuguese immigrants brought small stringed instruments to Hawaii, and Hawaiian instrument makers adapted the design to create something new. The name comes from Hawaiian words that roughly translate to “jumping flea,” possibly because players' fingers seem to hop quickly across the strings when playing fast songs.

The ukulele is popular partly because it's easier to learn than a guitar. Its nylon strings are softer on your fingers, and with just four strings instead of six, beginners can learn basic chords in a few practice sessions. Many schools use ukuleles in music classes for exactly this reason.

Ukuleles come in different sizes. The smallest is the soprano, which is what most people picture when they think of a ukulele. Larger versions called concert, tenor, and baritone ukuleles have deeper, richer sounds. Despite its reputation as a simple instrument, skilled players can perform surprisingly complex music on the ukulele, from Hawaiian folk songs to classical pieces and modern pop songs.