Ukulele Mania Trivia Quiz

Answer: 4

All ukuleles have 2 strings less than a guitar, which has 6 strings. The notes of the strings of a ukulele are different depending on the type of ukulele you have; soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles, which are the smallest styles, are tuned to G, C, E, and A. Baritone ukuleles are a little bit bigger and deeper, and are tuned to D, G, B, and E. Bass ukuleles are the deepest and largest, and are tuned to E, A, D, and G.

Answer: Portugal

The Portuguese brought it over to the Hawaiian islands in the late 1800s, shortly after the ukulele was developed in Portugal. Portuguese cabinet makers quickly made the instrument popular! King Kalākaua, the king of the Hawaiian islands from 1874 to 1891, promoted the instrument, as he was a patron of culture and arts for the islands.

The ukulele is now practically synonymous with Hawaiian culture; strangely, it is not linked so much with Portugal.

Answer: Nelly Furtado

Nelly played the uke. Born in British Columbia, Canada, in 1978, she hit stardom as a singer/songwriter with her debut album "Whoa, Nelly!" in 2000. This album contained two of her hits, "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn off the Light". Her third album, "Loose" (2006), was her biggest hit, containing such tracks as "Maneater" and "Say it Right".

In a 2023 interview with Billboard, Furtado mentioned that she plays many instruments, but that the ukulele was her first. Her adoption of the ukulele might have something to do with the fact that both of her parents were from Portugal!

Answer: George Harrison

George was given a ukulele by Paul when they were both young teenagers. George actually played that same ukulele in his recording of "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea", on George's last album before his death in 2001, "Brainwashed". Paul continued to play it in concert to honor his deceased friend.

Answer: Yes

Yes, that's right! Nearly any string instrument can be made electric, and the ukulele is not an exception. Typically, electric ukuleles feature a plug that can connect with an amplifier. This can not only make the instrument louder, but can also distort and otherwise change the sound.

Answer: jumping flea

It translates to lice! The name purportedly was coined after Hawaiians saw Portuguese immigrants playing the instrument, likening the speed with which they moved their fingers over the strings to jumping fleas. Interestingly, while many pronounce ukulele as "YOU-koo-le-le", the proper Hawaiian pronunciation is "OO-koo-le-le". I'm guilty of that mispronunciation myself!

Answer: braguinha

They also called it a cavaquinho. Sometimes considered as a separate instrument from the ukulele, the braguinha is nevertheless still a four-stringed guitar-like instrument. It was likely invented in or near Minho, Portugal.

Answer: Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks is the only one who didn't play the uke. Don Ho had such ukulele hits as "Tiny Bubbles". Released in 1966, the song reached number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100. Elvis had "Blue Hawaii", a 1961 song that was also the title theme for his 1961 film of the same name. One of Tiny Tim's usual instruments was the ukulele, and he played it on many of his hits, including the novelty hit "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" (1968).

Answer: Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong, famous for being the first man on the moon during the United States mission in 1969, was also a fan of playing the ukulele. After his incredible moment stepping onto the moon, when he quipped, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind", Armstrong had to spend some time in quarantine on Earth. He spent much of this time playing the uke!

Answer: Violele

Hybrid ukulele instruments are common, as musicians over the years have crossed ukuleles with other instruments. Examples are the banjolele, a cross between a banjo and a ukulele that was played by British musician George Formby among others; the ukelin, a cross between a violin and a ukulele that was popular between the 1920s and the 1970s, and notoriously hard to play; and the guitalele or guitarlele, a cross between the ukulele and a guitar.