Ukulele (Soprano) — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Ukulele (Soprano)Type: instrumentThe smallest and most traditional ukulele size, producing the bright, tinkling tone most associated with the instrument.## History The ukulele was developed in Hawaii in the 1880s by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira who brought the machete de braga, a small four-string instrument, to the islands. Hawaiian craftsmen, notably Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias, adapted the machete into the ukulele (Hawaiian for "jumping flea," likely referring to the rapid finger movement on the fretboard). The soprano was the original and standard size. King David Kalakaua championed the instrument, integrating it into Hawaiian court music. The ukulele reached the US mainland in the early 20th century and became a pop culture phenomenon in the 1920s. It experienced a massive global revival in the 2000s driven by accessible online tutorials and artists like Jake Shimabukuro and Israel Kamakawiwoole. ## Construction The soprano ukulele is the smallest standard ukulele, with a scale length of approximately 13 inches and an overall length of about 21 inches. The body is typically 6 to 7 inches wide at the lower bout. Traditional construction uses koa wood for top, back, and sides—Hawaii's native tonewood—though spruce, cedar, and mahogany tops with mahogany or sapele bodies are common in modern instruments. The neck is short with 12 to 15 frets, joined to the body at the 12th fret. Strings are nylon or fluorocarbon. The bridge is a simple tied or pin-style design. Tuning machines may be friction pegs or geared tuners. Bracing is typically simple fan or ladder patterns given the small body siz…