I picked the ukulele as the instrument to analyze. Compared to a guitar, a ukulele is smaller, usually has only four strings with different tuning, and uses different materials for some parts of the instrument. The strings in particular are usually made of a fibrous, more “plastic-like” material, whereas guitars have metallic strings. While these seem like minor differences, these differences significantly change how each instrument is played and what kind of sound they produce. Both instruments use specific fingerings to create chords, but the individual chords require different finger patterns because the instruments are tuned differently. Since the ukulele is smaller, the strings are also shorter. The textbook explains that, when comparing strings of different lengths, the shorter ones generate a pitches in higher octaves compared to the longer strings. This effect causes ukuleles to generate a higher sound than guitars. Finally, most people would describes the guitar’s timbre having a kind of deep “country” feel. However, since the ukulele uses more “plastic-like” materials for its strings, it has a distinct light “Hawaiian” timbre. All of these traits make ukuleles useful for a lighter, less bass-y sound, with the added bonus of being more portable. Both of my brothers taught themselves how to play the ukulele, and I am familiar with some of the chords as well. Ukuleles are also popular alongside guitars among the young people in my church because of their portability.

A song that utilizes a ukulele as its primary instrument is the cover of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole. This was actually one of the songs I sang during high school chorus, and is the reason I learned some ukulele chords. Compared to the original “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” this cover has a more lighthearted, and swing-y tone to it, and the ukulele’s comparatively high and light sound complements this feeling very well.