Headstock

The top section that holds the tuning machines; often features the maker’s logo and sets the instrument’s visual identity.

Tuning Pegs / Machine Heads

Hardware that adjusts string tension and pitch.

• Friction tuners: traditional, direct feel (1:1).
• Geared tuners: smooth, precise (e.g., 1:14, 1:16, 1:18, 1:20).
• Planetary tuners: classic look with internal gears (~1:4).

Nut

A small ridge at the end of the fretboard that guides and spaces the strings; together with the saddle it defines the vibrating length (scale length).

Neck

The structural link between headstock and body; shaped for stability and comfortable left-hand positioning.

Fretboard / Fingerboard

A hardwood surface glued to the neck that hosts the frets—where notes and chords are formed.

Frets

Metal bars that divide the fretboard into semitones; pressing just behind a fret raises pitch accurately.

Fret Markers / Inlays

Visual dots or designs on the fretboard and side of the neck to aid quick navigation.

Body

The hollow shell that amplifies string vibration; size, shape, and woods determine projection, sustain, and tonal color.

Soundboard / Top

The main vibrating plate; internally braced to balance strength and resonance and to distribute vibrations efficiently.

Back & Sides

Close the resonant chamber and influence projection, warmth, and overall tonal response.

Soundhole

The aperture where sound projects; some instruments also feature a side sound port facing the player.

Rosette

Decorative and protective ring around the soundhole, often wood, abalone, or other inlays.

Bridge

Anchors the strings to the top and transfers their vibrations to the soundboard.

Saddle

A thin strip on the bridge that sets string height (action) and contributes to proper intonation.

Pickguard

Protective plate near the strumming area; optional on many ukuleles.

Cutaway

An indentation at the body edge to access higher frets more easily—handy for solos and upper-register playing.

Bracing

Internal wooden braces under the top that support the structure and sculpt the tonal balance and responsiveness.

Fan Bracing

A fan-shaped bracing pattern promoting even vibration and a warm, open voice—common on classical-family instruments.

Binding

Decorative/protective edging along body joins; often paired with fine purfling lines.

Finish

Surface treatment—gloss or satin/matte—that protects the wood and subtly influences feel and resonance.

Solid vs. Laminate

Solid tops tend to be more resonant and harmonically rich; laminate is robust, climate-stable, and budget-friendly.

Scale Length

Nut-to-saddle vibrating length; affects tension, feel, projection, and sustain.

Action

String height over the frets; set for comfort while keeping a clean, buzz-free tone.

Intonation

Pitch accuracy across the fretboard; refined via setup and proper nut/saddle compensation so chords and melodies stay in tune.

Capo

A clamp that raises overall pitch without changing familiar chord shapes—useful for quick key changes.

Pickup

Typically a piezo system (often with onboard preamp/EQ) that captures vibrations for amplification.

Electronics (Preamp/EQ)

Onboard controls for volume and tone shaping; may include a built-in tuner and battery compartment.

Sopranino (Pocket)

Ultra-compact and very bright voice—fun, collectible, and travel-friendly.

Soprano

The classic uke size: compact, bright, and cheerful—ideal for traditional strumming.

Concert

Slightly larger than soprano—more volume, sustain, and fretboard comfort while staying portable.

Tenor

Longer scale for fuller projection and range; great for fingerstyle and linear Low G setups.

Baritone

Tuned D–G–B–E like guitar’s top four strings; deep, mellow, and guitar-like in feel.

Bass Ukulele / U-Bass

Tuned E–A–D–G like a bass guitar; thick elastomer strings and usually amplified—adds basslines to uke ensembles.

Special Variants

Banjolele, resonator uke, guitalele, Tahitian uke (carved body)—each offers distinct tone and character.

Strings

Commonly nylon or fluorocarbon; some lower strings may be wound. String choice greatly shapes tone, feel, and projection.

Wound String

A string with a metal wrap around a synthetic core—adds mass for lower notes without excessive diameter.

Gut

Traditional material with warm tone but sensitive to climate—rare on modern ukuleles.

Nylgut

A modern synthetic “gut-like” material—warm tone with improved stability and durability.

Fluorocarbon

Bright, articulate, and stable—thin diameters at equivalent tension and quick response.

Aquila Red Series

High-density, smooth strings enabling low notes (e.g., Low G) without resorting to metal-wound strings.

Standard Tuning (gCEA, reentrant)

G (high), C, E, A—the signature, upbeat ukulele sound.

Low G (Linear)

A low G string extends the lower range and enables smoother descending melodies.

D Tuning (aDF#B)

A whole step above standard—historically common; adds brightness and extra snap.

Baritone Tuning (DGBE)

Same as guitar’s top four strings—warm, deep, and familiar to guitarists.

Tuner

Clip-on tuners, apps, or pitch references—essential for accurate tuning on stage and in practice.

Strumming

Rhythmic brushing of all or several strings—foundation of groove; includes down/up strokes, ghost strokes, and percussive “chunk”.

Fingerpicking

Plucking individual strings with thumb and fingers for melody, arpeggios, and chord-melody arrangements.

Campanella

Each successive note is played on a different string so previous notes keep ringing—creates bell-like overlap.

Barré

Using one finger to fret multiple strings across a single fret—enables movable chord shapes.

Hammer-on

Fretting a higher note without re-plucking to create a smooth upward pitch transition.

Pull-off

Releasing to a lower fretted or open note without re-plucking—smooth downward pitch change.

Slide

Gliding a fretted note up or down while maintaining pressure—adds vocal-like phrasing.

Bending

Pushing or pulling the string sideways to raise pitch—subtle but expressive on ukulele.

Vibrato

Controlled pitch oscillation for expressive sustain and character on held notes.

Palm Mute

Resting the picking-hand palm lightly near the bridge to shorten sustain—tight, percussive sound.

Tremolo Picking

Rapid alternation on a single note to maintain sustained sound—borrowed from mandolin technique.

Percussive Techniques

Tapping or slapping the body and strings to add rhythmic accents alongside pitched playing.

Chord

Multiple notes sounded together; ukulele chord shapes are shown with uke-specific diagrams and labels (C, G7, Am, etc.).

Harmonic

Bell-like tone created by lightly touching specific nodes (e.g., 12th, 7th, 5th fret) while plucking.

Melody

The main musical line; can be performed solo, within chord-melody, or alongside accompaniment.

Rhythm

Timing of notes and silences; essential for groove, accents, and feel.

Tablature (TAB)

Four horizontal lines (one per string) with fret numbers—fast to read without standard notation.

Key / Tonality

The pitch center used to build harmony; defines common chords and scale choices for improvisation.

Scale

Ordered sequence of notes (major, minor, pentatonic, blues, modes) forming the basis of melody and solos.

Koa

Iconic Hawaiian tonewood—bright highs, rich mids, warm lows, and striking figure; popular on higher-end instruments.

Mahogany

Warm, rounded, and balanced; widely used for bodies and necks—great for strumming and classic uke tone.

Maple

Bright, clear, and articulate with strong projection; often paired with spruce or cedar tops.

Rosewood

Dense, sustaining, and lush; common for fingerboards/bridges and sometimes backs/sides.

Spruce

Responsive and dynamic; delivers clarity, volume, and headroom—excellent for strumming power and nuance.

Cedar

Warm, immediate response; excels for fingerstyle and lyrical playing.

Walnut

Balanced tonality with pleasing mids; a natural, earthy voice favored by many luthiers.

Ebony

Very dense and smooth; ideal for fingerboards and bridges—clear attack and solid feel.

Acacia

Sonically akin to koa—bright and resonant but typically more affordable.

Other Woods

Basswood (neutral, budget-friendly), Okoume (lightweight for necks), Sapele (mahogany-like with a touch of extra brightness).

gCEA

Standard reentrant tuning—G (high), C, E, A.

Low G

Linear tuning with a low G string to extend the lower range.

DGBE

Baritone tuning—same as guitar’s top four strings.

UAS

Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome—playful term for the urge to collect ukes and gear.

EQ

Equalization—tone controls on a preamp or amplifier.

PU

Pickup—device for converting vibration to an electrical signal for amplification.

TAB

Tablature—a player-friendly notation using string lines and fret numbers.