Uke-ish Instruments
The Ukulele is not the only small, fretted,
guitar-like instrument out there.
Here are some others.
Cavaquinho (Brazil/Portugal)
4 nylon strings
(The Ukulele is thought to be a variation of this instrument.)
Timple (Canary Islands, Spain)
5 nylon strings
(The Timple is another possible ancestor of the Ukulele.)
Mandolin (Italy)
4 pairs of metal strings
(The Mandolin is an essential part of Bluegrass Music in the United States.)
Mexican Vihuela
5 nylon strings
(The Mexican Vihuela is one of the typical instruments in Mariachi Music.)
Charango (South America)
5 pairs of strings
(The Charango is used in the music of the Andes Mountains.)
Panduri (Country of Georgia, Eurasia)
3 strings
