Ukeke anyone?

Cassie

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:)Have any of you heard of a Hawaiian stringed instrument called an ukeke. According to my research, it is the only stringed instrument that is native to Hawaii. The ukulele that we all love actually originated in Portugal. The guitar is from Spain . It kind of sounds like a Jews harp except it plays a chord. From what I hear, you play them like a Jews harp except you were actually strum instead of pluck. I think they have two or three strings. My research also shows that it is played in the evening because if it's quiet and gentle sound. I am actually thinking of asking for one from my cousin for my birthday. Unfortunately, if you just type Ukeke, everything you come to leads to ukulele. This is kind of two questions. Where can I buy one and just a curiosity, has anyone ever heard of it. I don't even think Amazon sells them. What I'm looking for is a link that I can give my cousin that leads to where she can buy one for my birthday.
This is actually a video on how to play one but you'll get an idea from what it sounds like from listening to this.
http://www.rangapae.com/images/'Ukeke Demo/'Ukeke Demo.mov .
 
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any sellers or makers of ukeke, they may have been home made, because of their simplicity. Two or three strings, anchored or tied at one end, stretched along its length, over a nut with grooves for the strings, & then tied around a narrower part above the nut, described as a fishtail. What I did read was that they were held between the teeth & used the resonance of the mouth chamber, whilst plucking the strings.

Below are a couple of bits of info I found whilst trying to find out where to get one.

The ʻūkēkē is a musical bow made of koa wood, 16 to 24 inches long and about 1½ inches wide with two or three strings fastened through and around either end, tuned to an A major triad. Prior to the introduction of steel strings, gut or sennit (coconut fibre) were used.

The strings were strummed with one hand while the other hand kept the ʻūkēkē in position. The mouth would then act as a resonating chamber.

At this website page, there is a sound clip with a bit of history.
http://hawaiipublicradio.org/post/ukeke-indigenous-string-instrument-hawai-i

Here is an explanation about the instrument in a press release.
http://www.pressreader.com/usa/honolulu-star-advertiser/20140713/286238098290933

Maybe asking these people, (well respected ukulele suppliers), via email, about your needs, would point you in the right direction - support@theukulelesite.com
 
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Unfortunately, I couldn't find any sellers or makers of ukeke, they may have been home made, because of their simplicity. Two or three strings, anchored or tied at one end, stretched along its length, over a nut with grooves for the strings, & then tied around a narrower part above the nut, described as a fishtail. What I did read was that they were held between the teeth & used the resonance of the mouth chamber, whilst plucking the strings.

Below are a couple of bits of info I found whilst trying to find out where to get one.



At this website page, there is a sound clip with a bit of history.
http://hawaiipublicradio.org/post/ukeke-indigenous-string-instrument-hawai-i

Here is an explanation about the instrument in a press release.
http://www.pressreader.com/usa/honolulu-star-advertiser/20140713/286238098290933

Maybe asking these people, (well respected ukulele suppliers), via email, about your needs, would point you in the right direction - support@theukulelesite.com


I read all that myself. That's actually where I learned about it.
 
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