Day #5

Aloha!

     Today I'm going to be talking a little more about the ukulele and the types of wood to use for building one.

     For starters, there is no best wood per se because each type makes a different sound. It really all depends on which sound you like best. Harder woods are better for ukes than soft wood that might break easily. Some of the more common types of wood use for ukes are: Mahogany, Koa, Cedar, Mango, Spruce, Maple, and some other less common woods.

     Mahogany has a good finish and nice grain while also bringing a balance of sound and bass to the uke. It also isn't too expensive and has a darker color. Koa is the Hawaiian wood that is used in outrigger canoes, weapons, bowls, etc. It is a very expensive wood only found in Hawaii with a very nice finish and an amazing sound. Cedar, found usually in acoustic guitars, has more of a plain finish and sounds okay. However, it is a lot cheaper than wood like koa and can be found anywhere. Mango wood has a nice bright orange color and is a very sustainable wood choice. Spruce can be found on many ukuleles, but usually only on the top with mahogany sides. It is a very hard wood with a pale-yellow finish used for many other instruments. It doesn't have as much bass as mahogany does though. And lastly, maple is a very hard wood that chosen for its appearance and resilience.

     No matter which wood you choose, they all make beautiful sounds. If you are unsure about which wood you want to use, try watching videos online of different woods or visit a music store that might sell ukes. I'm not sure which wood I'm going to use yet but, I'll let you know!

(Word of the day: Honu/Turtle)

Mahalo!