Although you would be hard-pressed to find a palm tree or a kalua pig roast in New Hampshire, there are a plethora of ukulele opportunities in the Granite State. The uke is a four-string member of the lute family, and originated in Hawaii in the 19th century, an adaptation of the Portuguese machete. According to Hawaiian lore, the name means "the gift that came here”, from the Hawaiian words uku (gift or reward) and lele (to come).
The Upper Valley Ukulele Club meets bi-weekly at the Howe Library in Hanover. The group beginner lesson is at 5:30 p.m., followed by a nearly two-hour session where participants take turns picking songs out of the club songbook for play along.
The Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group meets every other Friday night in Brentwood. SNHUG’s primary purpose is to “provide a forum for area ukesters of all levels to share songs, techniques and friendship.” If you become a member, you can attend their annual Ground Hog Day luau.
Once you have gotten the hang of the uke, you can stop by the Monday night Hootenanny at the Salt Hill Pub in Hanover, and show off your stuff.