text: These instruments may have just four strings ; or some strings may be paired in courses , giving the instrument a total of eight strings .
simplified: The ukulele , also called the uke for short , is a chordophone classified as a plucked lute ; it part of the guitar family of instruments , usually with four strings or four courses of strings . The strings are usually tuned G , C , E , A or A , D , F # , B.