Timbre denotes the specific sound of an ukulele (or any other instrument). It is mainly determined by the following factors:

• the length, density and tension of the strings,
• the selected register,
• the resonant properties of the tonewood,
• the way of stimulating the strings (attack).

Since the age of Romanticism timbre has been counted among the determining elements of a musical composition alongside melody, harmony and rhythm.

As with all plucked instruments, the ukulele can use techniques of attack that produce distinctive sound effects (intonation). This includes:

The use of such techniques alters the tone quality, especially the sound spectrum (the frequency of the sounds), and thus affects the listening experience.