The ukulele is a guitar-like four-string box-neck lute, some or all of whose strings can be double-chord. The plucked instrument is usually around 60 cm long and 20 cm wide with guitar-like proportions. In contrast to the guitar, the fourth (top) string is often pitched upwards in octaves and is therefore tuned higher than the middle strings. This gives the ukulele its unmistakable sound, which is often viewed as exotic.