Tuning an ‘Ukulele
How to tune an ‘ukulele is one of the first things you need to learn before you can play. When you are not in tune, the notes you play have no relation to the music. Likewise, it sounds bad.
The ‘ukulele is usually tuned GCEA (see below for more tunings). The G can either be a “high-g” or a “low-g”. A high-g is traditional and is tuned to the G above middle C. A low-G is a more contemporary sound and is tuned to the G below middle C. The interval distances are: a perfect 4th (G to C), a major 3rd (C to E), and a perfect 4th (E to A).
How to tune an ‘ukulele:
The first method for ‘ukulele tuning is tuning relative, which means tuning the strings to each other. Tuning relative is fine if you are playing by yourself, but if you try to jam with your friend, you might find that your “my dog has fleas” will be higher (sharp) or lower (flat) than his “my dog has fleas”. You can tune one of your strings to your friend’s though and then use this idea, tune your ‘ukulele to that string. Here’s how to tune your ‘ukulele relative to itself:
- Hold the 5th fret of the 2nd (E) string. This is an A note. Play this note and the open 1st (A) string. Use the tuning pegs that are on the headstock of your ‘ukulele to adjust the pitch of the E string so that it matches the pitch of the open A string.
- Now hold the 4th fret of the 3rd (C) string. This is an E note. Play this note and the open 2nd (E) string. Use the machine heads to adjust the pitch of the C string so that it matches the pitch of the open E string.
If you have a high g string as the top (4th) string:
- Hold the 2nd fret of the 4th (G) string. This is an A note. Play this note and the open 1st (A) string. Use the tuning pegs to adjust the pitch of the G string so that it matches the pitch of the open A string.
If you tune your ‘ukulele with a low G string:
- Hold the 5th fret of the 4th (G) string. This is an C note. Play this note and the open 3rd (C) string. Use the tuning pegs to adjust the pitch of the C string so that it matches the pitch of the fretted C note on the G string.
For the visual people out there, here is a tuning chart (dot on string shows what fret to hold, arrow shows what string to adjust to match the pitches): Tuning Chart
When you play two of the same notes simultaneously (like the 5th fret, E string to an open-A) and they are a bit out of tune, there is a “beating” sound that happens. This beating sound is like a pulse. It’s kind of hard to hear. The further the two notes are out of tune, the faster the beating sound. If your two notes are perfectly in tune, it goes away. You can use this to get your unison notes very close in pitch this way, but it takes some practice.
Using an Electronic Tuner:
The second method is for tuning your ‘ukulele is to use an electronic tuner. This is the easiest way that I can think of to tune your ‘ukulele other than having somebody tune it for you. You will want to use a chromatic tuner (or setting). A guitar specific tuner will only let you tune to the guitar’s notes (EADGBE).
Turn the tuner on, then depending on the type, clip the tuner to your ‘ukulele’s headstock, set it within “listening” range, or plug your ‘ukulele into it with a 1/4 in. jack if you have a pickup. Play an open string. The tuner displays the pitch of the note you are sounding. If the indicator is to the left of center, the pitch of the string needs to come up (higher), if it is to the right of center, the pitch needs to come down (lower). When the indicator is centered, the string is in tune.
There are many electronic tuners on the market, but a few stand out. By far the most popular (for good reason) kind is the clip on tuner that feels the vibrations of a note through the headstock. This allows for more accurate tuning (especially when there is a lot of noise around you) and the tuner is easy to see. I use an old Intelitouch clip-on that is kind of bulky, but it’s still going! The newer IMT500 version is hugely popular and in a much smaller size.
The standard tuning reference is an A note at 440hz (the A above middle C). On many tuners you can change this number up or down, but don’t. If your tuner is set to A=444hz, then you will be out of tune when you play with someone who tunes A=440hz. So keep it at 440 unless everybody changes their reference pitch.
Tuning Your ‘Ukulele to a Piano or Pitch Pipe:
If you have a piano or pitch pipe, you can tune to that. Match the notes on the piano or pitch pipe with the notes of the ‘ukulele by ear. Online Pitch Pipe
If you start turning the tuning pegs and nothing seems to happen or the strings loosen when they should get tighter, you probably have the strings threaded on wrong. If you just got your ‘ukulele from the factory and haven’t had time to change strings this is not your fault – the stock strings on low budget ‘ukuleles are almost always put on wrong. To stop the slipping you should get some new strings and read “changing ‘ukulele strings“.
‘Ukulele Tunings:
Compared to a guitar, the ‘ukulele has very few tuning options. The common ones are discussed here.
- The generally accepted standard tuning for the ‘ukulele is GCEA.
Most ‘ukuleles are tuned with a high-G string (re-entrant), but tuning with a low-G string (linear) is a fast growing alternative. An ‘ukulele tuned with the low-G string has a nice, even sound when strummed. It also offers five bass notes that you can’t reach using a high-G string. Low-G string users and abusers: Herb Ohta Jr., Brittni Paiva, and James Hill. Learn about low G strings.
- Slack key: low-GCEG
- Baritone: low-DGBE
- English tuning: ADF#B or low-ADF#B (same concept as a low-G string).
You might hear some confusing names for tunings in your music travels. The “Alto” or “C6″ tuning is standard GCEA. “Soprano” or “D6″ is the English tuning. A “G6″ tuning is baritone. And the most confusing of them all: “Tenor” or “Bb6″ tuning (FBbDG – a whole step down from standard). I have never met anyone who plays a tenor tuning, but the name and the size seems to confuse people. Soprano, Concert, and Tenor sizes are all usually tuned the same: GCEA. Baritone is the only one that is different most of the time (DGBE), but I have met several people who tune their baritone up to standard pitch. I don’t know what size strings they were using, so be extremely cautious and do your homework before trying it out.
‘Ukulele tunings with more than 4 strings. All are tuned with all or some of the strings doubled (the two doubled strings are called a “course”), except the Koaloha D-VI.
- 5 string (doubled 4th): G – low-G – C – E – A
- 5 string (doubled 3rd): G – high-C – C – E – A
- 5 string: (doubled 1st): G – C – E – low-A – A
- 6 string: G – high-C – C – E – low-A – A
- Koaloha D-VI (like guitar w/capo on the 5th fret): low-A – low-D – low-G – C – E – A
- 8 string: G – low-G – high C – C – E – E – A – A (E and A strings are unison)
