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 G,C,E,A.
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.
- Slack key: low-G,C,E,G (think Ledward Kaapana)
- Baritone: low-D,G,B,E
- English tuning: A,D,F#,B or low-A,D,F#,B (same concept as a low-G string).
Tunings with more than 4 strings. All are tuned with all or some of the strings doubled, 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
