How to Tune a Ukulele
The ukulele has a different tuning logic from the guitar: the standard tuning is re-entrant, which means the strings do not go from low to high in order. That small detail gives the ukulele its bright, jangly sound.
Standard tuning: GCEA
On soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles the four strings, from the one nearest your face to the one nearest your feet, are G4, C4, E4 and A4 (392.00, 261.63, 329.63 and 440.00 Hz). The first string (nearest the floor when you hold it) is A, then E, then C, and the string nearest your face is G. The G is tuned above the C, not below it, which is what re-entrant means. A common way to remember it is “My Dog Has Fleas”, for G C E A.
| Tuning | Strings |
|---|---|
| Ukulele · Standard (GCEA) | G C E A |
| Ukulele · Low G | G C E A |
| Ukulele · D tuning (ADF♯B) | A D F♯ B |
| Ukulele · Baritone (DGBE) | D G B E |
Tuning with a tuner
Open the ukulele tuner, allow the microphone, and pluck each string in turn. Because the ukulele is small and quiet, hold it close to the microphone and tune in a quiet room. Nylon and fluorocarbon strings produce a softer attack than steel strings, so give each string a clear, even pluck and let it ring until the reading settles.
Tuning by ear from one note
You only need a single reference note, the A string, which you can get from the tuner, a tuning fork or a piano:
- Tune the A string to the reference A (440 Hz).
- Fret the E string at the 5th fret, which sounds A, and tune the E string until that fretted note matches the open A string.
- Fret the C string at the 4th fret, which sounds E, and tune the C string until that matches the open E string.
- Fret the G string at the 2nd fret, which sounds A, and tune the G string until that matches the open A string.
Each step ends in a unison, which is the easiest interval to hear: two strings that are close but not equal produce a wobble that slows as you approach the right pitch and stops when they match. Re-check the A string at the end, because adjusting the other strings changes the neck tension slightly.
Why new strings keep going flat
Ukulele strings are made of nylon, fluorocarbon or gut, and these materials stretch much more than steel. New strings can lose pitch for days. Speed this up by tuning, then gently pulling each string away from the fretboard along its length and tuning again, repeating a few times. Tuning pegs that slip also cause drift: check that the peg screws are snug. Changes in temperature and humidity affect a ukulele’s wooden body and strings, so expect small drifts between practice sessions.
Other ukulele tunings
- Low G: replace the high G with a G one octave lower (G3). The tuning is no longer re-entrant and has a fuller bass, at the cost of the classic ukulele ring. Use a wound string made for the purpose.
- D tuning (A D F♯ B): every string a whole step above standard, popular on some soprano ukuleles for a brighter sound. Strings have to be able to take the extra tension.
- Baritone (D G B E): the larger baritone ukulele is tuned like the top four strings of a guitar, D3, G3, B3 and E4. Chord shapes learned on a baritone transfer directly to guitar. Choose “Custom…” in the tuner to enter these notes.
Moving to guitar? The guitar tuning guide explains the same ideas for six strings.