Ukulele Tuning

Tuning is important. Even a well played song will sound bad on a poorly tuned instrument. Because ukulele strings can stretch, it’s good to know how to tune it yourself. Playing on a tuned ukulele is better for your ears and mine!

The strings on the ukulele are numbered and named as follows: 1^st A, 2^nd E, 3^rd C, and 4^th G.

The 1^st string is the one closest to the ground. When you see a chord diagram like the one above, imagine you have the ukulele sitting face up in your lap. The metal bars are called frets. To make a fretted note you place your finger close behind (not on top of) each fret.

With a piano or electronic tuner, tune the 3^rd string to C. Next play the 4^th fret on the C string. This will give you an E. Tune the 2^nd string to E. This may take some practice but try playing both strings together until the E string sounds the same as the E note played at the 4^th fret of the C string.

Then tune the 4^th string by playing the G note on the 3^rd fret of the E string. Make sure you are happy that the G string now matches the note played at the 3^rd fret of the E string by plucking them both together.

Finally play the 2^nd fret of the G string. This will give you A. Tune the 1^st string to A.

Hint: Tightening the string up will raise the pitch, while tuning down means loosening the string and lowers the pitch. When tuning your ukulele, tune up to the note. This may involve tuning a string down a little too far and then back up to where it is perfect.