Despite having only 4 strings compared to the 6 or 12 of the guitar, the ukulele can still be difficult to tune, if you don't have a lot of experience with stringed instruments. You can tune it by following several methods - keep reading the article to find out which one works best for you.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Instrument Overview
Step 1. Recognize the pitch of the strings
The most common ukuleles, soprano and tenor, have four strings tuned in G, C, E, A (GCEA according to the literal notation): the G (G) below the middle C (low G), the middle C (C), the MI (E) and the LA (A). Each string is stretched or loosened by a stick at the top of the fingerboard.
Step 2. Find the location of the keys
To correctly assign the strings of your ukulele, take it with the fretboard facing up. The bottom left clef tunes the G (G), the one above tunes the C (C), the top right key tunes the E (E) and the one below tunes the A (A).
- The keys are bolts that, by turning, allow you to change the tone of the strings. The direction they go in varies from tool to tool, so experiment. Usually the keys that are on the same side of the headstock have an identical rotation criterion.
- Tighten the strings to increase the tone. Release the tension to lower the pitch.
- Do not pull the strings excessively under any circumstances. You could break the tool and force them out of their housing.
Step 3. Locate the strings
They are numbered farthest to closest to the player (assuming you sound like a right-handed). The first string is that of A (A), the second of E (E), the third of C (C) and the last of G (G).
Step 4. Find the keys
They are numbered from the nut towards the sound box in ascending order. When you want to raise the pitch of the string, press it on the fret.
Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Find the Notes
Step 1. Find a reference instrument to tune the ukulele with
The simplest way is just to adapt your instrument to another. You can choose a piano, an electronic tuner or a woodwind. In this way you can tune a single string (which will then be the reference for the others), or tune them all.
Step 2. With a piano or electronic keyboard
Hit the fret of a note and pluck the corresponding string. Turn the key until the string sounds like the note of the reference instrument.
Step 3. With a wind tuner
You can use a round tuner, or one specifically for ukulele (which looks like a small pan flute). Blow into the tuner to emit a note and pluck the corresponding string of the ukulele. Turn the key to adapt the sound of the string to that of the tuner.
Step 4. With a tuning fork
If you have a tuning fork for each ukulele string, you can strike them and tune each string individually. If you only have one, use it to tune the corresponding string; the latter will then be the reference for the tuning of the remaining ones.
Step 5. With an electronic tuner
There are two types: one emits the reference note to which you have to tune the instrument; the other analyzes the pitch of the note you are working on and tells you if it is too high (the string is too tight) or flat (the string is too soft). For beginners it is undoubtedly the easiest way to tune a ukulele, when they still have a hard time telling the difference between two tones.
Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Tune the Strings
Step 1. Tune the G (G) string
Adjust the clef until the note that the string emits is the right one.
Step 2. Play an A
Place your finger on the second fret of the newly tuned G string. This note should be an A, the same pitch as the string farthest from you.
Step 3. Tune the A string
Use the A played on the G string as a reference.
Step 4. Play a G on the E string
Put your finger on the third fret of the E string: the sound should correspond to that emitted by the G string. If not, it means that the E string is out of tune.
Step 5. Tune the E string
Turn the key until you can play a G on this string that matches that of the G string.
Step 6. Play an E on the C string
Place your finger on the fourth fret of the C string.
Step 7. Tune the C string
Turn the corresponding clef until the E note played on the C string is identical to that emitted by the E string.
Advice
- The changes in temperature affect the tuning of the ukulele. Don't be surprised if, once you leave the house, you have to tune it again.
- Get a humidifier for your ukulele to help keep it tuned.
- Some instruments struggle to stay in tune. If you are unable to tune yours, take it to a luthier or specialist shop to have it overhauled.
- When playing with other ukuleles, decide which is the “main” instrument and tune the others based on this so that they all play in harmony with each other.
- While tuning, move towards a high tone (by tightening the strings) rather than a low tone (by loosening them).
Warnings
- Do not stretch the strings too much, you could break the instrument.
- After you have tuned all the strings on your ukulele, you may find the first one slightly out of tune and need to tune it again. This is due to the fact that, by stretching the other strings, the body of the ukulele bends slightly, bringing the first string too tight, which is so out of tune.
