How to tune a ukulele
- Hold the uke playing position - string 4 (G) is the one closest to your chin, string 1 (A) closest to the floor.
- Play the reference tone, pluck the matching string, and listen to both together.
- A pulsing "wah-wah" between the tones means you are close but not there; tune until the pulsing stops.
- Always approach the pitch from below - tuning down to a note leaves the string ready to slip flat.
- New ukulele strings (nylon or fluorocarbon) stretch for days: re-tune every time you pick the instrument up the first week. This is normal, not a defect.
Which tuning does your ukulele use?
Soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles all use G-C-E-A. The standard version is re-entrant ("high G"): the 4th string is tuned above the 3rd, giving the ukulele its signature bright, close-voiced sound. Low-G replaces that string with a wound or thicker string an octave down for more range - same chord shapes, fuller bottom.
Baritone ukuleles are the exception: they tune D-G-B-E, exactly like a guitar's top four strings, which also makes them the friendliest bridge instrument for guitarists. If your uke is noticeably bigger than a tenor, it is probably a baritone - use the DGBE tab.