Common Tunings

C Tuning • Hawai'ian Tuning

C Tuning is the most common tuning used today.

C Tuning, High 'G'

C Tuning – For Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukulele. The same as the higher four strings of a standard tuned guitar with a capo at the fifth fret with string four G one octave higher.

For setting up music notation programs like Finale and Sibelius this tuning is:
MIDI: G = G3, C = C4, E = E4, A = A4
C4 is middle C.

For tweaking EQ in performance situations:
Frequency: G4 = 392.0 Hz, C4 = 261.6 Hz, E4 = 329.6 Hz, A4 = 440.0 Hz
C4 is middle C.

C Tuning, Low 'G'

Low G, C Tuning - For Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukulele. Same as Key of C Tuning but with string four one octave lower. This is the same as placing a capo at the fifth fret of a standard tuned guitar.

For setting up music notation programs like Finale and Sibelius this tuning is:
MIDI: G = G3, C = C4, E = E4, A = A4
C4 is middle C.

For tweaking EQ in performance situations:
Frequency: G4 = 196.0 Hz, The rest is the same as the High G - C Tuning, C4 = 261.6 Hz, E4 = 329.6 Hz, A4 = 440.0 Hz
C4 is middle C.

G Tuning • Baritone / Guitar Tuning

G Tuning is common on the Baritone ukulele and can also be used on a tenor ukulele with a high D string four.

Key of G Tuning - For Baritone and Tenor ukulele. The same as the higher four strings of a standard tuned guitar. So you already know how to play the Baritone and Tenor Ukulele.

G Tuning, High D

String 4 can also be tuned up one octave. A tuning that the late great jazz ukulele player Lyle Ritz favored.

Different Ways to Tune a Baritone

Here is a cool video by Aaron Kiem about the various way to tune a baritone ukulele.

The tunings Aaron goes over are: D G B E , G C E A (Low d G B E ("High D), d G B D (Banjo Tuning).

D Tuning • European Tuning

D Tuning is a popular tuning in Canada, Europe and was popular is the previous two waves of ukulele popularity.

D Tuning, High A

D Tuning – For Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukulele. The same as the higher four strings of a standard tuned guitar with a capo at the seventh fret with string four "A" one octave higher.

For setting up music notation programs like Finale and Sibelius this tuning is:
MIDI: A = A3, D = D4, F# = F#4, A = B4
C4 is middle C.

D Tuning, Low A

Low A, D Tuning - For Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukulele. The same as the higher four strings of a standard tuned guitar with a capo at the seventh fret.

For setting up music notation programs like Finale and Sibelius this tuning is:
MIDI: A = A4, D = D4, F# = F#4, A = B4
C4 is middle C.

Alternate-Tunings

Here are the tuning recommendations of several prominent ukulele musicians.

Other Instrument Tunings'

Tune the Ukulele Like Other Instruments.

Banjo Tuning

Tune string one down a whole step and you have a Banjo like tuning.

Mandolin Tuning

• Mandolin -The standard mandolin tunde in perfect fifths and is G D A E . Aquila has a set of strings available to tune your ukulele like a mandolin.

NOTE • Any Tuning Is Possible on a ukulele as long as the ukulele's construction supports it and a string is available. The support part is the combined string tension on the ukulele's construction. All strings manufactures have the individual string tensions available. Remember the the strings length, the scale length of the instruments the tensions as well as the tuning.