ukulele tuning

Subject: ukulele tuning
From: Noah Zacharin
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 10:21 AM

i bought a ukulele--it was for my nephew, i swear it was--he has decided he'd rather have music in his life than another action figure--and i need to know how to tune it. how do you tune it?

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: Bert
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 10:33 AM

A lot of people use GCEA but if you're a guitar player you might prefer DGBE.

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: Noah Zacharin
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 10:36 AM

thanks bert. is that from what would be the lowest string on a guitar to the highest? i noticed that the string closest to the players head is thinner than the next one. is the G close in pitch to the A? thanks

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: sian, west wales
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 10:37 AM

GCEA ... otherwise known as My Dog Has Fleas. At least, that's how my mom always taught it ...

sian

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 10:48 AM

Whatever note you start on, the intervals are the same as the top four strings on a guitar. But the "top" string (closest to your face) is an octave higher, making it just one whole step lower than the one in the "bottom" position (closest to your feet).

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: GUEST,Grandma Marshall
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 10:51 AM

My first stringed instrument was a Baritone Ukulele and I always tuned it exactly like the 1st 4 strings of a guitar's standard tuning. It became the perfect teacher to move into a guitar when ready.

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: Noah Zacharin
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 10:51 AM

thanks. now it's clear. hawaii here i come.

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 11:10 AM

Here is a previous discussion thread, with info that will help you to decide on which tuning to use, depending on whether your ukulele is Baritone, Tenor, or Soprano, a caveat for tiple players, and links to Hawaiian ukulele site--Ukuleles Anyone?

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: Tony Burns
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 01:19 PM

Just to clarify (or confuse). The 4th string (closest to you) can be lower or higher than the 3rd. If you make it lower then you need a heavier string. I think I used a guitar G the last time I did that.

With the high 4 string it's a soprano uke and with the low one it's a tenor.

Tune it to the 1st to 4th strings on a guitar with a capo on either 5 or 7. Books I have mention which tuning a particular song uses. The chords are the same finger positions as the guitar.

Great instrument for a kid to start on. Melanie Doan started that way. I heard her play a mean version of "Don't Get Around Much Any More" on CBC a few months ago.

Uke trivia. Melanie's father manufactured ukes in the Maritimes and was successful in getting them accepted into the school system as a beginner instrument. I'd love to see a Doan Uke.

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 07:18 PM

Noah, let me know when you're coming and I'll take you to the volcano. Talk about hot licks!

Some of the older Tin Pan Alley songs tune up to D (A-D-F#-B) or down to Bb, (F-Bb-D-G) but still keep the same intervals. The sheet music generally will have a "tune uke" notation. (A baritone ukulele is tuned like the top 4 strings on the guitar.) I'm just learning (moving over from guitar) on some of the standards, and am going to try learning Hawaiian music too. Fun stuff!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: ukulele tuning
From: GUEST,Banjo Johnny
Date: 08 Jul 00 - 02:52 AM

They actually TUNE those things?