Tuning Tips for your Ukulele - Part 1

The further along in your Ukulele adventure you go, the more you realize how important it is to tune your uke properly. Here are some interesting “tuning facts” about the ukulele you may not have thought of before, and a couple of “tuning tips” to make it easier.

First it helps to know that the strings are normally tuned to the notes G-C-E-A, starting from the top string.

G - C - E - A

A phrase you can use to help you remember these notes is

“Grace Can’t Eat Apples”

When you play these string-by-string from the top they sound out the musical line “My Dog Has Flees”.

The Good Old Days

A few years ago we would tune these strings by hitting the appropriate key on the piano and using our ears to make the uke string sound the same.This has always been difficult for many beginners, and especially those with an undeveloped “ear”.

In the last 15 years or so two tuning aids have been developed that make the tuning process much easier - and more accurate. They basically take the guess work out of tuning.

The first one is the online tuner app. There are many of these available. Just search your app store and you’ll see what I mean. There are a few disadvantages to online tuner apps. First, they are a bit cumbersome to use. You have to open the app and place it so it is near enough to your ukulele so it properly hears it.

The second is that they usually cost $ to use on a regular basis - in spite of the fact they say “Free”. “Free” usually means ”a free trial period” - 7 days, or 14 days, or whatever - and then often a subscription cost per month. When you see the alternative I’m going to tell you about this regular fee sounds like a rip off.

The Clip-On Tuner

The alternative is a little piece of hardware you set beside or clip on to your uke. My experience in my own case and with my students is that the clip on is the easiest to use and cheapest to buy option (as little as $10).

Here are a couple of points worth noting.

First, these tuners are often called “guitar tuners” but they are also good for other stringed instruments like bass guitars, banjos, violins, and ukuleles. The description on Amazon, for example, makes this clear.

The second point is that the device works by picking up vibrations from the instrument. So setting it beside the instrument doesn’t work. You actually have to clip it on. Many players leave the device clipped on more or less permanently.

In the next tip we’ll mention some more tips and techniques about tuning your ukulele.

This image is just an example taken from Amazon.ca