Hey Joliena, I recommend downloading my free ukulele lesson book on the right side bar! It will get you started. Is it possible to tune a baritone ukulele to the gcea? Are there special strings to do this and prevent string breakage? My recommendation would be to leave your baritone ukulele tuned how it use but purchase a capo that you can put on the 5th fret of your uke.
By doing this, you transpose the tuning up to standard ukulele tuning. But, they are available! Hi Brett, I just bought a tenor ukulele and it was tuned in Baritone tuning upon purchase. I tuned the strings up to Standard tuning and I think it sounds fine, but there seems to be a lot of tension now in the strings.
Do I need to purchase different strings now that Ive change the tuning? Im more concerned about breaking my new ukelele if Im using strings designed for baritone tuning but tuning them in standard tuning. Hi Jovan, a tuner allows you to tune your ukulele strings to the correct pitch. This is so you can play the instrument in tune. I recommend clicking around Ukulele Tricks. There is a lot of helpful information here!
You buy a tuner…. When you hit a string it shows you the name of the string and how low or high it is. You just turn the pegs at the top left or right to make the string sound go up or down until it is in the center of the tone you are looking for. What i like to do is learn all the major chords A thru G. Then, I learn the minor chords Am thru Gm…. Find a song you know how to sing…. Thus, i have not put any pressure on myself to do anything but enjoy it at my leisure….
Good luck!!!! Hello Brett, What a great site! Hi Brett! The ukulele itself looks stunning, but the strings are.. Well, terrible or what? And also, when I play the E and the A string on the two first frets it buzzes, why? It sounds terrible. The strings should feel tight with tension. Thanks for all the great information and instruction! Can you explain why it is that ukes use the high g tuning? It is a little strange, but it sounds really cool! The bottom string of the ukulele A-string is commonly referred to as the first string, although I have seen it referred to it in different ways too.
I tried to tune my new tenor uke to guitar tuning since I have played guitar all my life, easier than learning new chords. I snapped the highest string. Does it work to buy strings for a baritone uke and put them on my tenor? Hi Lynn, I would expect it to.
If you wanted the guitar vibe with the ukulele, I recommend low G tuning linear tuning. Love your page. Oh yes, I forgot. Is the g chord the same as the G chord?
Is this a recognised string pattern or do I need to change my strings? Hi Dan, that sounds right to me. Ensure you are tuning up every time before you play.
Does the tuning sound weird for certain chords? How do you tune the ukulele 4 half steps down? What does it mean? Hi Dorine, that tab is saying to transpose that chord chart down 4 half steps to make the chords easier to play. Ive bought my sisters two soprano ukes for christmas but were having trouble tuning them, i have a guitar and a tu80 metronome but was unsure if i can tune them with that? Tuning the first string is proving a little difficult aswell!
I like to sing along as I play my suprano uke. Still sounds good using the same fingering. I know guitars use capos. Im brand new to ukulele and Ive never played a musical instrument before except piano for a very short time as a little kid.
But all that ever lights up is the 3CD light and the row of numbered lights on the side if that makes sense? Am I reading it wrong or did I get a piece of junk tuner? Hi Danielle, you may have gotten a crappy tuner. I really like the Snark ukulele tuner. Any suggestions or help is appreciated! Are they going out of tune after you play for a little while?
This might sound a little crazy but Im wondering is it possible to tune the C string of a soprano uke up an octave? It seems that when I attempted to tune my Ukulele, the string snapped. The broken string was Nyguts, and I might need some help fixing them. Hi James, every now and then this happens. I like to use Aquila gCEA ukulele strings. I know others have had good success with them as well.
I requested and received a ukulele for Christmas, and have been actively practising since mid January. I am 47 years old and have no absolutely no previous experience of playing a musical instrument. I am thoroughly enjoying trying to teach myself and researching sites like yours. I purchased a chromatic tuner so the note being delivered is the correct one I think!
Also, given that I have only been learning for 2 months, I am fairly happy with my progress to date, but being very impatient, I am very keen to be progress further. How long would you say it takes an average pupil to become fairly proficient?
I am also seriously considering an on line course such as yours. I take it this is something you would recommend? Congrats on the new ukulele! It sounds like you might need to tune your ukulele strings up the octave. I think that a course like mine could benefit you quite a bit.
I created the course to be step-by-step and easy-to-follow. I give you some specific practice objectives and songs to learn to apply your skills too.
This can help give you some focus as you learn how to play. Hello Brett, Thank you for keeping up this site. Question: does Jake Shimabukuro use a high or low G string on his Kamaka? I have just listened to him play on YouTube and the virtuosity is astounding!
James Hill a virtuoso also to be sure recently wrote me that he used to play low G mostly but now is doing more high G tuning playing. I need all the help I can get playing learning this thing!
Many thanks. I recommend experimenting with both to see what you like. I agree that standard tuning can feel a little counterintuitive, especially if you come from a guitar background. I have a tenor uke tuned to gCEA. My Lanikai S-T tenor has the original strings from when I purchased it, they are black nylon g, E, and A strings and a metal wound C string.
There would be too much tension on the top string that could potentially break the string or cause harm to your ukulele. Hello, I am NEW to ukulele and am so happy to have come across your site!
Does this make sense? Is this tuned correctly?? Hi Kristen, the middle two strings should have slightly less tension since they are tuned lower, but they should still ring out in a clear tone and pitch. Are they ringing out clear for you? I just got my new Mahalo Tenor… trying to tune it up I noticed that the top string is smaller in dia. I should have read all of the string first………… With a tenor, can i tune it like a baritone??? Hi Bob, I would be concerned about doing this because of the tension the higher gauge baritone strings would put on the neck of the tenor ukulele.
Hi Bob, yep, this is right. The ukulele is tuned in a reentrant tuning, where the top string is tuned higher than the bottom three strings. This is unlike a guitar or bass where the tuning is linear across the strings. In another post, you said it would probably want to get better strings than the ones that it comes with. What kind of strings do you reccomend? My sister and I bought a Lumanog Ukulele.
The seller says its a baritone ukulele with 19 frets. We made him seller tuned the ukulele. But as I try to play the ukulele, it sounds strange and much lower than the typical baritone ukuleles I hear on youtube. I noticed that most baritone ukuleles have two thick strings on the upper part while my two thick strings are on the middle of the thin strings. Help me please? Hi Ansherina, as you play your ukulele, it will naturally go out of tune as the strings stretch, so it will need to be retuned.
The easiest way to tune your ukulele is to purchase a chromatic ukulele tuner. I recommend some here:. Has anyone else had any experience with tuning a soprano to low G? So whats wrong ive seen videos and such, and the A string is deeper than the C string!!!! Hey Victoria, hmmm… it sounds like your A-string needs to be tuned an octave higher. Did you double check to make sure the strings are on the right tuning pegs?
My goal would be to use it a little like the 5-string Uke is used with both the high and low G. I would rather not use any wound strings but could live with one or even two if I had to. I believe it came with a set of classical guitar strings tuned up a fourth and it had three wound strings. What would you recommend that I do to try what I have in mind to turn this great instrument into one with a high and low G and then a low C?
Just need to know what strings to buy. Thanks so much and this is a super site! Or if I tune one string an active higher I have to do that to all my strings, but it might break, what do I do? What do I do? Or how am I supposed to do it? Hi Bre, you will need to purchase a standard-tuned ukulele string set g-C-E-A and restring your ukulele.
I like the strings from Aquila. Hi Johnny, what kind of string set are you using? Are you certain the string set is for English tuning? The other chords are reading C,E and A. Hi Oliver, it depends how much you are looking to spend. Check out some of my recommendations here for some beginner ukes:. Hi Brett: Just like everyone else, I love your website! My husband and I have one concert uke Kala KA-C and want to get a second uke so we can play together.
So the bottom line question is….. I have big hands and as a beginner, could I do with its extra width. A very helpfull website. That sounds like a great idea! I am musically challenged. I have decided to start out with a 4 string instrument. I was thinking of the ruan or ukulele. Where do I start?
Where do you get sheet music from and do they make those digital tuners for the ukulele? Definitely pick up an electronic chromatic tuner as well to keep your ukulele in tune. I do have some fingerpicking pieces that have sheet music under the ukulele lessons section of Ukulele Tricks. I currently hve two ukulele options in mind ill post the links, any one in particular you think would be better for a beginner with small fingers?
What do you think of electronic ukes? I have a student rock band of th graders and am thinking of a baritone uke to transition to guitar or even in place of guitar. I believe that Lanikai makes some baritone ukuleles with electronics installed.
You might take a look at their offerings. I was already planning on getting a tenor, but i just wanted to see what people thought of concert ukes before i made my decision. This really helped, and it answered just about every question that i had except price ranges.
Normally i have to search through several pages to get my answers, but i got them all on one page! Thank you so much! Since the humidity in my area varies greatly from day to day, should I buy a plywood instrument so the wood distort as easily?
Which brands and models would you recommend? If you wanted, you could get a case and store your ukulele in the case. Additionally, put a humidifier in the case to give your uke a balanced humid environment. Thanks very much. The 5th fret on the baritone BIG help. Also now use on my guitar, fantastic Cheers Roy. If you capo the 5th fret on the Baritone how do you get your fingers around to play that 1st fret? Am I doing something wrong?
My first ukes were a soprano and a baritone that I named Eddie and Fay. Unfortunately the baritone came broken, but I love my soprano and recently purchased a banjolele.
I really really want a concert now. Ukes are so adicting! The question is learning ukelele really similar to guitar? Is it quite easy to pick up? Any good online website or book you recommend? By the way, they only sell Congress Soprano and Ibanez soprano here, are they good? I dont plan to order online since this is just my first ukelele. I had the fortune of talking to a couple of the performers afterward, and mentioned I wanted to play and what would be best for me.. One of them said the baritone or was it bass would be easiest since I have played string bass in the past not in a long time, though, in my music major days of the early s.
Sound-wise, I like all of the ones shown here, maybe less the soprano one, as I prefer the deeper qualities. One other thing: when I took string bass in college, it was a challenge to find one that would fit my small hands. But guitar is no problem…just some things to inform your advice. Thanks again! I would like to learn the ukulele but is it hard to learn?
Hi Jacey, like anything, to learn something well, it takes practice and dedication. I will say though that compared to other instruments the ukulele is very beginner friendly. As you are starting, I would recommend trying to find some friends at school who play the ukulele. Also, do some searching in your area for different ukulele clubs or groups. Which size do you think I should go for? This is going to sound like a strange question but does anyone know the length of the Ibanez concert ukulele pictured from the back of the uke to the bridge.
I just got an Epiphone Les Paul concert ukulele, which I like quite a lot. At one of my local music stores, I noticed that they had a ukulele bass, as well. It was large, of course, and the thick nylon strings were kind of funny to see. My grandpa has had this baritone uke for like 50 years, and he just gave it to me. I want to learn. What book should I get for a baritone uke? ARE there any books for the baritone?
I want to learn for my grandpa, and plus its seems like a nice uke! Hi Miranda, the biggest challenge you will have with the baritone ukulele is figuring out the chords. Because of the different tuning, the chords for a baritone ukulele are different.
I am an actress and singer, and really want to learn to play the uke to accompany myself in auditions and onstage. Any recommendations? Will a soprano uke be suitable for me?
Nicola, great question. The names to identify the ukulele sizes are a little bit misleading. Although your voice is suited as an alto, a soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele will work just fine with your voice since they are commonly all tuned the same gCEA. I just found your web site recently and am very excited to get started with the lessons.
I have considered buying a Banjo Uke. Do you have an opinion on those intruments? Hi Brett, I have been taking beginner lessons on the ukulele.
I have a music background in piano up to grade 6 so it helps a fair bit. However, the one problem I have is that I simply cannot curve my fingers eg. B Minor is impossible to strum for me. Is there a trick for this? I am petite and have small hands. I own a soprano ukulele. I have not tried an alto but have had a go on the tenor. While it was much easier to hold the strings down, it was too long for me.
Any advice would be fabulous! Thanks loads for your time! Good questions! With fretting your chords, it takes practice for sure. Then, try to adjust your fingers for that position. With the strumming, think about a light, easy, loose relaxed hand and fingers to strum. Just think about coasting over the top of the strings. It sounds like you might be digging in a little too hard. It all depends on how good the teacher is. How long is the lesson? I always think learning an instrument with others is one of the best ways to learn, so I say go for it!
I recently got the urge to learn the ukulele. I, unfortunately, am cursed with stubby, fat hands. Will I be able to work a uke or should I accept my plight and just listen to the awesome uke sounds of someone else?
Hi Chris, you never know until you try! Do you think I should consider a baritone uke? Hi Pam, rather than buying a whole new ukulele, I recommend transposing the chords of a song to a key that is more suitable for your voice. I have a lesson on that here:. Going to Hawaii and will be looking at picking up a Kala KA8 tenor. Became a fan of the 8 string ukulele when we were in Tahiti. We are going to Oahu and was wondering if you know what shops I should look at? Let me know what you find.
We just got back and had a great time visited many ukulele stores. The biggest and best shop was on the north shore it was called the Hawaiian music supply. Talk with Aaron about the Kala KA8 and he tuned one up and let me play it and many others in the shop. There was no pressure to purchase anything he is just a great guy who loves ukuleles.
I did purchase the Kala KA8 and he matched the price that is on their website. Check them out when you go! I recently picked up a sSoprano ukelele at the Goodwill Store. While it was fun to start on, I found it a bit small and constantly out of tune. My neighbor leant me his beautiful tenor uke, which I have played around on from books and online videos, and now there is no going back to the soprano.
I love to sing with it, and plan on bringing one to camping trips. Any suggestion for a woman, a bit nubby hands, who likes to sing second soprano? Also, my fingers hurt the next day from pressing on the strings Any special strings you would put on a new ukelele or would you just use the ones that come with it? Thanks so much. Hi Ellyn, if you have a smaller hands, the concert is a great way to go, since you get that classic ukulele sound.
The tenor is nice if you want flexibility down the road with low G tuning. As far the sore fingertips, this is quite normal as you are first learning. Have fun! I play a Kala soprano long neck, named her Dolores. I played around in the music shop for a while, and found the soprano to be the most comfortable to hold, but I also wanted a little more maneuverability.
Thank you for your website and videos. They were instrumental in my decision to learn the ukulele. You and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Do you know any brand or model that you think I should go for? I currently own a tenor and would like to switch to baritone for the fuller sound. I have several uke books. Is it totally different fingering? I thought I saw someone mention that I could tune the baritone differently as well so I could use the same fingering as the tenor even though it will sound in a different key, which is fine for me.
I have to do that with other instruments. Did I understand that correctly? Sorry for all the questions, just want to make sure my ducks are in a row before I sell the tenor and buy a baritone. Thanks so much! Very informative website! Great questions, Lisa! Check out this post I wrote that I think will address both of your questions:. The finger patterns are the same on all ukuleles. If you keep the same shapes finger patterns and change ukuleles you get the same chord type major, minor, seventh etc.
The triangle shape for a D chord on the baritone uke is a G chord on the soprano uke. Use alphabetical distance. From D to G is 4 letters in the alphabet. The Am shape on the baritone is Dm on the soprano. When you change ukes just make the same shapes and know that the root or letter of the chord changes according to a constant alphabetical distance in this example 4.
The type of chord major, minor, 7th etc stays the same! I you can play one uke you can play them all…. Love your website. I have a 10 year old daughter who is interested in ukulele. Should I start her on a soprano or a concert? Thank you so much for your help.
Hey Brett So awesome to randomly find this site! I am still a rookie but moving forward really fast since, as I said, I love the instrument and spend several hours a day practicing. I started with a soprano indeed had the large fingers-small frets problem and now I want to move to an electro-acustic one.
Which one do you thing would be the best to buy? I have a question. Baritone uke is tuned the same as guitar using only the four high strings. Ukulele players very rarely read notes. I use baritone to teach students to read real music notation. We use guitar music which is easy to find and play the notes above middle C low string in the baritone is D above middle C. You can use the baritone uke to teach reading notes on the guitar using an inexpensive instrument which is easy for children to hold and transfers to the BIG, expensive and hard to hold for kids guitar.
I toyed with a guitar a few years ago and enjoyed the strumming but found that my fingers were too short to hit all the notes. I play it all the time. Tried a tenor uke for the first time a couple of weeks ago and definitely want to try more, and then maybe invest in a bigger, better model than I already have.
My question is: if uke playing emboldens me to the point where I think I can take on guitar, is playing the sop or tenor in the standard c tuning going to make that transition really difficult?
Should I be playing, say, a baritone, so its at least similar? Or does it not really make a difference? Second question: people keep saying its hard to find tab for baritone tuning- surely you coukd just work of guitar tabs?
Lots of great questions, Heather. I recommend learning to play ukulele on a soprano, concert or tenor. This takes a little bit of mental work as you might know. Overall, the differences between ukulele and guitar are few in the sense that the physical movements you learn playing the ukulele will equip you well if you ever want to give guitar a go.
Hey there Brett, Great to read the comments and advice as well as tricks! I tuned my Little Martin Tenor Guitar to Uke and it is awesome — so good — have a 4 string banjo and a uke in one bag!! Dear Brett, I really want a ukelele! Or should I get a Tenor? Any thoughts would be much appreciated! You can transpose any song on any ukulele to be in a key that is suitable for your voice.
And then a Hawaiian ukulele prodigy played a Beatles cover in Central Park, and the video went viral—but more on that later. Despite a long history that once included a reputation as an exotic and highbrow instrument, the ukulele has also endured decades of snubbing from both the pop music scene and the more cultured world of classical music. But with the help of trendsetters and tastemakers, it's making a strong comeback—the National Association of Music Merchants reported a 54 percent jump in ukulele sales in —that can be traced in large part to the instrument's accessibility, affordability, YouTube popularity, and celebrity esteem.
The instrument's renewed appeal can be seen in the rise of ukulele music festivals, which have cropped up in places like Reno, Milwaukee, Napa, Port Townsend, Washington, and Rockville, Maryland. The inner sanctum offered a hodgepodge of instruments on display: ukes fashioned from indestructible polycarbonate and painted in retro pastels, cigar-box ukes, and the classic natural wood Hawaiian models.
The instrument, with its four plastic strings and a short neck, originated in Europe and was introduced to Hawaii in when a Portuguese immigrant named Joao Fernandez jumped off the boat and started strumming and singing with his branguinha a small guitar-like instrument, sometimes called the machete.
The ukulele got its first taste of mainland popularity in the s when the Panama Pacific International Exposition lured over 17 million visitors with hula dance and song at the Hawaii Pavilion.
In , a reporter for the Hartford Courant described how "the wonderfully sweet voices and weird melodies of these ukalele sic players strike a plaintive heart-note never to be forgotten once heard. Cutesy Hawaiian kitsch became big business. By the s, Sears Roebuck and other department store catalogs offered ukes for a couple of dollars—and sometimes even for free with the purchase of lessons.
For four decades, the sounds of Hawaii drifted over the air to hundreds of radio stations. The Great Depression provided another gateway for the ukulele. As sales of pianos, accordions, and other pricey instruments soared, saving and scrimping Americans helped boost the ukulele to peak popularity in the s. Indeed, bluegrass music took off during that period as well, and the ukulele is still strongly associated with the string-band phenomenon.
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