How to Tune a Ukulele: G C E A Made Easy
The ukulele is one of the friendliest instruments to start on — four strings, soft nylon, quick chords. But new ukes are famous for going out of tune constantly. Here's how to tune it right, and why it drifts.
Standard ukulele tuning: G4 C4 E4 A4
Soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles all use the same tuning, from the string closest to your face to the one closest to the floor:
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 4th (top) | G4 | 392.00 Hz |
| 3rd | C4 | 261.63 Hz |
| 2nd | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
| 1st (bottom) | A4 | 440.00 Hz |
Notice something odd: the 4th string (G) is higher than the 3rd (C). This is called re-entrant tuning — it gives the uke its signature bright, bouncy strum. Remember it with "Good Cooks Eat A lot".
Tuning step by step
- Open the ukulele tuner and start the microphone.
- Pluck one string at a time; the tuner locks onto the nearest target note of GCEA.
- Left of zero = flat → tighten. Right of zero = sharp → loosen. Small movements!
- Finish each string by tuning up into the note, and re-check all four when done.
Low-G and baritone tunings
- Low G (G3 C4 E4 A4): same notes but the G an octave down — a warmer, more guitar-like range, popular for fingerstyle on tenor ukes. Requires a dedicated low-G string.
- Baritone (D3 G3 B3 E4): baritone ukuleles are tuned like the top four guitar strings — all your guitar chord shapes transfer directly.
Why won't my ukulele stay in tune?
New nylon strings stretch — a lot. Expect to retune constantly for the first week or two. You can speed this up: tune to pitch, gently pull each string away from the fretboard, retune, repeat a few times. After settling, a decent uke holds pitch well. If it still drifts, check that the strings are wound neatly at the tuning pegs and knotted securely at the bridge.