First, you need to know the names of the ukulele strings. This is very important for tuning your ukulele, playing chords, and learning scales. We have a comprehensive guide to Ukulele string names, notes, and numbers, and a simple guide to help you remember them. Let’s start.
The “names” of the ukulele strings vary depending on the type of ukulele you have, as they are not all the same. We guess that if you are looking for ukulele string names, you probably have a Standard or Soprano ukulele. The most common type.
However, if you have a different ukulele, you can find the names of the strings for each type here, from top to bottom. By name, we mean the note that the string produces when it is tuned and plucked. (G, C or something else.)
The Ukulele Strings
If you have a:
- Sopranissimo or sopranino (piccolo or pocket): D5 G4 B4 E5 or C5 F4 A4 D5
- Standard or soprano Ukulele: the most popular: G4 C4 E4 A4.
- Standard or soprano Ukulele can also have: A4 D4 F#4 B4.
- Concert or Super Soprano Ukulele: A4 D4 F#4 B4 or G4 C4 E4 A4 that is most common
- Tenor Ukuleles: A4 D4 F#4 B4, G4 C4 E4 A4 (most common) or G3 C4 E4 A4
- Baritone Ukulele: D3 G3 B3 E4
- Bass Ukulele: E2 A2 D3 G3
- Contrabass Ukulele: E1 A1 D2 G2
Remember that the Ukulele strings order are from the top and down, 1 2 3 and 4th. So, the string on the top, closest to your eye, is number 1.
About the numbers for tuning. G4-C4-E4-A4: The numbers indicate in which scale you find the note on the keyboard of a piano. Normally we just say GCEA for this C-tuning, or C-6 after the chord.
NB! Read all about the Ukulele Strings at the link!
How to remember the Ukulele string names
To tune the Ukulele correctly, you have to identify each string by its name. A helpful tip is to write the ukulele string names at the bottom of the ukulele, under the strings. This way, you can easily see them when you tune. If you don’t want to do that, you have to memorize the names.
For a help to remember the strings, you can give them names.
Acronyms: Create a memorable phrase where each word starts with the letter of a string note.
For instance:
- G4 C4 E4 A4 can be Gouts Can Eat All sorts of food, Great Cats Eats Always or Good Cats Eat Apples.
- A4 D4 F#4 B4 can be All Dolls Fall Back or All Day Face Book
- D3 G3 B3 E4 can be Dogs Go Back for Eating, or Darkness Gonna Be Early
- E2-A2-D3-G3 can be Eagles Attacks Dogs and Gouts
- C5 F4 A4 D5 can be Can Fire All Dummies, or Cats Feed All Day
You can use your own sentence if you have a better one than this. It might be easier for you to remember something that you came up with.
However, you should also keep in mind, or visualize, the numbers or #. This is not very important in most cases, but the name is very important to remember.
The first time you tune the Ukulele, you may have to check that it is correct (number or #), but it will often be right automatically. It depends on how you tune the instrument. The next time the ukulele goes out of tune, it will usually be close enough, so you don’t have to worry about whether it’s a G3 or G4.
For making it absolutely clear:
Let’s start with the Standard Ukulele Tuning for Soprano, Concert, and Tenor ukuleles. The standard tuning is G, C, E, A. You can easily remember this with the phrase “Good Cats Eat Apples”.
When you’re holding the ukulele, the string closest to your chin is the G string. Moving down, the next string you’ll encounter is the C string. Following that, you’ll find the E string. Finally, the string closest to the floor is the A string.
Baritone Ukulele
Now, let’s shift our focus to the Baritone Ukulele Tuning. The baritone ukulele has a different tuning, which is D, G, B, E. This is identical to the top four strings on a guitar.
Again, when you’re holding the ukulele, the string closest to your chin is the D string. As you move down, the next string is the G string. After that, you’ll come across the B string. Lastly, the string closest to the floor is the E string.
String number
You might be wondering, Why Are Ukulele Strings Numbered? Well, numbering the ukulele strings makes teaching and learning easier. The string closest to the floor (the A string in standard tuning or the E string in baritone tuning) is string 1, and the numbers increase as you move towards the string closest to your chin.
Remember, learning the string names and numbers is a key part of mastering the ukulele. With consistent practice, this knowledge will become second nature. So, keep practicing and enjoy your strumming!
Remember, practice is key because the more you play, the easier it will be to remember the strings! 🎵
Help for tuning
If you use a good app, a built-in tuner or a clip-on tuner, you don’t have to think about it at all. It will be easy and hassle-free.
Read about tuning in this post: How to tune a Ukulele and in this one: Baritone tuning. Here, you can also read about alternative tuning for the Baritone.
Practice: Regularly practice tuning your ukulele. This will help you become familiar with the sound each string makes when it’s in tune.
Here you have a link to Clip On Tuners from Amazon.
High and low G – the difference
And tips about what kind of stings you can use:
If you need information about strings, go to this link.
All types of ukuleles, including soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone, can accommodate a low G string. This special string drops the pitch of the G-string in a standard GCEA ukulele tuning by an octave, producing a “mellow” sound and extending the ukulele’s range by five additional notes.
Read more about it on this link to Strings.
Playing the Ukulele
After tuning with help from How to tune a Ukulele or Baritone Ukulele Tuning, then you can start at Easy Ukulele Songs.
If you need help for learning the chords or strumming, go to the links.
How to put on new strings
You can read about how to put on new strings in the article Ukulele Strings.
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Finally, Basic Ukulele was founded in 2015 with the aim of making it easier for anyone who wants to learn or find out more about this wonderful instrument.