This post is about Ukulele string names and how to remember them.

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. These are the most common types. 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.

How to remember the Ukulele String Names
The string names

For a help to remember the strings, you can give them names.

For instance:

  • G4 C4 E4 A4 can be Gouts Can Eat All sorts of food, or Great Cats Eats Always.
  • 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. The name is more 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.

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.

 

High and low G – the difference

And tips about what kind of stings you can use:

Tuning and playing the Ukulele

For tuning the Ukulele go to How to tune a Ukulele or Baritone Ukulele Tuning

When the Ukulele is tuned you can start at Easy Ukulele Songs.

Ukulele string names. Aquila 100U Soprano Ukulele Strings Set
Ukulele strings

You can watch how to put on new strings in the video of the article Left-handed Ukulele, Cheap Ukulele, or this one:


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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.

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