Beginner Ukulele Lessons 2 | CoolUkulele.com

When looking for topics to write about, I've discovered that people sometimes search for what the notes on a ukulele are. Most people are probably looking for the standard tuning notes, so let's address this first (then we can get into other details): What are the Tuning Notes on a Ukulele? The standard tuning notes on soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles are G4, C4, E4, and A4, with the C being middle C and the G, E, and A notes being those notes just above middle C. Now, this is actually a somewhat ambiguous question, as the "notes" on a ukulele could refer to either A: the tuning notes, which are the pitches used when tuning the strings of the ukulele, or B: the fret-board notes, which are pitches played when a string is held down at a particular fret on the instrument. Let's bring clarity to this ambiguity and cover both topics separately. More on Tuning Notes The tuning notes of the ukulele are the standard pitches which the ukulele's strings are tuned to (i.e. tightened until they produce the desired sound frequency when plucked or strummed). The tuning notes used depend mostly on the ukulele's size, as the baritone uke traditionally uses a different tuning system from the other ukulele sizes. Other exceptional factors can also influence the ukulele tuning notes alternative tuning systems or ukuleles with greater than 4 strings. What are the Standard Tuning Notes on a Soprano, Concert, and Tenor Ukulele? The standard tuning notes on soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles are GCEA, with the C being middle C and the G, E, and A notes being those notes just above middle C. Ukulele Tuning Notes for High G tuning, the standard tuning system for Soprano, Concert, and Tenor ukuleles. For more info on tuning these uke sizes, head over to the specific articles on soprano, concert, and tenor tuning. What are the Standard Tuning Notes on a Baritone Ukulele? Baritone Ukulele Tuning - Vertical The standard tuning notes on a baritone ukulele are D, G, B, and E. With the D, G, and B being those below middle C, and the E being those above middle C. Baritone Ukulele Tuning Notes - Horizontal What are the Tuning Notes on a Bass Ukulele? The bass ukulele's tuning notes are E1, A1, D2, and G2. Much lower than even the Baritone uke. For more in-depth information, check out the bass ukulele tuning article. What about Alternative Ukulele Tuning Notes? Low G Tuning One alternative tuning system used often is Low G tuning. The notes of this are the same as the standard tuning for soprano, except the G note is one octave lower, or the G below middle C instead of above it. Low G ukulele Tuning - vertical For a comparison of Low-G and High-G Ukulele tuning, check out the Low G vs. High G Ukulele Tuning article. Low G Ukulele Tuning Notes - Horizontal Tuning Notes for Ukuleles with More than 4 Strings Tuning Notes on 6-string Ukuleles Here's a diagram of the tuning notes for a six string uke. Notice that one of the A strings can be either low or high. With six and eight-string ukes, the tuning setups are much less standardized than their 4 string counterparts. The exact setup can vary from maker to maker and player to player. Tuning Notes on 8-string Ukuleles And here's the same for an 8 String ukulele. What are the Fret-board Notes of the Ukulele? The fret-board is the part of the ukulele's neck which has rows of metal frets along it. The strings are then held down at these frets to decrease the vibrating length of the string, thus altering its pitch. The notes of the Ukulele fret-board depend on the tuning system used, however each fret raises the note by one half-step. What are the Standard Fret-board Notes on a Soprano, Concert, and Tenor Ukulele? As the standard tuning notes on soprano, concert, and tenor ukes are G, C, E, and A, the fret-board notes are a half-step higher pitched from those notes for each fret: What are the Standard Fret-board Notes on a Baritone Ukulele? The Baritone Ukulele traditional uses D, G, B, and E for its tuning set-up. This means the fret-board notes will be one half-step higher than these notes for each fret up the neck of the uke, as shown below: What are the Fretboard Notes on The Bass Ukulele? What about Ukulele Fret-board Notes for Alternative Tuning systems? Low G Fretboard Notes Here are the fretboard notes for a ukulele tuned to GCEA low G tuning.