Classical Guitar Strings on Ukulele

A ukulele is constructed basically like a small guitar, typically a classical guitar. As such, a lot of the same concerns and information, technique and resources can be used for the ukulele. Here is Curt's Ukulele String Recommendations.

UPDATED:
20 November 2024

String Brands & Info

Set-up Tips

Resources & More Info & Info

Common `Ukulele Tunings Curt's Personal String Recommendations

2022 Update: After many, many years of using Savarez string I've found a direct replacement in the Thomastik-Infeld Classic-N, Carbon Nylon Hybrid strings for strings one and two: CPK24 (.024in/62mm, 19.40lbs/8.80KG) tuned to A (A4) and CPK27 (.027in/69mm, 14.55lbs/6.60KG) tuned to E (E4).

This custom set and the strings I, Curt use are available at Funky Frets and right here on Learning Ukulele with Curt.

Savarez Classical Guitar Strings on Ukulele

Both low and high string four variations for C, D, and G Tunings.

For High string four C and D Tuning that is a Savarez Ukulele set for Tenor and Soprano ukulele.

C Tuning (G C E A) Low G

Savarez Alliance (red card-R)

E–1 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .024, 541R (.024in/62mm, 17.44lbs/7.9KG) tuned to A (A4)
B–2 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .027, 542R (.027in/62mm, 13.02lbs/5.9KG) tuned to E (E4)
G–3 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .033, 543R (.033in/62mm, 12.80lbs/5.8KG) tuned to C (C4) Middle C

D'Addario Pro-Arte

D Light Silverplated Copper Wound .028, J4304 for both the low G and low A bass strings

D Tuning (A D F♯ B) Low A

Savarez Alliance (red card-R)

The same set as the C Tuning. Just tune up a whole step to D Tuning.

E–1 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .024, 541R (.024in/62mm, 17.44lbs/7.9KG) tuned to B (B4)
B–2 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .027, 542R (.027in/62mm, 13.02lbs/5.9KG) tuned to F# (F#4)
G–4 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .033, 543R (.033in/62mm, 12.80lbs/5.8KG) tuned to D (D4) Middle C

D'Addario Pro-Arte

D Light Silverplated Copper Wound .028, J4304 for both the low G or low A bass strings

G Tuning (D G B E) High D

Savarez Alliance (red card-R) and high tensions (blue card-J)

The same set as the C Tuning. Just tune up a whole step to D Tuning.

Savarez Alliance (red card-R)

Savarez Plain KF Treble High Tension (blue card) .033, 543J for the E
Savarez Plain KF Treble Standard Tension .027, 542R for the B
D'Addario Pro-Arte, D Light Silverplated Copper Wound .028, J4304 for the G
Savarez Plain KF Treble Standard Tension .033, 543R for the D

Thomastik Infeld

Thomastik-Infeld is an Austrian company founded in 1919, located in Vienna developing and producing strings and rosins for bowed and fretted string instruments. The company still makes “Dominant” strings, one of the earliest brands of perlon string, now considered a standard for comparison to other synthetic string sets.

Ko`olau Guitar and Ukulele Company

"Ko'olau Guitars and 'Ukuleles" are professional quality, hand crafted instruments. The shop is located in Kaneohe, on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, approximately fifteen minutes from Honolulu, at the foot of the the beautiful Ko'olau Mountains.

Savarez S.A.

Benefiting from the most recent discoveries, the classical guitar strings (three trebles strings made at first of plain gut and basses strings made of copper wound on silk (later on silver plated copper wound on silk)) have evolved into the use of monofilament nylon called plain nylon for the three trebles strings and of silver plated copper wound for the three basses strings.

> These are the strings I've been using exclusively on all my ukuleles for the past 10+ years. - Curt

End of page - Thanks for Visiting!

🚀 🚧 End of LearningUkulele.com Site Content 🚧 🌍

NOTE: PICS ARE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. FAIR USE NOTICE:: This site contains images of which have not been pre-authorized. This material is made available for the purpose of analysis, teaching, comment and critique. The 'fair use' of such material is provided for under U.S. Copyright Law. In accordance with U.S. Code Title 17, Section 107, material on this site (along with credit and attributions to original sources) is viewable for educational and intellectual purposes - (frwebgate.access.gpo.gov). If you are interested in using any copyrighted material from this site for any reason that goes beyond 'fair use,' you must first obtain permission from the copyright owner.

On the web since 1992 and a Mac since 1987 (Mac II) • Serving up Ukulele content since 2003 ( 22 years ago ) • Lets Kanikapila!!! v12.13.0 (8.2.23) • And, since Sept 2020, happily on Pop!_OS Linux & COSMIC-DE and a System76 Thelio . Half the cost of the iMac and a real treat to use. I use it for ALL development work. Only wish the Affinity Suite of apps by serif where available on Linux (and I do know you can run them in Wine with a few hacks).

This sit has ben profesionaly red. awl tpyos aree free and no aditonal chrge • I'm blaming it on “jazz” fingers. “Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.”

Site developed, hand-coded, and maintained by Curt Sheller, Curt Sheller Publications , Pottstown, PA 19464 USA, North America, Northern Hemisphere, Earth, Solar System / Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, Virgo Supercluster, Laniakea Supercluster, Observable Universe ... and hosted on DigitalOcean , eCommerce using stripe , managed using Laravel Forge , and analytics (which we DO NOT share) by Plausible . See the LearningUkulele.comSite Credits page for credit to all the tools we use to build this amazing site.