Tuning Your `Ukulele
From tuning by ear to using an electronic tuner. The lesson goes over the various tuning methods for tuning your ukulele. You ALWAYS need to play in tune.
Video Available for Premium Site Members Only

This Video is NOT part of your LearningUkulele.com Site Access level. Sign-up for Premium Site Access or Upgrade your current access level to view this video. Sorry can't continue to justify giving soo much away for FREE. For FREE videos hit up YouTube.
Basically BUT an electronic tuner and use it. However, also learn to tune your uke to its self when noting is available.
- A dedicated page on Tuning Your Ukulele
- A dedicated page on Common and Not So Common Ukulele Tunings

Tuning by Ear
This is tuning by using a reference note and comparing each string to this note. A tuning fork, piano or other instrument can be used as the reference note.
Using the open string as your reference note, in the case of "C" tuning, an A note and using an A440Hz tuning fork or other instrument. Tune the open string one to this reference note. Adjust the string higher or lower to match the reference note. I listen for any wobble or oscillation between the pitches and tune until this goes away. If I get lost and I'm not sure if I'm too sharp or flat, higher or lower in pitch to the reference note. I loosen the string until I know it is flat, or lower in pitch and start over.

Compare string ② fret (5) to string ① open. These are the exact same note and pitches.
Now this is where most people make an error in tuning. They then compare string three to two. If you didn't string two just right, any error will be introduced to string three.
Compare string ③ fret (9) to string ① open. This is the same note. String one might even vibrate on its oven when you play the note on string three if it is tuned.
Compare string ④ fret (2) to string ① open. If using a high "G" tuning this is the same note. If using a low "G" tuning, this note is one octave lower and still a pure interval.
NOTE: Only compare pure intervals, unisons and octaves.
Reference Links
- Musical Intervals, Frequency, and Ratio
In order to really understand tuning, the harmonic series, intervals, and harmonic relationships, it is very useful to understand a little bit about the physics of sound and to be comfortable discussing ratios, fractions, and decimals. This lesson is a short review of some basic math concepts for students who want to understand some of the math and physics principles that underlie music theory.
- The Pythagorean system
Pythagorean tuning is a system of musical tuning in which the frequency relationships of all intervals are based on the ratio 3:2. Its name comes from medieval texts which attribute its discovery to Pythagoras, but its use has been documented as long ago as 3500 B.C. in Babylonian texts. It is the oldest way of tuning the 12-note chromatic scale. ( source Wikipedia )
- Equal Temperament
In musical tuning, a temperament is a system of tuning which slightly compromises the pure intervals of just intonation in order to meet other requirements of the system. ( source Wikipedia )
The Problem with Tuning Using Harmonics - A harmonic a pure interval. The ukulele is not tuned using pure intervals. In fact the music play and listen to uses equal temperament (see above). So unless you are comparing the same pitches or octaves, the only pure intervals then you will get errors.
You can use harmonics to get close then use octaves and unison notes for final tweaking.
Relative Tuning
If you have a good relative pitch and can recognized melodic intervals. You can tune your ukulele by comparing one note to another. Using the open strings the comparison intervals are:
High "G" - C Tuning (gCEA) and High "A" - D Tuning (aDF#B)
- Compare string ② to string ①, a perfect fourth
- Compare string ③ to string ②, a major third
- Compare string ④ to string ①, major second
Low "G" - C Tuning (GCEA), Low "A" - D Tuning (ADF#B), and G tuning (DGBE)
- Compare string ② to string ①, a perfect fourth
- Compare string ③ to string ②, a major third
- Compare string ④ to string ③, perfect fourth

To develop Relative Pitch visit the Ear Training lesson page.
Using Electronic Tuner

This is just tuning using an electronic tuner. There a lot of electronic tuners available that can be used for tuning your ukulele. There are foot pedals, clip-one tuners. LED tuners and strobe tunes. Visit my page on Electronic Tuners for listings of manufactures and information on these types of tuners.
I recommend getting a chromatic tuner that can tune a string anyone of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale. A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G#
This is an example of a one of the clip on tuners available for ukulele, the Planet Waves Chromatic Headstock Tuner
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - C Tuning
Updated: Apr 19, 2017
Finally, learn the names of the notes of the fingerboard. Learning the notes of your instrument allows you the flexibility of not having to remember so many shapes. There are simply way too many chords, scale and notes patterns, and shapes to remember. It all comes down the notes.

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - D Tuning
Updated: Sep 23, 2009
If your goal is to finally learn the names of the notes on the ukulele fingerboard. Then Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - D Tuning is your answer. Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - D Tuning, has a step by step approach to finally mastering the ukulele fingerboard.

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - G Tuning
Updated: Aug 23, 2009
If your goal is to finally learn the names of the notes on the ukulele fingerboard. Then Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - G Tuning is your answer. Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard - G Tuning, has a step by step approach to finally mastering the ukulele fingerboard.
Site Access Plans for LearningUkulele.com
Forever Access - With Forever Premium Access, you get Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources, related assets, and ALL books by Curt as FREE downloads. Pretty much everything on the site and NEVER worry about a subscription or surprise payment again. And jump the queue for responding to any questions.
If your anything like me (Curt) and getting Subscription overload with everything on-line wanting money from you once a month — I'm with you. For like-minded individuals, this forever plan is a pay once and your done.
The price for Unlimited Forever access is right around the cost of a few months of private lessons. I can guarantee that is more material on-line to keep you busy for a long, long time. And, you get all of my books for FREE. That along is more than the cost of this plan.
Basic Access - A limited selection of basic lessons — ( currently over 140 ) and 100+ songs for ukulele as well as basic general music reference material — Completely FREE — Simply Register/Signup. HOWEVER - I've been doing ukulele and LearningUkulele.com since 2003 and probably have given too much away already - as reflected in my income from the site in relationship to the time spent on the site. So help support this site and its continued development by signing up for one of the below Premium Access Plans or buy a few of my books. - Thanks, Curt
NOTE: Each higher access level includes ALL the benefits of the lower levels. Private Lessons include all the benefits of a Premium Access Plans as long as you remain a student on the schedule.
Just browsing over both books, they look fantastic! I'm a guitarist and uke player for over 25 years and was thinking about writing a ukulele book but you've already written what I think are the best, most comprehensive and thorough books I've ever seen for the instrument. I just might end up buying every book you've written and I'll be giving my highest recommendation for your books to my friends and students. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such great books! — Peter Rhee
Aloha, Curt, All I can say is WOW! What you have accomplished is simply incredible! All the best — Glen Hirabayashi, The Aloha Boys
Folks, if you haven't stopped by Curt's site, do so right now! ..And get his books, they are fantastic. This guy knows his stuff and is able to pass it along too. — Alan Johnson Proprietor, The 4th Peg
I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books — I have four of them and they are excellent. — fatveg — Portland
Thanks for visiting and checking out the site!

Original Curtie Animation from 1987 for my first web site on a Macintosh II. 34 years ago. Man, does time fly.
“Built for myself (Curt), and sharing with the `Ukulele community!”
LearningUkulele.com has one of the largest collections of lessons, songs, and TABS, luthiers, ukulele builders, ukulele festival and club information, and, ukulele links on the web. I’ve been on the ®Internet since the early 1990's and This site just never stops growing!!!
Content is added and updated almost daily - so check back often. I really do need to get out more ;-)