Did you know your ukulele doesn’t have to stick to standard G-C-E-A tuning? Exploring alternate tunings for ukulele can open up new sounds and make your playing more interesting—whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned strummer.
In this guide, we’ll cover some of the most popular alternate tunings for ukulele, why you might want to try them, and simple tips for getting started (even if you don’t want to re-tune your uke every time).
Key Takeaways
- Ukulele can be tuned beyond the standard tuning for varied sounds.
- Trying different tunings helps improve musical understanding and creativity.
- Simple methods exist to explore alternate tunings without frequent retuning.
- This post covers some popular alternate tunings for uke, but you can make up your own to fit the situation!
Table of Contents for Alternate Ukulele Tunings
Danno’s Fave: A-D-F#-B (D Tuning)
An alternate tuning that’s easy to try out, and fairly common out in the real world is tune UP, to A-D-F#-B (notes from ceiling to floor).
People say it adds a brighter, punchier sound to the uke. I keep one of my two banjoleles tuned this way, and I think it does add a little zip.
As someone who loves those great old 1920s songs, I’ve actually seen this used often in vintage sheet music. Turns out, alternate tunings aren’t just a modern experiment—they’re old-school cool.
People say this D tuning adds a brighter, punchier sound to the uke. I keep one of my two banjoleles tuned this way, and I think it does add a little zip.
How to play from sheet music that shows alternate tunings for ukulele:
Now what to do if you’re dying to learn a song from some old sheet music, but the sheet music shows an oddball alternate tuning?
It can be confusing. For example, they show a chord diagram that you know as C — but on the sheet music it’s labelled D.
Here are some choices:
- Re-tune your uke. Now when you make the shown shape, it will feel like a C, but, as shown on the page, you’ll be making a D (because you’re tuned up a step). Downside: it can make your brain hurt.
- Ignore the chord diagrams, and just go by the chord names. Downside: you have to know the chord shapes already.
- Ignore the chord names, and just go by the diagrams. This is probably the easiest solution. Downside: you won’t be playing in the key of the written song–this only matters if you’re playing along with another musician who’s reading the music (or if you’re trying to read melody notes along with the chords).
A Half-Step DOWN
This is similar to the tuning above, but you lower your string notes DOWN half a step, so your strings become F#-B-D#-G#.
This is another one that shows on old ukulele sheet music sometimes. As explained in the yellow box above, the chord SHAPES (fingering) will be the same, but the produced chords (the names of the chords) will be different — a half-step down the scale.
For me, the lowered strings start feel kind of ropey, and the sound is bit muddy. I’d rather tune UP than down!
Low G Tuning: GCEA (with Low G)
This is “standard” tuning,” but the fourth string (closest to the ceiling) uses a special thick string to change the standard G note to a G that sounds an octave lower
End result is your chord shapes are the same but you get a slightly beefier sound thanks to the “low G.”
I’m seeing “low G” more and more these days.
Even if you don’t want to use it, it’ll spark up a lively conversation — folks who love it, love; folks who don’t, don’t!
It takes the idea of standard C tuning but drops the G an octave, from a high G to a low G. Comes in really handy if you are playing a piece that needs those extra low notes or if you are simply looking for a bigger sound.
To tune to this, you need an special set of strings with a low G, like Aquilas.
Danno’s note:
In my classes, I get a lot of questions about low G tuning. People seem to think it will allow for lots of extra notes and a big booming sound.
Just remember: it’s a ukulele! You’ll never get a big booming sound (and that’s not a bad thing). Furthermore, how often are you playing single notes? If not a lot, then the extra few notes low G provides are incidental.
I like my ukulele to sound like a ukulele, and that generally means I prefer high G.
Slack Key Tuning: GCEG
Mostly used in slack key playing, but can be very useful in a lot of situations. The idea is based off the re-entrant C-tuning, with the high A being tuned down to match your high G, like this —
(From ceiling to floor): G, C, E, G.
If you strum the strings with this tuning you’ll be playing a C chord automatically!
Moving up the fretboard and barring all strings on each fret, you’ll be playing the next major chord (1st fret barred = C# major, 2nd fret barred = D major, etc.).
Add Some Rolling Stones rock riffs:
This open tuning makes it easy to capture those famous Keith Richards style riffs. It’s the sound of “Start Me Up,” “Brown Sugar,” and many other Rolling Stones songs, just by adding one finger to create a sus-4 chord.
Slide Ukulele Tuning: GCEBb
Want to go into the brave new world of slide ukulele?
Try G, C, E, Bb tuning. This creates an automatic C7 chord when strummed open and makes for some very fun and bluesy slide ukulele playing.
(Of course, you’ll need a slide! Try one for about five bucks, and go to town.)
Any Alternative Ukulele Tuning *Might* Work
Of course, any tuning is possible for ukulele, but if you get too way out, you’ll have to figure out all the chord shapes on your own. If you stick to some of the tried-and-true options above, you can always get help.
FAQ: Alternate Tunings for Ukulele
What is the most common alternate ukulele tuning?
C tuning (GCEA) seems most popular where I live (USA), but D tuning (ADF#B) is a popular in some other areas, and is often used for a brighter sound (say, on a banjo-uke), and often shows up on old sheet music.
Will alternate tunings damage my ukulele?
Not if you make small adjustments. Don’t overtighten the strings, and you’ll be fine.
Do I need special strings for alternate tunings?
Sometimes—especially for Low G tuning. For most other tunings, your usual strings are fine.
What about using a capo on ukulele?
Using a capo just changes the pitches of ALL the strings by the same amount, which can make it easier to play in an odd key, since you can use familiar chord shapes. A capo doesn’t create an alternate tuning in the way we’re talking about it here. (Danno’s favorite uke capo: tiny and stays out of the way!)
What to read next:
PS: Looks like a lot of folks are getting to this article while looking for the basics of how to tune a ukulele. Jump over to this article to learn four techniques of getting tuned up, with or without an electronic tuner.
For more beginner ukulele posts, we’ve got a whole section, just for you.
How do you feel about tunings like DADF# or FCFG for the tenor ukulele? You can get some beautiful sounds out of those tunings. Of course, DADF# will make the strings a bit loose, but the sound is cool!
I haven’t tried those tunings (or even heard of them, I believe!). What kind of music would you use those for?
I’ve been working a lot with an FCEA tuning, going from dropping a low G two half steps, so the strings to low to high, 4 3 2 1.
Started with monophonic, but I’m adding countermelody to melody, or playing bass lines from choral music, an adding tenor to it, so I’m playing two parts from SATB. It’s been a lot of fun. Not too concerned about a Joe sounding like a uke. It is what it is! Not trying to be Hawaiian. Sure, I’m using hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides where it sounds right, but I’m exploring this tuning to see where I can go with new limits and new possibilities. Otherwise, I can always pick up another use and start playing if I need a break. Using a low G string for my drop F. I like the challenge, and it’s keeping me creative.
I’ve been working a lot with an FCEA tuning, going from dropping a low G two half steps, so the strings to low to high, 4 3 2 1.
Started with monophonic, but I’m adding countermelody to melody, or playing bass lines from choral music, and adding tenor to it, so I’m playing at least two parts from SATB. It’s been a lot of fun. Not too concerned about a uke sounding like a uke. It is what it is! Not trying to sound Hawaiian. Sure, I’m using hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides where it sounds right, but I’m exploring this tuning to see where I can go with new limits and new possibilities. Otherwise, I can always pick up another uke and start playing if I need a break. Using a low G string for my drop F. I like the challenge, and it’s keeping me creative.
Interesting! I haven’t tried that one, but now I want to 🙂 — Sounds like you do a lot of exploring.