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Ukulele Tunings
Common Ukulele tunings...
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Ukulele Tunings (ukuleleTunings.shtml) | Updated: 01-Jan-2009 - 02:48
Contents
Tuning UkuleleLessons
- Electronic Tuners
These are one of the best modern invention for musicians, especially beginners. I have a bunch of these and really like the clip-on tuners
Common Ukulele Tunings
Many tuning are possible. Here are the common tunings.
Any tuning is possible on a ukulele as long as the construction supports it and a string is available.
Here are the most common tunings for the Ukulele shown in concert pitch.
To finally memorize the names of the notes on the ukulele fingerboard. Check out my book Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard below.
C Tunings
C Tuning
C Tuning - For Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukulele. The same as the higher four strings of a standard tuned guitar with a capo at the fifth fret with string four "G" one octave higher.
Online Tuners
C Tuning, Low "G"
Key of "C" Low 'G' Tuning - For Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukulele. Same as Key of "C" Tuning but with string four one octave lower. This is the same as placing a capo at the fifth fret of a standard tuned guitar.
D Tunings
D Tuning
Key "D" Tuning - For Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukulele. The same as the higher four strings of a standard tuned guitar with a capo at the seventh fret with string four "A" one octave higher.
D Tuning, Low "A"
Key "D" Tuning , Low 'A' Tuning - For Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukulele. The same as the higher four strings of a standard tuned guitar with a capo at the seventh fret.
G Tuning
G Tuning
Key of "G" Tuning - For Baritone and Tenor ukulele. The same as the higher four strings of a standard tuned guitar. So you already know how to play the Baritone and Tenor Ukulele.
String 4 can also be tuned up one octave. A tuning that the great jazz ukulele player Lyle Ritz favors.
More Tuning Information
Here are the tuning recommendations of several prominent ukulele musicians:
Byron Yasui's recommend ukulele tunings:
- Soprano - A D F# B
- Concert (Alto) - G C E A
- Tenor - F Bb D G
- Baritone - Eb Ab C F
Joel Eckhaus's recommend ukulele tunings:
- Soprano - A D F# B
- Concert (Alto) - G C E A
- Tenor - E A C# F#
- Baritone - D G B E
Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard
Finally learn the ukulele fingerboard
It is absolutely amazing the number of guitar players and ukulele players that do not know the names of the notes (each fret) on their own instruments. This is a phenomenon not found on most other instruments.
Knowing the names of the notes of the fingerboard is not the same as reading standard music notation. Each fret on each string has at least one name and a music symbol associated with it. Just knowing at least one of the possible names of the frets is quite liberating.
Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard
Author: Curt Sheller
Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications - (32 pages)
Published: October 2004
ISBN 10: 1-60321-013-X
ISBN 13: 978-1-60321-013-3
Size: 5.5" x 8.5"
Product Code: ULUNN
Product Page: www.curtsheller.com/books/ULUNN.shtml
Press Release: www.curtsheller.com/ULUNN/PR_ULUNN.html
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Here is a series of
UkuleleLessons
for learning the ukulele fingerboard.
Standard Music Notation - Fingerboard Chart
C Tuning, High "G"
This tuning is common for Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukuleles.
C Tuning, Low "G"
This tuning is common for Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukuleles.
G Tuning, High "D"
This tuning is common for Tenor and Baritone ukuleles.
- Natural and Sharp Notes
- Natural and Flat Notes
G Tuning, Low "D"
This tuning is common for Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukuleles.
- Natural and Sharp Notes
- Natural and Flat Notes
Electronic Tuners
Electronic tuners - Don't leave home without one.
I have accumulated several tuning devices over the years from the
pitch pipe I got with my first guitar 30 years ago, to a tuning
fork and several electronic tuners that live in my guitar cases on
on my ukuleles today.
I don't even have my students tune by ear until well into playing the guitar. I have them get an electronic tuner and ALWAYS play in tune. This trains their ear and they learn what an in-tune guitar sounds like and can then learn to tune the guitar by ear.
Here is a review the current crop of clip-on tuners that I have and still use toady.
Here is a page of reviews on the tuners that I have used in the past and still use and reccommend.
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Pono Ukuleles
Kitakis Stringed Instrument Repair
52 Mango Place, Suite 2
Wahiawa, Hawaii 96786
808-622-1064
Fax: 808-622-1646
Links
Info
Ukuleles
Pono instruments are professionally designed and handcrafted by the Ko’olau Guitar and ‘Ukulele Company on the Island of Java, with final adjustments and set-up on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii.
A revision of the Intelli Tuner, not a cheap imitation. Accurate and easy to use. And now re-designed to eliminate the annoying vibration. Made in Korea, where, due to advanced electronics techinology, Korea has become nicknamed the "Germany of Asia"♣
click on image to play in
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Ukulele
Here is my (Curt Sheller) performance of this arrangement. I used a Pono PTRC-CE Tenor cutaway, solid rosewood back and sides, solid cedar top, maple binding.
I have a dedicated page for this song on my UkuleleLessons pages with a TAB of this arrangement.
Boss
Roland Corporation U.S.
5100 S. Eastern Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90040-2938
Phone: 323.890.3700
Fax: 323.890.3701
P.O. Box 910921
Los Angeles, CA 90091-0921
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Wuhan Eleca Electronics CO., LTD
No. 12, the 5th Jiang Jun Road
Dong-Xi Lake District
Wuhan, China
430023
Tel: 027-59508018
USA: Eleca Amplification
Eleca International Inc.
21088 Commerce Pointe Dr.
Walnut, CA 91789
TEL: 909-468-1382
Links
Info
Tuner can be found under different brand names.
(from their site) Wuhan Eleca Electronics CO., LTD was established in December 1995. It’s a Sino-US joint venture, as well as export-oriented enterprise and high-tech enterpris e. The company focuses on international trade at the beginning of establishment. Business administration is in line with international standards.
♣
Links
Info
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Tuner, Metronomes and more...
(from their site) - In the early 1960s, Korg founder Tsutomu Katoh was a nightclub proprietor. A popular Japanese accordionist and engineer named Tadashi Osanai performed regularly at Mr. Katoh’s club, and one evening, Mr. Katoh told Osanai it would be nice to have a rhythm machine to keep the beat. Mr. Osanai was sure he could build a rhythm machine himself, and convinced Mr. Katoh to finance his efforts.
♣
Meisel Stringed Instruments
P.O. Box 90
Springfield, New Jersey 07081-0090
Tel:1- 973 379-5000, Fax:1- 973 379-5020
Dealers: 1-800 MEISEL M (634-7356)
Links
Company Info
(from company's site) -
Meisel traces its roots back centuries. In 1659, before there was a Beethoven or a Paganini, the Meisel name first appeared on a handcrafted European violin. Although much has changed since then, Meisel still symbolizes quality, craftsmanship and unsurpassed value for students and professional musicians alike.
♣
Links
Makers of the The Intellitouch Tuner.
Intellitouch Tuner PT1 (Black) For Guitar (All). All Styles. Accessory. Published by OnBoard Research Corp. (20763) |
Intellitouch Tuner PT2 (White) For Guitar (All). All Styles. Accessory. Published by OnBoard Research Corp. (20764) |
♣
Links
These are the leading high end strobe tuners. Can be found in every guitar repair shop.
♣
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Links
Editor's Note: (Feb 2007) This is the tuner and metronome that I use and reccommend to all my students. Korg also has a tuner/metronome with the same features.
Sabine Guitar & Bass Auto Tuner (ZIP700) Tuner. 6 note version of the STX tuners. |
♣
Seiko
Seiko Holdings Corporation
SEAVANS North
1-2-1, Shibaura, Minato-ku
Tokyo, Japan 105-8459
TEL +81-3-6401-2111
Links
- www.seikousa.com
- WidipediA: Seiko Holdings Corporation
Info
( from their site ) - Since its founding in 1881, Seiko Holdings Corporation has introduced one revolutionary product after another, including the first wrist watch in Japan in 1913 and the first quartz watch in the world in 1969. We now operate in a broad range of fields, from watches, clocks, shutters for cameras and electronic devices, and eyeglasses to sports products.
Editor's Note: (July 2008) The Seiko STX1 Vibration-Sensing Clip-on Chromatic Tuner is a new tuner that I'm using on my ukuleles. I've used the Meisel, Korg and Intellitouch clip-on tuners.
The Meisel rattles and the Korg didn't hold up to my travels of toting a ukulele everywhere and the Intellitouch's battery cover won't stay on.
♣
In the UK there is the clip on chromatic tuner Guitar Tech GT75 Clip-On Chromatic Tuner
Tuners are showing up in all shapes and sizes these days.
Ukulele Chords
NEW This small (1/2 size) chord book is a great little book to carry with you. Ukulele Chords covers basic open position and basic movable form chords. From these two chord categories a variety of songs and styles can be played.
A Guide to Ukulele Strums & Rhythmic Patterns
This book is designed as a guide to ukulele (pronounced “oo-koo-lele”) strums. From rock and waltz strums to reggae and broken chord strums.
A Guide to Ukulele Chords
This book is designed as a guide to ukulele (pronounced “oo-koo-lele”) chords. Covering basic ukulele chords that ALL uke players MUST know, movable chord forms, rock uke chords, how to transpose chords, learning the ukulele fingerboard and an introduction to 4-part “jazz” chords and more...
Ukulele For Guitar Players
Ukulele for Guitar Players is a guide to transferring the accumulated experience and knowledge gained as a guitar played to the ukulele.
A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele A to Z
Covers the key of C major and C minor, including a detailed accompanying text explaining the principles behind each progression and the chord substutitions.
The Advanced Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Guitar
Each volume of The Advanced Guide to Blues Progressions for Guitar features basic to advanced blues chord progressions. to be used with the chord voicings from volume I, II & III of The Advanced Guide to Guitar Chords.
Exploring "Jazz" Chords on Ukulele
Exploring "Jazz" Chords takes the core chords from A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele and shows their use over a variety of common chord progressions based on songs from the standard jazz repertoire.
A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele
If your goal is to expand your chord vocabulary, The Advanced Guide to Ukelele Chords Series is your answer. Commonly referred to as "jazz" chords. A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords Volume I provides detailed information on voicing 4-part chords.
The Advanced Guide to Guitar Chords
Commonly referred to as "jazz" chords this provides detailed information on voicing 4-part chords.
Harmonic Analysis For Scale Selection And Chord Substitution
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
Ukulele - Reading Music Series
Reading Music in Open Position, Single Note Studies- Primer. Reading music is not as hard as one might think. It may be new and unfamiliar to you but is not hard when you have a proper plan of attack.
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