How to Tune a Ukulele: Standard GCEA Tuning, Step by Step
· 2 min read
Most soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles use the same tuning: G–C–E–A. If you remember the phrase "My Dog Has Fleas", you already know how it sounds — it's the classic ukulele melody of those four open strings.
The notes
Ukulele strings are counted from the one closest to the floor (1st, A) to the one closest to your face (4th, G) when you hold the instrument.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 4th (top) | G4 | 392.00 Hz |
| 3rd | C4 (middle C) | 261.63 Hz |
| 2nd | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
| 1st (bottom) | A4 | 440.00 Hz |
This is re-entrant tuning: the 4th string (G4) is higher than the 3rd (C4). That high G gives the ukulele its bright, bouncy sound. Some players use a low G (G3, 196.00 Hz) for a fuller range — the notes are the same, only the G is an octave lower and needs a thicker string.
Baritone ukuleles are different: they're tuned D–G–B–E, like the top four strings of a guitar.
Tune with a tuner
- Start with the 3rd string (C). Pluck it and turn the peg until the tuner shows C4.
- Tune the 2nd string to E4, the 1st to A4 and the 4th to G4.
- Always approach the note from below: if a string is sharp, loosen it past the note and bring it back up.
- Go over all four strings once more — ukulele necks are short and strings affect each other.
On a high-G ukulele, make sure the tuner reads G4, not G3. A chromatic tuner shows the octave number; a guitar-only tuner may not.
Tune by ear
Tune the 3rd string (C) to a reference — a piano, another instrument or a tuning fork — then:
- E string: press the C string at the 4th fret; it plays E. Match the open 2nd string to it.
- A string: press the E string at the 5th fret; it plays A. Match the open 1st string to it.
- G string (high G): press the E string at the 3rd fret; it plays G4. Match the open 4th string to it.
Why new strings won't stay in tune
Nylon and fluorocarbon ukulele strings stretch a lot during the first days. That's normal. Tune up, gently pull each string away from the fretboard along its length, tune again and repeat a few times. After a week or so they settle. Temperature and humidity changes also shift the tuning — check it every time you play.
Doing it faster with AI Guitar Tuner
AI Guitar Tuner for iPhone recognizes a ukulele by ear: pluck three open strings and it switches to high-G ukulele tuning (G4 C4 E4 A4) on its own. Then pluck any open string — the tuner follows it, shows the note, octave and cents, and confirms with a checkmark and a haptic tap when the string is in tune. Audio stays on your iPhone.