How to Tune a Ukulele (GCEA) the Easy Way

A ukulele that is even slightly out of tune makes every chord sound wrong, and beginners almost always blame their fingers when the real problem is the tuning. The good news is that a ukulele has only four strings, and once you know what note each one should be, getting it in tune takes under a minute.

This guide covers how to tune a ukulele from scratch: what GCEA means, why the fourth string is higher than you expect, how to tune with a clip-on tuner, how to tune by ear when you do not have one, and how to keep the instrument in tune once new strings stop slipping.

What GCEA tuning means

Standard tuning for a soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele is called GCEA. Reading from the string closest to your face down to the string closest to the floor, the four open strings are tuned to G, C, E, and A.

4th string (top)     ->  G
3rd string           ->  C
2nd string           ->  E
1st string (bottom)  ->  A

The classic way to remember the pitches is the little phrase "My Dog Has Fleas." Sing those four words and you are singing G, C, E, A in order. It sounds like the opening a lot of players strum to check their tuning, and it is a fast way to hear when one string is off.

Baritone ukuleles are the exception. They are tuned DGBE, the same as the top four strings of a guitar, so the rest of this guide applies to soprano, concert, and tenor sizes unless you own a baritone.

The one surprise: the fourth string is a high note

On most stringed instruments the strings get lower in pitch as they get thicker, from high to low. The ukulele breaks that pattern. The fourth string, the G, is not the lowest note on the instrument. It is tuned high, above the C and E strings next to it.

This is called reentrant tuning, or high-G tuning, and it is what gives the ukulele its bright, jumpy sound. When you strum across all four open strings you are not going low to high. You are hitting a G that sits up near the top of the group. Beginners who expect the fourth string to be the deepest note often tune it a full octave too low and cannot work out why chords sound muddy.

Some players prefer low-G tuning, which drops that fourth string down an octave to a deeper G for a fuller range. Both are valid. High-G is the traditional default and the one most beginner songs and chord charts assume, so start there.

The reference pitches, in numbers

If you tune against a piano, a keyboard app, or a tone generator, these are the exact notes and frequencies each open string should match:

String   Note   Pitch     Frequency
4th      G      G4        392.0 Hz
3rd      C      C4        261.6 Hz  (middle C)
2nd      E      E4        329.6 Hz
1st      A      A4        440.0 Hz

The C string is middle C on a piano. The A string is A440, the same reference note an orchestra tunes to. Knowing these lets you tune to any instrument in the room without a dedicated ukulele tuner.

Method 1 — Tune with a clip-on tuner (fastest and most accurate)

A clip-on chromatic tuner is the easiest way to get a ukulele in tune, and it is worth owning one. It clips to the headstock and reads the vibration of the wood, so it works in a noisy room where a microphone-based app would struggle.

The steps are the same for any string:

1. Clip the tuner to the headstock and turn it on.
2. Pluck one string and let it ring.
3. Read the note name on the display.
4. If it shows a lower letter than the target, tune up slowly.
   If it shows a higher letter, tune down.
5. Adjust until the display shows the right letter and the
   needle sits dead center.
6. Repeat for all four strings, then check the first one again.

Two habits make this reliable. First, always tune up to the note rather than down to it. If you overshoot, drop below the target and come back up, because a string tuned downward tends to slip flat as you play. Second, use a chromatic tuner set to read any note, and watch that the fourth string reads G in the correct octave. A tuner will happily confirm a G that is a full octave too low.

Method 2 — Tune by ear using the frets

When you do not have a tuner, you can tune the ukulele to itself. This is called relative tuning. The instrument will not be at concert pitch, but every string will be in tune with the others, which is all you need to play alone or sing along.

It relies on one fact: a fretted note on one string can be made to match an open string next to it. Here is the chain, starting from the C string, which you tune first from any reference you trust, such as middle C on a phone app.

Step 1  Get the C string (3rd) in tune from a reference note.
Step 2  Press the C string at the 4th fret. That note is E.
        Tune the open E string (2nd) to match it.
Step 3  Press the E string at the 3rd fret. That note is G.
        Tune the open G string (4th) to match it.
Step 4  Press the E string at the 5th fret. That note is A.
        Tune the open A string (1st) to match it.

Play two notes that should match, listen to whether the open string is higher or lower than the fretted one, and adjust until they blend into a single tone. When two notes are close but not identical you will hear a slow wavering pulse. As you bring them together the pulse slows down and then disappears. No pulse means the strings are in tune with each other.

Finish by strumming all four open strings and singing "My Dog Has Fleas." If any string fights the others, go back and re-check that pair.

Method 3 — Tune to a piano or a phone

Any instrument that plays a steady, in-tune pitch can be your reference. Play G4, C4, E4, and A4 on a piano or a keyboard app, one at a time, and match each open string to the note by ear using the same wavering-pulse trick from Method 2. A free tone generator app that lets you dial in exact frequencies works just as well, and it is more accurate than most acoustic pianos, which drift over time.

Why your ukulele will not stay in tune (and the fix)

New players are often frustrated that the instrument drifts out of tune within minutes. This is almost always normal, and it is almost always the strings, not the ukulele.

Ukulele strings are made of nylon or a similar synthetic, and fresh strings stretch a lot before they settle. A brand-new set can take several days of playing and re-tuning before it holds pitch. You can speed this up by gently pulling each string away from the fretboard with your fingers, then re-tuning, and repeating a few times. The string will settle far faster than if you left it alone.

If a settled string still slips, check the tuning pegs. Friction pegs have a small screw at the end that can be tightened a quarter turn to add grip. Geared tuners rarely slip but can feel loose if the string was not wound neatly around the post. Wind new strings so the coils stack downward toward the headstock, which locks the string against itself.

Temperature and humidity also nudge tuning, so a ukulele that travels from a cold car into a warm room will need a touch-up. Check tuning every time you pick the instrument up, and re-tuning becomes a five-second habit rather than a chore.

High-G or low-G: which should you tune to?

Stay with standard high-G while you are learning. Every beginner chord chart, tutorial, and songbook assumes it, and the reentrant sound is a large part of what makes a ukulele sound like a ukulele.

Low-G is a deliberate choice you can make later. It swaps the high fourth string for a thicker string tuned an octave down, which extends the low range and suits fingerpicking and solo arrangements. It needs a specific low-G string, since a standard high-G string cannot be tuned down that far without going slack. Try it once you are comfortable, not on day one.

View Ukulele Theory Simplified →

Once your ukulele holds a steady GCEA, the next step is putting it to use. Learn to read your first ukulele chords and read ukulele tabs so you can start playing songs the same day.

Frequently asked questions

What are the four ukulele string notes?

From the top string to the bottom, a standard soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele is tuned G, C, E, A. The G string is tuned high, above the C and E next to it, which is called reentrant or high-G tuning. Baritone ukuleles are the exception and use D, G, B, E.

Why is my ukulele's top string higher than the others?

That is by design. Standard high-G tuning puts the fourth string an octave higher than you might expect, which gives the ukulele its bright, chiming sound. If your fourth string sounds deep and muddy, it is probably tuned a full octave too low.

How do I tune a ukulele without a tuner?

Tune it to itself using relative tuning. Get the C string in tune from any reference note, then press the C string at the 4th fret to tune the E string, press the E string at the 3rd fret to tune the G string, and press the E string at the 5th fret to tune the A string. Match each fretted note to the open string next to it.

Why does my ukulele keep going out of tune?

New nylon strings stretch for several days before they hold pitch, so frequent drift on a new set is normal. Speed it up by gently stretching each string with your fingers and re-tuning a few times. If a settled string still slips, tighten a friction peg a quarter turn or re-wind the string neatly around the post.

Should I use high-G or low-G tuning?

Beginners should use standard high-G, because every beginner chord chart and tutorial assumes it and it produces the classic ukulele sound. Low-G is an optional later change that adds low range for fingerpicking and needs a dedicated low-G string.

About the author

This guide was written by the team at Musiciangoods and reviewed by Melvin Tellier, founder of Musiciangoods and author of the Simplified series of music theory books. Musiciangoods builds clear, practical learning tools for self-taught musicians. If you want the theory behind the chords you are tuning up to play, Ukulele Theory Simplified walks you through it one step at a time.