Here are two ukulele of the same model, one with high-g, one with low-G: It’s only a couple hundredths of an inch difference, but you can see that the high-g is smaller in diameter than the low-G. The duration of a note is determined by three elements: the note head, stem, and flag. Common metals used for ukulele strings are steel and titanium. Aquila and others make low-G strings for the ukulele, and many great ukulele … This is also called linear tuning, much like how a standard guitar is set. Oftentimes wound low-G strings will fit into a stock nut slot. That thickness of the string can also be uncomfortable at first, but you can quickly get used to it. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Meaning, your G string is higher than all other strings. Because of this design, wound strings can hold the same tension as an unwound string with a smaller diameter. The obvious advantage is that these smooth strings don’t make any noise when you move your hand. Premium Members will gain access to the following lesson videos and tabs. From my grandparent’s garage (1993-1997), to my first commercial shop in Halawa Valley (1997-2009), then on to Hilo (2009-2014), and finally Las Vegas, Nevada (2014-??? That means that the sound can be a bit muffled and just generally not as good as you’d expect it to be. Instead, low G gives a more full or a darker sound since it is tuned like a guitar would. These are usually round wound (which means squeaks) and don’t balance very nicely with other strings in a set – even though they often come as part of a set. So why move to one of the hottest, driest states in the US? Once you're certain you've heard the pitch, pluck the top string, or the g-string (4th string), on your ukulele. If you mainly strum your ukulele, the difference between the two strings won’t – from a technical standpoint – be very noticeable. Simply answer the question: does my uke sound better with a high, tighter sound or a lower, deep one? We write our own rules about how the Ukulele should sound and even manufacturers seem divided in which ukulele string is more suitable for the job. Typically, this string is called the G string. Diese Stimmung nennt man auch "High G". Most ukuleles come with a high G string as standard. To get an idea what styles and sounds you can achieve, here are some artists and the G-string they use. Always try to avoid this and form your own opinions. These low-G strings are commonly found as part of a set and are made of the same material as the other strings (usually a breed of fluorocarbon). Now, get this pitch in your head. Theoretically, they sound good. Low-G strings come in two types: wound and unwound. Download FREE Ukulele sounds - royalty-free! By tuning with a high G on a ukulele, the G string is not tuned to the G below C, but the G above C. This gives the ukulele its bright uke like sound and is the traditional tuning method. Many musicians who are after the traditional Ukulele sound prefer the high g Guitarists typically prefer the low G tuning since it is similar to the tuning of a guitar. Having these additional “bass” notes can be useful for solo fingerpicking arrangements which allows you to get a more rounded sound when playing by yourself. Welcome to our … Press J to jump to the feed. Besides, wound strings generally have smaller diameters than unwound strings. A standard ukulele is tuned to a high G. Now, what high G means is that the G string is set higher than the C string. 13. Some may find the G string too loud; The EJ65T tenor string pack offers unsurpassed intonation and a projecting acoustic tone. Low G tuning allows for a wider range of sounds and takes away the bright sound of the ukulele. My impression is positive, but I don’t feel like the technology has matured enough to be a reliable option just yet. Die vierte Saite ist hoch gestimmt und sorgt für das so genannte „close voicing“. In this guide I’ll walk you through everything you need to implement a low-G string on your uke. It's played just the same but sounds a bit deeper. Aquila Red – One of the “weirdest” strings to appear on the market, possibly ever. Sometimes as you are tuning a new string you may wonder if you aren’t even close or going too far, with other strings to reference you will always know you are close. The standard string notes for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles are G-C-E-A. These strings are created just like you’d think: with a nylon or metal strand in the middle and a metal winding around it on the outside. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You cannot use the string set that you have for a high G tuning to tune your ukulele to a low G. Going down one octave in the G string will most likely cause flopping as the G string is not designed to be tuned so low. Standard re-entrant tuning goes high-low-high, like this (watch the notes): Changing to a low-G moves the first note down one octave and keeps the strings ascending all the way through the tuning. Starting with the pros; metal guarantees a longer lifespan as it can act as a protection layer over the nylon. On the other hand, there are unwound strings. Low-G extends the range of the ukulele by five notes (G below middle-C is the lowest note). That is usually done to give the ukulele its signature sound. A high-g is G4: 392hz. The buzz can be either at the tuning pegs (headstock), the nut, the saddle, the bridge, the body or at the frets (= string buzzing). I like insTuner. It comes with a high G string, but it gives an excellent, full-bodied, mellow sound if restrung with a low G string. You’d need to purchase one of two options: wound or unwound strings. While installing the strings, I think I found why people are breaking strings during installation. Ukulele String Notes & Names. This is fine, but can make for an unmatched (and unideal) feeling set. Then, place the sandpaper file in the nut slot and gently slide it back and forth along the length of the slot. This depends highly on how often you play your ukulele as well as your body composition. In this guide I’ll walk you through everything you need to implement a low-G string on your uke. Setting the ukulele to low G means that the strings will be set from low to high. I mostly play the high G stringing. Tune this bottom string to G4. Wound low-G technology has improved over the years. It may be necessary to file them with a fret file. If you want to produce the typical classic ukulele sound, steel strings are not for you. Having metal as the outside layer has its advantages and disadvantages. I’m an ukulele artist from Honokaʻa, Hawaiʻi, where I run this site from an off-grid cabin in the jungle. r/ukulele: The ukulele is a four-stringed Hawaiian instrument in the lute family with roots in the island of Madeira in Portugal. A unique compromise to this dilemma is a 5-string ukulele. However, it can be uncomfortable for you since it is a different material than the rest of the strings. This tuning method is called re-entrant tuning. A ukulele that is tuned with the high g is said to have a light and airy sound. View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message Junior Member Join Date Nov 2020 Posts 3. Then string up accordingly. Whether you purchase an individual G string or a whole set, they’re made of a breed of fluorocarbon. A quarter note (q) is one beat; an eighth note ( e ), half of a beat; and a 16th note (x), a qua… We will review a few different types of banjo ukuleles below. The pitch you can tune each string to has to do with its physical mass. This 4-stringed musical instrument contains a small body replica of the banjo, and its neck is the same as a ukulele. Ukulele Beginners; Low G string sounds bad; Page 2 of 2 First 1 2. I hear you ask. It’s a more contemporary sound that is gaining popularity every day. If you want a powerful low-G sound this might be a good option, but most people find them overpowering. As this is a pack of tenor ukulele strings, the low G string is wound, giving it that extra deep tone and sustain. In order to overcome the issue of the flopping G string, you have two options that you could go for: Wound G strings are much like guitar strings. The fret ends are sometimes a bit sloppy. ), GString Ukulele celebrates 20 years of building ukulele! Play Audio Preview. Blue Christmas Elvis Presley * Learn to strum and sing a Christmas classic! Thread Tools. Mellow Tone; Solid sustain; Durable; Cons . It generally employs four nylon strings.. Getting the octave right on your strings can be a challenge when you are just starting out. Songs where I need the high G for picking I'll use a high G, but for songs that need notes in that lower register or sound better with that deeper bottom tone I'll use a low G. I use whichever makes the most sense and sounds better for a particular song. Though not specifically designed for it, they will serve the purpose fine. However, the set back here is that they have a bigger diameter. But if you try to put a larger string in a thin nut slot, it won’t be able to fit. I’ve taught workshops internationally, made Herb Ohta Jr. laugh until he cried, and once jammed with HAPA onstage in my boardshorts. Click the "Play" button under the "g" note to hear the pitch. The nuts and the fret ends may be a bit sharp. This can create cool piano-like note clusters which really kick ass when playing jazz chords. If you change the G string for a guitar string, you now have a low-G on your ukulele (instead of having a high-G that's one octave above). The problem is that these strings are located very close to each other and probably canʻt be plucked separately. The easiest way to do this is by folding a piece of fine-grit sandpaper a number of times until its width is similar to the new string and the edge is nicely rounded. Unwound strings are made of a material that you’re more familiar with. Tuning to low G is not a complicated process in the slightest. Bei der GCEA-Stimmung ergibt es einen offenen C6 Akkord, so erreicht man den typischen Ukulelen Sound. That special string can only be used in a low G tuning as it is designed for that purpose only. Step 1: This is simply a matter of studying the intricacies of the tuning matrix and finding alternative ways to play the same notes. Without further ado, here’s what you need to do. Diese Stimmung wird vor allem bei Tenorukulelen verwendet und kann nur mit … Thanks all for the tips! The common tuning is GCEA. Restringing your ukulele is straight-forward, and with practice, the process will become second nature. Each pack for these tunings can … All rights reserved. The third string. It has enough tension to feel tight, but is still small enough that it avoids some of the large diameter dampening effect. You rarely have to adjust the depth of the slot, only the width. Go slowly and check the fitment of the string often to make sure you don’t sand too much. These strings tend to generate a sound that is brighter and louder than the other options on the list. A standard ukulele is tuned to a high G. Now, what high G means is that the G string is set higher than the C string. These strings sound great on my Makala baritone ukulele. A “low-G” ukulele string is a slight tuning variation from standard GCEA. This gave them a bit of a bad stigma since the transition to and from a wound low-G would often be distracting as you played. Sometimes buzzes can also occur due to over strumming or the position of the strum. You may even notice that your standard G string is thinner than the other strings as it is designed for higher octaves. They are nylon wrapped in metal. The main difference between the two string sizes is how they sound. Log in sign up. The exception is the monster Worth LGEX which is heavy enough to reel in an ‘ahi, but also sounds like a shoelace. Otherwise, hire someone competent to do the job. When you pick the first string (A), it should sound the same as the A on the G string. In fact, tune the ukulele before changing the strings, that way as you put one new string on at time you have a reference as to how it should sound. It also supposedly has a higher density that allows for a smaller diameter string. A low-G is a replacement string that you can put on your ukulele to change the pitch of the G-string down one octave. Since more and more people are transitioning to low-G, many uke companies are anticipating the use of both string types and file the nut so that it will accommodate either. Thankfully, leaps and bounds have been made in wound low-G production and there are some really good options available these days that address both imbalance and squeaking issues. A few pointers that might be helpful when working with ukulele string names: When you’re holding your uke like you’re playing it, the G string will be the one closest to the ceiling. Let's tune the ukulele's top string first or the 4th string. For just above $5, you can give your uke a vibrant and refreshed sound. They balance fabulously with fluorocarbon and are flatwound to reduce noise from hand shifts. The strings are delicate and must be installed just so to avoid breakages. It can get a little tricky to get used to having just one different string. For most concert, soprano, and tenor ukulele players, G-C-E-A tuning is typical.This translates to the following on a concert ukulele: The fourth string. It’s simply because the diameter of the string is creating a dampening effect on the string vibrations. If you try to tune a low-G string to high-g pitch it will most likely break. Adjust the fourth string with the tuning pegs on the headstock until the two strings sound the same. All things being equal, a thicker string can be tuned lower than a thin one. Savarez KF95 – This specialty harp string is the perfect compromise for my playing. Pros. The A string will be the one closest to the floor How long do ukulele strings last? They also often would squeak when you slide you finger on them. That’s to say that playing this instrument is easy and fun. New, non-fluorocarbon materials like Aquila Red claim to achieve a higher tension with a smaller-diameter string, but they haven’t seemed to have caught on so jury is still out…. Andererseits gibt es auch die "Low G" -Variante, welche besonders bei Solospiel verwendet wird. So make sure you’re confident before you start. This is called linear tuning. The drawback is that to create an unwound string that will tune to low-G pitch at a decent tension, you need a larger string diameter. Low G Ukulele Songs. This is a simple enough change to make if you have the skills, but it’s irreversible. The banjo ukulele or the ‘banjo uke’ and ‘banjolele’ are familiar as a progressive instrument that creates a unique sound. Diameter: .030″, Classical Guitar D-strings – Any string used as a nylon classical guitar 4th, D-string can also be used as an ukulele low-G. A half note ( h ), as the name suggests, is half of that: two beats. It’s best for a more traditional, Tin Pan Alley or Hawaiian rhythm sound or a campanella picking style. (Though I’m a fan of Savarez classical strings so I’d probably start experimenting with a 544R.). Options abound! Meaning, your G string is higher than all other strings. Low G tuning, on the other hand, is linear tuning. If you have a soprano uke you will note that your G string is thinner than the next string along (the C), not thicker, and this is because it is designed to be tuned higher.