What's the Right Way to Tune a Tenor Ukulele?

The tenor ukulele is becoming one of the most popular of the four sizes of ukulele (soprano, concert, tenor and baritone). Traditionally, it has been an instrument for skilled and experienced solo ukulele players (and is still the most popular ukulele amongst such people).

However, with so many ukulele heroes playing the tenor ukulele, an increasing number of beginners starting with the tenor ukulele. This does create some confusion as there are a number of tuning options for the tenor ukulele.

Re-Entrant C-Tuning

The re-entrant C-tuning (also called high-G tuning sometimes) is the traditional tuning for the ukulele. The tuning is GCEA with the G string being higher than the C and E strings.

The C is the middle C of the piano.

The fourth fret of the C string will give you the tuning note for the E string.

The third fret of the E string will give you the tuning note for the G string.

The fifth fret of the E string will give you the tuning note for the A string.

Low-G Tuning

This is slowly becoming the most popular tuning for the tenor ukulele. This tuning is also GCEA , but rather than being tuned high, the G string is tuned below the C string. This gives the tenor ukulele more the feel of a guitar (the tuning of a low-G tenor ukulele is the same as the top four strings of a guitar capoed at the fifth fret). It gives the ukulele more options for playing bass notes: which can be very helpful when you are playing solo and need to provide your own bass line accompaniment.

Re-Entrant D-Tuning

This is a relatively new tuning for the tenor ukulele. The Aquila company make strings for the tenor ukulele that can be tuned DGBE. This is the same as a guitar but with the D string tuned high (the same as the G string in the re-entrant C tuning). This tuning is very unusual.

Conclusion

When you decide which tenor ukulele tuning is the best for you, you need to take into account your own style of playing. If you are mostly a strummer, re-entrant C tuning will probably be the best choice for you. If you are more interested in solo playing, low-G might be the tuning for you. Once you've decided on your tuning, make sure the tenor ukulele that you buy is set up for that tuning and double check that you have bought the right size strings for your chosen tenor ukulele tuning.