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Low G Tuning for Ukulele

Strings run G3 C4 E4 A4, in playing order. Tune by microphone below, or read the exact frequencies and what changes from standard ukulele tuning.

Play a string

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#	Note	Frequency (Hz)
4	G3	196.00
3	C4	261.63
2	E4	329.63
1	A4	440.00

Pitch is detected live in your browser and never recorded, stored or uploaded. Frequencies use A4 = 440 Hz.

Getting to Low G from standard

What each string does relative to standard Ukulele tuning. Work down the list in order — retuning one string changes the neck tension slightly, so go back and re-check the first string once you've finished.

String	Standard	This tuning	Change
4	G4	G3	down 12 semitone(s)
3	C4	C4	unchanged
2	E4	E4	unchanged
1	A4	A4	unchanged

Why players use Low G

The fourth string dropped an octave so the strings run genuinely low to high. Adds five semitones of range at the bottom and makes fingerpicked bass lines possible, at the cost of the reentrant jangle that defines the standard sound.

The interval structure of Low G

Dropping the fourth string an octave makes the instrument non-reentrant, so the strings finally run low to high like every other fretted instrument. That adds five semitones at the bottom and makes independent bass lines possible under a melody, which is why fingerstyle and solo arrangers prefer it. What it removes is the cluster voicing that gives standard tuning its character — chords spread out and start to sound like a small guitar. Campanella passages that relied on the high fourth string simply stop working, since the note now sounds below its neighbours rather than above.

Worth knowing: Needs a dedicated low G string — a standard set tuned down will be far too floppy.

Low G tuning FAQ

What are the notes in Low G tuning for Ukulele?

Low G runs G3, C4, E4, A4, in playing order. The lowest-pitched string is G3 (196.00 Hz) and the highest is A4 (440.00 Hz), measured against A4 = 440 Hz. Those are the exact target frequencies the tuner on this page listens for.

How do I get to Low G tuning from standard?

1 of the 4 strings move: G4 down 12 semitone(s) to G3. Work through them in order, then go back and re-check the first string — retuning shifts the neck tension slightly, so the earlier strings drift as you go.

What is Low G tuning used for?

What frequency is the G3 string?

G3 is 196.00 Hz at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). That's the fundamental — the string also produces harmonics above it, which is why a tuner reading the wrong octave usually means it locked onto a harmonic rather than the fundamental. This is the lowest string in this ukulele tuning.

How is Low G tuning structured?

Do I need different strings for Low G?

Needs a dedicated low G string — a standard set tuned down will be far too floppy.