Step 1: Know thy string names
The names of the strings, from your head to your toes, are:
G C E A
To remember this, just say the following: Good Children Eat Apples.
Step 2: Grab your tuner, if you have one
Let's start using your tuner. If you don't have a tuner, I'll explain below how to tune without one. If it's a clip-on tuner, simply clip it on to the head of the ukelele (the part where the tuning pegs are found), and turn it on. If it's not a clip-on tuner, just place it nearby (maybe on your leg or knee - just don't drop it!)
Step 3: Start tuning
With a tuner
Play the string closest to your head, the G string. We need to figure out whether the string is:
- In tune
- Too low (flat)
- Too high (sharp)
Most electronic tuners have a needle or dial on their display that shows how close you are to being in tune. Some are like a car's speed-o-meter. Too far to the left means the string is flat, and needs to be tightened. Too far to the right means the string is sharp and needs to be loosened. Some tuners use colours, where green means "in tune", and red and yellow mean "sharp" or "flat". Check your manual if you're not certain (or check online if you've already thrown your manual out by mistake!) and figure out if your string is in tune.
Tuners aren't smart
While doing this, keep in mind that your tuner doesn't know what pitch you want to tune your string to, it simply shows you the pitch that the string is closest to. This pitch may not be the one you want. So in order to tune your uke you may need to learn the order of notes on the ukelele fretboard. I have a separate page about that, "Notes on the Ukelele Fretboard", which is worth learning, but for now, here are the notes in order:
C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C C#/Db etc.
(# means "sharp" and b means "flat")
Western music cycles through these same notes over and over, so C#/Db always follows C, and so on.
If your string is supposed to be tuned to an C, but it's reading as B, there's a very good chance you need to tune it higher (read; sharper) to reach C. Why? Because there's a B right below C, and the next B is 11 notes higher, so chances are you need to tighten the string. If you're not sure, try tuning down first, and if the string starts feeling really loose, tune back up instead.
Once you know whether your string is too low or too high in pitch, turn the tuning peg in the appropriate direction until you get the pitch you want. If you're not sure which direction that will be, try turning slowly in one direction and notice what the tuner indicates. If the tuner isn't showing you getting closer to the note you want, you're probably tuning the wrong way.
Tuning without a tuner
If you don't have a tuner, it's still possible to tune your ukelele, but it is more difficult. You may find it impossible unless you already have a great sense of pitch and a solid understanding of music. At any rate, here's how you can do it. The 7th fret of your C string (3rd string, 2nd closest to head) should be the same pitch as the G string (1st string, closest to head). Tune your C string until they are in tune with one another. You'll know they're in tune when the pitch is about the same and there are no "beats" (sort of a wobbling noise) when you play the two notes together (i.e. play the open G string while playing 7th fret on the C string).
Now these two strings are in tune with one another. They may not be tuned to an "actual" C or G, but that's okay for now. They're "relatively" in tune - they sound good together, which is all we need when playing by ourselves. If you're out of tune and playing with someone else, you can always tune to their instrument, too.
Now play the 4th fret of your C string. Your open E string should be the same pitch, and if it's not, tune it (don't retune the C, as it's now in tune with your G string). Once you've done that, tune the 5th fret of the E string to your open A (make sure to tune your A string, not your E). That's it! If you can hear the difference in pitches, then you can tune this way no problem.
What if I don't have a tuner and have trouble hearing if my uke is in tune?
This is a tough question to answer, because it's hard for me to help without actually being there. I'll make a post about this in the future, but for now I'd simply recommend getting a tuner if you don't know how to tune without one.
Two important things to keep in mind while tuning:
1) STRINGS CAN BREAK IF YOU TUNE THEM TOO TIGHTLY
I wrote that in all caps because it's important you pay attention. Make sure you don't tighten the string too much. Doing so might break a string! For example, if the string is supposed to be an E, but you accidentally try to tune it to the A above that E, you run the risk of breaking the string. Your strings don't like being too tight, so please be careful to avoid this. Not sure which way to tune? When in doubt, tune down (loosen the string) until you're confident you're going the wrong way, then tune it back up. If you've loosened the string too far, you'll figure it out eventually - the string will get very loose and won't produce a clear sounding note.
2) Always end by tuning up!
If your string is flat and you're tuning up (higher in pitch), then you're fine. If you're tuning down to a pitch, make sure to tune slightly lower than the actual pitch, and then finish by tuning up to the correct pitch. Why? If you end by loosening the string, the string can still be a bit loose in the head-stock of the guitar (where the tuning pegs are), and the string can un-tune from that pitch slightly. So always end your tuning of a string by tuning up to the correct pitch.
That's all there is to it.
Follow this procedure for all of your strings, and then voila! You're in tune!
C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C C#/Db etc.
(# means "sharp" and b means "flat")
Western music cycles through these same notes over and over, so C#/Db always follows C, and so on.
If your string is supposed to be tuned to an C, but it's reading as B, there's a very good chance you need to tune it higher (read; sharper) to reach C. Why? Because there's a B right below C, and the next B is 11 notes higher, so chances are you need to tighten the string. If you're not sure, try tuning down first, and if the string starts feeling really loose, tune back up instead.
Once you know whether your string is too low or too high in pitch, turn the tuning peg in the appropriate direction until you get the pitch you want. If you're not sure which direction that will be, try turning slowly in one direction and notice what the tuner indicates. If the tuner isn't showing you getting closer to the note you want, you're probably tuning the wrong way.
Tuning without a tuner
If you don't have a tuner, it's still possible to tune your ukelele, but it is more difficult. You may find it impossible unless you already have a great sense of pitch and a solid understanding of music. At any rate, here's how you can do it. The 7th fret of your C string (3rd string, 2nd closest to head) should be the same pitch as the G string (1st string, closest to head). Tune your C string until they are in tune with one another. You'll know they're in tune when the pitch is about the same and there are no "beats" (sort of a wobbling noise) when you play the two notes together (i.e. play the open G string while playing 7th fret on the C string).
Now these two strings are in tune with one another. They may not be tuned to an "actual" C or G, but that's okay for now. They're "relatively" in tune - they sound good together, which is all we need when playing by ourselves. If you're out of tune and playing with someone else, you can always tune to their instrument, too.
Now play the 4th fret of your C string. Your open E string should be the same pitch, and if it's not, tune it (don't retune the C, as it's now in tune with your G string). Once you've done that, tune the 5th fret of the E string to your open A (make sure to tune your A string, not your E). That's it! If you can hear the difference in pitches, then you can tune this way no problem.
What if I don't have a tuner and have trouble hearing if my uke is in tune?
This is a tough question to answer, because it's hard for me to help without actually being there. I'll make a post about this in the future, but for now I'd simply recommend getting a tuner if you don't know how to tune without one.
Two important things to keep in mind while tuning:
1) STRINGS CAN BREAK IF YOU TUNE THEM TOO TIGHTLY
I wrote that in all caps because it's important you pay attention. Make sure you don't tighten the string too much. Doing so might break a string! For example, if the string is supposed to be an E, but you accidentally try to tune it to the A above that E, you run the risk of breaking the string. Your strings don't like being too tight, so please be careful to avoid this. Not sure which way to tune? When in doubt, tune down (loosen the string) until you're confident you're going the wrong way, then tune it back up. If you've loosened the string too far, you'll figure it out eventually - the string will get very loose and won't produce a clear sounding note.
2) Always end by tuning up!
If your string is flat and you're tuning up (higher in pitch), then you're fine. If you're tuning down to a pitch, make sure to tune slightly lower than the actual pitch, and then finish by tuning up to the correct pitch. Why? If you end by loosening the string, the string can still be a bit loose in the head-stock of the guitar (where the tuning pegs are), and the string can un-tune from that pitch slightly. So always end your tuning of a string by tuning up to the correct pitch.
That's all there is to it.
Follow this procedure for all of your strings, and then voila! You're in tune!
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