Nickie
Well-known member
This is the best explanation I've ever heard about the difference:
Lo G VS hi g
- Thread starter Nickie
- Start date
sculptor
Well-known member
Kimo Hussey is why I chose to play low-g.
Fleacia
Well-known member
I hadn't seen this video before, but I like it. Also agree with everything Kimo says. I only play low G, not that I'm opposed to reentrant, I just prefer the lower sound. I usually sing when I play, but even then, often use the low G for melody or pickup notes. Even some bass/chord strumming, not as much as with guitar, but it's definitely there for me. I like when Kimo says the harmony with low G "captures the essence of the sound." I find that to be true and especially helpful for transitional notes in chord progressions. Thanks for posting this Nickie!
spookelele
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I think it depends on what you want to play
I started low g because I came from guitar and high g drove me crazy.
But the more I played other people's music, the more I was forced to play high G to play the tab.
After a while you get used to it and some things are actually easier to play in high G than low G, and vice versa.
I think that's why alot of people just have 2, one set low, and one set high.
But to be honest, the more I play other people's tabs, the more I find myself just favoring high G.
There's just alot more music written in high G, and the harmonics are different. High G isn't as broad, but it's got a sparkle in the high end that low G doesnt.
I started low g because I came from guitar and high g drove me crazy.
But the more I played other people's music, the more I was forced to play high G to play the tab.
After a while you get used to it and some things are actually easier to play in high G than low G, and vice versa.
I think that's why alot of people just have 2, one set low, and one set high.
But to be honest, the more I play other people's tabs, the more I find myself just favoring high G.
There's just alot more music written in high G, and the harmonics are different. High G isn't as broad, but it's got a sparkle in the high end that low G doesnt.
I stick to high G exclusively, because to me the re-entrant tuning is a core aspect of the ukulele. I feel that linear tuning moves a bit away from that originality, toward being more like a guitar. But I do enjoy the sound of low G as well, so this is just a matter of preference.
Ukejenny
Well-known member
Kimo's videos are wonderful. I have some music that I prefer on low G and some music that I prefer on high G. I like them both.
coolkayaker1
Well-known member
I'm more in the Aldrine and Gerald Ross camp, and I like their explanations, too.
Here's Gerald Ross, viewers should go to 2:30 minutes into this video. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLIWRfY66A0
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wayfarer75
Well-known member
k0k0peli
Well-known member
For my next trick, I'll restring my tinny new Ohana soprano to GcEA, yes, low-G and high-C, to retain the re-entrant flavor so it remains an 'ukulele rather than a small guitar-oid. Has anyone here tried that setup? What are your reactions? Note: I've restrung another soprano in fifths so it's now less 'uke and more mando. I like it.
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SteveZ
Well-known member
My sopranos are all C4-G3-D4-A4. I prefer fifths, but for me the sopranos just can't take a C3 (too much bass), and an E5 (unless it's 20-lb monofilament line) always seems to snap on me and sounds a bit screechy).
Everybody gets something different from videos like what the OP posted. To me it shows that instruments are meant to be versatile; that musicians should not treat an instrument in a style, tuning or genre restrictive manner; and that being creative with an instrument is not a bad thing. Thanks, Nickie, for the posting!
k0k0peli
Well-known member
Hmmm, re-entrant mando tuning. Sounds like another challenge.
I bought the Aquila 30U nylgut soprano fifths set. My micrometer measures them as 28 wound (G3), 33 (D4), 22 (A4), and 15 (E5). They're still stretching and I don't know how long that 15-gauge will last! (Finger pads only for picking, yes.) But re-entrant mando tuning, hmmm...There are trade-offs. Standard tuning allows / pushes one to develop virtuosity within that framework. Variant tunings provide a wider range of exploration, and effectively transform the instrument, as a 5ths-uke is now Something Else. IMHO low-G transforms the 'uke into a little guitar. I get the point that low-G gives a much wider tonal range. I also get the points that high-G gives the traditional 'uke sound and is most familiar with many 'uke-ists. And yes, it's a matter of personal preference. But it needn't be either-or, if one has more than one axe. I'm about to string a concert in low-G; my next tenor may be strung in low-G; I'll try not to approach them as mini-guitars.
SteveZ
Well-known member
Hmmm, re-entrant mando tuning. Sounds like another challenge.
That 15-gauge is what got me to experiment with monofilament fishing line. 20-pound test handles the E5 and won't snap (the tension is higher, though). The "reentrant C" is handy because any low-G GCEA string set can be used for it (the G & C reversed, the E detuned to D).
Back to Low-G, restrung my 6-string to C3-G3-G4-D4-A4-A3. Having the high-low G combined has a nice bite to it.
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iDavid
Well-known member
High-g= clawhammer= badass....lol
k0k0peli
Well-known member
Now I'm muddled. I will *have* to try that -- but which 'uke? The next one, probably.
Yes, it's time to focus my UAS even further. All my current 'ukes are dedicated to certain tunings, all except the bari, and I'm finding (with my new mandola) that I don't really like chording in 5ths on a fretboard that size. So I guess another concert is coming, and maybe a 6-string tenor, ay yi yi. [/me looks at over two dozen acoustic stringed instruments leaning and hanging on the opposite wall.] But where will I put them? Sounds like a First World Problem to me...EDIT: I've reconsidered the 20-pond test thang. Looks like the least I can get is Seagaur 175 yards -- that's enough for over 300 strings! I'd drown in the stuff! Or else do a lot of experimentation. Yeah, because I don't fish. Of course, for the ultimate easy Re-entrant Fifths solution, just apply a Low-G set backwards!
Damn straight, and that's why my ancient banjo-uke stays in high-g. It doesn't have quite the ring of my 5-string, but it ain't bad. Hmmm, maybe I need another banjolele to string in re-entrant 5ths (discussed above) with a ringing bottom string. Yee-haw! Yeah, I could probably sneak a banjolele into the house.
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4stringsinner
Well-known member
Just picked up a Kala KA-T that sat in a closet for 2 years and is strung low g. My first experience with playing a low g tenor. Sure the strings are at least 2 years old and need to be replaced badly. But I am going to have to play a bit with new strings before I can say if I like low g better or at all. All of my other ukuleles are strung high g. High g is what brought me to the uke in the first place. Low g does have some nice additions to it, but is much more guitar like to me.
SteveZ
Well-known member
Got mine at WallyWorld - 100 yard spool for $4. Any old brand will do. BTW 50-pound test works for G4/A4.
Tootler
Well-known member
All my ukuleles are reentrant tuned but they're in a number of different tunings. I have sopranos in GCEA and ADF#B, a concert in FBbDG and tenors in DGBE.
turtledrum
Well-known member
Nickie, Kimo's new CD is out; it's called "Low g" and is just incredible. I picked mine up via Amazon.
Fleacia
Well-known member
Snip...
Sparkle. I like that, and I agree. I always appreciate that quality in a reentrant uke. I guess I'm just not sparkly, myself. LOL
Sparkle. I like that, and I agree. I always appreciate that quality in a reentrant uke. I guess I'm just not sparkly, myself. LOL
k0k0peli
Well-known member
Well, you can sprinkle yourself with this flashy powder sold at supermarkets in the baking section... But I digress. IMHO the basic difference is between low-G's greater tonal range and guitar-like approach vs high-G's sparkly re-entrant ukulele sound. And I've thought of the ultimate re-entrant tuning: a reversed fifths set. I've strung one soprano with the Aquila 30U set for GDAE. Flip that around and it becomes a high-to-low EADG. You want re-entrant? You got it!