tim_mantis
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- Jul 24, 2011
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Cliff Edwards, at least in his later recordings (e.g. If I Had You), used a Martin tenor ukulele with the first and fourth strings an octave lower than normal re-entrant tuning. So taking a hypothetical GCEA tuning, the uke would be tuned low G and low A.
That said, ignore what key he tuned his uke to; C, Bb, sub-C, whatever - it is irrelevant - tune your uke to itself. Find strings that can cope with low tuning - aquila reds are good but Ike used gut strings - and string them on top and bottom (i.e. 1 and 4) on a concert or tenor uke. Leave your normal strings on 2 and 3. Tune your uke as described above and you are on the road to playing like Cliff. It really is as simple as that; find a 'low' first and fourth string and tune your uke to itself.
I mentioned this in passing on the ukulele cosmos forum several years ago and was rewarded with belligerent and grumpy replies and so didn't pursue it. Out of curiosity I looked just now to see if anyone else has picked up on it and it seems not so I thought I'd mention Ukulele Ike's secret tuning here.
Try it - when you do it will be a revelation! have fun
That said, ignore what key he tuned his uke to; C, Bb, sub-C, whatever - it is irrelevant - tune your uke to itself. Find strings that can cope with low tuning - aquila reds are good but Ike used gut strings - and string them on top and bottom (i.e. 1 and 4) on a concert or tenor uke. Leave your normal strings on 2 and 3. Tune your uke as described above and you are on the road to playing like Cliff. It really is as simple as that; find a 'low' first and fourth string and tune your uke to itself.
I mentioned this in passing on the ukulele cosmos forum several years ago and was rewarded with belligerent and grumpy replies and so didn't pursue it. Out of curiosity I looked just now to see if anyone else has picked up on it and it seems not so I thought I'd mention Ukulele Ike's secret tuning here.
Try it - when you do it will be a revelation! have fun
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