Ukecaster
Well-known member
I've seen posts on D tuning, with lots of love for that, especially on soprano. What are the benefits of that? Are all the chord shapes different when using D tuning?
I recommend the Aquila D tuning strings (33U is the product code), which are thinner than the regular C tuning strings and work really well for that tuning.
I've seen posts on D tuning, with lots of love for that, especially on soprano. What are the benefits of that? Are all the chord shapes different when using D tuning?
Why don't you try thick strings on C tuning in order to get higher tension? In other word, why do you use thinner diameter for D tuning? You lost your string power on D.
When I want to increase string tension on my guitar with extra light goage, I change my strings to light goage or medium goage. I don't change the tuning. Why do you change your tuning from C to D instead of getting thicker strings in order to increase string tension?
I find that very often songs have been transposed down to C major to make them easier to play, but can then be too low for my voice. A simple solution for me is to pick up a ukulele in D tuning, play it with the same chord shapes and voila!, both the uke and I sound happier!
Personally I keep three ukes, one in C, one in D and one in Eb so I can play and sing in whatever key I feel comfortable. To be honest though, D is so close to Eb, the Eb uke rarely comes out of its case. On one occasion I resorted to playing my sopranino in F when I couldn't be bothered to transpose a song to make it singable. If I were only allowed one ukulele, it'd be a soprano and I'd keep it in D tuning.
This is what Ukers used to do back in the 50's through to when I lost interest in the 80's to other instruments. The new wave of ukers seem to take over and change things with a whole new (older and young) generation of players and a whole new generation of marketing men making extra special strings and pretending it wasn't just fishing line. I really do think that the whole uke movement has become overthought and maybe a little too ponderous.
It's starting to feel a bit like golf equipment. The best set of clubs does not make you the best player, it makes you a player with the best set of clubs.AS for all the other paraphenalia , well that's up to the individual,picks ,finger picks ,straps (my views are well known on these lol) and now arguing/discussing tuning.
Here's the thing , Jim has it right ,if you are playing accompaniment to sing long with on your own , then tune it to YOU . If you are wanting to try different keys , change the tuning or the uke for one in a D or Eb or whatever tuning. That is the ideal for the soprano uke . The picked strummed style that is the most popular in the UK . I think the simplicity has been thrown out with the baby and the bathwater and that for many is what the attraction of the uke was ....is ...and probably ever shall be ...Spock out.
I don't doubt for a second that there are legions of players out there who don't mess about with the technicalities of it all but just play in the way that suits them best. You're always going to find the people who like to tinker, try things, understand the physics of it all on forums though, for anything. The sort of enthusiast who will go on the forum is the sort who likes to go into the real detail of a hobby, people who like it simple will not find much of interest on these pages (they'll probably like the tabs, videos and marketplace though). It's more the nature of forum users, less the state of ukulele players as a whole. My sister plays, has her uke, likes it, nuff said. You won't find her here.
Hi, CeeJay!
I think you don't need tuner. You can tune the pitch of ukulele how you hear the best.
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