Ukecaster
Well-known member
As others have mentioned, sometimes ukes sound better in different tunings. I've found that tenors often sound better tuned down a 1/2 step to B, or a full step down to Bb. My personal favorite on tenors is usually a 1/2 step down to B tuning.
I did a little video of all 3: first standard GCEA, then B, and lastly Bb. B tuning still sounds best to me, on this particular tenor uke, and most other tenors too. To my ears, B tuning just sounds fuller and richer. Bb usually sounds too low to my ears, it loses the lively uke character and ring, and is floppy feeling. YMMV.
When evaluating the tonal character of ukes, I often use the Joel Eckhaus method of humming an increasing scale of notes into the soundhole, from my lowest to highest, listening until I hear the note that harmonically pops, is louder, and really vibrates the uke. It's usually really easy to hear. Then I identify that note. On this uke, the note that pops harmonically is F#, which is the note of the open G string, when tuned down to B tuning, probably why I like that tuning best of these 3. YMMV. What do you think?
I did a little video of all 3: first standard GCEA, then B, and lastly Bb. B tuning still sounds best to me, on this particular tenor uke, and most other tenors too. To my ears, B tuning just sounds fuller and richer. Bb usually sounds too low to my ears, it loses the lively uke character and ring, and is floppy feeling. YMMV.
When evaluating the tonal character of ukes, I often use the Joel Eckhaus method of humming an increasing scale of notes into the soundhole, from my lowest to highest, listening until I hear the note that harmonically pops, is louder, and really vibrates the uke. It's usually really easy to hear. Then I identify that note. On this uke, the note that pops harmonically is F#, which is the note of the open G string, when tuned down to B tuning, probably why I like that tuning best of these 3. YMMV. What do you think?
Last edited: