How Do You String Your 6 String Ukes?

blue_knight_usa

blue_knight_usa

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Hi All, I think my next uke (after I get my CR whenever it's done) is going to be a 6 string tenor. I have seen folks string up those ukes in various ways.

Doubling up on the G and E
Doubling up on the C and A

How do you have yours strung and do you use wound strings and if so on what strings?

Let's see some video links or audio links to hear it if you can. Would love to hear the various ways. Already scoured YouTube but looking for something current with cleaner audio (maybe a SoundCloud link) and some more accurate information on the type of strings used, etc.

Appreciate the info everyone.

Mahalo!
 
Good query, Jay. I'm going to sit back and see the answers, too.
 
I'm under the impression that a standard 6 string uke has the C and the A doubled.. I have mine strung G cC E AA for a high G setup. I think leading with low c compensates a bit for the high G. I'm using Southcoasts. I do wonder if anyone else uses a similar aA set up for the first two strings though. I haven't seen one with the G and E doubled.
 
Aloha Juay,
I myself prefer octaves meaning HI C and Low A for My Kamaka's....no unison for me :)
 
mm stan said:
Aloha Juay,
I myself prefer octaves meaning HI C and Low A for My Kamaka's....no unison for me :)
Click to expand...

I'm with Stan. Octaves make my 6string sound so full, like two differently tuned ukes playing in unison.
 
Ok, some of us are very visual. I want maximum fullness and "chime." If standard tuning is G CC E AA, what setup are you using? High G? CC or CA or?
AA or Aa or ???
 
Doc_J said:
I'm with Stan. Octaves make my 6string sound so full, like two differently tuned ukes playing in unison.
Click to expand...


Me too. And, through experience, I have found putting the high A on the outside and the high C on the other side works best for my playing style. I accidentally strung one of my 6-strings with the A strings reversed and immediately noticed the difference. Oh, and Southcoast Strings, which you are probably happy to hear.
 
PhilUSAFRet said:
Ok, some of us are very visual. I want maximum fullness and "chime." If standard tuning is G CC E AA, what setup are you using? High G? CC or CA or?
AA or Aa or ???
Click to expand...

start with regular reentrant tuning

G:C:E:A

add higher octave C+, and lower octave A-

=> G:C,C+:E:A-,A

BTW here's a sample of my 6-string. https://app.box.com/s/xqg3mccjl4u9umzr94vo
 
Last edited:
Ok, I think I've got it. My current setup does not make my Pono sing like want (doesn't fair well compared to savagehenry's Sailor 6 string with the same setup) Sounds like I need to get a regular C, a C+ and a low a string. Hmmm, I was only 3 strings off. Thanks Doc. I think I'll try it. I originally got turned on to a 6 string after hearing/playing a custom 6 string concert. The lady that had it didn't know how it was set up.
 
It is all personal preference and there are many prior discussions on 6 string tunings.
I went with low G octave C's and unison A's.
I like the octave A's when strumming, but melody and fill notes sounded weird.
For straight strumming I agree with high G and octave C's & A's.
 
sailinguke said:
it is all personal preference and there are many prior discussions on 6 string tunings.
I went with low g octave c's and unison a's.
I like the octave a's when strumming, but melody and fill notes sounded weird.
For straight strumming i agree with high g and octave c's & a's.
Click to expand...
what he said
 
I play finger style mostly and do strumming more on Hawaiian tunes, but I heard a guy play a 6 string finger style once and it was insanely good sounding, so full but have no idea what he was using. That was well before I ever thought of getting a 6 string made, but I recall his G sounded lower than just a high G.

What if you used low G instead of reentrant tuned and did:

Low G: C,C+: E: A-,A

Anyone try that, or maybe someone reading this can try the low G and get a recording? That would be nice.

Doc_J said:
start with regular reentrant tuning

G:C:E:A

add higher octave C+, and lower octave A-

=> G:C,C+:E:A-,A

BTW here's a sample of my 6-string. https://app.box.com/s/xqg3mccjl4u9umzr94vo
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Double up on C & A with the octaves. That is what I do.
 
SailingUke said:
It is all personal preference and there are many prior discussions on 6 string tunings.
.....I like the octave A's when strumming, but melody and fill notes sounded weird.
For straight strumming I agree with high G and octave C's & A's.
Click to expand...

This is a great point...learning some finger picking and on the octave strung 6 string uke it does sound a bit weird. Depends on your style of playing. Strumming or picking....oh heck, just get two 6 string ukes!!!
 
I'm very interested in all this as I just got a new sixer. Mine is stock G, cC,E, aA, and I intend to play mostly chords for singing. I would consider changing strings for a better sound, but I'm pretty happy with it now. EXCEPT playing the outside low A is difficult (to say the least). I was getting a lot of thunks and buzzes, but I'm fretting better so they're going away. I've seen where some are using two As in unison. What good is that? Does that make the A louder?
I just resurrected this thread so I could find out what others are doing with their sixes now.
 
Last edited:
Standard tuning is reentrant with octaves. I had one with low G and another one low G with doubled A. I like the octave A but it can sound weird depending on what is being played. It adds a drone that gives a more somber tone I think. The old beater I have now is reentrant with octave C&A strings, Southcoasts.
 
1st course (A) in unison, 3rd course (C) in octave and 4th course is low G . . . I didn't like the low A because it kinda overpowers the other standard A and being unison it just chimes. Just my dos centavos.
 
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