adf#b tuning

C.A.McLane · Feb 13, 2009

Hi there,

most people in the states seem to prefer the gcea tuning for their sopranos. When I started (2 weeks ago) I only had a German beginners guide which stated that an ukulele is tuned to adf#b. So I did that and got used to it. Then I found out about the gcea tuning and tried it too.
In the end I went back to adf#b for two reasons. Firstly the chords and progressions that I needed most for the songs I wanted to play are easier to play. And secondly because I think the higher sound is sweeter.

I would really like to hear some other opinions about this from more experienced players.

Cheers, Andreas

Ukuleleblues · Feb 13, 2009

I started out with gCEA and now play almost exclusively with aDF#B. I like the punch. I play pretty aggressivley and the tighter strings complement that. Sometimes my wife will play gCEA and I'll play an aDF#B uke on the same song, nice variation of timbre. Ever try FBdDG?

Lanark · Feb 13, 2009

I've got one uke I keep tuned to A because it just sounds better tuned higher and for certain songs that I have a hard time singing in regular GCEA tuning. The extra bump can sometimes knock it into a key I can use.

In general though, I find it easier to go with GCEA when playing with other folks just because I have a harder time doing the mental math to transpose chords down a step on the fly. Plus the majority of my ukes sound better with the extra bit of resonance they can wring from the lower tuning.

C.A.McLane · Feb 14, 2009

Lanark said:
In general though, I find it easier to go with GCEA when playing with other folks just because I have a harder time doing the mental math to transpose chords down a step on the fly.

I must say that I start to enjoy this mental training when following our guitarist's chords, especially when he plays with a capo. I'm getting better and better each time

Ukuleleblues · Feb 14, 2009

C.A.McLane said:
I must say that I start to enjoy this mental training when following our guitarist's chords, especially when he plays with a capo. I'm getting better and better each time

I know what you mean, My wife plays a D tuned uke but refers to the names as if they were on a C tuned uke. So when I play a guitar/baritone capoed up I have to think of what the cord is and then tell her the cord name that matches the fingering on the D uke for the right sound but has the name for that fingering as if it were a C uke. Sometimes I think my head is going to explode.

It gets wild, she also plays left handed, but plays a right handed uke. It's all fun, keep the brain working overtime.

Howlin Hobbit · Feb 14, 2009

I have a couple C tuned, one D tuned and I've recently cranked the sopranino up to F tuning. I generally just play "shapes" and don't worry much about the chord names unless I'm trying to tell people what chords to play if we're jamming.

Ken Middleton · Feb 14, 2009

Howlin Hobbit said:
I have a couple C tuned, one D tuned and I've recently cranked the sopranino up to F tuning. I generally just play "shapes" and don't worry much about the chord names unless I'm trying to tell people what chords to play if we're jamming.

I absolutely agree with H.H. I also just tune the uke to whatever I want and play the shapes. I don't tend to worry about the names of the chords.

My best tenor is always tuned to F Bb D G. This reduces the tension of the strings and gives the tenor the same sort of "feel" as a concert. I don't play my sopranos that often on YT but I don't have a problem with D tuning or Eb tuning. Both are quite sensible for a soprano.

KEN

Ukuleleblues · Feb 14, 2009

Howlin Hobbit said:
I have a couple C tuned, one D tuned and I've recently cranked the sopranino up to F tuning. I generally just play "shapes" and don't worry much about the chord names unless I'm trying to tell people what chords to play if we're jamming.

Thats the way to do it. I've learned songs on a soprano, tried it on a baritone, liked it better, and now play it there, never worred about the chod names.

SailQwest · Feb 14, 2009

My "main" ukulele is C tuned, but I recently tuned one of my others to D. For some of the songs we do, it's the perfect tuning.

As for switching between tunings, I tend to think in terms of I-IV-V, rather than C-F-G. Once I have the shape for the I chord, I'm good to go. That can be very handy, especially since I also occasionally play my husband's G tuned tenor.

C.A.McLane · Feb 15, 2009

Thanks for all the answers. Lots of food for thought.
I totally agree that of course the tuning is not important as long as one plays on his/her own and the key used is OK for ones voice. Since I tend to play together with our guitarist though I have to give more consideration to the key of the songs. At the moment I think I will stick to my a tuning and might invest in a capo to give me more possibilities. If (when) I buy a second uke I will try tuning it to g, providing it sounds good with this tuning. Then I should be sorted for all possibilities. Especially since I tend to remember shapes better than chord names too.
Thanks again, Andreas

adf#b tuning

C.A.McLane

Member

Ukuleleblues

Well-known member

Lanark

Well-known member

C.A.McLane

Member

Ukuleleblues

Well-known member

Howlin Hobbit

Well-known member

Ken Middleton

Well-known member

Ukuleleblues

Well-known member

SailQwest

Well-known member

C.A.McLane

Member

Similar threads