One note always sounds out of tune

poorlittlefish · Sep 19, 2018

I'm a complete beginner, using the Yousician app to learn ukulele on a Makala Dolphin soprano. I've been getting along quite well, but for some reason whenever I play the note at the second fret of the C string (D, presumably) it sounds out of tune. I've tuned the ukulele before playing and every other note sounds fine, on that string and the others!

When I play along to songs on Yousician almost every D note that I play gets marked as wrong, even though I'm definitely at the right fret. Any ideas for what I'm doing wrong?

Also, somewhat off-topic to my original question - is the concert size better for learning on than soprano?

Thank you.

mmn · Sep 19, 2018

What does your tuner say?

poorlittlefish · Sep 19, 2018

mmn said:
What does your tuner say?

It confirms all four strings are in tune.

Rllink · Sep 19, 2018

Can you check that one note with your tuner? Not the open string, that particular note. Use the chromatic setting.

Graham Greenbag · Sep 19, 2018

poorlittlefish said:
I'm a complete beginner, using the Yousician app to learn ukulele on a Makala Dolphin soprano. I've been getting along quite well, but for some reason whenever I play the note at the second fret of the C string (D, presumably) it sounds out of tune. I've tuned the ukulele before playing and every other note sounds fine, on that string and the others!

When I play along to songs on Yousician almost every D note that I play gets marked as wrong, even though I'm definitely at the right fret. Any ideas for what I'm doing wrong?

Also, somewhat off-topic to my original question - is the concert size better for learning on than soprano?

Thank you.

I’ve had at least two Dolphins and they played perfectly in tune after I set them up, before the set-up they didn’t and I won’t expect them (or any other mass produced Uke) to either. Has your Uke been set up and if so what does that phrase mean to you?

strumsilly · Sep 19, 2018

When fretted, is the note sharp or flat?

kerneltime · Sep 19, 2018

Change the stock strings and if that does not fix it, you can diy the setup looking at tutorials on YouTube (the only reason being the cost of the uke vs cost of setup). Mostly you will have to adjust the nut..
If you can return it, the buy the same uke from uke republic who setup dolphins before shipping and price the uke at the same as what others charge.
I had the same route as a beginner and I had a makala dolphin + Yousician start.. I had the same problem with the D note. I bought a higher end uke and learnt about setup later, I did a diy setup later and it did fix the problem..
for beginner what ever gets you to play more.. if soprano is more portable then soprano, if the sound of concert is more pleasing and will make you pick up the uke more often..then concert..

Ukecaster · Sep 19, 2018

Also, be sure you’re not pressing too hard, the dreaded gorilla grip. Try testing it with a tuner, flat on a table, and press lightly.

poorlittlefish · Sep 19, 2018

Thanks all. It's heartening to hear I'm not the only one who's experienced this problem. The D note always sounds flat and I don't what "set up" means. I just thought that once you'd tuned the strings that was it.

kerneltime · Sep 19, 2018

That would be true if the setup was done on a uke.. cheap ukes are not quite there in terms of setup
Summary: http://www.theukulelereview.com/2011/05/07/ukulele-setup/

mmn · Sep 20, 2018

Rllink said:
Can you check that one note with your tuner? Not the open string, that particular note. Use the chromatic setting.

Please do this.^

poorlittlefish · Sep 20, 2018

Sorry, I was going from memory and thought the D was flat each time but it's actually sharp (by about 2 "steps" on the InsTuner app).

One note always sounds out of tune

poorlittlefish

Member

mmn

Well-known member

poorlittlefish

Member

Rllink

Well-known member

Graham Greenbag

Well-known member

strumsilly

Well-known member

kerneltime

UU VIP

Ukecaster

Well-known member

poorlittlefish

Member

kerneltime

UU VIP

mmn

Well-known member

poorlittlefish

Member

Similar threads