Ukulele fretboard notes
A ukulele in standard tuning is G C E A (G4, C4, E4, A4). The G string is tuned higher than the C string next to it (re-entrant tuning). Each fret is a half step, and at the 12th fret every string is back to its open note, an octave up.
Swipe sideways to see all 12 frets.
Re-entrant G: why the strings don't go low to high
On a guitar, each string is higher than the one before. On a standard ukulele the 4th string breaks that rule: it's tuned to G4, higher than the C (C4) and just below the A (A4). That's called re-entrant tuning. It's why strummed ukulele chords sound bright and tightly packed, and why the lowest note on the instrument is the open C string.
Two handy consequences for finding notes:
- The E string at fret 3 is , exactly the same pitch as the open G string.
- The G string at fret 2 is , exactly the same pitch as the open A string.
Low-G option: some players fit a thicker 4th string tuned to G3. The note names on this chart don't change; only that string sounds an octave lower.
Tuning relationships between strings
The C, E and A strings climb like a guitar: the C string at fret 4 is E (the next string open), and the E string at fret 5 is A. The G string at fret 5 is C, one octave above the open C string. These are the checks behind tuning by ear, and the ukulele tuner has reference tones for all four strings.
If you play guitar: a ukulele is tuned like the top four guitar strings (D G B E) with a capo on the 5th fret. The shapes are the same; the names move up five half steps. The guitar G-shape, for example, gives you C on the ukulele.
Natural notes on each string
| String | Natural notes, fret numbers in brackets |
|---|---|
| 1st string (A4) | A (0) · B (2) · C (3) · D (5) · E (7) · F (8) · G (10) · A (12) |
| 2nd string (E4) | E (0) · F (1) · G (3) · A (5) · B (7) · C (8) · D (10) · E (12) |
| 3rd string (C4) | C (0) · D (2) · E (4) · F (5) · G (7) · A (9) · B (11) · C (12) |
| 4th string (G4) | G (0) · A (2) · B (4) · C (5) · D (7) · E (9) · F (10) · G (12) |
Landmark frets
Many ukuleles have dot markers at frets 5, 7, 10 and 12, and some add 3 and 15. These are the notes at the frets worth knowing by heart.
| String | Open | Fret 2 | Fret 3 | Fret 5 | Fret 7 | Fret 10 | Fret 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st string (A4) | A | B | C | D | E | G | A |
| 2nd string (E4) | E | F♯ | G | A | B | D | E |
| 3rd string (C4) | C | D | D♯ | F | G | A♯ | C |
| 4th string (G4) | G | A | A♯ | C | D | F | G |
Octave shape
From any note on the C string, go two strings over to the A string and 3 frets up: same letter, one octave higher. Try C: the open C string, then the A string at fret 3. Because of the re-entrant G, the G string doesn't have a neat octave partner, so it's easier to learn its notes directly (it has 8 natural notes from open to fret 12).
How to practice
- Learn the C string first (it's the lowest note and holds the root of many chords). The notes go C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12.
- Then the A string, which carries most melodies.
- Link each chord you know to its notes: the open C chord is G, C, E and C (the A string at fret 3).
- Take the quiz below for a few minutes a day.
Quiz: name the note on the ukulele
A fret is marked with a question mark. Pick its letter, and you'll hear the note after you answer.
A fret is marked. Pick its letter. You'll hear it either way.
Press Start.
Next: the first ukulele chords, the full ukulele chord library, and reading the same notes on paper with treble clef notes. Guitar players can compare with guitar fretboard notes.
Ukulele fretboard questions
What are the ukulele string notes?
In standard tuning, from the string nearest your chin to the one nearest the floor: G4, C4, E4, A4. A classic way to remember the sound of the four strings is the phrase "My Dog Has Fleas", one word per string.
Why is the G string higher than the C string?
That's re-entrant tuning. The G string is tuned to G4, above middle C, instead of the G below it. It gives the ukulele its bright, close-voiced sound, and it means the lowest note on a standard ukulele is the open C (C4), not the G.
What is low-G tuning on a ukulele?
Low-G tuning swaps the 4th string for a thicker one tuned an octave lower, to G3. The note names on the fretboard stay the same, but you gain five lower notes, which suits fingerpicking melodies.
Are ukulele notes the same as guitar notes?
The note names follow the same rules, but the tuning is different. A ukulele is tuned like the top four guitar strings with a capo at the 5th fret, so chord shapes carry over with different names.
Updated September 2026.