Ukulele tuner
Standard ukulele tuning is G C E A (G4, C4, E4, A4). Tap Use microphone and pluck one string: the needle shows whether to tighten (flat) or loosen (sharp). Or tap a string button to hear the note and tune by ear.
Microphone off. Your audio is analyzed in this browser tab and never uploaded.
Reference tones: tap a string to hear its target note.
How to tune your ukulele
- Tap Use microphone and allow access when asked. The audio stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
- Pluck the G string (the one nearest your chin) and let it ring.
- Watch the needle. Left of center (negative cents) is flat: tighten the peg. Right of center is sharp: loosen it a little past the note, then bring it back up.
- When the reading holds within 5 cents it says "in tune". Go on to C, E and A.
- Check all four once more. Nylon strings stretch, so a new ukulele may need retuning every few minutes for the first few days.
Standard tuning and re-entrant G
Ukulele strings are numbered from the one nearest the floor (1st, A) to the one nearest your chin (4th, G).
| String | Note | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 4th string | G4 | |
| 3rd string | C4 | |
| 2nd string | E4 | |
| 1st string | A4 |
The G string is the odd one out. On most instruments the strings go from low to high, but on a standard ukulele the G is tuned above the C and E next to it. This is called re-entrant tuning, and it's why the lowest note on the instrument is the open C (C4), and why a strummed chord sounds so bright and tight. Hear the open C chord: .
Low-G option: some players, especially on tenor ukuleles, use a thicker 4th string tuned an octave lower to G3. The tuner recognizes it: aim for G3 on that string. The note names on every chord chart stay the same.
Tune by ear, string to string
With one string in tune, you can tune the others to it. Tune the A string to the reference tone first, then:
- Press the E string at the 5th fret. It should match the open A. Adjust the E string.
- Press the C string at the 4th fret. It should match the open E. Adjust the C string.
- Press the G string at the 2nd fret. It should match the open A exactly (same pitch, not an octave). Adjust the G string.
A second check for the G: the E string at the 3rd fret is also G, the same pitch as the open G. Listen for the slow wobble between two nearly matching notes, and turn slowly until it disappears. The ukulele fretboard notes page shows where these matches come from.
Troubleshooting
- No reading: make sure the microphone is allowed for this site and the phone isn't on a call. Hold the ukulele close to the phone or laptop.
- Reading jumps around: ukuleles are quiet and fade quickly. Pluck a bit harder with the thumb and read in the first second.
- It shows the wrong string: the string is far off. Play its reference tone, get close by ear, then switch the mic back on.
- Always going flat: normal with new strings. Retune often for the first week; they settle.
After tuning
Start with the first ukulele chords, browse the full ukulele chord library, or play along with the metronome. Playing guitar or bass too? Use the guitar tuner or bass tuner. Every free tool is listed on the tools page.
Ukulele tuner questions
What are the notes for ukulele tuning?
Standard ukulele tuning is G C E A: G4, C4, E4, A4, from the string nearest your chin to the one nearest the floor. Soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles all use it.
Why is the G string higher than the C string?
Standard ukulele tuning is re-entrant: the G string is tuned to G4, above middle C, rather than the G below. That gives strummed chords their bright, close sound.
Can this tuner tune a low-G ukulele?
Yes. Tune the 4th string to G3; the tuner shows the note name and octave it hears, so aim for G3 on that string. The reference button plays the standard high G, which is the same letter one octave up.
Is my voice or audio sent anywhere?
No. The microphone signal is analyzed in your browser to find its pitch. Nothing is recorded or uploaded, and the microphone switches off when you press the button again or leave the page.
How is a baritone ukulele tuned?
A baritone ukulele is usually tuned D G B E (D3, G3, B3, E4), the same as the top four strings of a guitar. For that, use the reference notes on the guitar tuner.
Updated September 2026.