The UkuTabs online ukulele tuner helps you tune one string at a time. No app, no download, no sign-up. Allow microphone access, pluck a string and follow the pitch indicator toward the target note. A quiet room and a clear pluck help the microphone detect your string. Defaults to standard 'C' tuning (gCEA), the most common ukulele tuning. One click switches to low-G (GCEA), baritone (DGBE), English D, or any of ten preset tunings. Prefer to tune by ear? Tap a peg on the visual ukulele to hear that string's reference note. Left-handed players: flip the layout in a single tap.
Choose your tuning, tap start listening and allow microphone access. Pluck one string at a time, or tune by ear below.
Trusted by ukulele players around the world since UkuTabs launched in 2012. This mic tuner runs a YIN pitch-detection algorithm with median-filter smoothing and variance-based stability scoring to help the display settle after each pluck. Microphone quality and background noise can affect detection. Everything runs in your browser: no app to install, no audio uploaded, no account needed.
New · Free iPhone & Android app
UkuTabs Ukulele Tuner is this tuner rebuilt as a native app for iPhone and Android. Use it with your phone on silent, fully offline, in every tuning plus a chromatic mode. Free, no ads, no account.
Tuning is the first habit every ukulele player picks up. Whether you use the microphone tuner above or your ear, the routine is the same: pick the right tuning, match each string to its target note, and lock it in by turning the peg. Most ukuleles use standard C tuning (g-C-E-A); baritones use D-G-B-E.
Take your time and turn each peg slowly. Fresh strings often need two or three passes before they hold pitch, so don't worry if it feels slow at first. That's completely normal.
Most soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles use standard C (g-C-E-A), and that's the default in the tuner above. Baritones use D-G-B-E. Low-G is the same C tuning with the G string an octave lower. Not sure what you have? Leaving the default works for almost everyone.
Tap start listening and pluck any string. The tuner reads the note and shows whether you're flat (needle leans left) or sharp (needle leans right). No microphone? Tap a string in the by-ear card above to hear the target note and match it by ear.
Turn the peg slowly until the needle settles on center. The tuner checks off each string when it detects an in-tune reading. Repeat for the other three strings, then run through all four once more. Tuning one string shifts the tension on the others, so a second pass is normal.
Most players spend their entire ukulele life in standard C tuning, and there's nothing wrong with that. But the ukulele has a small family of tunings, each with its own sound and history. Here's a quick overview of what each one is for, who plays it, and which body size it suits best.
g - C - E - A
The classic ukulele tuning, sometimes called C tuning or re-entrant tuning. The G string is tuned higher than the C string, which gives the ukulele its bright, jangly character. If you're new to the instrument, this is almost certainly what you have.
G - C - E - A
Same C tuning, but with the G string an octave lower than the C. You gain one extra octave on the low end, which opens up fingerpicking, melody playing, and solo arrangements. Many tenor players prefer the fuller, more guitar-like sound.
D - G - B - E
The baritone ukulele is tuned identically to the top four strings of a guitar. If you already play guitar, your chord shapes transfer over directly, with no relearning needed. The sound is mellower and lower than a standard ukulele.
D-tuning is standard C shifted up two frets. It was popular in the early 1900s and is still favoured by some players for its sweeter, ringier tone. Slack-key drops the A string a whole step to match the high g, which is lovely for Hawaiian-style fingerpicking. The preset dropdown above covers both.
If you're not sure what your ukulele is tuned to, body size is usually the clue. Almost every uke ships in the tuning marked below.
| Body size | Length | Default tuning | Also seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano | ~53 cm / 21" | Standard C (high-G) | D-tuning (aDF#B) |
| Concert | ~58 cm / 23" | Standard C (high-G) | Low-G |
| Tenor | ~66 cm / 26" | Standard C (high-G) | Low-G D-tuning |
| Baritone | ~76 cm / 30" | Baritone (DGBE) | G-tuning (GCEA, low) |
Target frequencies for the six most common tunings. The tuner above handles all of these automatically. This table is here for when you want to verify against a piano, another tuner, or out of plain curiosity.
| Tuning | 4th string | 3rd string | 2nd string | 1st string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard C (high-G) | G4392.00 Hz | C4261.63 Hz | E4329.63 Hz | A4440.00 Hz |
| Standard C (low-G) | G3196.00 Hz | C4261.63 Hz | E4329.63 Hz | A4440.00 Hz |
| Baritone (D-G-B-E) | D3146.83 Hz | G3196.00 Hz | B3246.94 Hz | E4329.63 Hz |
| D-tuning (aDF♯B) | A4440.00 Hz | D4293.66 Hz | F♯4369.99 Hz | B4493.88 Hz |
| Slack-key (gCEG) | G4392.00 Hz | C4261.63 Hz | E4329.63 Hz | G4392.00 Hz |
| Half-step down | F♯4369.99 Hz | B3246.94 Hz | D♯4311.13 Hz | G♯4415.30 Hz |
Three methods to choose from, depending on what you have to hand. Tap a tab below to switch between them.
No microphone? You can tune all four strings to each other using fretted reference notes. This gets the ukulele in tune with itself, which is perfect for playing alone. If you plan to play with others at concert pitch, anchor the first string to a known reference first, like a piano A4 (440 Hz).
1. Start by tuning the 1st string (A) to a reference: a piano note (440 Hz), the by-ear card above, or another tuned instrument. Once your A is set, hold down the 5th fret of the 2nd string (E). That note is also an A. Adjust the 2nd string's peg until the two notes sound identical.
2. Hold down the 4th fret of the 3rd string (C). That note is an E. When you pluck the open 2nd string (E), the two should sound the same. Adjust the 3rd string's peg until they match.
3. Finally, tune the 4th string (G). The method depends on whether you have a high-G (standard re-entrant) or low-G (linear) ukulele. Pick yours below:
Hold down the 2nd fret of the 4th string (g). That note is an A. Match it to the open 1st string (A), and you're done. Your ukulele is in tune with itself.
Hold down the 5th fret of the 4th string (G). That note is a C. Match it to the open 3rd string (C), and you're done. Your low-G ukulele is in tune with itself.
A piano or any keyboard makes a perfect tuning reference, since its strings are tuned to standard concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). Play G, C, E, and A in turn and match each open ukulele string by ear.
Middle C sits one white key to the left of the pair of black keys near the centre of the keyboard. From middle C, count up four white keys to find E, and nine to find A. Count down five keys to find G, or just use the G above middle C for standard high-G tuning.
For low-G tuning, play the G one octave below middle C instead.
If you have a tuned guitar within reach, you don't need a separate tuner at all. The method depends on the size of your ukulele.
A standard guitar's fourth through first strings are tuned D3, G3, B3, E4. With a capo on the fifth fret they sound G3, C4, E4, A4, matching a low-G ukulele. Match each capoed guitar string to the corresponding open ukulele string.
Standard high-G ukulele: use the same C4, E4 and A4 references, but the fourth string needs G4, one octave above G3. Remove the capo and play the first guitar string at the third fret for G4. Do not tune a high-G string down to G3.
Baritone ukuleles tune D, G, B, and E, which is identical to the top four strings of a guitar. Just play each open guitar string and match the corresponding open baritone string.
Bonus: a chromatic guitar tuner (clip-on or pedal) works for a ukulele too. Set it to chromatic mode and tune to the notes above instead of standard guitar EADGBE.
Short answers to the questions ukulele players ask most about tuning.
Yes, completely free. No sign-up, no app to install. The tuner runs entirely in your browser, on whatever device you're already holding.
It uses the YIN pitch-detection algorithm (de Cheveigné and Kawahara, 2002), running directly in your browser. When you pluck a string, the tuner reads its fundamental frequency, compares it to the target note, and shows you how far off you are in cents.
Audio never leaves your device. There's no upload, no recording, and no analytics on what you play.
The tuner is designed for modern Safari, Chrome, Firefox and Edge browsers on phones, tablets and computers. Microphone tuning requires permission and an available microphone; results depend on your device and background noise. If listening is unavailable, use the by-ear player. You can also get the free UkuTabs tuner app for iPhone or Android, which works offline.
Standard tuning for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles is G-C-E-A, also called C tuning. The G can be high (re-entrant, which produces the bright, jangly ukulele sound) or low (a deeper, more melodic range).
Baritone ukuleles tune D-G-B-E, the same as the top four strings of a guitar. For the full picture, string by string, see the tune your ukulele guide.
High-G (G4 = 392 Hz) sits above the C string. This is re-entrant tuning, and it produces the classic ukulele jangle.
Low-G (G3 = 196 Hz, one octave lower) gives the ukulele a deeper range. It's useful for fingerpicking and solo melodic playing. To switch, swap your G string for a wound or thicker fluorocarbon version. The low-G vs high-G guide weighs up how each one sounds and which to pick.
Every time you play, ideally. Brand new strings need re-tuning every few minutes for the first few days as they stretch and settle. After that break-in period, a check before you play and another in the middle of a long session is usually enough.
Temperature and humidity changes (like moving from indoors to outdoors) also pull a ukulele out of tune quickly.
Fresh nylon or fluorocarbon strings stretch for three to seven days of regular playing. During this break-in period, expect to re-tune every time you pick up the instrument. It's completely normal.
You can speed up the process by gently stretching each string by hand between tunings: pull it away from the fretboard, then re-tune. If it still drifts once the strings have settled, the why it won't stay in tune guide runs through the other six causes.
The page needs an internet connection to load. Microphone tuning may keep working while the loaded page stays open, but reloading and reference notes that have not loaded need a connection. For dependable offline use, choose the free UkuTabs tuner app.
Microphone mode listens to your ukulele and guides you peg by peg. It's faster and more precise once you're comfortable with it.
Tone mode plays the target notes back to you so you can match them by ear. It's useful when the room is noisy, when you're learning to hear pitch, or when the microphone isn't an option.
Some G strings, especially older or thicker fluorocarbons, have strong overtones that can confuse pitch detectors. If your G keeps jumping or won't lock in, tap the G chip in the dial section to lock the tuner onto that string.
The tuner stops auto-detecting and focuses only on G. The needle still works exactly the same way.
Yes. Any chromatic tuner reads pitch regardless of the instrument. Set it to chromatic mode (not guitar mode) and tune to G4-C4-E4-A4 for standard high-G, or G3-C4-E4-A4 for low-G. Baritone ukuleles tune D3-G3-B3-E4, which is identical to the top four strings of a guitar, so no chromatic mode is needed.
With a capo at the fifth fret, a standard guitar's fourth through first strings sound G3-C4-E4-A4. These match a low-G ukulele. For standard high-G tuning, match the C4, E4 and A4 strings this way, but use G4 for the fourth ukulele string: remove the capo and play the first guitar string at the third fret. Do not tune a high-G string down to G3. For a baritone ukulele no capo is needed; the open guitar D3-G3-B3-E4 strings match directly.
See the tune with a guitar section above for the full walkthrough.
There are four main types. Clip-on tuners clamp to the headstock and sense vibration through the wood, which makes them great in noisy rooms. Pedal and rack tuners are used for performance and studio recording. Tuning apps run on your phone and use the device microphone. Online tuners like this one run in your browser with nothing to install. For everyday practice, an online or app tuner is usually all you need.
A ukulele can drift out of tune for plenty of reasons: fresh strings stretching, temperature and humidity swings, a loose tuning peg, or a misaligned nut. The good news is that most of them have a quick fix once you know what to look for.
Below are three common problems to check. If the cause is unclear or the problem persists, a luthier can inspect the instrument.
If a tuning peg feels unusually loose or does not hold, check the manufacturer's adjustment instructions or have it inspected. Avoid forcing a stiff peg.
Buzzing can come from the string, frets, nut or bridge. A luthier can identify the cause and recommend an appropriate adjustment.
Read the buzz-fixing guideCheck the selected tuning and string order first. If a string is fitted incorrectly or damaged, follow the restringing guide or ask a repairer for help.
See how to change ukulele strings