This is an Ukulele Chord Chart (Standard GCEA Tuning) for all of the main ukulele chords.
See in the chart, the vertical lines represent the strings on the ukulele and the horizontal ones represent the squares on the fingerboard. The locations of fingers are displayed by black circle dots on the vertical lines. This chart is very useful for ukulele players.
To play ukulele with fun, we need to tune the sound to international standard which has two most popular tuner systems, ie. ‘Friction Tuner‘ and ‘Geared Tuner‘.
In the past, ukulele original size is ‘Soprano’. It’s one size which is the smallest. There is no technology to support so the tuning is simple by tension the string to the end of tuner and tuning to make the standard sound, they also make a small screw for locking tuner and prevent string slipping why it is called ‘Friction Tuner‘.
But due to it simplicity, the string that already tuned may slightly distort the sound because of the vibration from playing or movement of the instrument. Some people love it original but some boring about retuning sound quite often, so system ‘Geared Tuner‘ coming to prevent the distort sound from tuner string slipping and many ukulele player love this system.
Since we know that the note of each string is GCEA (4th to 1st) and when we tune, we start from any string and then tune all string by comparison each other for example.
1. We start from 3rd string by open C string to note C first.
2. Then tune 4th string by open G string compare to 3rd string by resting on the seventh fret that is note G.
3. Next, tune 2nd string by open E string compare to 3rd string by resting on the fourth fret that is note E.
4. Next, tune 1st string by open A string compare to 2nd string by resting on the fifth fret that is note A.
As shown in the left picture
Ukulele has four standard sizes ie. ‘Soprano‘, ‘Concert‘, ‘Tenor‘ and ‘Baritone‘ start from small to large size (as shown in the picture).
Soprano, Concert and Tenor sizes has the same play and has international tuning call ‘C tuning’, which is tuned GCEA start from fourth string down to first string.
For baritone, tuning sound is different from others, It is tunes the same as top four strings of standard guitar (DGBE tuning) that is when you play baritone chords you will play differ from soprano, concert and tenor. That’s why it is not so popular.
Now string producer start to produce ukulele string the same as GCEA for baritone but still not popular because the charm of ukulele is small in size, not small in sound quality.
Soprano is standard size of original ukulele which has about 21 inches total length and number of standard fret is 12 to 14 frets on fretboard (fingerboard). Soprano tuning is GCEA. Some ukulele model use soprano sized body but fingerboard is long scale. ie. ‘Ohana SK-30L Longneck’.
Concert has a little bigger size (intermediate size between soprano and tenor), the total length is about 23 inches, Tuning is GCEA and has longer fingerboard with around 14 to 17 frets (sometimes more)
Tenor is larger than concert, the total length is about 26 inches. This tuning is also GCEA but some tuned to gCEA that the 4th string is ‘low G’. Number of fret is about 17 to 19 frets.
Those who play guitar will love tenor size because of sound is close to guitar and longer fingerboard that can suitable for playing lead notes and many style of playing.
Famous ukulele virtuoso such as Jake Shimabukuro also use tenor size in playing song ‘While my guitar gently weeps‘ and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole or IZ use this size to playing song ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow‘. Both musicians are the pioneer of playing ukulele and people around the world fasinate the sound of this instrument.
Baritone is the largest size of ukulele, the total length is about 30 inches and number of fret is about 19 to 21 frets. The baritone tuning is DGBE (same as top four strings on a guitar). it make the holding chord and note differ from other ukulele sizes.
Welcome to website ‘UkuleleSales.com’ which will tell you about the ukulele.
Many of you who like the play musical instruments will say that guitar is the most popular instrument. But now there is the instrument that popular than guitar, for those who now trying to play their first instrument or those who already playing guitar, it has very close characteristics as guitar both the sound quality or playing patterns but it has small compact size easily to carry away and easy to start playing for the beginners because it has only four strings. It has the same chord as guitar but the different is the pattern of finger laying. The string is made from nylon and you will feel more comfortable for your finger than playing with steel string of guitar. This instrument is ‘Ukulele’ or Hawaii guitar.
’UkuleleSales.com’ begins from the love of Ukulele. This site will introduce and sell many brands of ukulele in cheap price including many discounts.
For those who love sound of guitar and string instrument will fall in love with ‘Ukulele’ for sure.
