How to use
- Ukulele (G C E A) is selected. If you use a low-G string or a baritone ukulele, change the tuning first.
- Click Start tuning and allow the browser to use the microphone.
- Pluck one string and let it ring. Tighten the string if the needle is left of centre, loosen it if it is right, until it turns green.
- Tune all four strings, then check them once more.
Options explained
- String order
- The strings are numbered 4, 3, 2, 1 and tuned G C E A, with string 4 nearest your face. In high-G tuning, string 4 (G) is higher than string 3 (C).
- Cents (¢)
- A semitone is 100 cents. Within ±5 cents is shown as in tune.
- Reference A4
- 440 Hz by default — the open A string is exactly this note. Change it to match another instrument.
Target notes for each ukulele
| Tuning | String 4 | String 3 | String 2 | String 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (high G) | G4 392.00 Hz | C4 261.63 Hz | E4 329.63 Hz | A4 440.00 Hz |
| Low G | G3 196.00 Hz | C4 261.63 Hz | E4 329.63 Hz | A4 440.00 Hz |
| Baritone | D3 146.83 Hz | G3 196.00 Hz | B3 246.94 Hz | E4 329.63 Hz |
Soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles differ in size but use the same tuning, the first row. A baritone ukulele is tuned like the four highest strings of a guitar.
Tuning the other strings from one good string
Tune string 3 (C) with this page or a piano, then match the others:
| Hold | Fret | Should match open string |
|---|---|---|
| String 3 (C) | 4 | String 2 (E) |
| String 2 (E) | 5 | String 1 (A) |
| String 3 (C) | 7 | String 4 (G, high-G tuning) |
When the two notes are close you hear a slow wobble (beating). Turn the peg until the wobble stops.
Habits that keep it in tune
- Tune up to the note. If a string is sharp, loosen it well below the note and bring it up. The gear holds better that way.
- Check all four again. Changing one string’s tension bends the neck slightly and moves the others.
- Tune where you’ll play. Moving from a cold car to a warm room changes the pitch; give the instrument a few minutes first.
- Take the capo off. With a capo on, every string reads a few semitones higher.
For other instruments use the guitar tuner or the bass tuner, and practise timing with the metronome.
Frequently asked questions
I just changed strings and they keep going flat. Why?
Nylon and fluorocarbon strings stretch for the first few days. After tuning, gently pull each string away from the fretboard along its length, retune, and repeat a few times.
How do I tune a low-G ukulele?
Choose Ukulele – low G. String 4 then targets G3 (196.00 Hz), an octave lower. If string 4 is the thickest string on your ukulele, it is a low-G set.
The needle jumps around or nothing happens.
Pluck one string at a time, mute the others with your hand and keep the phone close to the sound hole. Inside apps such as Facebook or Instagram the microphone may be blocked; open the page in your browser as the message suggests.
Does it record me?
No. The sound is analysed live in your browser while the tuner is on; nothing is stored or uploaded.
Privacy
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files and text are processed on your device and are never uploaded to our servers.