As with all blogs, one must roll with the times! I've been pursuing playing uke in 5ths tuning- of which there are two different ones. Each one requires a special set of strings, and what tuning you take up depends on the size of the uke you're using.
For soprano uke players the 5ths tuning is GDAE non reentrant tuning and will need the set of strings made by Aquila 30 U. As the 4th string is wound, do NOT use this set on a uke with plastic frets!
This tuning is ideal for playing country, bluegrass, Old Time, and blurs on. The chord forms aren't difficult to learn.
For concert size ukes, the tuning will be CGDA and the Aquila string set you'll need is 31 U. The 4th and 3rd string are wound, so again, do NOT use this set on a uke with plastic frets. This is the tuning that cellos and tenor banjos use, and is great for jazz, swing jazz, blues, etc. It has a deeper and more mellow tone than the GDAE tuning.
Now don't get trapped in thinking you can only jam with ukes in the same tuning! In exploring these tunings, you can jam with ukeists in CGEA tuning, in addition to jamming with people playing different instruments. I give a sample of playing in GDAE below. (and subscribe to my you tube channel while you're at it!)
For soprano uke players the 5ths tuning is GDAE non reentrant tuning and will need the set of strings made by Aquila 30 U. As the 4th string is wound, do NOT use this set on a uke with plastic frets!
This tuning is ideal for playing country, bluegrass, Old Time, and blurs on. The chord forms aren't difficult to learn.
For concert size ukes, the tuning will be CGDA and the Aquila string set you'll need is 31 U. The 4th and 3rd string are wound, so again, do NOT use this set on a uke with plastic frets. This is the tuning that cellos and tenor banjos use, and is great for jazz, swing jazz, blues, etc. It has a deeper and more mellow tone than the GDAE tuning.
Now don't get trapped in thinking you can only jam with ukes in the same tuning! In exploring these tunings, you can jam with ukeists in CGEA tuning, in addition to jamming with people playing different instruments. I give a sample of playing in GDAE below. (and subscribe to my you tube channel while you're at it!)
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