Tuning G-C-E-A
Four strings, four letters: G-C-E-A. Simple to say, but the ukulele hides a fun surprise in how those pitches are actually arranged. Tap each string below to hear it.
The four strings
Standard ukulele tuning, read from the string closest to your face (4th string) to the one closest to the floor (1st string), is G – C – E – A. That's the tuning used on soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles — the vast majority of ukuleles you'll encounter.
Why the "high G" is special
On a guitar, each string is tuned lower than the one before it as you move toward the headstock — low to high, no surprises. Ukulele breaks that pattern. Instead of continuing lower than the C string, the 4th string (G) is tuned UP an octave, making it the second-highest-pitched string on the instrument, even though it's physically the "4th string" position.
This is called reentrant tuning — the pitches don't rise in one direction across the strings; they "re-enter" a higher register partway through. It's the single biggest reason a ukulele chord sounds so different from the same notes on a guitar: bright, chiming, and a little bit jangly.
Common questions
What is standard ukulele tuning?
Standard ukulele tuning is G-C-E-A, read from the 4th string (closest to your face) to the 1st string (closest to the floor).
Why is the ukulele G string tuned so high?
Unlike a guitar, the ukulele's 4th string (G) is tuned UP an octave instead of continuing downward. This is called reentrant tuning, and it's what gives the ukulele its bright, chiming, jangly character.
What does reentrant tuning mean?
Reentrant tuning means the strings aren't arranged from lowest to highest pitch in order. On a standard ukulele, the G string actually sounds higher in pitch than the C string right next to it, so the pitches "re-enter" a higher range partway across the strings.
Is ukulele tuning the same as the top four guitar strings?
Not quite. A baritone ukulele is tuned D-G-B-E, matching the top four guitar strings. But standard soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles use G-C-E-A reentrant tuning, which sounds different because of the high G string.
Tune by ear, interactively
Melody Monkey plays any string, any instrument, any tuning — so you always know exactly what "in tune" sounds like.
Open the tuner →Still stuck? Ask Your Personal Music Teacher about Tuning G-C-E-A →