Low G vs High G Ukulele

[DASmusic]

Which do you prefer? And why?

[seatech]

As a guitar player to begin with, the low G makes it easier for me to pick up and play a uke. I played this way for a few years, but have now begun to play the high G. I want to learn how to play a ukulele for what it is, not just like it's a guitar, if that makes sense.

For what it's worth, I was shopping for a new uke yesterday and two of the three employees in the shop prefer high G. I bought a new tenor and will be keeping it as a high G.

[Ceabeceabe]

High g is thought to be more traditional, and thus give a more traditional sound. Low G obvously expands the lower tone range of the uke.

I ended up getting a Kamaka tenor with a a high g and then a Kanile'a tenor with a low G. The Kamaka is a more tradtional build built by a famiy that has been in the business for generations. The Kanile'a has some more innovative aspects to it that have nothing to go with the low G. The two make great alternatives. I play guitar and uke every once in a whle for a Hula group my wife dances in, and I use both high and low, depending on how I'm feeling...and what song I'm playing.

An uke maker could tell you whether there is a difference in the build of high versus low g ukes. I don't think there is much of one...but I'm not a luthier. One way to go is to buy an uke and try it with both for a while. The string groove will be set up for one or the oher, but in the short run that shouldn't be a big problem.

You really can't go wrong; the uke is a lot of fun.

Curtis

[Br1ck]

There are some nice YouTube videos comparing the two, but I'm a traditionalist at heart, and the high G is just the Hawaiian sound for me.

I've also learned a few tunes taught in low G and just ignore the difference. Sounds great.

[fongie]

I just love the high G. Tried the Low and just doesn't do it for me.

[FormerFoodie]

When I started playing, I played with a low G.

However, as I started to learn more, I gravitated to the high G. As others have said, it has more of that quintessential uke sound.

My two ukes are in high G right now, but I think I need one with low G! :P Depending on what I'm playing there may be a song or two that may be better with a low G...

[kmcmichael]

Low G for me.

[DASmusic]

Thanks for the replies.
I took a c string from an extra pack of strings I have. And I put it on as a low g.
I can't say whether I liked it or not because it was almost unplayable.
The string was to loose and floppy and the nut slot wasn't wide enough so it wasn't intonated very well. So I changed it back right away.
But I'm still wondering if it would be worth going through the hassle of getting a proper set up for a low g.
Everything I play so far are guitar songs. (Hotel California intro, Time In A Bottle and some Beatles songs) and they actually sound good with a high g. So I don't know if its worth it..

[Ceabeceabe]

Originally Posted by DASmusic

Thanks for the replies.
I took a c string from an extra pack of strings I have. And I put it on as a low g.
I can't say whether I liked it or not because it was almost unplayable.
The string was to loose and floppy and the nut slot wasn't wide enough so it wasn't intonated very well. So I changed it back right away.
But I'm still wondering if it would be worth going through the hassle of getting a proper set up for a low g.
Everything I play so far are guitar songs. (Hotel California intro, Time In A Bottle and some Beatles songs) and they actually sound good with a high g. So I don't know if its worth it..

Sorry that experiment didn't work out.

[ukejon]

Originally Posted by DASmusic

Which do you prefer? And why?

Re-entrant.....

[erivel]

I play both. Some songs just sound better in linear tuning and some sound better in re-entrant.

[cpmusic]

Now that I've had some time with it, I prefer the high G. Transferring some basic fingerstyle to the uke produces a new sound that's really growing on me. I also have a baritone uke which, with a capo, effectively gives me a tenor with a low G, and I just don't use it as much.

[Mooh]

High G. If I want a lower pitch I'll play baritone ukulele, sometimes capo-ed up a semitone or two. There is a cool Kala tenor uke with five strings, set up with both a low and high G. I am sorely tempted:

http://www.kalabrand.com/Models/Kala...acia.html#five

[syrynx]

Reentrant (high G) for me, too. I have aspirations toward the campanella style explained by the late John King on this page and demonstrated by him in this clip.



But why not both? Can anyone have just one ukulele?

[ukejon]

Originally Posted by syrynx

Reentrant (high G) for me, too. I have aspirations toward the campanella style explained by the late John King on this page and demonstrated by him in this clip.



But why not both? Can anyone have just one ukulele?

Had a chance to talk to John about uke playing a number of times over the years...what a stunningly great player and a truly nice human being. He certainly is missed.