#1
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Uke esoterica: low or high G string?
I was given a concert uke for Christmas and immediately did what I usually do: I began researching the instrument and looking into current practices. One of the first modern issues I came across was the question of a traditional high or modern low G string. I can see the benefits of both. Being a person who plays lots o' melodies I find myself banging up against the three-string limit of this re-entrant tuning. However, it does make for some unexpected, ethereal sounds when finger-picked and a lighter feel overall than low G.
So, what are you guys using? Anyone using low G? Are you seeing benefits? Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#2
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I have two Romero Grand Tenor ukuleles that are in low 'G' tuning. One is spalted mango the other all koa. I like the deeper sound better. I do have other ukes in high tuning but they don't get much use. I both strum and use fingerstyle on these.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f_G4KK-9JM ~Bob
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Some stuff... |
#3
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I play a lot of fingerstyle, so my tenor has the low G. It is more versatile for me.
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Susie Taylors: 914 • K24ce • 414 • GSMeK+ Pono Guileles: Mango Baritone Deluxe • Mahogany Baritone Have been finger-pickin' guitar since 1973! Love my mountain dulcimers too! (7 Mountain Dulcimers) |
#4
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I play a lot of blues and pop, so prefer a tenor with low G (both fingerstyle and strum), but have and use both tunings as appropriate for the purpose.
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#5
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I have one in low and the other in high G, and like ‘me both though I hedge toward the high G. For accompanying hula dancers I think the high G works better. I can see why people like the low G in terms of fingerstyle, but as you say, some unique sounds can come out of the high G.
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Curtis Martin om21 Chris Carrington classical |
#6
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Our senior center's uke group has a couple of tenor players set up with low G, and since we have no baritones it adds some fullness to the overall sound - probably going to convert my wife's tenor to low G next string change (whenever that is - the OEM Aquila Nylguts seem to last forever)...
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#7
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...in my opinion low G tuning compromises the classic uke sound....I tried it and although it is a bit more easier to transition from guitar playing to uke I just didn’t get the sound I wanted...
...of course that’s a personal preference and others may differ...I did find that when I became well versed in ukulele chord voicing everything sounded better... |
#8
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One thing that hasn't been addressed is whether the nut slot for the G string can accommodate the thicker string used on a low G. You might have to take a nut file to it so that the G string sits more securely in the slot.
Once you do that, though, you can easily switch from a low string back to a high string, although that might not be the best solution from the standpoint of sound. Ideally, you should make separate nuts that can be switched in or out, or have a luthier do it.
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Yamaha FG-411-12 String Oscar Teller 7119 classical (built in 1967) and a bunch of guitars and mandolins I've made ... OM, OO, acoustic bass, cittern, octave mandolin, mandola, etc. ... some of which I've kept. |
#9
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Reentrant tuning is what gives uke it's unique character. I play 5 string banjo and it's a bit of the same idea.
There are those that think the stretched membrane pot assembly is what automatically makes a banjo and pick up one of the "guitar banjos" so they don't have to re-learn fingerings or playing style. It's just not the same. |
#10
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Quote:
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#11
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I have a number of ukes. My reso-uke is often tuned GCEG with a low 4th string. I often use it for side and like the low 4th.
I have another tenor with a low G that I use for melody playing and finger-style. My other ukes and banjoleles are tuned re-entrant. This can work well for finger-style as well as strumming or chord melody playing. I know that if I were restricted to one ukulele, it would definitely be tuned re-entrant.
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Jim _____________________ -1962 Martin D-21 -1950 Gibson LG1 -1958 Goya M-26 -Various banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, ukuleles, Autoharps, mouth harps. . . |
#12
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You already have a guitar, and it even has 6 strings, a very large soundboard, excellent volume, bass, treble and midrange. The uke isn’t a little guitar. But hey, whatever you want to do is perfectly acceptable, not that you needed anyone to state that...
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#13
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I like to have at least one uke in re-entrant tuning ("High G") and one in linear tuning ("Low G"). While I have been liquidating my uke collection to fund GAS, I do intend to keep at least two for this reason.
Since you play guitar, if you have only one uke, I would say use re-entrant tuning so you have something altogether different. BTW, if you end up trying a tenor scale (~17") uke, try tuning it two half-steps lower to Bb. I often find tenors often sound better in Bb because a tenor body often naturally resonates close to C, so better to tune under this. I find the uke sounds more full Bb. Enjoy your uke journey!
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12-fret Small Body Addict & Sucker for Exquisite Craftsmanship
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#14
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I have several ukes. For performance I prefer tenor size where I have one in linear tuning that I use for songs with fingerstyle and songs that require a strong root, but the majority is played on a re-entrant six- string (Lili'u) that also has octave high C and low A strings. Ukuleles of smaller size I keep in re-entrant as their body size and scale is not well suited for lower frequencies and the playing experience and sound with a low G are not satisfactory to me. I know many people who are not as picky and who have smaller ukes with a low G. I also find that part of the unique uke sound comes from its re-entrant setup, which makes it more than just a mini guitar.
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#15
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G vs g
Interesting topic.
I, too, had the same conundrum, so I had a uke made with BOTH 'G' strings - high and low. Excellent for playing just the melody and offers some 'nuance' strumming. Case closed (for me as least!) |