Ukulele guide
How to Set Up and Use Ukulele
A few basic checks before playing make the instrument noticeably easier to use. Here's how to go through them in order.
Getting a ukulele properly set up before playing makes a significant difference to the experience. High action, slipping tuning pegs or poorly seated strings make the instrument harder to play and slower to learn on. A few basic checks and adjustments take less than fifteen minutes and will make the instrument noticeably more comfortable from the first session.
Check the Strings
Factory strings on a new ukulele are generally adequate for the first few months. Nylon and fluorocarbon strings stretch for a day or two after fitting before settling into stable tuning. If the strings feel rough, are visibly worn, or the instrument came without strings installed, fit a fresh set before doing anything else. Standard concert and tenor sizes use soprano-to-tenor gauge strings; baritone uses a different set (D-G-B-E). Aquila Nylgut and GHS are reliable and inexpensive first choices.
Check String Action
Press each string at the first fret and at the twelfth fret. At the first fret, there should be a very small amount of clearance — just enough that the string does not buzz when released. At the twelfth fret, clearance of around 2.5–3mm for the C string and 2–2.5mm for the A string is normal. High action (excessive clearance) makes pressing strings uncomfortable and affects intonation. Low action causes buzzing. If the ukulele action needs significant adjustment, a luthier or guitar technician can cut the nut and saddle slots to the correct depth — this typically costs £20–40 and transforms the playability of a ukulele that was frustrating to use.
Tune to G-C-E-A
Standard ukulele tuning for soprano, concert and tenor instruments is G-C-E-A (re-entrant, with the G string higher in pitch than the C string). Use a clip-on chromatic tuner or a tuning app. Tune the C string first as it has the most tension, then G, E and finally A. New strings will drift for the first hour or two of playing — retune frequently until they settle. Do not rely on ukulele tuning by ear at this stage; even experienced players use a tuner for initial setup.
Check Intonation
Compare the open-string pitch to the fretted pitch at the twelfth fret on the ukulele: both should read as the same note on the tuner, one octave apart. If the fretted note reads noticeably sharp or flat, the scale length may need adjustment — on a ukulele this means adjusting the saddle position, which is a job for a technician. Minor intonation imprecision at the twelfth fret is acceptable on budget instruments; significant deviation will make ukulele chord playing sound out of tune even when the open strings are correct.
Set Up a Basic Chord and Start Playing
With the ukulele tuned and the action checked, form a C chord (ring finger on the third fret of the A string). Press firmly enough that the string rings clear. Strum with a downward motion of the right-hand index finger. If one string buzzes, recheck finger position and make sure the finger is pressing close to the fret. For full step-by-step technique guidance, the beginner's guide covers hand position, strumming patterns and practice structure in detail.
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