Tune Your Ukulele by Ear

To tune a ukulele by ear, play a reference note for one string, pluck the string and turn the peg until the two sound the same, without a wobble between them. The tones below sound like a plucked string for every tuning. Without any reference, you can still tune the strings to each other with the fret method.

Reference tones for every string

Reference tones need JavaScript.

How to use it

Choose your tuning.
Press the button for one string and let it repeat.
Pluck the same string and turn the peg until the two notes match.
Do the same for the other strings.

Matching a reference tone

Press a string button and let the tone repeat.
Pluck the same string on your ukulele and listen to both together.
If you hear a slow "wah-wah" beat, the notes are close but not the same. Turn the peg slowly: the beat gets slower as you get closer and stops when they match.
If the string sounds clearly higher or lower, go below the note and tune up to it.

Humming the reference note can help you hear whether your string is above or below it.

Tuning without a tuner: the fret method

If you have no reference at all, tune one string to a note that sounds right and match the others to it. In standard tuning:

Press the C string (3rd) at the 4th fret. It should sound like the open E string (2nd).
Press the E string at the 5th fret. It should sound like the open A string (1st).
Press the C string at the 7th fret. It should sound like the open G string (4th).

For low G: press the low G string at the 5th fret; it should match the open C string. For baritone D G B E: the D string at the 5th fret matches G, the G string at the 4th fret matches B, and the B string at the 5th fret matches E. For D tuning: the D string at the 4th fret matches F#, the F# string at the 5th fret matches B, and the D string at the 7th fret matches A.

The strings are then in tune with each other, but maybe not with other instruments. To play with others, start from a real reference such as the tones above or a piano.

Why tune by ear?

It trains your hearing, and it works anywhere. Many players use a tuner most of the time and check by ear between songs. If your phone’s microphone does not pick the string up, the reference tones are a good backup. The microphone tuner is quicker for most people.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tune a ukulele without a tuner?

Tune one string to a reference such as a piano or the tones on this page, then tune the others to it with frets. In standard tuning: C string 4th fret = open E, E string 5th fret = open A, C string 7th fret = open G.

What do the reference tones sound like?

Each tone is a short plucked-string sound made in your browser with the Karplus-Strong method, a classic way to imitate a string. It is tuned to the exact frequency of the note, such as 440 Hz for A4.

Why can I hear a wobble when tuning by ear?

When two notes are very close but not equal, their sound waves drift in and out of step. That makes a slow, regular beat. The beat gets slower as the notes get closer and disappears when they match.

Is tuning by ear accurate?

With practice it can be very accurate, especially when you listen for the beat between two notes. Beginners usually get closer and faster with a tuner. Many players tune with a tuner and check by ear.

Can I hear low G and baritone tones too?

Yes. Choose the tuning at the top of the reference tones: standard, low G, baritone or D tuning. The buttons change to that tuning’s four notes, with their frequencies shown on each button.

Last updated: October 15, 2026