This baritone ukulele tuner is our ukulele tuner with the baritone tuning selected, so every string's target is already set. The baritone is the largest of the common ukuleles and is usually tuned D G B E (D3 G3 B3 E4), exactly like the four highest strings of a guitar.
Unlike a soprano or concert uke it is not re-entrant: the 4th string, D, is the lowest note, which gives it a fuller, deeper sound. Guitar players can pick one up and use their chord shapes right away.
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone. Play the 4th string, the one nearest your face, and tune it to D.
- Tune the 3rd string to G, the 2nd to B and the 1st to E.
- New strings stretch for days: tune, play a little and tune again.
- Tap a string button to hear its note if you want to tune by ear.
Chord shapes on a baritone
Because it is tuned a fourth lower than a standard uke, the same finger shape gives a different chord: the soprano C shape (0003) is a G chord on the baritone, and the G shape is a D. Guitar players can simply use the top four strings of their chord shapes. That is why songbooks often print separate baritone chord charts.
Tips
- The 4th and 3rd strings are usually wound: tune them gently, they reach pitch quickly.
- By ear, the 4th string at the 5th fret matches the open 3rd string.
- Playing along with a guitarist? You share the same four notes, so tune to each other.
Frequently asked questions
How do you tune a baritone ukulele?
D G B E, from the 4th string to the 1st: the same notes as the top four guitar strings.
Is a baritone ukulele tuned like a guitar?
Like the four highest guitar strings, yes. It has no low E and A strings.
Can I tune a baritone ukulele to G C E A?
Only with a string set made for it; standard baritone strings are designed for D G B E.
Why does my baritone sound so different from a soprano?
It is bigger, tuned a fourth lower and uses linear tuning, with the 4th string as the lowest note, so it has a deeper, guitar-like voice.
Do soprano, concert and tenor ukes use this tuning?
No, they normally use G C E A. Use the ukulele tuner or the low G ukulele tuner for those.