Normally the ukulele is tuned G C E A with a high G: the top string sounds higher than the second one. That gives the bright, typical ukulele sound. But there are two popular variations.
Low G
Here the G string sounds an octave lower (G3 instead of G4). You need a separate, thicker G string for this – just loosening the normal string doesn’t work, it would flop around. The chord shapes stay exactly the same; only the sound gets fuller and deeper. You can also play melodies that go below the C of the C string. Low G is common on tenor ukuleles.
D tuning: A D F# B
In D tuning all four strings are a whole step higher: A D F# B. Lots of ukuleles used to be tuned this way, and it sounds especially bright. Your fingers make the same shapes as always – but the chord has a different name, because everything sounds two half steps higher. The C shape (just the ring finger on fret 3 of the bottom string – the B string in D tuning) becomes D major in D tuning, and the G7 shape becomes A7.
Setting it up in the app
In the tuner, tap “Other tuning …” at the bottom. You’ll find “Low G” and “D tuning” there. With low G, the tuner tunes the G string an octave lower and all chord shapes stay the same. With D tuning, chord charts and songs show the matching shapes, and a note at the top of every page has the button “Back to standard tuning”.
To the tuner