Ukulele tuning
D tuning (A-D-F#-B)
D tuning raises the whole reentrant standard by a tone, giving A-D-F#-B. It keeps the same relationship between strings, so the chord shapes do not change, they just sound a tone higher.
馃幐 Open the tuner in this tuningThe tuner opens already preconfigured; you only need to allow microphone access.
Strings and frequencies
| String | Note | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| String 1 | B4 | 493.88 Hz |
| String 2 | F#4 | 369.99 Hz |
| String 3 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
| String 4 | A4 | 440.00 Hz |
How it sounds
It is a traditional tuning, widely used on old soprano ukuleles and in classic Hawaiian music. It sounds a little brighter and more sonorous than standard C tuning, with a sweet, slightly tenser timbre.
Styles and genres
Recommended string gauges
Since you are tuning up a tone, a standard set holds but sits at higher tension; on old or delicate ukuleles, consider a slightly lighter set to avoid stressing the bridge.
Tuning tip
Many old ukulele scores and method books are written for this D tuning: if an old song sounds odd in C, try it in D, which may be the original tuning.
Related tunings
- Standard reentrant: the tuning it comes from, a whole step lower
- Traditional Hawaiian (G-C-E-G): an open, traditional tuning that also changes the first string
- Open C: an open tuning, ringing a C major chord
Updated