Editing Ukulele (section)

==Tuning==<!--[[My dog has fleas]] links directly here-->
[[File:Ukulele standard tuning.png|thumb|Ukulele C<sup>6</sup> tuning {{audio|Ukulele standard tuning.mid|Play}}.]]
[[File:My dog has fleas.png|thumb|Tuning with the "my dog has fleas" mnemonic. {{audio|My dog has fleas.mid|Play}}]]
[[File:Ukulele chords.svg|thumb|Chart of common soprano ukulele chords.]]

One of the most common tunings for the standard or soprano ukulele is [[Sixth chord|C<sup>6</sup>]] tuning: G<sub>4</sub>–C<sub>4</sub>–E<sub>4</sub>–A<sub>4</sub>, which is often remembered by the notes in the "My dog has fleas" jingle (see sidebar).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukuleleintheclassroom.com/tunings.htm|title=Ukulele in the Classroom|access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> The G string is tuned an octave higher than might be expected, so this is often called "high G" tuning. This is known as a "[[reentrant tuning]]"; it enables uniquely close-harmony chording.

More rarely used with the soprano ukulele (but more common on larger sizes) is C<sup>6</sup> linear tuning, or "low G" tuning, which has the G in sequence an octave lower: G<sub>3</sub>–C<sub>4</sub>–E<sub>4</sub>–A<sub>4</sub>, which is equivalent to playing the top four strings (DGBE) of a guitar with a [[Capo (musical device)|capo]] on the fifth fret.

Another common tuning for the soprano ukulele is the higher string-tension D<sup>6</sup> tuning (or simply D tuning), A<sub>4</sub>–D<sub>4</sub>–F{{music|sharp}}<sub>4</sub>–B<sub>4</sub>, one step higher than the G<sub>4</sub>–C<sub>4</sub>–E<sub>4</sub>–A<sub>4</sub> tuning. Once considered standard, this tuning was commonly used during the Hawaiian music boom of the early 20th century, and is often seen in sheet music from this period, as well as in many method books through the 1980s. D<sup>6</sup> tuning is said by some{{by whom|date=November 2019}} to bring out a sweeter tone in some ukuleles, generally smaller ones. D<sup>6</sup> tuning with a low fourth string, A<sub>3</sub>–D<sub>4</sub>–F{{music|sharp}}<sub>4</sub>–B<sub>4</sub>, is sometimes called "Canadian tuning" after its use in the Canadian school system, mostly on concert or tenor ukuleles, and extensive use by [[James Hill (Canadian musician)|James Hill]] and [[J. Chalmers Doane]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jameshillmusic.com/faq#tuning|title=FAQ |publisher=James Hill Music |access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref>

Whether C<sup>6</sup> or D<sup>6</sup> tuning should be the "standard" tuning is a matter of long and ongoing debate. There are historic and popular ukulele methods that have used each.<ref>Tranquada, J.; ''The Ukulele: A History''; University of Hawaii Press; Honolulu: 2012. 0824-83634-0 According to Tranquanda, "This is an old and seemingly never-ending argument. While the pioneering methods of Kaai (1906) and Rollinson (1909) both use C tuning, a sampling of the methods that follow give a sense of the unresolved nature of the debate: Kealakai (1914), D tuning; Bailey (1914), C tuning; Kia (1914), D tuning; Kamiki (1916), D tuning; Guckert (1917), C tuning; Stumpf (1917), D tuning."</ref>

For the concert and tenor ukuleles, both reentrant and linear C<sup>6</sup> tunings are standard; linear tuning in particular is widely used for the tenor ukulele, more so than for the soprano and concert instruments.

The baritone ukulele usually uses linear G<sup>6</sup> tuning: D<sub>3</sub>–G<sub>3</sub>–B<sub>3</sub>–E<sub>4</sub>, the same as the highest four strings of a standard 6-string guitar.

Bass ukuleles are tuned similarly to the [[bass guitar]] and [[double bass]]: E<sub>1</sub>–A<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>2</sub> for U-Bass style instruments (sometimes called contrabass), or an octave higher, E<sub>2</sub>–A<sub>2</sub>–D<sub>3</sub>–G<sub>3</sub>, for Ohana type metal-string basses.

Sopranino ukulele tuning is less standardized. They are usually tuned re-entrant, but frequently at a higher pitch than C; for example, re-entrant G<sup>6</sup> tuning: D<sub>5</sub>–G<sub>4</sub>–B<sub>4</sub>–E<sub>5</sub>.

As is commonly the case with string instruments, other tunings may be preferred by individual players. For example, special string sets are available to tune the baritone ukulele in linear C<sup>6</sup>. Some players tune ukuleles like other four-string instruments such as the [[mandolin]],<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://ourpastimes.com/how-to-play-a-ukulele-like-a-mandolin-12450760.html
| title=How to Play a Ukulele Like a Mandolin
| first=Robert
| last=Russell
| date=15 September 2017
| publisher=Our Pastimes
| access-date=19 November 2019}}</ref> Venezuelan [[cuatro (Venezuela)|cuatro]],<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHF_g96Es3Q
 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/KHF_g96Es3Q| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live| title=Cuatro Tuning On a Ukulele
| first=Ken
| last=Middleton
| date=2 May 2018
| access-date=19 November 2019
| via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> or [[dotara]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyr1iT27MzE
 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Fyr1iT27MzE| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live| title=Ukulele Dotara Style Tuning - ইউকালেলি দোতারা স্টাইল টিউনিং
| first=Rahatul Islam
| last=Ovi
| date=24 April 2017
| publisher=Rahatul & Dukulele
| access-date=24 April 2017
| via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ukuleles may also be tuned to [[open tuning]]s, similar to the Hawaiian [[slack-key]] style.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Kimura
| first = Heeday
| title = How to Play Slack Key Ukulule
}}</ref>