Answering the often asked "should I play with a Low or High G?" Tips on Ukulele care, String brands etc... If you like the lesson and want to learn more, check out www.hawaiimusi... for a free 2 week trial membership!
I've always strung with Worth Brown's or Clears in Low G although I have several ukes in High G. I think for performance, it depends on what your are playing and who you are playing with. The guys I play with on the Big Island like low G predominantly, but they always throw a High G in for the element of surprise on some Saturdays. It's kinda fun to see what people have strung up with when they show up....great vid Aaron thanks for sharing!
Aaron, just wanted to follow up. After you encouraged me to try it, I put a set of Thomastik-Infeld CF30 and CF27 strings on my cheapest uke (a Kala KA-TEM Exotic Mahogany Laminate Tenor), paired with Fremont Black Line E and A, and everyone that has heard or tried this Low G set-up loves it. Have since found out that this is quite similar to the set-up Chuck Moore uses on many of his Moore Bettah tenors (he uses a very slightly different fluorocarbon pair). Chuck estimates the total tension of this set-up as actually being less than, say, a set of D'Addario Titanium Fluorocarbons. The only downside I can see to this is that, on a conventional wooden tie bridge, the knot of the chrome steel strings might erode the wood. I'm cutting a piece of right-angle acrylic (the stuff they use to protect corners of furniture) to protect the bottom side of the bridge and keep the string from cutting into it as I tighten my knots.
Wonderful video, Aaron! Both of the Ukuleles you played sounded great... I am sure some of that was the strings, some the quality of your instruments, but most of all your fingers! Liked and subscribed!
Great video Aaron. I agree with the merits of having one of each. I have my Islander MST-4 Strung with a high G. I also customized it to be left handed with left hand side markers and a super high gloss polished finish(The satin finish it came with was not very good). My Romero Creations Spalted Mango Grand Tenor has a low G. I also strung it left handed and added left handed side markers to it.
I'm just starting out with no prior experience. Would you recommend that I, as a natural lefty, use a left handed ukulele or should I try to cross over to right? I have received mixed advice all from natural right handers. Thx, Mike
@@pammikewilliams3026 I prefer playing left handed. It is more comfortable for me. I do know other lefties that just play right handed. I would say do what is most comfortable to you. 😊
@@MrCalifornia0 I install side fret markers. Often 1/16" white or black plastic fret markers. I put Abalone fret markers on my Romero Creations Spalted Mango Grand Tenor. I may have gotten the plastic rods from either eBay or Stewmac.😊
I like this video man. I just love the sound of low g ukes. I love the Fremont black line low Gs the best out of any that Ive tried. Great tips tho brother I really really like this tutorial. Thanks
I play all four sizes of uke, and play sopranos, concerts, and tenors with a low string-with the exception of one instrument, which I enjoy the sound of in high G. String preference? I like Aguila Red - for everything. Flourocarbons sound great on some things, but overall (and because I come from the guitar end of things) I enjoy both the gauge, and the tension of the Reds .
Very clear explanation on low and high G, and the examples sound nice. As a guitarist at the moment, with no ukulele, I'm attracted to idea of low G, as I could theoretically use muscle memory from my ukulele playing directly on a guitar, with capo set on fifth fret. But this is probably not something ukulele players with guitars actually do much in practice, so it may just be beginner's thinking. What I should do instead is let what sounds best guide me. So I'll try both ways of stringing once I get a uke. I notice your ukulele seems to have guitar-style pins, which would make changing strings quicker. Some others have pull-through arrangements at the bridge, but many seem to require knotting the strings. I'm not sure how much of an issue this is for ukulele players, so would welcome users' experience. At the moment I'm drawn to the familiar, the guitar-style pegs. But if it isn't a factor I should just go for the instrument in my price range that sounds best to me.
Thank you for your review on low and high G. What brand of low G has the reduced diameter that it would fit into the high G nut, without modifying the nut. Thanks again, I'm now subscribed to your channel.
On a tenor ukulele, I removed the 4th high G string and installed it as the 2nd E string. I moved the 3rd string to make the 4th low G and the 2nd string to make the 3rd C string. Just hope the 4th high G string is long enough to replace the 2nd E string. I used the original strings the ukulele came with.
Just got a OUTDOOR UKULELE FROM THE OUTDOOR UKULELE COMPANY IN BEND OREGON CARBON NICKEL TENOR ALL WEATHER UKULELE LOW TEMPERATURE: - 40° F HIGH TEMPERATURE: 250° F AMAZING ukulele BULLET PROOF (almost) WATER PROOF Play in the rain or snow
I didn't know that IZ usually played with a low G string until you mentioned it here. I looked for some RU-vid videos of him and found this one, where his ukulele apparently has a different G string than the other strings -- thicker and whiter -- so it seems that he was using low G on these performances, just as you said. If you listen closely, you'll hear that the G string is low. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qRYIbYRlChU.html
I like the sounds of both high and low G ukuleles' so I think I may need to purchase a new concert uke. I have just been playing ukulele about 2 weeks. Aquila Lava strings.
I just got my first unwound low g string on my tenor and when strummed open it’s so much louder than the other strings. I wonder if the wound low g would sound more balanced?
Quang Tran Must be a new offering from D'Addario. I was only familiar with the set with the wound Low G. Maybe try Worth CH Low G. I've found that set to be relatively well balanced.
I would add that Aguila makes a string called Sugar- which are apparently made from sugar cane. Flourocarbon lovers should give em a try. NO, I don't work for them, or sell them! Lol
My wife wants a ukulele. After much review, she seems have landed on a "low G Tenor". I play guitar, bass and drums. Ukulele is outside of my knowledge range. I do have question that I haven't found and answer to. They say if you want to switch a high g string with a low g string, the nut might not support it without filing. That makes sense, but what if you had a low G tenor and switched to a high g string? It would seem that high g string would fit into the low g nut spot easily. Of course, there may be some "play" within the slot, but is it a functional idea? Thanks.
The "play" could cause buzz, or rattle in the nut. You could fill and re-cut to fit. However, nowadays, most low G's have a modified diameter to fit into a high G slot. The do that so you have the ability to interchange the strings. Hope that helps!
David Bishop Aloha David! Try using a different string set. It's possible that you may need to get it set up... Find a good luthier/repair tech and have it set up for the string set you want to use (some brands have different string gauges and sit differently in the nut slots) and the action you like.
Die Lyriker the Low G was a Custom Jeb Wiemer (My signature Uke) TK2-A, the High G is a Ko’olau CS... Funny, these days I have the Wiemer as the High, and the Ko’olau as the Low...
I’m currently using the Aquila Red Series with unwound Low G on two of my tenors: a solid-spruce-top Hola! (on which they sound fantastic) and a laminate exotic mahogany Kala (on which they sound a little muddy). As you know, a downside of the Aquila Red Unwound Low G is that they snap easily, especially when first strung, unless you unship the string from its notch, tune it a touch sharp while it rests on the smooth surface of the nut, and then drop it back into its notch (in fact, I exercise the same caution anytime I tune the Aquila Red Unwound Low G, even though it’s been on there for a while). So, I’m wondering: is it necessary to exercise the same level of care with the Fremont Black Line Low G, as it is also unwound? Or can it simply be left in the notch while it is brought to pitch? And can this unwound Low G be used without widening the G notch on the nut?
Tom Morrisey the Fremont is not as touchy as the Aquila Red... it can be tuned in place without issue. As far as my experience with it goes, there was no slot widening required. I actually use the Tomastik .30 now. Wound, but flat wound...
Learned a lot! Thx for sharing! Will first try the unwound Worth CH Low G that you mention in your reply to QTran since you say it's well balanced. Any suggestions for a starting point wound Low G? I know we all gotta try out different ones to get the sound we like. Really love the one about the strings you had on that didn't sound that good to you but that was when maybe the only time someone says those sound amazing!
CJ Fremont makes a flatwound Low G that I think sounds great. Recently I have been using a Flatwound string from Tomastik Infeld that I really like the sound of!
John MacMillan They’re both Custom builds made here in Hawaii. Jeb Wiemer will build you anything you can dream up, and Ko’olau is built by Noa Bonk. Not cheap, but well worth the cost. Occasionally instruments by these Master Luthiers are available at TheUkulelesite.com
It's closer to the tuning scheme of a guitar since the strings go from low to high, but still different tunings to the chord patterns don't transfer over the same. If you want a uke that's actually tuned the same as a guitar, check out baritone ukuleles. Their four strings are actually tuned the same as the top four of a guitar so it's super easy for a guitarist to pick up.
Aaron, one more question and then I will quit bothering you (on this subject, at least): as you use the Thomastik-Infeld CF30 flatwound as your G string, do you see any advantage in using the CF27 as your C? Or do you prefer a plain fluorocarbon string for that?
hi I've watched lots of your playing and i changed to low G but it drones over the other strings and sounds flat even though I've checked the tuning a million times with both a clip on and separate tuner. should i try different strings? 😊
@HawaiiMusicSchool oh! Yes! I see how that would work. Thankyou! I guess I have to Mix and match to get the right blend! Cool. More strings ! do you have any advice on string choice? any particular brand that you use 😁 your a star!
I'm French and I don't understand very clearly, I have a Kala pxt-te (I think that's it), can I put a low g string instead of the high G string? Or it can break my uke (and I don't want that!! 😂)
I have a :question: i have a lower g tuning on my Tenor Uke and would like to tune it to a high G with the same string. Or must i change the string to a different gauge? Thank you.
Cherrios Bee the low G will most likely break, or worse case scenario, tear your bridge off if tuned up an Octave. The string is a thicker gauge than the high G for stabilizing the string at that octave. Best thing to do if you want a high G is to change strings. I would recommend changing the set, as the other strings have most likely stretched and would create an uneven tone with the others. But you never know, some people aren’t bothered by such things... but it would drive me nuts! Lol
