Ukulele string height made easy

Uke TLC: Setting up your uke - Action (string height)
In this lesson you’ll learn all about action (the string height) of your ukes; what is ‘correct’ action, how to measure it and how to raise or lower it various ways.
Here's the next video in my new ukulele course! The first couple of videos will be free on RUclips and then the full courses will be available at my website:
mattsteadukulele.com
I'm super proud to say that my website now contains 8 structured and sequential ukulele courses covering everything you need to know to become and ace ukulele player (and have heaps of fun learning!):
Take Off! Beginners Ukulele
Beyond Beginners: Intermediate Ukulele
Escape The Plateau: Ukulele Next Steps
Fingerstyle Ukulele
Uke Theory
Playing Up The Dusty End
Uke TLC
Everything Baritone Ukulele
You can subscribe and have access to all this PLUS weekly live ukulele jams, fortnightly live lessons, worksheets at no extra cost, my priority email for any questions (your own personal uke tutor!) and much more all for just £10 per month.
The TWO NEW COURSES:
Uke TLC: In this course you learn all about how to take care of and get the best of your ukuleles. It covers ukulele set ups (including filing, smoothing and polishing frets, oiling, adjusting action and more), cleaning and humidifying your ukes, as well as explaining string choices, fitting straps and pegs, accessories, and much more.
Everything Baritone Ukulele: This is a comprehensive tuition course for baritone ukulele. We'll cover everything from the very beginning (such as holding and tuning your baritone), through strumming and chords, right through to advanced fingerstyle techniques.
Both courses are in construction but Gold subscribers needn't wait. You can start taking part right away with new lessons added every week or so.

[@elsiecow7023]

Thanks so much for these tips. I've tried doing this before, but marking the saddle is a cool tip. Thanks. I'm building my first cigar box ukulele. Now with these tips, I can get the string height the way it should be for myself.

[@AnBerfelo]

What a fantastic video, Matt! I'm eagerly anticipating the next one. You've opened my eyes to details I wasn't aware of. Thank you so much.❤️🎶🌷

[@mattsteadukulele]

Thanks An! ❤

[@johnclankie324]

Very informative video Matthew, I have lowered the saddle on several ukes and also filed the grooves in the nut as well but the round files I purchased from Amazon were very poor, yours are much better. Your credit card tip is great I never seen that before, well done. Cheers 👍👍🍷Mike

[@mattsteadukulele]

Thanks John. I found the same thing with those Amazon files. The ones from StewMac are the best I’ve found.

[@johnclankie324]

@@mattsteadukulele Thanks for the info I’ll have a look at StewMac👍👍i owe you a 🍷cheers Mike

[@50mantravelling52]

Thanks for sharing this information with us Matt. Excellent video 👍

[@mattsteadukulele]

Thanks!

[@psychkick666]

Thanks, i should have done this before hurting my fingers for 100 hours. 12th fret is at 5 mm. stupid Alston ukulele. now my finger is painful from filing for 30 minutes

[@j5s9c]

It's more dull and clunky. I'll try that Matthew, it is too low anyway. Thanks for taking the trouble to reply. Appreciated. It's disappointing that new instruments should need any adjustment.

[@andredr_eas7433]

A very exciting topic and well explained.
I'll take a critical look at my ukuleles and guitars and see if I should change anything...
... when I read the topic I thought it was about replacing a LowG string with HighG ;-)
Now I'm trying to get a "string gauge" (?) from the guitar shop...
... I'm just afraid of the smell if I have a Bone saddle or Bridge inlay made of real bone and have to sand it...
... But that's what they're there for “good” old FFP2 masks ;-)
Have a nice weekend

[@mattsteadukulele]

Thanks Andre. I should have mentioned to wear a mask! I generally do (but occasionally I’m naughty and forget!)

[@andredr_eas7433]

@@mattsteadukulele 👌🙏👍

[@marcphillips7998]

What was the first ukulele you had in the video? I like it

[@mattsteadukulele]

Thanks! I built that one myself. :)

[@waynegordon4770]

Hello Matt, great rundown! I love how you dropped a card under the strings to roughly check the action at the nut end. I have successfully used superglue/bone dust in the past to avoid fashioning a new nut, but will try the superglue/baking soda solution in the future. Btw, would a wood shim also work OK if the uke has an under saddle pickup? Thanks!

[@mattsteadukulele]

Good question. I think with an under saddle pickup it might me better to get a new saddle if the action isn too low as you want it to make good contact with the pickup ribbon.

[@j5s9c]

Matthew, what could cause a fretted note to sound clunky and dull? On my new Ohana, the E string when fretted 2nd and 3rd fret, sounds awful. All the other strings on the same fret are fine. I have noticed that my action is too low. Would that cause it? Many thanks.

[@mattsteadukulele]

Is it like a buzzing sound or just completely dead? It sounds like you may need to put a shim under the saddle to raise the action a little.

[@michaelpadden5959]

I have the same problem, the dull sound on the E string 2nd fret. Any answers please?

[@j5s9c]

​. I found out that there is something called a 'wolf note' which is actually caused by the frequency of the instrument. Far too complicated to explain here but try and find out as much as you can re wolf notes an resonance in ukuleles. It's quite common in a lot of wooden stringed instruments.