For my baritone gCEA tuning, i use AQUILA 23U SET ( GCEA - made specially for baritones) and the AQUILA 16U (single string low G) .....and you know by the football , *winning team does not make changes* .......i like low G at every-uke
After recently watching this I bought the same uke and put on the same strings now that, after a week, the strings have set in to a beautiful tone, and I am very very happy. I love how it sounds in between a warm romantic Spanish guitar and the ukulele. I love the build and possibilities of the ukulele as an instrument, the beauty of the relative simplicity in the way chords are made up. However I hadden't yet warmed up to the degree of plingplong-ness of the sound of any ukulele. Coming from concert and then tenor, this bariton with CGEA tuning with these particular strings, yep, this is it. Thank you thank you thank you! I am curious how these compare to the specially made baritone CGEA strings. But not that curious that I want to take off the strings I love now. Did you or anyone reading this, try them about beforehand? Thanks, take care, Denise from Holland
Omg! You have no idea how happy I'm to hear from you Denise. So glad you try it and love it as much as I. And I'm so glad that my video have been useful. You are the first person ever that responded with these string setup. I'm so glad you like them. Thank you thank you for letting me know. I have not try another set of gcea baritone strings to be honest so can't comment. But I'm pretty happy with my accidental set up after all the trials and errors. You will just have to buy another baritone to try other strings to compare 😃
I really like this sound! Thanks so much for the info! I have a set of Guadeloupe custom low G, C, E, A baritone strings coming soon and will put on my Caramel solid mahogany baritone. But I really like this sound so may need to buy another ukulele to compare the two! LOL.
@@thebaritonechannel9072 I am a bit confused. Which string do you use for the G string in this video - the G string from the Martin M630 baritone string set or the G string from a D'addario nylon guitar set? Thank you for your sharing of this unique combo.
Hello I like your channel. I just bought a baritone uke but want to tune to GCEA to learn. Can all baritone ukes be tuned up? I have Aquila strings on Kmise 1st uke
Hi Denise, so happy for your baritone. You can buy gcea set of strings for baritone. I also have a video of a set I'm playing using cuatro strings. You have to find a set that you feel comfortable with, that's when you will enjoy playing more. Don't use tenor ukulele strings on baritone, they will snap under tension, just ask me how I know lol
Thanks for the video. I've used the extra hard tension guitar strings from d'addario - the 4 lowest strings. It sounds more like a guitar than a ukulele to me - so be warned. For the highest pitch strings, A, after some different tries, I have settled for the G string of the Aquila Red series Baritone - it sounded better to me than the guitar string. All in all, it's a great way to not learn from scratch chords, for ukulele players, while getting a warmer, lower sound than the usual baritone. There is another video that might help you (not from me), "Brad Bordessa - Octave-Down GCEA Tuning On Baritone 'Ukulele". I hope it's helped. Also, if your last ukulele was a soprano, get ready to get your fingers stretched!!
Really nice. I'd love to own a Baritione that was tuned GCEA.....the stores around here all don't recommend it....so hesitant to buy one....as i would need them to change the strings out for me.
Hi Shelly, trust me you could easily change the strings yourself. It's really simple, there are videos on youtube to do it. I love my baritones, hope you will find one too! :)
Since this video is a few years old, do you still like this combination/brand of strings for achieving GCEA on baritone ukes? I recently tried the guadeloupe strings and just like your video on them, the A string was too big for the A slot. Kinda feel lost now on ever getting good GCEA strings on my baritone uke. Any recommendations?
Hi there! Yes I still have this set up on this baritone. It gives me a different dimension. If you have a shorter scale baritone like 19"ish you could also try the D'addario tenor strings. They are on the Kala super tenor (baritone scale with slightly larger than tenor body)
Here's another easy way to restringing your baritone ukulele. Take the g string from a normal tension set of classical guitar strings (or the g string from a set of baritone uke strings) and use it as the fourth string. The easiest thing to do is snip off the D string of your baritone, then unwind the g string and reattach it where the fourth string was. Next mount the B, or second string, from a classical guitar set where the third string was and tune it up a semitone from its intended pitch to C. For the second string, simply tie on the e string from a set of classical guitar strings, which is meant to be stretched to a pitch of E. For the first, or A string, cut an appropriate length of 40 pound test monofilament nylon fishing line then tune it to A. I did this with my Cordobà mahogany baritone and it sounds beautiful. I used Maxima "Big Game" fishing line, but I expect any Good quality brand will work as well. For my Cordobà tenor, on which I use reentrant tuning, I used Maxima 50 pound test for the high G string with equally pleasing results. A 55 yard spool of Maxima monofilament cost me $17 Cdn. By my rough reckoning, one can make approximately 55 strings at a cost 30 cents per string.
Alternatively just buy a set specifically made for GCEA tuning on a baritone----such as these www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UKULELE-STRINGS-BARITONE-UKULELE-ALL-GAUGES-INCLUDING-GCEA-TUNING-WITH-LOW-G/120811914340?hash=item1c20f38464:m:mY9JKIqBXGU9gkMvrK9yWVQ
Hey that's interesting. I have not try that but it looks feasible. Do you have a baritone ukulele with a truss rod? I would have a go on that one. Maybe just put one string at a time and feel if the tension is any different to your standard baritone strings and go from there? I have a good feeling it should work. Let me know how you go please!
@@thebaritonechannel9072 Thank you very much for your answer! I don't have a truss rod.. I hope it will not damage my uk, I just saw on d'Addario website that the tension between the 2 sets of strings is really different but I don't know much about music and instrument so I will just go for it and I will let you know ^^ (sorry for my bad english, I'm french)
@@thebaritonechannel9072 Hi there ! I put the strings for two weeks now and it's perfect, the tension is good not tense as aquila gcea set. But it's takes some days to settle and I have to tune it every day. I put the same low g d'addario string guitar , I'm so glad that I can learn with all the material for ukulele on the internet but with the the baritone it's another world and maybe one day I will play as good as you! :-D
Thank you after talking to you I decided to not switch the strings I do have a tenor ukulele also but I really prefer the sound of the baritone so I'm just going to learn on the baritone can you recommend a good online course for baritone I noticed it's not many. I became a fan when I used to listen to ukulele Mike.😓
Good decision not to change strings. Sorry I do not know any specific baritone on line course as I only play for the fun of it. I love Ukulele Mike. He is the one that got me going. I often just play his tabs on baritone tuning. Rightly or wrongly it works for me.
Hi, just found your channel. Is the GCEA tuning achieved with these strings the same pitch as the first four strings of ‘standard’ tuning or is it a 4th higher like a tenor Uke? Thanks - Chris
Hello! I'm very curious to try this and noticed there was one commenter, thorn324, whose comment made me want to double check with you before I purchase any strings! I didn't see a response from you to what they said, so I copied and pasted it below. "This sounds like a great idea for linear tuning in C of a baritone. But I think you misspoke when giving details of what you did: you mentioned using the original A string twice (for low G and for C) yet didn't account for the original D string at all. It seems to me, based on the great result you got, was actually this: For low G, use original A. For C, use original B. For E, use original D. And for A, use original F#. (This works based on the fact that the Venezuelan cuatro strings have two identical string strings to cover that instrument's two lower-octave strings: 1st string (low B) and 4th string (low A). I hope this helps anyone who uses your wonderful idea about the D'addario cuatro strings. Thanks!" Looking forward to giving this a try. Thank you for you sharing!
I just would like to thank you because I did your setup with cuatro strings and the g of the baritone placed as a 4th string and I love it. If you use an unwound string of a classical you still get a low g? Also can i give you my husband's number so you explain to him why I need a new ukulele since I dont have another baritone? 😄just kidding. Thank you so much for sharing your experience
This sounds like a great idea for linear tuning in C of a baritone. But I think you misspoke when giving details of what you did: you mentioned using the original A string *twice* (for low G *and* for C) yet didn't account for the original D string at all. It seems to me, based on the great result you got, was actually this: For low G, use original A. For C, use original B. For E, use original D. And for A, use original F#. (This works based on the fact that the Venezuelan cuatro strings have two identical string strings to cover that instrument's *two* lower-octave strings: 1st string (low B) and 4th string (low A). I hope this helps anyone who uses your wonderful idea about the D'addario cuatro strings. Thanks!
Hi Derek, I have actually put this one away till recently (due to way too many baritones to play lol). But I have started playing this again since the start of the year and haven't put it down since. Still loving the tone and feel. I have replaced the guitar G with a baritone G for lower tension but other than that I still have this set on. Let me know how you like it. We all like different strings.
Thanks for immediate reply. Were you concerned about too much tension with the Classical G? Can you give detail about the Baritone G you have replaced it with?
No tension issue with the guitar g string. I just prefer the feel of the g string from the Martin baritone string set. They are my favorite set of baritone strings.
How did you tune them? I’ve just bought the Living Water GCEA strings for my new Baritone but ended up tuning to low. Is there an online tuner for a baritone in GCEA?
@@capyboppy I use a Snark clip on but there are tuner apps for smart phones and or tablets. Also since I posted this I have moved on from Living Waters (still a GR8 string set) to sets from Hawaian Music Supply called "Uke Logic" WOW what a beautiful sounding set(s) of strings.
@@hyabussa5747 I have the Snark clip on but because I don’t really know what I am doing it has turned out far too low. Ken Middleton said after I sent him a sound clip following his suggestion of what to tune it to; that my tuning was only one fret below the standard GCEA. What I am trying to find is actual sound clips or a RUclips video of how to tune it in this way. There seems to be a distinct lack of anything like this although plenty of ‘’helps’ for all other styles 😒
@@capyboppy I noticed that when I used the Living Waters strings for GCEA (the G being capital for LOW G otherwise tuning would be gCEA for "standard" tuning) coupled with the bariuke's larger body there was considerable more "depth" to the tone. Sounds like you're dealing with the "low g" variation of the strings which I prefer over gCEA tuning.
@@hyabussa5747 ahh! Oh course. Stupid me. I’ve been away from playing for several years and I had only just bought the Baritone at the time. So I realise now I had asked Ken for a custom set that was wrong for what I wanted. No wonder I’m having problems! Can you help and point me in the right direction if you know of an online tuner for tuning it correctly for these strings and at the right pitch?
@@thebaritonechannel9072 Hi again. I´ve just received my delivery of Cordoba 20BM and the action is high and hard. Much more even than my Donner UT 6... Is this always like this with Cordoba´s baritone? What can I do? I´m so dissapointed cause I bought ir cause I think it will be much more soft to play than cheaper ukuleles... Thanx
That's just typical from the factory. They always left actions high at the nut and saddle. It easy to lower the strings by yourself tho. There are plenty of RUclips videos to help you do it. I wouldn't be too disappointed. Just set it to your own liking and enjoy it!
Nice , i play Cuatro Venezolano
Wonderful idea! Thanks for posting the strings used.
For my baritone gCEA tuning, i use AQUILA 23U SET ( GCEA - made specially for baritones) and the AQUILA 16U (single string low G) .....and you know by the football , *winning team does not make changes* .......i like low G at every-uke
single string low G for tenor?
Thank you for this.
Still trying to figure out your 2nd strumming pattern. Love it! Sounds great.
After recently watching this I bought the same uke and put on the same strings now that, after a week, the strings have set in to a beautiful tone, and I am very very happy. I love how it sounds in between a warm romantic Spanish guitar and the ukulele.
I love the build and possibilities of the ukulele as an instrument, the beauty of the relative simplicity in the way chords are made up. However I hadden't yet warmed up to the degree of plingplong-ness of the sound of any ukulele. Coming from concert and then tenor, this bariton with CGEA tuning with these particular strings, yep, this is it. Thank you thank you thank you!
I am curious how these compare to the specially made baritone CGEA strings. But not that curious that I want to take off the strings I love now. Did you or anyone reading this, try them about beforehand?
Thanks, take care, Denise from Holland
Omg! You have no idea how happy I'm to hear from you Denise. So glad you try it and love it as much as I. And I'm so glad that my video have been useful. You are the first person ever that responded with these string setup. I'm so glad you like them. Thank you thank you for letting me know.
I have not try another set of gcea baritone strings to be honest so can't comment. But I'm pretty happy with my accidental set up after all the trials and errors. You will just have to buy another baritone to try other strings to compare 😃
Hi, a bought today a cuatro string set for my Savannah Baritone Uke.
Cool, hope you like it.
I really like this sound! Thanks so much for the info! I have a set of Guadeloupe custom low G, C, E, A baritone strings coming soon and will put on my Caramel solid mahogany baritone. But I really like this sound so may need to buy another ukulele to compare the two! LOL.
Lol those are completely different strings and tone so yes you do need another baritone 😃
@@thebaritonechannel9072 I am a bit confused. Which string do you use for the G string in this video - the G string from the Martin M630 baritone string set or the G string from a D'addario nylon guitar set? Thank you for your sharing of this unique combo.
@@thenaturalmd I have the classical guitar low g on this baritone. But g string from the baritone ukulele set will work too.
Hello I like your channel. I just bought a baritone uke but want to tune to GCEA to learn. Can all baritone ukes be tuned up? I have Aquila strings on Kmise 1st uke
Hi Denise, so happy for your baritone. You can buy gcea set of strings for baritone. I also have a video of a set I'm playing using cuatro strings. You have to find a set that you feel comfortable with, that's when you will enjoy playing more.
Don't use tenor ukulele strings on baritone, they will snap under tension, just ask me how I know lol
Thanks for the video. I've used the extra hard tension guitar strings from d'addario - the 4 lowest strings. It sounds more like a guitar than a ukulele to me - so be warned. For the highest pitch strings, A, after some different tries, I have settled for the G string of the Aquila Red series Baritone - it sounded better to me than the guitar string. All in all, it's a great way to not learn from scratch chords, for ukulele players, while getting a warmer, lower sound than the usual baritone. There is another video that might help you (not from me), "Brad Bordessa - Octave-Down GCEA Tuning On Baritone 'Ukulele". I hope it's helped. Also, if your last ukulele was a soprano, get ready to get your fingers stretched!!
Really nice. I'd love to own a Baritione that was tuned GCEA.....the stores around here all don't recommend it....so hesitant to buy one....as i would need them to change the strings out for me.
Hi Shelly, trust me you could easily change the strings yourself. It's really simple, there are videos on youtube to do it. I love my baritones, hope you will find one too! :)
Since this video is a few years old, do you still like this combination/brand of strings for achieving GCEA on baritone ukes? I recently tried the guadeloupe strings and just like your video on them, the A string was too big for the A slot. Kinda feel lost now on ever getting good GCEA strings on my baritone uke. Any recommendations?
Hi there! Yes I still have this set up on this baritone. It gives me a different dimension. If you have a shorter scale baritone like 19"ish you could also try the D'addario tenor strings. They are on the Kala super tenor (baritone scale with slightly larger than tenor body)
Here's another easy way to restringing your baritone ukulele. Take the g string from a normal tension set of classical guitar strings (or the g string from a set of baritone uke strings) and use it as the fourth string. The easiest thing to do is snip off the D string of your baritone, then unwind the g string and reattach it where the fourth string was. Next mount the B, or second string, from a classical guitar set where the third string was and tune it up a semitone from its intended pitch to C. For the second string, simply tie on the e string from a set of classical guitar strings, which is meant to be stretched to a pitch of E. For the first, or A string, cut an appropriate length of 40 pound test monofilament nylon fishing line then tune it to A.
I did this with my Cordobà mahogany baritone and it sounds beautiful. I used Maxima "Big Game" fishing line, but I expect any Good quality brand will work as well. For my Cordobà tenor, on which I use reentrant tuning, I used Maxima 50 pound test for the high G string with equally pleasing results. A 55 yard spool of Maxima monofilament cost me $17 Cdn. By my rough reckoning, one can make approximately 55 strings at a cost 30 cents per string.
Alternatively just buy a set specifically made for GCEA tuning on a baritone----such as these www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UKULELE-STRINGS-BARITONE-UKULELE-ALL-GAUGES-INCLUDING-GCEA-TUNING-WITH-LOW-G/120811914340?hash=item1c20f38464:m:mY9JKIqBXGU9gkMvrK9yWVQ
Hi thanks for the video! Do you think I can put the GCEA strings of d'Addario EJ94 requinto set on a baritone ukulele?
Hey that's interesting. I have not try that but it looks feasible. Do you have a baritone ukulele with a truss rod? I would have a go on that one. Maybe just put one string at a time and feel if the tension is any different to your standard baritone strings and go from there? I have a good feeling it should work. Let me know how you go please!
@@thebaritonechannel9072 Thank you very much for your answer! I don't have a truss rod.. I hope it will not damage my uk, I just saw on d'Addario website that the tension between the 2 sets of strings is really different but I don't know much about music and instrument so I will just go for it and I will let you know ^^
(sorry for my bad english, I'm french)
@@ellap.8514 hey good luck. I would try one string at a time and feel if the tension is much stronger than the original baritone strings.
@@thebaritonechannel9072 Hi there ! I put the strings for two weeks now and it's perfect, the tension is good not tense as aquila gcea set. But it's takes some days to settle and I have to tune it every day. I put the same low g d'addario string guitar , I'm so glad that I can learn with all the material for ukulele on the internet but with the the baritone it's another world and maybe one day I will play as good as you! :-D
@@ellap.8514 that's fantastic! Glad it work out. I should try it one day too. Have fun!
Thank you after talking to you I decided to not switch the strings I do have a tenor ukulele also but I really prefer the sound of the baritone so I'm just going to learn on the baritone can you recommend a good online course for baritone I noticed it's not many. I became a fan when I used to listen to ukulele Mike.😓
Good decision not to change strings. Sorry I do not know any specific baritone on line course as I only play for the fun of it. I love Ukulele Mike. He is the one that got me going. I often just play his tabs on baritone tuning. Rightly or wrongly it works for me.
Hi, just found your channel. Is the GCEA tuning achieved with these strings the same pitch as the first four strings of ‘standard’ tuning or is it a 4th higher like a tenor Uke?
Thanks - Chris
Hello! I'm very curious to try this and noticed there was one commenter, thorn324, whose comment made me want to double check with you before I purchase any strings! I didn't see a response from you to what they said, so I copied and pasted it below.
"This sounds like a great idea for linear tuning in C of a baritone. But I think you misspoke when giving details of what you did: you mentioned using the original A string twice (for low G and for C) yet didn't account for the original D string at all. It seems to me, based on the great result you got, was actually this: For low G, use original A. For C, use original B. For E, use original D. And for A, use original F#. (This works based on the fact that the Venezuelan cuatro strings have two identical string strings to cover that instrument's two lower-octave strings: 1st string (low B) and 4th string (low A). I hope this helps anyone who uses your wonderful idea about the D'addario cuatro strings. Thanks!"
Looking forward to giving this a try. Thank you for you sharing!
If I change my baritone strings to the GCEA tuning, when I do my chords after changing, will I make my chords like the concert, tenor??
lilnovember yes that's correct. Just play the chords normally.
Thank you : )
Sounds very nice.
I just would like to thank you because I did your setup with cuatro strings and the g of the baritone placed as a 4th string and I love it. If you use an unwound string of a classical you still get a low g? Also can i give you my husband's number so you explain to him why I need a new ukulele since I dont have another baritone? 😄just kidding. Thank you so much for sharing your experience
Haha! Happy to chat to your husband anytime 😃. And yes you can use guitar g string as the low g. Glad you like the strings set up.
@@thebaritonechannel9072 I hope you post more videos. Your playing is beautiful
Thank you. Too kind Dora. I hope you will find love with the baritone as I do. It's a beautiful instrument.
This sounds like a great idea for linear tuning in C of a baritone. But I think you misspoke when giving details of what you did: you mentioned using the original A string *twice* (for low G *and* for C) yet didn't account for the original D string at all. It seems to me, based on the great result you got, was actually this: For low G, use original A. For C, use original B. For E, use original D. And for A, use original F#. (This works based on the fact that the Venezuelan cuatro strings have two identical string strings to cover that instrument's *two* lower-octave strings: 1st string (low B) and 4th string (low A). I hope this helps anyone who uses your wonderful idea about the D'addario cuatro strings. Thanks!
Why don´t use the G third string of baritnones tune DGBE like Low G to tune GCEA?
Wonderful sound. I have just ordered the sets you have demonstrated. Have you kept these and how have you found them since recording this video?
Hi Derek, I have actually put this one away till recently (due to way too many baritones to play lol). But I have started playing this again since the start of the year and haven't put it down since. Still loving the tone and feel. I have replaced the guitar G with a baritone G for lower tension but other than that I still have this set on. Let me know how you like it. We all like different strings.
Thanks for immediate reply. Were you concerned about too much tension with the Classical G? Can you give detail about the Baritone G you have replaced it with?
No tension issue with the guitar g string. I just prefer the feel of the g string from the Martin baritone string set. They are my favorite set of baritone strings.
Is the new G one of The Martin M630 clear Fluorocarbon then?
Aluminum plated d and g strings I think. Fluorocarbon b and e strings.
Is that Kala a KA-SMHB...all solid mahogany? I have one and it sounds fantastic. I have mine tuned DGBE but both tunings sound great.
Tom E Muncey yes it is. Its a lovely baritone 😃
I'm wondering if I adjusted my baritone this way if the fingering and chords are the same as a GCEA uke?
Jonathan Stein Counseling yes if you have gcea tuning on your baritone then you can play it the same as the other ukuleles.
Hi Matthew it seems to work.pretty well.
Trip in ukulele thanks! yeah I'm pretty happy with this set up.
Thank you
WOW, you seem so adept with the change of strings. Do you have to finger the chords as on a typical Ukulele eg concert,tenor,etc.?
Rick you can play baritone ukulele the same way as the others. Just different tone.
Living Waters GCEA on my Pono AB... deeeelicious..
How did you tune them? I’ve just bought the Living Water GCEA strings for my new Baritone but ended up tuning to low. Is there an online tuner for a baritone in GCEA?
@@capyboppy I use a Snark clip on but there are tuner apps for smart phones and or tablets. Also since I posted this I have moved on from Living Waters (still a GR8 string set) to sets from Hawaian Music Supply called "Uke Logic" WOW what a beautiful sounding set(s) of strings.
@@hyabussa5747 I have the Snark clip on but because I don’t really know what I am doing it has turned out far too low. Ken Middleton said after I sent him a sound clip following his suggestion of what to tune it to; that my tuning was only one fret below the standard GCEA. What I am trying to find is actual sound clips or a RUclips video of how to tune it in this way. There seems to be a distinct lack of anything like this although plenty of ‘’helps’ for all other styles 😒
@@capyboppy I noticed that when I used the Living Waters strings for GCEA (the G being capital for LOW G otherwise tuning would be gCEA for "standard" tuning) coupled with the bariuke's larger body there was considerable more "depth" to the tone. Sounds like you're dealing with the "low g" variation of the strings which I prefer over gCEA tuning.
@@hyabussa5747 ahh! Oh course. Stupid me. I’ve been away from playing for several years and I had only just bought the Baritone at the time. So I realise now I had asked Ken for a custom set that was wrong for what I wanted. No wonder I’m having problems! Can you help and point me in the right direction if you know of an online tuner for tuning it correctly for these strings and at the right pitch?
Is the Baritone Uku strings thicker than the Tenor? Thanks
Not really noticeable but I feel baritone strings are lower tension than tenor.
What model Kala baritone are you playing?
Hi, it's the all solid mahogany kala baritone.
So why don´t you use tenor ukulele strings??
They will snap on a baritone. I tried that.
@@thebaritonechannel9072 Thanx. Your channel is being really useful for me ;)
You are welcome. Glad you find it useful. I only play for the fun of it.
@@thebaritonechannel9072 Hi again. I´ve just received my delivery of Cordoba 20BM and the action is high and hard. Much more even than my Donner UT 6... Is this always like this with Cordoba´s baritone? What can I do? I´m so dissapointed cause I bought ir cause I think it will be much more soft to play than cheaper ukuleles...
Thanx
That's just typical from the factory. They always left actions high at the nut and saddle. It easy to lower the strings by yourself tho. There are plenty of RUclips videos to help you do it. I wouldn't be too disappointed. Just set it to your own liking and enjoy it!
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