Fit Low G String On Ukulele - How To Swap High G To Low G

[@stanleysokolow]

I used a non-wound Aquila Red low-G string on my concert and my tenor. I prefer the Aquila Red non-wound over a wound low-G because they don't squeak when you slide your finger on them. The material has a slightly rough surface that does make a slight noise, unlike Aquila nylgut strings which are smooth, but the roughness only causes a quiet sound that isn't as annoying as the squeaks of a wound string. Some people claim that the Aquila Red strings break too easily. That hasn't been my experience. I tightened the string slowly over several hours when I first installed it, to give the string time to stretch. I also made sure that the nut slot didn't have a sharp edge where the string rested on it. After the initial break-in of re-tunings, the string stays in tune as well as my other Aquila nylgut/super-nylgut strings do.

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks for your experience Stanley, that's really good to know. I definitely need to try an unwound low G as like you, I'm not a fan of the sound you get from the wound low Gs. Hope you are keeping well.

[@MrJassynat]

I'm a beginner with Uke... I have a concert size and I found that we could change the High-G to a Low-G...! Ukelele Wales, your video will help me for sure...! It will help my wife with her hearing problems... High notes bother her... so with this change I hope it help her...! And I was not sure which strings would be better; so, thanks Stanley for your experience and suggestion...!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

A Flatwound Low G would be cool and you can use the top 4 Strings from a set of Thomastik Infeld CF128 Flatwound Classical Guitar Strings

[@georgefrench1907]

I’m a stalwart low-G fan. I used a fine-toothed triangle-shaped file to widen the nut slot for the low G without deepening it - thus ensuring I could revert to a high-G string if I wished.

[@UkuleleWales]

Excellent advice there George, I will certainly bear it in mind when filing nuts. Thank You 😊

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The Wound Low G String for Ukulele is designed essentially like the Wound Strings of a Classical Guitar string set in that it's a Nylon Core wrapped in Metal.

[@georgefrench1907]

On our family visit to Snowdonia and Anglesey in 2019, we tucked into a great pub in Conry for lunch one day. To our delight a four piece band (guitar, percussion and two ukes) was performing an eclectic mix of trad and contemporary songs with great elan. Having recently transitioned from guitar to ukulele, I approached the stage to express my admiration and was invited to try my hand at a tune. My rendition of “San Francisco Bay Blues” hit a few sour notes, but the memory of the friendliness of and sincere welcome from the band is sweet indeed. (Regrettably, we couldn’t attend the Tuesday jam the next evening.)

[@UkuleleWales]

That is such a lovely comment to read George. It is so nice to hear you had such a positive experience, yes Welsh people do tend to be very friendly and love their music! 😉

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I heard that you can use Bridge Beads to convert Tie End Strings into Ball End Strings for easier restringing.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Ernie Ball makes Ball End Low G Ukulele Strings which make restringing a Snap plus it lets the strings come out of the bridge at a steeper angle over the saddle. They also make bridge beads which essentially convert Tie End Strings into Ball End Strings.

[@UkuleleWales]

Yes, I've tried the Ernie Ball strings with ball ends before but not a low G. Will definitely have a look at them in the future, Thanks.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@UkuleleWales Their Ball End Low G Sets are rather interesting because the Low G is 80/20 Bronze Wound so it does produce a Special sound

[@UkuleleWales]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 Will definitely look into them. Thanks

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@UkuleleWales I can't wait to see that. Ernie Ball's Low G Ball End Ukulele Strings

[@Iceland874]

You posted this on my youngest son’s birthday last year. He wants a ukulele and I just got a concert ukulele for my birthday. I was wondering how to do this. Thank you so much for this video.

[@UkuleleWales]

My pleasure Tricia and it's lovely to hear both you and your son are enjoying the uke.

[@samelliot9186]

Very helpful have an Aquila low g string red series but like you I have a slotted bridge and to get fitting into the slot 👍

[@UkuleleWales]

Glad to have helped.

[@kevbob]

Super instruction. I just got one of the Dhani Harrison tenor ukes by Fender and I'm gonna pop a low G on there tomorrow. This helps!

[@UkuleleWales]

Glad to have helped Kevin.

[@garymotonaga6357]

Thank you so much! My new tenor is on its way and I am changing it to a low G. You've taken the mystery and the anxiety of what I need to do by watching your video in just a few minutes. Are there special files you use? Could you come over and re-do my plumbing? I'm in Hawaii.

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Gary, glad to have helped and hopefully your new tenor has arrived safe and sound. I just use the very thing files, normally the round version, something similar to these: www.amazon.co.uk/Mesee-Diamond-Triangular-Riffler-Precision/dp/B098WYXGCV?th=1

[@joecarusomusic3779]

Well done. I'll be converting my current uke to low G when I replace it with a new high G uke. Thank you.

[@UkuleleWales]

Very glad to have helped, hope you get your low G soon.

[@coltenben3470]

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[@jedidiaheddie4370]

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[@coltenben3470]

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[@coltenben3470]

@Jedidiah Eddie it worked and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my ass!

[@stoneyrunva]

Excellent video. Suggest using a pencil to add a bit of graphite to freshly filed nut slots.

[@UkuleleWales]

Yes, I should have mentioned this as I often do this, especially on cellos! A great tip reminder, Thanks

[@stoneyrunva]

@@UkuleleWales Love your channel. I've learned a bunch. Thank you.

[@jarmosalonen2068]

I had rather heard you testing how the intonation with that string that had been wound around silk is? Also I don't like at all that you had to file the nut. hope not at the nut bottom, that should be left to someone who can also replace a new nut.

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi, the intonation is good. I am very capable of replacing a uke nut so wasn't worried if things went wrong. As it was, it all worked out very well.

[@rickberry899]

Thank you for posting this. I am wanting to do a low g swap on a ukulele with that exact bridge. This is so helpful. Thanks again!

[@UkuleleWales]

You're very welcome!

[@johnboyengland3476]

Thank you for your wonderful video, it helped me a lot

[@UkuleleWales]

My pleasure, very glad to have helped. 😎

[@ukulelebobby]

Thank you for this video. Great details and filming . Cheers !

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks, very glad you enjoyed.

[@uinsinoriabhaigh7758]

Thanks for the video, I was about replace all of the strings?!

[@UkuleleWales]

Unless you need to change the other strings, you can just change the low G, hope this helps.

[@mrbivasroy]

Thank you so much for the nice video ma'am. If a low G string is available, is there any substitute for it? I mean which string of guitar can manage?

[@UkuleleWales]

You can buy ukulele string sets with a low G. I would not try to use guitar strings. Hope that helps.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@UkuleleWales A Classical Guitar D String makes a great Low G Ukulele string because it's Nylon wrapped in Metal

[@lazykitten4356]

Thank you so much. I plan to do the same!

[@UkuleleWales]

Go for it, definitely worth doing.

[@wylancslass]

You are a star! I tried changing my Flight Ukulele to a low G and the string was too thick. I wasn't sure how to amend the nut but because of this video, now I know. Can I just ask where you got your files from? Thank you for this. So helpful.

[@UkuleleWales]

So glad I can be of help! LOL These are cheap files, something like this - www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-633509-Diamond-Needle-File/dp/B000LFTT1K/ref=sr_1_20?dchild=1&keywords=small+files&qid=1597878853&sr=8-20 but you can also get fret files which are even better (and I forgot I have!) like this - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-Nut-Slotting-File-Saw-Rods-Filing-Repair-Tools-Luthier-Kit-13-Sizes/402327087572?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D228422%26meid%3D9886bdf2d8f947be8f7e68ab8f4fa2a1%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D293689016656%26itm%3D402327087572%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithBBEV1FilterHighArw%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[@wylancslass]

@@UkuleleWales Thank you!

[@nokiob2154]

Great video...I have an electric uke, the same one as your hubby's , the Harley Benton, could I put a low G on that?....

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi, have just had a quick look at the electric uke and I can't see why not. It is the same slotted bridge which looks like it has enough room to accomodate the low G. I'm not sure how the wound string will react with the pick up, it might be louder but only one way to find out.!

[@nokiob2154]

@@UkuleleWales thanx very much for your quick response, ill order the G string and let u know how it goes...many thanx, have a great day.

[@UkuleleWales]

@@nokiob2154 Cool, yes please it would be great to know how it turns out.

[@margaretshepherd9983]

Another great video

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Margaret. Been meaning to do this for a while, the string has settled really well.

[@cruisip9722]

I changed my 23" ukulele to low G today, i always feel the pitch no correct but actually seems ok, i feel the low G very unsolid, does anyone tell me more about this, and the chord bass voice change, i may need to learn some low G chord hand shape.

[@UkuleleWales]

I do think it takes a little getting used to if you haven’t played low G before and I think some ukes sound very different with them. I don’t tend to change chord shapes for a low G but I can imagine in some cases, different voicing of chords may be useful with a low G.

[@baldbassclef]

May I asked what file you used? Maybe make and size?

[@UkuleleWales]

It was a cheap set of files from a local hardware store but something similar to these on Amazon. I *think* I used the round file, hope that helps. www.amazon.co.uk/Oudtinx-Diamond-Needle-Piece-100mm/dp/B07L49DLBN

[@not_here3719]

How do you tune the low g string without snapping it? Can someone please help me this is my second attempt on trying aha

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi, do you have a clip on tuner? If so, set it to the Chromatic or C setting as this will pick the low G better. I have also done a Tuning notes video for low G here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZ3cooKHbdOthdE I hope this helps.

[@f1948s]

What is the frequency of the low G? Thanks.

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Franko, sorry, no idea what the actual frequency is. It's an octave lower than a "normal" ukulele G. I always tune generally to 440 hz if that helps?

[@brjplummer9415]

Hi Franko, Low G on a Uke is called G3 the frequency is 196Hz. Then an Octave higher is G4 its frequency is 391.9 Hz. That is probably the more common string used. Regards Brian from NZ

[@ChrisGorman87]

When playing low G do the chords change or stay the same?????

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Chris, chord shapes stay exactly the same, just the pitch of the G string is an octave lower.

[@tmeyer2022]

Strings will stretch over the first day or two. This is quite normal.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

iz kamakawiwoʻole used that tuning hence the name iz kamakawiwoʻole tuning (or IZ tuning for Short).

[@UkuleleWales]

Didn't know that so Thanks. Knew Iz used a low G but haven't heard the term IZ tuning before. :-)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@UkuleleWales It's his signature sound

[@UkuleleWales]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 Yes, love the sound with his low G, just hadn't heard the term before.

[@MichaelSmith-yy8fw]

May I ask: 1. What brand of ukulele is that? 2. Where did get the electric string winder? Whoops. #1 answered: Kmise. Thank you for the great instruction. 🙏 Hmm, would you be willing to sell that ukulele? I would gladly buy it. MikeInMinnesota

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Michael, glad you discovered it's a Kmise. It is still available to buy, here in the UK, possibly try Amazon with you? www.amazon.co.uk/Kmise-Concert-Ukulele-Ukelele-Classical/dp/B072MGXNB1/ The tuner is the Jowoom T2 automatic smart tuner, hope that helps.

[@davidswain1240]

I have a soprano with a high G, Aquila strings. I would like to change to a low unwound low G. What do you reckon?

[@UkuleleWales]

It is definitely possibly to put a low G on a soprano, I have done it personally but you just need to be careul the nut will fit the wider gauge string.