Low G VS High G, Which Ukulele Tuning Should You Pick?

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

Hello, I'm sure I forgot few things, otherwise the video would be 30 minutes + ! why don't you let me know what differences you've noticed between the two down in the comment section like string tension, how your ukulele holds the tuning, and your general feelings towards one or the other 👇👇

[@marimaeabreu]

Wow, this just blew my mind and its never been explained to me in this way.... ** pressing replay **

[@sadie771]

I much prefer low G but thought it was just personal preference. It makes much more sense now. Great explanation! I really enjoyed seeing your renaissance guitar as well.

[@peggy_tan]

I have strong interest in Renaissance guitar (what a beautiful instrument), and there are very few resources on the instrument. I would love to learn the rebellion history behind the Renaissance guitar and all things related to it. 😊

[@merovekh]

You're an incredible teacher. After this and learning Greensleeves from your video, you've convinced me; I'm going to save up to do your beginners course.

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

That's awesome that you made the choice. I've added the option to do 3 monthly payment yesterday to help people out so check it if you want. I can't wait to have you join the student based and interact with the private community plus see your progress!! best of luck!

[@merovekh]

@@MKFingerstyleAcademy One more question before I enroll! Does your course also teach theory & practice and other pedagogy, or is it mostly just learning fingerstyle arrangements?

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

Hello Merovekh, the course has a Technique Essentials component which is the corner stone of the pedagogy. You learn the techniques and 'why' of fingerstyle and legato as well as some advanced concepts, coupled with basic theory like reading notation and rhythm. The 40 songs aren't there for you to learn them, they're contexts for you to apply what you learn in the Techniques component. I always discuss why you use this finger and not the other and how it relates to legato, so from that aspect, tons of theory. It is never about 'just' playing the song. I am releasing a tutorial tomorrow for The Last of Us theme, the beginning will demonstrate that point when I discuss Position Shifts so look for it :)

[@rejeangagne4524]

I have both lowg and highg, and much prefer the lowg in general especially for fingerstyle, but will happily use my highg if necessary. I would eventually like to learn guitar as well, so I guess being used to lowg will make it a bit easier.

[@Fernwald84]

Mustafa, this was the best theory treatment I've ever watched or read, bar none. A worthy accompaniment to your playing.

[@wdashwor]

Great video! I have to say my experience is different, though. I'm a former classical guitarist who plays almost entirely finger style on uke (mainly arrangements of early nineteenth century guitar pieces). And-I prefer the high g tuning (and a soprano uke, too!). That tuning to me is a lot of what gives the ukulele its unique feel and sound that’s so different from the guitar. You’re analysis is right, though, missing those chord roots below the C absolutely does limit what I can play. Strangely enough, I enjoy exploring what I can do *within* that limitation. But having said all that, low G does have a lot going for it. Looking forward to your future videos! 😊

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

I am a big fan of high g classical arrangements! They sound very unique!

[@koralessons]

Great lesson. Thanks!

[@MikeDavid_Davideos]

Plus, you could play Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel's "Harp Harmonics" by using the low G. Though Jake Shimabukuro did a lot of great stuff in his high G uke, most of his arrangements were ranging only from the keys of G, C, and A. Sometimes, in the key of F. These more or less 4 years, he often play with a bass player to compensate what is lacking (bass or low notes). Jake is still one of the best ukulele wizards out there, but I personally prefer the low G for broader range. James Hill who's also one of the best 'ukulelists uses both high G and low G (and DGBe tuning as well)

[@hollykilpatrick38]

Great video, very interesting and enjoyable. I have two instruments, but mostly play the Low G, but Sam Muir has many arrangements for High G and likes the campanella style, which is fun too. Also, I think High G is harder on the fingertips if you have sensitive fingers because it has two very thin strings. Therefore, I find the Low G more comfortable to play.

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

Speaking of which, I have a whole Capanella module coming to Ukulele Scales Pro, look out for that update!

[@pgiersjr]

@@MKFingerstyleAcademyVERY psyched about a Campanella module for the Scale Pro course!

[@jamesglasson105]

That was an incredible theory lesson. Nicely done!

[@herrberg8962]

Very well explained and with some background. 👍

[@4stringboy]

Great video man - the whole using thumb as a melody player is exactly why I struggle with low G.

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

thanks! yeh, when I play high G I have to 'commit' to my eyes rather than my ears and play the tab as written, but whenever my thumb plays a high pitch my eyes twitch a bit because my brain doesn't expect these results Which is what makes it so awesome! I hope to get the chance and time to produce more high g content but...there are only so many days in the year :(

[@4stringboy]

@@MKFingerstyleAcademy I feel the same about baritone mate 😅 would love to do more!

[@trueconextionmusic7707]

I've noticed that while the low G does give it more range, it does feel like the intrument changes to that of a guitar. I feel the high G is what makes the Ukulele unique.

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

It depends on your perceptions. I came to the instrument from a blank canvas so the sound of the ukulele in my mind wasn't that of re-entrant tuning. But yes, re-entrant tuning does have a nice sound to it but its very limited in what you can do with it musically speaking. Of course, of what you CAN do with it, there are infinite possibilities

[@Noxpaxx]

that is a great video thank you for your effort

[@kennethellis8118]

When I started playing the ukulele I bought a high g and joined a couple of local uke. groups. I enjoyed stumming and singing along with them. As I don't have much of a singing voice, I decided to try some fingerpicking and learned to play quite a few songs thanx to people like Mustafa on youtube. I soon found out that many songs could only be played properly on a Low G. so I bought a new uke, Low G and loved it. I now have many ukes. I love them all, some songs sound better on high g others sound better on low G and can only be played on low G. Therefore I suggest get one of each. Also this maybe of use to someone, the first uke. I bought was a concert size as I have very small hands, this was fine at first but as I progressed and started playing chords and things further up the neck I found it very difficult as the frets were very small past the seventh fret. so I changed to Tenor size ukes. Job done well pleased. So I recommend to keep this in mind when deciding what size of ukulele to buy. If you intend to advance up the neck{ which you will} check that you can get your fingers easily in fret 10. 🥴phooo all this typing, going for a 🥱

[@jayparadillo5331]

Thaaanksss alot.. this blow my mind.. so much to learn... Im a guitar player, i just bought a uke and just slap on the standard tuning for ukes, its weird that my thumb plays the higher pitch hahaha.. thanks for the help MK....gonna try the low g tuning as well

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

Hey man I am a guitar convert too...you'll get addicted to the ukulele :D

[@pgiersjr]

You’ve outdone yourself (again)! Absolutely ❤ the session. The only thing I would have liked to see more of is a discussion of Campanella and where it fits in historically.

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

I would have loved to!! I already received complaints the video is too long and too fast :D - -2024 for you!! hopefully I make a video about that part of the Sessions episodes!

[@pgiersjr]

@@MKFingerstyleAcademy excellent idea! It could give you time to play some short demos of different periods, tunings, instruments, and styles from more of a historical perspective.

[@pgiersjr]

Btw, I thought the length was just about right for a ‘session’.

[@adnil8410]

Bravo! 👏

[@pgiersjr]

Thanks!

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

Thank you so much!!!

[@WitchDoctor87]

It would be awesome if you used more high G in some songs. I play High G, so most times, I listen to your videos. However, don't learn songs from them because of the low G you use. Either way, if you don't use High G, I will still listen. Though I won't learn much music from them.

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

Sadly the arrangements I do wo t work on high g. Moonlight Sonata, Claire De Lune, the Bach, all of these would become incredibly more difficult if not impossible on high g :/. I am glad you still listen though :)

[@Patrick-gm3fb]

5:47 Maybe I'm mistaken but I'm pretty certain that you have your terms backwards here. You count strings from the bottom (closer to the floor) of an instrument so that means that the high g would be strung first if you're performing a downstroke and plucking the low G before the high g.

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

Yes you are correct. Strings are counted from the bottom up. But I wasn't referring to strings here, I was referring to the course. So course 1 2 3 4. In course 4, low g is strung first, and high g is strung second If you're counting is as strings, then you are correct. To clarify, the Low G is the one closest to the player's eyes, and the high g is under it.

[@Patrick-gm3fb]

@@MKFingerstyleAcademy Okay, that's how I understood you to mean it. I'm not classically trained by any means, I'm largely self taught and have managed to pick up small tidbits of more technical theory over the years from other musicians. So why would that string be considered to be strung first and not second in the course if strings are counted in the opposite direction? It seems unnecessary to me but I can imagine there's some esoteric historical reason for it?

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

I'm actually not sure. This is more done based on 'intuition'. I got the course order right, I usually get the strings order right. But when talking about the order of strings inside the same course I just 'went with it'. Mostly because you'd usually string the Low G first then string the high g. Whatever it is, what really matters is the viewer understands what is going on, and with few rewinds, and a scroll down to this comment, I think this point is now cleared up!

[@karenrouth2056]

As a classical musician and Uke newby, that was brilliant and had me smiling all the way lol! Next…..!😂

[@57raytay]

Wow , Ukulele Sessions was wonderful! I will need to go over that one again and again. This IS where the cool ukulele content IS happening !

[@juliel7522]

Dont particularly like the high pitched sounding high g, i could only listen to a high g for a short amount of time. Low g gives the instrument more range which i feel it needs

[@Banjoleletinman]

HIGH G UNTIL THE DAY I DIE

[@MKFingerstyleAcademy]

Did you hear your strings in this video ;) ?

[@Banjoleletinman]

@@MKFingerstyleAcademy I thought they sounded a bit magic!