We prefer to use a clip-on tuner as it is quick and precise, especially when tuning a classroom set. Some of my favorite models:.
Remember that new nylon strings stretch quite a bit and the knot will need to cinch into place. We find tie-bar bridges allow strings to break in more quickly, while slotted bridges typically require more time for the strings to stretch as the ball-end knot can take longer before it settles. For more information on how to quickly get your new strings to settle in, check out How to Break in New Ukulele Strings.
Sam Marchuk is an Education Consultant for West Music specializing in folk instruments and curriculum for the elementary classroom. He has been playing ukulele since and is an avid collector of vintage and contemporary ukulele models.
As an Education Consultant, Sam assists with the selection and acquisition of instruments and curriculum with teachers across the U. He enjoys matching up players of all skill levels and classroom teachers with the right ukulele to fit their personality, style, and budget. Sam has demonstrated the potential of the of the ukulele at numerous state and national music education conferences, helped with the startup of ukulele programs across the U. Your explanation is clearer than most; you might even show views of both right side and left side strings inserted at the headstock.
Thanks for mentioning Strathmore Ukulele Summit. I am happy to know about it and planning to share the info. It is a rather exciting event — hoping to go this year or next.
Search for:. Login Wish list. Call us Customer service Login. Guitar Strings vs. Ukulele Strings Guitar and Ukulele string require different care and maintenance as they are made from different materials and produce different sounds. When to Change Strings The ukulele gets a bad rap as beginners can trouble keeping it in tune. Shop for Aquila Ukulele Strings. Changing Strings on a Tie-Bar or String Through Bridge The tie-bar bridge has a hole bored through it so the string can be inserted into and then looped back around itself and secured with a knot.
Step 1: Insert string into bridge. Step 2: Leave enough excess for knot. Step 3: Bring end of string over. Step 4: Tuck end of string under. Step 5: Loop string over. Step 6: Insert string through loop. Step 7 same as Step 5 : Point end of string up.
Step 8 same as Step 6 : Insert loop a 2nd time. Step 9: Complete double-loop knot. Step 10 Align tail with back of bridge to secure knot and tighten.
Changing Strings with a Slotted Bridge The slotted bridge requires a knot to be tied at the end of each string. How to Tie a Figure-8 Knot. Step 1 Start by putting a bend in the string. The tone will vary with each style of course. I like two brands in particular.
So basically, these non-guitar and orchestral instruments are their wheelhouse. Aquila is one of the few companies making gut strings. If you want to try something close, the Nylgut strings are the first synthetic vegan gut strings.
It replicates the tone while being made of a Nylon material. I'm going to link to the individual strings, which will be for specific sizes. To see the right option for your ukulele, check out our entire string selection. The best way to find the best string for you is to try a lot. Get a couple different packs and see what brand and material you like best. Try a new one every time you change your strings! BUT, they should still be cared for.
I have a friend who changes strings on all of his instruments at least once or twice a year. This is regardless of if, or how much, he plays them.
Sometimes all he does is change the strings, strum a couple chords, and puts it away for a few months. There are a couple major takeaways from this. The first is general instrument care. Besides changing the strings, there are a couple other things you should do to your ukulele. I do this every time I change strings. The polish cleans the body, removing all of the oils and dirt we have on our hands.
The second is more of a preventative maintenance. I mentioned earlier that strings carry a certain amount on tension. This tension drops overtime even without playing the ukulele. Ukuleles are designed to be under this constant tension. Over time this can have a negative impact. Or it could form a twist. These are extreme cases, but worth avoiding. Doing these things will keep your ukes looking and sounding good for decades.
Q: How long should it take to change strings? This includes conditioning the fretboard, polishing the body, and stretching the strings. Q: How do you stretch the strings? This is very important to do with new strings. It gets them to a place where they will stay in tune. Tune the entire ukulele up to pitch. Place your index finger of your fretting hand on the first or second fret of the first string.
Grab the same string just over the sound hole with your other hand. Gently pull up on the string away from the ukulele directly above the sound hole. The string should be lower in pitch after that.
I'm one of those every couple months kind of string changer. I play almost daily and there just comes a day when the strings kind of lose their luster to my ears.
Then I change them. I've also been experimenting a bit with different strings a little bit. You get pretty different sounds depending on the brand. MGM has multi-brand sampler packs you can get I liked the Hilos on one of my ukes quite a lot, but recently switched it back to Aquilas again. The Aquilas have a much sharper attack for fingerpicking, but the Hilos had a much sweeter strumming sound.
Keonikapila New member. Joined Jan 15, Messages Points 0. I usually change strings every month-and-a-half to 2 months at the most. Joined Apr 16, Messages Points 0. If you swap out your strings to try and find what you like and you're not pleased, can you put your old ones back on, or are they ruined one you take them off? Guting New member. Joined Jan 16, Messages Points 0. SamJ New member.
Joined Apr 21, Messages Points 0. Joined Aug 23, Messages 22 Points 0. I've been playing several hours per day for only about 2. I've noticed just in the past week that the string tension seems to feel lower, as if the strings have become floppier but they are still holding their pitch.
There is a small amount of stretch visible near the nut from the act of tuning, which I think is pretty normal for nylon strings. But, oddly, from a playability perspective, it almost feels to me like the action of my uke has lowered hence the impression of "floppiness".
Another factor that may be coming into play is that winter has definitely set in here, and it's really dry. So for 3 or 4 hours per day it is in a very dry room. Could this be impacting everything? I will change the strings and see, but I'd love to know if anyone has experience of this "dulling" of sound over time.
I'm assuming fluorocarbon strings are more resistant to these external factors. But having tried Oasis, Worth browns, and Aquilas reds and white nylguts , as well as the Ko'olau strings and d'Addario titaniums, I still come back to these nylons and just rejoice at the beauty of their sound and their ability to respond to changing dynamics so well.
That said, I'd love to discover a less expensive, more resilient alternative that still sings to me. I'd love to know if these end-of-life issues are normal. I've only been playing ukulele for about 8 months, so I don't have enough experience yet to know if this is common. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Joined May 18, Messages Points 0. It is very subjective issue. I changed strings after one and a half year. The old strings had still no problem at that time. But the difference was so big and I am very happy with new strings.
I decided that I will change my strings at least evry 6 month. I play about a couple of hours a day. Reno Dave Member. Joined Jul 4, Messages Points
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