4

I just got a banjolele as a gift. I've played uke for years, so I assumed tuning it would be a breeze, but it has not been!

It's concert sized, and I've been tuning it to GCEA. If I tune it to the 3rd octave, the strings are all warbly, loose, and won't hold tune at all. But the 4th octave is too high and snaps the strings. I can't even get the G string past D4.

Is there a way to make the strings tighter when tuning to the 3rd octave? Or should it be in the 4th and there's a technical issue? Help!

Improve this question
3
  • are you using the strings that came with it, or did you put specific concert size set on? Concert has a longer scale length than soprano and uses a different string gauge. Wrong set could be causing problems.
    – Alphonso Balvenie
    Commented Mar 6, 2017 at 19:49
  • Is your bridge in the right place and angled correctly?
    – jejorda2
    Commented Mar 6, 2017 at 19:49
  • I broke a few of the strings that came on it while trying to tune, so I put a set of strings I had from a tenor ukulele on it. I measured out the bridge placement, I wasn't sure if maybe the bridge could be too high and needs to be filed down a bit.. but I didn't really want to mess with it until I got a little more information on it! Thanks!
    – Catie
    Commented Mar 6, 2017 at 20:24

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

Check your Uke's scale length to determine which type of strings you should use. The body may look like a Concert, but it is the scale length that you want to get strings for. To check the scale length, measure from the nut to the bridge.

  • Soprano = 13 inches or 33 cm
  • Concert = 15 inches or 38 cm
  • Tenor = 17 inches or 43 cm
  • Baritone = 19 inches or 48 cm

If it is an older (vintage) banjolele it may not be in a standard scale length. Try the smaller size's strings in that case.

There are also alternate tunings than current common standard, such as Soprano being tuned A4-D4-F#4-B4, and the instrument may be built for the higher tuning. Tuning up will also give you a higher tension, so if the older instrument is built for the higher tuning, G tuned strings will have lower tension on that instrument.

Some string manufacturers may have a high-tension version of the set that you can use to get more tension on the lower tuning.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.