One of the simplest ways to tune your ukulele is to use a pitch pipe. These small, lightweight tuners provide you with a reference pitch that will help you tune your instrument.

Unlike an electric tuner, pitch pipes cannot tell you if you're flat or sharp, you have to tune by ear. However, using a pitch pipe will help you to develop a greater memory for the correct pitch, making it easier to spot when you're falling out of tune. They are also extremely portable and, of course, no batteries required!

Pitch pipes can be purchased at most music stores or online and typically cost between $8 and $20. Pitch pipes are created to produce a different number and range of notes. A ukulele-specific tuner will have the simple GCEA tuning while a chromatic pitch pipe will cover a full chromatic scale.

Ukulele Specific Pitch Pipe	Chromatic Pitch Pipe

To use your pipe, simply blow into the proper end, usually marked with the letter of the note it corresponds to. This vibrates metal reeds, which have been calibrated to produce the correct note. Use the tuning pegs on your ukulele to match the sound you produce with the pitch pipe, loosening strings to lower the pitch, tightening them to raise it.

Tuning Tip: Always remember to tune up to the right note! If you finish tuning by lowering your strings, the instrument will fall flat quicker. This is because when you loosen strings, leftover slack often remains behind the nut and is released as you pluck and strum.

Written by Caroline Gibson