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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
 Posted - 06/29/2002 : 7:45:33 PM
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As I was picking out a melody line for "House of the Rising Sun", surprise, I ran out of bass. Actually, the first note was out of range. For various reasons, I don't want to transpose the melody.
So, I did what any member of this board would do, I slacked off the 4th string to an octave lower. No surprise, it sounded awful. I found an old used G-string from a classical guitar set that never got tossed, "barely used" I'd pencilled on the package, and swapped G-strings. It sounds very nice. The chord shapes I'm learning stay the same, but sound better to my guitar-atuned ears. And I can start the melody on A as it should be instead of doubling the following D. The only downside, I hope, is three black strings and one clear.
QUESTION - what about tension? Just from how the new string feels compared to the other strings, I think there is no problem. I'd feel a lot more comfortable if someone knowledgeable agreed.
Secondary question - the chord finder link that Andy gave has a tuning applet, and the tenor tuning has the low G, so that's what I'm calling it. The Fluke isn't really a tenor uke, I think, so is there a better name?
I was going to post this on Jim Beloff's site, but I can't get past the home page; it just hangs.
Thanks for any help,
Pauline
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Pops
Lokahi
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2002 : 8:52:56 PM
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Pauline,
The original Fluke is just slightly larger than a concert and are usually tuned GCEA. However, I've seen it in print that they can accommodate a "low" G. At the Flea Market website their online store sells low G sets that you might want to try.
Glad to hear your intonation problems are going away. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
--Pops
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jcfergus
Aloha
USA
30 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2002 : 3:27:21 PM
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I ran across a reference to Low G tuning on concert and tenor ukes at ukuleleworld.com. They use a wound string (no reference as to diameter) for the low G. There is a strong admonishment about not tuning these sets to standard tuning
The brand is Hilo Strings and they are black. I've checked other brands and not found any for low G tuning. I plan to buy some of these soon for my concert size uke.
These things ARE fun.
Jim
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ukejackson
Akahai
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2002 : 5:20:46 PM
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there are ukuleles and there are guitars. there's no right way or wrong way in music. however, there is a "ukulele sound". it comes from re-entrant tuning (ie., high G).
do what you like. enjoy your ukes.
but you might want to give the traditional ukulele sound a bit more of a chance. there are a variety of ways to achieve melody playing on a uke that is strung re-entrant.
jerry moore has a wonderful book/cd set called the "ukulele secret" that leads the way. try chord soloing.
and please remember, it's a uke rather than a tiny guitar.
Uke Jackson, from farmers markets to festival mainstages, from crossroads cafes to cosmopolitan cabarets |
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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2002 : 5:27:07 PM
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I was trying to avoid a wound string, mainly for esthetics, but the more I play with the nylon guitar string, the tubbier it sounds. Now I'm searching by price - Juststrings and Elderly have them; maybe Webstrings, maybe FQMS.
Ukes are adorable!
Pauline |
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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2002 : 5:31:22 PM
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Oh, I just saw your post, ukejackson.
Yes, I am trying to make it a tiny guitar, I suppose. I'll have to order both kinds of strings, give both tunings an honest try.
Pauline |
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ukejackson
Akahai
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2002 : 8:41:19 PM
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pauline, try a set of hilo or ghs tenor strings (wound 3rd). i have this set up on one of my 1940s gretsch camp ukes (soprano size) for playing low down dirty bluz. a wound 3rd should work well on a concert fluke.
my only point (i hope) is that you give the unique uke sound a chance. likewise, there are always baritone ukes -- which are strung like the high four on a guitar. i play a bunch of irish trads on the bari uke. (i also string one of my tenor guitars this way).
don't worry about it though. soon you'll want a uke or 2 for every possible tuning variation [;-)]
have fun. i took my triumph uke to the river beach today and had a ball strumming. folks there loved it.
peace and ukes,
uj
Uke Jackson, from farmers markets to festival mainstages, from crossroads cafes to cosmopolitan cabarets |
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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2002 : 01:40:47 AM
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The Fluke came to a strumming party tonite, no, not slack key, darn, and was passed around. One fellow held it in his lap and used a pick and a brass slide on it. We all got a laugh, but it sounded pretty good!
ukejackson, the wound thirds are for high G tuning? So for low G it would or at least could be 2 wound strings, 3rd & 4th?
Pauline |
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wdf
Ha`aha`a
USA
1153 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2002 : 12:38:21 AM
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Pauline,
I use Hilo "Low G" strings on my tenor ukulele. They have a wound 3rd and 4th. They sound great. One source is Roy Cone: http://www.ukuleleworld.com/uw_str.html
I also tune to GCEG. It makes playing my taro patch tunes have an entirely new voice.
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Dusty |
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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2002 : 02:48:25 AM
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Dusty,
Thanks. I'm going to try combining my uke string order with a guitar string order if it's possible. The search is on. Ta-da!! (Well, maybe tomorrow.)
Pauline |
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