5th tuning on a baritone uke

[Patrick Killeen]

What strings would I need to tune a baritone uke as an OM (GDAE)?

I haven't got one but I'm looking for a low GDAE instrument with a shorter scale than my bouzouki. I was thinking of either an OM or a tenor guitar, but a baritone uke looks like an intriguing possibility.

Thanks

Patrick

[allenhopkins]

Don't know myself, but you might try asking your question over at the Flea Market Music bulletin board.


Here's a link.

[Bob DeVellis]

You're planning on stringing it with nylon, I assume?

[Steve Davis]

I have a very cheap Rogue baritone uke from MF thatI tuned as an octave mando with the strings that came on it without problem. Doesn't sound too bad either considering the price, (I think it was about $20.00,) and it plays and stays in tune.

[Dolamon]

I used a fresh set of "standard" Baritone Uke strings on mine, I just reversed the bottom two strings from the set. This will work - the problem I had with both of mine was in the friction tuners. It can get pretty jumpy tuning fresh strings on these until I renotched the nut. This is a real bargain way of getting into either tenor guitar or just adding a different sound to an ensemble group.

One other option is to get an inexpensive set of classical guitar strings and using the middle four strings. The extra strings make either a distinctive string tie or can be used for a cheap bolo.

[Patrick Killeen]

Thanks for the help everyone. I've just got back from an afternoon checking out the instrument shops in London and I've now the proud owner of a Bushman Jenny Baritone Uke from Duke of Uke (if you're in London and happen to need a ukulele than that's the place to go).

Out of curiosity I'll leave it in its standard tuning for a couple of weeks, but I will restring and tune it in fifths after that.

Patrick

[Patrick Killeen]

I've tuned it in fifths now, it came tuned DGBE, I left the E as it was, tuned the B down to A, the G down to D, replaced the D with a low E from a clasical guitar set and tuned that to G.

Patrick

[shiloh]

Patrick,
Will you be fingerpicking? (I guess that's a dumb question....)

I played some classical guitar years ago and considered getting back into it - but I love the 'fifths' tuning - maybe you're onto something.

Thanks,
Jill

[Patrick Killeen]

Patrick,
Will you be fingerpicking? (I guess that's a dumb question....)

I played some classical guitar years ago and considered getting back into it - but I love the 'fifths' tuning - maybe you're onto something.

Thanks,
Jill

Hi Jill

Yes, I'll be mostly fingerpicking. I normally fingerpick on the bouzouki as well but the uke is much easier on the fingers.

All the baritone ukes I saw were like scaled down classical gutairs (including the absence of anywhere to attach a strap, so that's why classical guitarists carry around those foot rest things ). #So your old techniques should be directly applicable.

Regards
Patrick