Ukulele tuning · A D F♯ B

Ukulele D tuning.

A D F♯ B: a whole step up from standard. Tune with your mic or by ear, at A4 = 440 or any pitch you need.

Tuner · Any tuning

Tune your ukulele.

Pluck a string and the meter shows how far off it is. Tap any string to hear it at its true pitch and tune by ear.

  • Pick any instrument and tuning
  • Shift it down or up by half steps
  • Set A to anything: 440, 432, 442…

A D F♯ B · gCEA shape · +2 st

The sound never leaves your device.

Keys: Space start or stop · ← → half step · ↑ ↓ A (Shift: bigger steps) · 1–9 string · M mode · R hear · − + volume · L copy link · Esc done

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tab: G

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Strings · tap to hear

Ukulele · Raised standard

About Ukulele D tuning

Every string sits a whole step above gCEA: A D F♯ B. Downtuned standard tunings keep every chord shape you know; songs simply sound lower and the strings feel a bit looser.

D tuning was common on soprano ukuleles in the early 20th century. Some players still use it for a brighter, louder sound.

Also written: Ukulele D tuning (ADF#B) · ADF#B

How to get there from standard

  • String 4: raise a whole step (G4 → A4)
  • String 3: raise a whole step (C4 → D4)
  • String 2: raise a whole step (E4 → F♯4)
  • String 1: raise a whole step (A4 → B4)

4 strings

Notes and frequencies

Ukulele D tuning: notes and frequencies in Hz at three common A4 references
StringNoteA = 440A = 432A = 442
4A4440.00432.00442.00
3D4293.66288.33295.00
2F♯4369.99363.27371.68
1B4493.88484.90496.13

The tuner on this page works at any A4 from 300 to 600 Hz, and can shift the whole tuning by half steps or fine cents.

Measured

How the tuner hears D4

Ukulele D tuning goes no lower than D4 on String 3, 293.66 Hz, where phone mics hear well: our phone-mic model takes next to nothing off it, and D4 stayed within 1 ¢.

How the tuner listens →

String tension

Strings and tension

Strings 4–⁠1: about 26% more tension (approx., same strings, same scale length).

Raising a string adds tension: a whole step up is about +26% on that string (approx.). Tune up slowly and stop at the note. Same notes with less strain: tune to gCEA and put a capo on fret 2.

Neighboring tunings

Higher tunings first. Each rung moves every string of Ukulele D tuning by a half step; in the tuner, the ◂ ▸ arrows on the tuning chip do the same.

  1. B E G♯ C♯All strings 4 half steps higher. Notes: B E G sharp C sharp
  2. B♭ E♭ G CAll strings 3 half steps higher. Notes: B flat E flat G C
  3. D tuningThis pageAll strings 2 half steps higher. Notes: A D F sharp B
  4. A♭ D♭ F B♭All strings 1 half step higher. Notes: A flat D flat F B flat
  5. gCEAThe usual ukulele tuning

Questions

What are the notes of Ukulele D tuning?

From String 4 to String 1: A4 D4 F♯4 B4. At A4 = 440 Hz the lowest string is 293.66 Hz and the highest is 493.88 Hz.

Why use Ukulele D tuning?

Ukulele D tuning (A D F♯ B) sits a whole step above gCEA. It was common in the early 20th century and gives small instruments a brighter sound. Chord shapes stay the same; only their names move up.

Is Ukulele D tuning safe for my strings?

Raising a string adds tension: a whole step up is about +26% on that string (approx.). Tune up slowly and stop at the note. Same notes with less strain: tune to gCEA and put a capo on fret 2.