Tuning Analysis: 8-string baritone ukulele/Chicago tuning

This unique tuning, aptly named "8-string baritone ukulele/Chicago tuning" and described by its creator as "totally and completely made up," offers an intriguing sonic landscape for the baritone ukulele. It combines a familiar chordal structure with octave and unison string pairings, reminiscent of a 12-string guitar or mandolin, resulting in a rich and full sound.

Verbal Observations

The tuning presents as a distinctive take on open string chord voicings. The doubling of strings at unison or octave creates a natural chorus effect, adding depth and resonance to every strum. The overall feel is bright and resonant, providing a fuller harmonic texture than a standard 4-string ukulele. Due to the E minor 7 chord formed by the open strings, this tuning naturally lends itself to blues, jazz, and folk styles where that chord is foundational. The arrangement of pitches also means that many familiar chord shapes for the top four strings of a guitar can be adapted, immediately opening up a wide range of musical possibilities.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this 8-string baritone ukulele, from the lowest pitch (String 8) to the highest (String 1), are: D1, D2, G2, G2, B2, B3, E3, E4.

• String 8 & 7: D1 and D2 (an octave apart)
• String 6 & 5: G2 and G2 (a unison pair)
• String 4 & 3: B2 and B3 (an octave apart)
• String 2 & 1: E3 and E4 (an octave apart)

This structure provides a consistent pattern of paired strings across the instrument, enhancing sustain and harmonic richness. The fundamental pitches D, G, B, E are the same as the top four strings of a standard guitar (DGBE), which directly explains the "Chicago tuning" reference. This makes it highly approachable for guitarists, offering a similar fretboard logic but with the unique timbre and portability of a baritone ukulele.

Open Chords & Reachable Voicings

When all open strings are strummed (D-D-G-G-B-B-E-E), they form an E minor 7 (Em7) chord (E-G-B-D). This means that simply strumming the open strings will yield a rich, complete chord, perfect for accompaniment or creating drone effects. Because the fundamental pitches D, G, B, E mirror the top four strings of a guitar, many guitar chord shapes for these strings will be directly transferable. This will produce a full, harmonically dense sound due to the octave and unison doublings. Chords in the keys of E minor, G major, and D major will feel particularly natural and resonant, offering a broad palette for songwriting and improvisation.

How to Tune

To achieve the "8-string baritone ukulele/Chicago tuning," follow these string movements. Please exercise caution, especially with significant pitch changes, as string gauge may need to be adjusted for extreme tuning alterations.

• String 8 (D1): Tune down 4 semitones. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a notable change. For optimal performance and intonation, consider if a heavier gauge string might be beneficial, especially if the original string feels too slack.
• String 7 (D2): Tune up 3 semitones.
• String 6 (G2): Tune up 3 semitones.
• String 5 (G2): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 4 (B2): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 3 (B3): Tune up 4 semitones. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones is a significant change. Consider a lighter gauge string if this tuning is to be permanent or if you experience excessive string tension.
• String 2 (E3): Tune down 7 semitones. Caution: Tuning down 7 semitones (a perfect fifth) is a considerable drop. A heavier gauge string may be advisable to maintain proper tension and intonation.
• String 1 (E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Here are the target notes for each string, from the lowest (String 8) to the highest (String 1):

• String 8: D1
• String 7: D2
• String 6: G2
• String 5: G2
• String 4: B2
• String 3: B3
• String 2: E3
• String 1: E4