The 'Gedegede' Ukulele Tuning: An Open G Sound

The 'Gedegede' tuning for the Ukulele presents a unique and resonant sound, deviating from the common GCEA or DGBE tunings. This tuning offers an open and expansive feel, particularly useful for strumming and creating drone-like textures. Its name, "gedegede," informally hints at a G-D-G-D pattern, which precisely reflects the resulting open string notes.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning gives the Ukulele a fuller, more robust sound, emphasizing lower G and D notes. It's an excellent choice for players looking to explore a richer harmonic palette or for those who want to achieve a banjo-like resonance. The open strings form a strong, foundational G chord, making it very forgiving for strumming and ideal for folk, blues, or experimental music styles. The repeated G and D notes across the strings create a natural shimmer and sustain, allowing for melodic lines to stand out against a constant drone.

Technical Analysis

The 'Gedegede' tuning sets the Ukulele's four strings to G2 D3 G3 D4 (from lowest to highest pitch). This arrangement creates an open G5 chord (G and D are the root and fifth of a G major chord).

• The interval between String 4 (G2) and String 3 (D3) is a perfect fifth (7 semitones).
• The interval between String 3 (D3) and String 2 (G3) is a perfect fourth (5 semitones).
• The interval between String 2 (G3) and String 1 (D4) is a perfect fifth (7 semitones).

This consistent pattern of perfect intervals (fifths and a fourth) creates a powerful and harmonically rich foundation. While the open strings directly form a G5 chord, the strong presence of G and D notes lends itself effortlessly to implying a full G Major chord (G-B-D), especially in a musical context. Sliding a single finger across a fret can easily produce other powerful major or minor chords, simplifying chord shapes and opening up new melodic possibilities on the fretboard. For example, barring all strings at the 2nd fret would yield an open A5 chord (A-E-A-E), and at the 5th fret, a D5 chord (D-A-D-A).

How to Tune Your Ukulele to 'Gedegede'

To achieve the 'Gedegede' tuning, follow these precise adjustments from your current setup. Please be mindful of string tension; for movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it's generally recommended to consider a different string gauge to prevent string breakage or intonation issues. In this particular tuning, the movements are relatively small, reducing this risk.

• String 4 (Lowest Pitch): Tune down 2 semitones to reach G2.
• String 3: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to reach D3.
• String 2: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to reach G3.
• String 1 (Highest Pitch): Tune down 2 semitones to reach D4.

String 4 (Lowest Pitch): G2

String 3: D3

String 2: G3

String 1 (Highest Pitch): D4