Ukulele: High-G vs. Low-G tuning

When a student buys their first ukulele (or their fifth) it will almost certainly be strung and tuned with the High-G tuning.  The student then buys a book, goes online, or even works with a teacher and each of these learning approaches reinforce the use of the High-G tuning.

The questions we need to ask (and answer): What are the High-G and Low-G tuning?  What are the benefits and drawbacks of each of these tunings?  How do we decide which to use?

The High-G tuning is a "re-entrant" tuning, which means the strings are not in order from high to low as you progress across the instrument.  On a High-G tuned ukulele the first string is an A, the second string is an E, the third string is a C, and the fourth string is a G…BUT this fourth string G is higher than the second string E.  If you were to play the notes of a High-G tuned ukulele from high to low you would play the first string followed by the fourth then the second then the third.  

The Low-G tuning is the same notes of the High-G with the only difference being that the forth string G is now an octave lower.  In the Low-G tuning the strings are high to low first to fourth.

There is some debate as to how the initial High-G tuning originated with the most common opinion being that the thicker and heavier low G string was simply too expensive and difficult to make with the materials traditionally available.  

The advantage of the High-G tuning is that it gives what most consider to be a more "authentic" Hawaiian sound.  Giving a close listen to some of the more popular traditional Hawaiian artists however indicates that quite a few actually use the Low-G tuning.  There is also a more advanced style of ukulele playing called "clawhammer" ukulele that relies on the High-G tuning.

The advantages of Low-G tuning are more extensive.  This tuning more closely resembles that of a guitar and makes the playing of scales, finger-style playing, and varied strum patterns much simpler. This lower tuning also makes the transition between ukulele and guitar simpler, which is helpful for the smaller student who eventually wants to play guitar. They can begin on the Low-G tuned ukulele and when they have grown into the guitar they can switch over.

If you have already learned to strum chords on High-G tuning the transition to Low-G tuning is simple.  The chord shapes are all exactly the same.  On the other hand if you have already worked out elaborate arrangements in High-G tuning you might find they don’t sound right to you in Low-G tuning. 

The strings I am currently using for my Low-G set are Worth Brown Strings.