I just bought a ukulele and a “teach yourself to play” kit with book, CD and DVD. It came today and I’ve been noodling around for about a half hour. Liking it so far, the instructional materials seem really good and geared to beginners, which I certainly am (this is the first time I’ve ever picked up and tried to play a stringed instrument).
One problem I’m having is that – no exaggeration – this thing won’t stay in tune for more than a few minutes. I keep having to skip back to the part of the DVD where they show you the notes to tune the strings to. I suspect this is simply because the strings are new and they keep stretching, which would mean that eventually the damned thing will settle down and start staying in tune for longer, but what if I’m wrong? God knows this is as new as new can be for me.
You Dopers-who-play-stringed-things – is this to be expected with new strings, or could there be something else wrong, or what? It’s not a very expensive uke - I paid like $40 for it. Maybe it’s because the strings are crap, rather than because they’re new?
New strings sometimes stretch for a while. I’ve heard some fellow guitar players say “change a string, tune all night,” although I haven’t experienced that personally. I’m inclined to think some brands of strings are more inclined to stretch like that.
Other possibilities include the strings not being well seated onto the tuning pegs yet, the tuners being loose (some have an screw to adjust the friction), and a serious problem with the instrument itself, like the neck coming loose from the body or the bridge coming loose from the top.
I’m not sure how long to go before deciding it’s not just new strings stretching. You can try checking/adjusting the tuners. At some point you may have to take it to the shop to see if they can figure it out and get it squared away.
I have a small collection of ukes. Every time I get a new one or put new strings on one it takes several days of frequent tuning before it will stay in tune. Not only do the strings stretch, but they tend to be loosely wound around the tuning pegs at first. Sometimes it helps to gently pull on them as you’re tuning, but be careful not to pull too hard.
As noted above, new nylon strings can stretch a lot - it’s not really a matter of the instrument being cheap, you can experience the same sort of thing with an expensive classical guitar - assuming they’re attached correctly, the tuners are halfway decent etc. they will settle down eventually.
Check out the little screw the looks as if it just hold the plastic thing on the tuner. I was in despair when my pegs were so loose they would visibly turn back after being tuned. A guy on a uke forum told me about the little screw, and it solved the problem.
Thanks for all the replies, folks! Several days in, it’s holding pitch a lot better – after sitting overnight it’s still out of tune, but by much less, and I haven’t had to retune it during a practice session since the second day.
Now for another problem: OWWW, the fingertips on my left hand are gettin’ a wee mite tender! Am I pushing down on the fretboard too hard, or do I just have to wait for a while until my fingertips harden up a little?
Staying in tune overnight is a bit much to ask for any stringed instrument. You’ll develop some calluses on your fingertips over time. If you were starting out with a steel stringed instrument, your fingers would probably be much more tender.
This is typical. After a while, you’ll develop callouses on your fretting fingertips which will solve the problem. For what small consolation it may offer, steel strings, as found on most guitars, are worse.
As for how hard to push down: hard enough to get a clear tone from the string rather than a buzz.
Your fingertips will get used to it in time - but it IS a good idea to keep relaxed and try not to exert much more force than necessary to cleanly fret the strings.