What Is a Guitalele?
A guitalele is a hybrid instrument: a six-string guitar in body shape but with the smaller body and higher pitch of a baritone ukulele. Standard tuning is ADGCEa, which is the same intervallic relationship as a guitar but pitched up a fourth.
If you play guitar, your chord shapes transfer directly to guitalele: they just sound a fourth higher. A guitar 'C' chord on a guitalele produces an F.
How to Tune a Guitalele Online
Tap each string letter to hear the reference tone, then pluck your guitalele and adjust until the needle centres. The strings are smaller and shorter than a guitar's, so they tend to settle into tune faster but also detune more from temperature and humidity.
In order, tune A2 (lowest) → D3 → G3 → C4 → E4 → A4 (highest).
Guitalele vs Requinto vs Ukulele
Requinto guitars are tuned ADGCEa or similar but are full-sized guitars with shorter necks for higher pitch. Guitaleles are smaller-bodied. Baritone ukuleles are tuned DGBE: the same as a guitar's top four strings.
All three benefit from this tuner: just match the strings to ADGCEa.
Common Problems
New nylon strings stretch significantly during the first day. Re-tune every 30 minutes for the first 4-5 hours of play.
If strings buzz, the action at the saddle may be too low: common on cheaper guitaleles. A new bone or graphite saddle solves it.
Guitalele Playing Tips
Use a felt pick or your fingertips: plastic picks are harsh on nylon strings. Many players prefer fingerstyle for the warmer tone. Capos designed for classical guitar fit guitaleles.