Sometimes, as a ukulele player, you might want to deviate a bit from what has come to be known as the traditional ukulele sound. This might be for either technical or some artistic reasons. Whatever the reason might be, there are times you want a warm, full, and extended ukulele sound, as opposed to the traditional bright and focused sound the ukulele is known for. This is where the low G string comes in. In this article, I will review five low G ukulele strings that are best for that unique low G ukulele sound.
 | 1.Editor’s choice for best low G ukulele strings – D’Addario EJ99TLG Pro-Arté A great sounding low G ukulele string from one of the most reputable string makers in the world of string instruments. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 2.Best low G concert Ukulele strings– Aquila Sugar Ukulele Strings Low G With a brilliant, clean and precise sound, this is an amazing low G string for vibrato and superb timbre. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 3. Best low G baritone ukulele strings– Aquila USA 116U Low D Baritone Made from the best of materials that will do nothing but bring out the shine and tonal precision of your baritone ukulele. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 4.Best unwound low G ukulele strings- Aquila 72U RED (unwound) To get an absolutely perfect intonation from the 12th fret, this low G string is your best bet. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 5. Best wound low G ukulele strings – Aquila New Nylgut AQ-15 Tenor Ukulele Strings – Wound Low G Perfect for that smooth feel, accurate intonation, and overall playability/sweet tone. | Buy on Amazon |
5 Best Low G Ukulele Strings Reviewed
Editor’s choice for best low G ukulele strings – D’Addario EJ99TLG Pro-Arté
D’Addario is a major player in the string instrument world; they make some of the finest strings for guitars, bass, and ukuleles. The EJ99TLG Pro-Arté is made of carbon and crafted to perfectly match and provides the needed tonal requirements to tenor ukuleles tuned to low G. It has a bright and modern tone with an unrivalled intonation that will make any low G tenor ukulele stand out sonically, regardless of whatever playing scenario. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner ukulele player or a seasoned professional playing in the studio or on live stages, the EJ99TLG Pro-Arté remains truly exceptional.
Inspired by Jake Shimabukuro’s ukulele tuning and also made in the US, the design and engineering of this amazing string is nothing short of perfect. The EJ99TLG Pro-Arté perfectly combines artistry and modern ukulele string-making technology. Apart from the technical spec, it is also environmentally friendly. It comes in a corrosion-resistant package which keeps the strings fresh and of the best quality for as long as. D’Addario Ukulele strings are always of the highest quality and they remain consistent with the standard, ensuring optimal tone and perfect ukulele intonation for diverse playing requirements. This fluorocarbon ukulele string is known for its bright and well-focused tone.
Pros
- Has a tonal characteristic that is desired by many low G enthusiasts.
- Perfect intonation.
- The packaging is corrosion resistant.
- Designed with top-quality nylon.
- Good price.
Cons
- Some finger-style players might not love the feel of the strings.
- The projection might seem a bit too loud for some ukulele players who prefer a more quiet and mellow tone.
Best low G concert Ukulele strings – Aquila Sugar Ukulele Strings Low G
Getting your concert ukulele to sound its best in a low G tuning has never been easier. With these strings, you will get not just the shine out of your concert ukulele, but full resonance and perfect intonation. This string has a unique tonal characteristic and sonic nuance that makes it unrivalled among other concert ukulele low G strings. The included strings in this set are strings G, C, E and A. It is flexible enough for players looking to get an amazing sustain and the ergonomics makes it highly playable regardless of playing situations. It is perfect for both beginners and professionals alike. With this set, even an inexpensive ukulele will sound outstanding enough.
Aquila makes this particular set using a blend with a plastic material they just discovered. They derive this material from sugar- cane, thus the “sugar” added to the name. It has a transparent look, a very brilliant, clean, and prompt tonal character. Unlike the previous fluorocarbon strings, these sugar strings have an amazing vibrato. Also, they have a significant variation in timbre when you play it very close to the bridge and further up on the sound-hole. What this means is that they contain so much sweetness and sonority of nylon and the brilliance, projection, and promptness typical of its fluorocarbon counterpart.
The sustain-ability it also possesses makes it a string of choice for several players, regardless of style or technique. By scientific classifications, it is right to say that this string is superior to any other type of concert ukulele string currently available in the market. One other amazing feature of this string is the sound projection. From the company’s scientific tests, they have proven that the projection of these strings is superior to the projection of the Fluorocarbon strings. Although the surface of this string is extremely smooth, the grip and overall feel on the fingers is very remarkable. They make use of a very transparent material, similar to crystal glass, to make these strings.
Pros
- It sustains way better than other strings in the market.
- The projection is exceptional when compared to other strings.
- The overall feel and grip make it very playable.
- Smooth to the touch.
- Unlike other strings, the vibrato is incomparable.
- Brilliant and sweet sounding.
Cons
- They stretch a lot, which means they are prone to go out of tune the first few days of usage. They will take a few days to set.
Best low G baritone ukulele strings – Aquila USA 116U Low D Baritone
These amazing-sounding baritone ukulele strings are half Lava Nylgut and half wound strings. The Lava Nygults are made from the exact same formulation as the Super Nylgut strings. However, this comes in an iconic black finish and a really cool and flawless appearance. This is actually an upgrade to New Nylgut. These great-sounding Super Nylgut-formulated strings have a smooth and aesthetically pleasing surface that feels just like wax. This amazing finish gives it a beautiful playing experience that you can hardly get from other strings in this category.
Because they are not as stretchy as the New Nylguts, they set much quicker compared to other strings. They maintain proper intonation even immediately after stringing them. Also, they manage to stay in tune even after long playing sessions and usage. If you are more about intonation, then this might be the perfect setting for you. Also, this Super Nylgut is a lot more resistant to fret markers, sharp nut edges, or hard nail playing, thereby giving these strings a longer life and making your playing experience hassle-free and more rewarding.be it a new ukulele that you need to set up, or an old ukulele that is probably going out of tune, you might want to try on these amazing strings first, before giving your instrument to a luthier. The feel is amazing as it feels gentle and relaxing on the fingers.
Pros
- Amazing intonation as it stays in tune much longer compared to other strings.
- Feels perfect and relaxing on the fingers.
- Will improve the sound of even a worn-out ukulele.
- Perfect for both beginners and pros.
- Perfect for diverse playing scenarios and styles.
Cons
- It might feel a bit too soft to some players.
Best unwound low G ukulele strings – Aquila 72U RED (unwound)
If you are in the market for a great-sounding unwound low G ukulele string, then this might be just the perfect string for you. Made from the best quality and carefully crafted for optimal sound, this string will deliver just fine in the aspects of playability and intonation. The projection, sonority, and overall feel are just perfect for both the beginner and seasoned player. The Aquila 72U RED will enhance the sound of your ukulele by preserving its original tonal character while also adding just enough colour and shine to the sound of your instrument.
This string is a mix of nylgut and red copper powder. The Nylgut is made firstly elastic and then, some red copper powder is being added in order to increase the string density to about double that of a standard white Nylgut ukulele string. Its slightly rough surface/texture helps eliminate the string squeak that sometimes occurs with the nylgut strings. This new red-brown string feels just great with some excellent elasticity and precise intonation even after the 12th fret of the ukulele. The strings are pressed firmly on the frets, while also maintaining the actual pitches of the notes – no note is sharpened or flattened. There is absolutely no need to make the nut slot wider to accommodate the strings.
Pros
- Intonation is fine as it can stay in tune for long.
- No squeaks because of its slightly rough texture.
- No note is sharpened or flattened.
- Excellent elasticity.
Cons
- Might break quicker than other strings.
Best wound low G ukulele strings – Aquila New Nylgut AQ-15 Tenor Ukulele Strings
These amazing New Nylgut ukulele strings by Aquila were birthed as a result of blending three unique synthetic components to form a composite material that gives a way better sound and stays a lot more in tune than the conventional nylon ukulele strings. Regardless of this blend of materials, it still has the playability feel of genuine gut. One added feature of these amazing strings is that it was made to absorb less moisture than the other strings in the market. This amazing feature improves to a great extent the tuning accuracy and intonation of these amazing strings.
The AQ-15 has a density that is quite similar to gut, but it provides an even more pristine, focused, and refined sound. The inert characteristics of this string help in canceling the metallic-like character tones often heard in other synthetic string designs. This is undoubtedly the best-sounding synthetic gut low G string for the ukulele. It doesn’t only sound exceptional, it also feels quite amazing to the touch. It gives a better sound when compared to the traditional Nylon or PVDF string. It is designed to have an excellent player feel and a sweet/appealing tonal character. Also, these strings have been accurately gauged for varying densities and it provides increased accuracy in regards to fret-intonation.
Pros
- It Sounds amazingly bright and smooth.
- Superb intonation.
- Doesn’t sound like other synthetic gut strings.
- Absorbs less moisture than other strings.
- Feels quite great to the touch.
Cons
- The wound low G might not sound quite appealing to some players.
Low G Ukulele Strings Buying Guide
What is a low G ukulele tuning?
Low G means that you tune your G string to the G note that is below the C. This particular G is one octave below your high G, which makes your ukulele sound a bit warmer, bassier, or mellow.
To tune your ukulele to low G, it is not advised you do it on the standard high G strings as your thin G string will be way too slack for a tuning that low. This is why you will need to purchase some low G strings which normally come with a thicker G string. They are designed especially for this kind of tuning. Also, it is generally advised you use this kind of tuning on either tenor or concert ukuleles, as the sopranos are just designed for high G tuning.
How do you tune your ukulele to low G?
Keep all the other strings tuned to standard tuning, except your G-string. Tune your G string down one octave to the G below the normal G. By tuning this way, you are adding five additional musical notes to the bottom of your ukulele’s range.
However, it is quite important that you make use of a tuner. You can use a chromatic tuner for this. But, if your aural perception is good, you can use a piano or any other reference instrument to reference the pitch while tuning.
Which ukulele tuning is more popular, low G or high G?
The high G tuning is the most popular tuning standard for ukuleles. This is because the high G tuning gives that traditional bright ukulele sound that people have come to know as the signature ukulele sound.
However, high g tuning is also quite popular, especially among seasoned players who are looking to deviate a bit from what has become the signature tonal characteristic of the ukulele. Also, because low G expands the range of the ukulele, it is also widely used, but still not as widely used as the traditional high G tuning.
Should I get a wound or unwound ukulele low G string?
Although both have their unique advantages and disadvantages, it is generally advised you get a wound low G ukulele string because it gives that desired warm and dark tonal character that probably made you opt for low G tuning in the first place.
A typical wound low G string will give a fuller, darker, and more colored tonal character which makes it an amazing choice for low G tuning. On the contrary, it might not feel quite spongy to the touch and beginner players might not really love the feel. However, it is advised you lay hands on both in order to arrive at a better judgement of what is right and not right for you. None is actually better than the other, they are both uniquely made.
Conclusion and Winner(s)
In order to achieve the main essence of tuning your ukulele to low G in the first place, you have to choose the perfect strings. In this article, I have given careful analysis and review of several types of low G strings befitting for different situations, usage, and playing scenarios. Every string mentioned here is unique in its own way, and none is exactly better than the other. But, I have only chosen that which I feel is more genetic and versatile in this context. I chose the D’Addario EJ99TLG Pro-Arté for its unique tonal character and the fact that it is from one of the most reputable brands in the string-making industry. The intonation is perfect, the packaging is corrosion resistant and it is designed with top-quality nylon. Above all, it comes at a very good price.
My second choice is the Aquila Sugar Ukulele Strings Low G. This is an awesome low g string with incredible tone. This string sustains way better than other low G strings in the market. The projection is exceptional, it feels quite amazing, and smooth to the touch. The vibrato is also amazing, and it is just sweet-sounding and perfect.
Last update on 2023-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
