Would you go and see a singer you knew couldn’t hold a tune? It is highly unlikely unless you have money to burn, in which case crack on.
On the whole, however, most of us prefer to hear our favorite songs in tune and played correctly, and your ukulele is no different. These tiny stringed beasts can be nightmares when it comes to keeping a correct tune, and the slightest defect can have a considerable impact on your playing and performance.
Our Top Pick
Fortunately for you, we have undertaken a quest to find the best ukulele tuner of all time. You can thank us in your Grammy acceptance speech. If you’re busy drafting that speech and don’t have time to read all our reviews, our top pick is the Snark SN6. Affordable and easy to use, this tuner is sure to please a wide range of users.
Last update on 2024-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Review the Top Products
Snark SN6
From a high-vibration sensor to a 360-degree view, this tuner from Snark ticks every box and will enhance your playing and enjoyment one thousand-fold, with minimal effort.
Key Features
- 360-degree display for optimum viewing
- Good battery life with automatic shut-off mode to conserve battery
- Metronome system included
- Easy to clip to your instrument
What I Like About This Product
In a nutshell: everything. This tuner fits unobtrusively into your practice sessions, helping your notes sound sweet as sugar while not getting in the way with bulky fixtures and fittings. It has a bright, easy to read the display to keep you focused, and offers a nifty metronome as standard to help you maintain perfect time in every song.
What I Don’t Like About This Product
While it is small enough not to get in the way of playing, the only issue with the Snark tuner is that is is hard to hide, and this may be an issue for professionals or those performing live.
Pros
- Includes a metronome to help you keep time
- Can be clipped to the ukulele using special pads to avoid scratches or scuffs
- Offers a good battery life, and will automatically switch off after two minutes of inactivity
- Easy to read from any angle
Cons
- The large display means that this tuner can be obvious, and it may not be suitable for those playing to a live audience.
Despite the obvious appearance, this offering from Snark is our top choice for the best ukulele tuner. It is easy to use and read, and will make sure you are hitting every note perfectly, even in more complex pieces!
Overall Rating: 10/10
Fender FT-004
If the ukulele has piqued your interest in other string instruments, this Fender tuner could be a great investment. It is multi-purpose, offering tuning aids not only for the ukulele, but also the mandolin, acoustic guitar, bass, violin, and banjo.
Key Features
- Can be used with a variety of stringed instruments
- Lightweight and portable
- Can be easily clipped to the instrument
- Large, clear display
- Suitable for use in both noisy and dark conditions
What I Like About This Product
My favorite aspect of the Fender tuner is the versatility; this purchase will mean there is no need to obtain a separate tuner for every instrument you want to try. As a bonus, the high-quality sensor means you can tune anytime, anywhere – even in the middle of a noisy concert hall.
What I Don’t Like About This Product
The 3V 2032 battery which is required to power the device is subject to wobbles and malfunctions—even on a new model. In addition, the battery case can become loose easily, and this result in vibrations, which reduce the efficiency of the tuner.
Pros
- Weighs just 30g – super lightweight and portable
- Clips discreetly to your instrument, so it is never lost
- Allows you to tune a huge range of instruments with one device
- Bright display for the dark, and a keen sensor for a noisy environment
Cons
- The battery case comes loose very easily, and the power of the battery does not tend to last for very long.
The bright display and super-sensitivity of this tuner make it a popular choice, and it might be an ideal pick for those musicians who have more than one string to their bow.
Overall rating: 9/10
Planet Waves D’Addario NS
There is no way you’ll get confused with the bright, easy-to-read display offered by this Planet Waves tuner, and this makes the sometimes tedious process of turning ten times smoother and more straightforward.
Key Features
- Can be left attached to the instrument for maximum convenience
- Can be used by right and left-handed players
- Flexible, adaptable display
- Piezo transducer ensures accuracy in tuning
What I Like About This Product
The flexibility of this tuner was the primary draw for me –it can be read upside down, backward, in the dark, in bright sunlight, and probably in a different language if one knows the right setting. The discreet nature of the tuner means it can be well hidden, attached, and forgotten about. It is also super cheap and affordable, which is a real bonus for such a good-quality piece of kit!
What I Don’t Like About This Product
I have noticed a few issues when trying to tune a bass, and research suggests this may be a common fault across the range. It is hard to tell whether this is a bad batch or a sensor issue, but it could be a problem for bass players.
Pros
- The super flexible display allows the tuner to be used in all sorts of conditions
- Easy to hide while playing
- Can be attached to your ukulele and forgotten about – super convenient
- Can be used by both right and left-handed players with ease
- The highly sensitive piezo transducer means you can always guarantee the best quality tuning and accurate notes.
Cons
- There are some issues when using to tune bass instruments
- Goes through batteries very quickly, and this could get expensive if you are a regular player
The flexible, adaptable nature of this tuner is a big draw, and you will absolutely get your money’s worth thanks to the range of environment this tuner can be used in. It may not be the best choice for a frequent player; however, as the battery tends to run down rapidly.
Overall Rating: 8/10
KLIQ Music Gear UberTuner
All players will know that tuning is a necessary evil which can take up valuable playing and rehearsal time and is one of the more tedious aspects of ukulele ownership. This model from KLIQ is great at speeding up the process and works with you rather than against.
Key Features
- Includes sensor and microprocessor to speed up the tuning process
- Bright display which is easy to read and adjust as needed
- Can be clipped to your instrument quickly
- Detects pitches from the vibration of the instrument to ensure accuracy
- Comes with a manufacturers guarantee
- Can be used with other instruments
What I Like About This Product
The accuracy of the KLIQ model is a major feature and means that instrument can be tuned more quickly and with less hassle, and this is a refreshing change from options which require you to interrupt your playing to retune the ukulele constantly. It also offers an accurate result even if you are performing to a packed crowd.
What I Don’t Like About This Product
The display has an occasional flicker, and this can be distracting both visually and while playing. It is also hard to see in bright, direct sunlight.
Pros
- Speeds up the tuning experience while ensuring accuracy is maintained
- The display can be adjusted at three points to make it easier to read
- Can be used for a range of brass and woodwind instruments, including guitar, bass, and violin, as well as the ukulele
Cons
- This tuner is quite big compared to others on the market and could prove a distraction when playing
- The flickering display and power can be a problem, especially if you are performing
This tuner is versatile and saves the bother of purchasing multiple items if you play several instruments. Unlike some other options, it is a little large and could prove a distraction compared to more discreet models.
Overall Rating: 8/10
Kala 0-String Ukulele KK-TIEDYE
The Kala name is well known and respected in the ukulele world, and so adding a tuner to their range commands a little more respect. Like their instruments, this is a reliable and useful tool which will make sure you are playing the purest notes.
Key Features
- Can be clipped to the instrument for convenience
- Able to be used with a range of instruments
- A budget price tag
- Unique and fun display appearance
What I Like About This Product
This tuner ticks every box: it is fun, small and affordable, and offers everything you need at a lower price. Other options have bells and whistles and a higher price tag to justify this, but the Kala model is simple, basic and does what you need.
What I Don’t Like About This Product
One of the only issues with the small size of this model is that it tends to malfunction under pressure. Pressing too hard on the back can distort the display and make it difficult to read. For this reason, it is probably not the best choice for the pros.
Pros
- Affordable price, even for beginners
- Simple, easy-to-read display
- A fun and unique design
- Comes from a respected name in the ukulele world
Cons
- Slightly flimsy – may not be suitable for more advanced players
- The clip to attach the tuner to the instrument looks somewhat fragile and likely to break easily
This is an ideal option for beginners who want to make sure their notes are perfectly in tune but are reluctant to spend a fortune. More experienced players, however, may benefit from investing slightly more for a better model.
Overall Rating: 8/10
Buying Guide
When selecting the best ukulele tuner, you need to choose the features and fittings which best suit you— this will largely affect the price you pay.
Electric or chromatic tuner
This is usually considered the easiest way to tune your ukulele, as well as the most accurate. Electronic tuners are easy to find and generally relatively cheap to purchase. They either work by detecting the sound of the instrument using a small microphone, or by detecting the vibrations of the strings. Some more advanced models can do both for utmost accuracy.
The display/meter
For an accurate reading, you need to be able to read the display of the tuner with ease. Most offer a needle-based meter, and this helps to show how close you are to the pitch. LCD options will show red or green depending on the accuracy and can highlight whether you are sharp or flat. This is helpful when starting –you get a good idea of how the notes should and shouldn’t sound.
Auto pitch detection
Some more advanced models can do the hard work, automatically detecting the tone which is being played, and showing you immediately how close it is to the true pitch. Though slightly more expensive, I have found that these can save a lot of time.
Microphones/speakers
Picking a tuner with a microphone allows the item to detect the tuning of the instrument acoustically, and these can be useful if you need to tune more than one type of instrument. Again, they are also great for training your ear to the different types of notes.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to determining the best ukulele tuner, the Snark SN6 is the clear winner. It offers multifunctionality and a sleek design and is a handy tool to attach to your ukulele and ensure a clear, bright sound which is accurate no matter which piece you are playing.
