Steel String Ukuleles: How They Differ from a Standard Ukulele

A steel-string ukulele keeps the size and fretboard layout of a ukulele and swaps nylon strings for steel. That one change affects the sound, the volume, the feel under the fingers and how the instrument is built. This article covers what is different, shows the videos below, and links to every steel string ukulele in our range.

What changes with steel strings

Sound. Steel strings give a brighter tone with more projection and sustain than nylon. Our steel string models sound different from anything else in our range: bright and dynamic, with enough volume to play unamplified.

Construction. Steel strings carry more tension than nylon, so the instrument has to be designed for them. Do not fit steel strings to a ukulele made for nylon. Every ukulele linked below is designed for steel strings from the start.

Tuning. Soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles are normally tuned GCEA. Our steel string baritones use baritone tuning, DGBE, which matches the top four strings of a guitar. Chord shapes from a GCEA ukulele sound a fourth lower on a baritone, and guitar shapes for those four strings carry over directly. DGBE on a steel string baritone is also known as Chicago tuning on a tenor guitar.

Feel. Metal strings under higher tension feel different from nylon, so expect a short adjustment period in the fingertips. They can be played with fingers or a pick.

Amplification. All six models below include the active Double C1U pickup, with the controls mounted under the soundhole, so no cavity is cut into the side of the body.

Videos

Steel string ukulele buyer’s guide:

Southern Ukulele Store Jam session featuring a Flight Maia steel string ukulele:

Flight steel string  Maia, Lily and Nora Ukulele Review:

Flight steel string ukuleles

• Flight Maia Steel String Tenor EQ-A: tenor scale (430 mm). Solid mango top, laminate rosewood back and sides. The option for players who want steel strings in tenor size.
• Flight Maia Steel String Baritone EQ-A: baritone scale (510 mm), DGBE tuning. Same woods as the tenor. Strings: 11, 15, 23W, 30W.
• Flight Maia 8 Steel String Baritone EQ-A: eight strings, tuned DgGgBBEE (low D, high G, double courses on B and E). Same woods as the Maia. For players who want a layered, doubled-string sound.
• Flight Nora Steel String Baritone EQ-A: solid Sitka spruce top, laminate mahogany back and sides. Bright, articulate highs over a warm low end. Mango scalloped cutaway, golden machine heads.
• Flight Lily Steel String Baritone EQ-A: solid cedar top, laminate mango back and sides. A warm, full tone with some sweetness. Golden machine heads.
• Flight Maia Luxe Baritone EQ-A: all solid wood, with a solid mango top and solid rosewood back and sides. Phosphor strings (10, 14, 23, 30), a side soundhole and an abalone rosette and binding.

Solid body electric ukuleles

Our solid body electric ukuleles, including the Pathfinder and Vanguard, also use steel strings. They are a separate category with their own pickups and controls: Solid Body Electric.

New to baritone?

We worked with Tyler from Ten Thumbs Productions on a free beginner video series for baritone ukulele covering tuning, chords, strumming, fingerpicking and melody: Learn to Play Baritone Ukulele.