I’m starting to receive more enquiries from ukulele players asking about the Noah range of 8 string instruments. Lots of people are intrigued about the idea of an 8 string ukulele, but also have concerns that it might be twice as difficult to play! I can assure you that this is definitely NOT the case, and once you are able to play and change chords on a standard 4 string ukulele, there is no reason why you wouldn’t be able to do the same on an 8 string uke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi-eXGIl9ds&t=51s
What is an 8 String ukulele?
It has 4 additional strings which are also tuned to GCEA. The extra G and C strings are an octave apart, so low G / high G / low C / high C, whereas the E and A strings are unison.
Are they difficult to play?
The short answer to this is no! Obviously, to hold down 8 strings instead of 4 requires a little extra pressure from your fingers, and you need to ensure you’re accurate when fretting the different notes as more strings means more scope for hitting the wrong one! However, if you’re able to play a 4 string ukulele, there is no reason why you would struggle to transfer your skills over to an 8 string. All of the chord shapes which you have learnt will be the same on an 8 string ukulele.
How does the sound compare to a standard 4 string ukulele?
The extra strings give the ukulele a richer, fuller sound. It’s jangly, and works well for both strumming and finger-picking!
What sizes are available in the Noah 8 string range?
The Noah 8 String concert was reviewed on Got A Ukulele in 2021, and received lots of lovely comments and great score. You can read the full review here, and watch the YouTube video review below.