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Tuning the Guitar

Guitar tuning is any of several techniques of pitch adjustment on the individual strings of a guitar in order to achieve a prescribed arrangement of notes from the open (unfretted) strings. Many such arrangements are used, of which the most popular are detailed below. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo-en. ... Wikibooks logo Wikibooks, previously called Wikimedia Free Textbook Project and Wikimedia-Textbooks, is a wiki for the creation of books. ... Pitch is the perceived fundamental frequency of a sound. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ...

For information on tuning a guitar, see how to tune a guitar.

Standard tuning

As its name implies, standard tuning is by far the most popular tuning on a 6-string guitar. It comprises the following note arrangement. For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ...

Notes: For other uses, see Frequency (disambiguation). ...

• The guitar is an equal tempered instrument.

• The guitar is a transposing instrument. Its pitch sounds one octave lower than it is notated, the pitches referred to above are referenced standard pitch (a' = 440Hz)].

• Letter names in table reflect pitch in Helmholtz pitch notation.

• In parts of Europe, including Germany, the natural symbol has been transformed into the letter H: in German music notation, H is B♮ (B natural) and B is B♭ (B flat).

This pattern can also be denoted as E-A-d-g-b-e'. (See note for an explanation of the various symbols used in the above table and elsewhere in this article.) An equal temperament is a musical temperament — that is, a system of tuning intended to approximate some form of just intonation — in which an interval, usually the octave, is divided into a series of equal steps (equal frequency ratios). ... A transposing instrument is a musical instrument whose music is written at a pitch different from concert pitch. ... The naming of individual Cs using the Helmholtz system Helmholtz pitch notation is a musical system for naming notes of the Western chromatic scale. ...

Standard tuning has evolved to provide a good compromise between simple fingering for many chords and the ability to play common scales with minimal left hand movement. Fingering for an open-position C Major chord (with the 5th, a G note, in the bass) played on a six-string acoustic guitar. ... In music, a scale is a set of musical notes that provides material for part or all of a musical work. ...

The separation of the first (e') and second (b) string, as well as the separation between the third (g), fourth (d), fifth (A), and sixth (E) strings by a five-semitone interval (a perfect fourth) allows notes of the chromatic scale to be played with each of the four fingers of the left hand controlling one of the first four frets (index finger on fret 1, little finger on fret 4, etc.). It also yields a symmetry and intelligibility to fingering patterns. The perfect fourth or diatessaron, abbreviated P4, is one of two musical intervals that span four diatonic scale degrees; the other being the augmented fourth, which is one semitone larger. ... The chromatic scale is a scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone or half step apart. ... The neck of a guitar showing the first four frets. ...

The separation of the second (b), and third (g) string is by a four-semitone interval (a major third). Though this breaks the fingering pattern of the chromatic scale and thus the symmetry, it eases the playing of some often-used chords and scales, and it provides more diversity in fingering possibilities. A semitone (also known in the USA as a half step) is a musical interval. ... A major third is the larger of two commonly occuring musical intervals that span three diatonic scale degrees. ... Typical fingering for a second inversion C major chord on a guitar. ... In music, a scale is a set of musical notes that provides material for part or all of a musical work. ...

Alternate tunings

Alternate tuning refers to any open string note arrangement other than that of standard tuning detailed above. Despite the usefulness and almost universal acceptance of standard tuning, many guitarists employ such alternate tuning arrangements in order to exploit the unique chord voicing and sonorities that result from them. Most alternate tunings necessarily change the chord shapes associated with standard tuning, which results in certain chords becoming much easier to play while others may become impossible to play. A scordatura (literally Italian for mistuning) is an alternate tuning used for the open strings of a string instrument. ...

As a standard set of guitar strings is designed to be tuned to the standard notes, alternate tunings may require not just a different tuning, but re-stringing of the guitar with strings better suited to the open string note. In turn further adjustments to cope with the different tensions placed on the guitar may be required, and in extreme tunings, fitting different components to cope with the different gauges used.

Rock music tunings

Guitar tunings in rock music and metal are employed in order to make power chords easier to play. For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... In music, a power chord is an interval which serves the diatonic function of a major or minor chord. ...

Dropped D: D-A-d-g-b-e'

This tuning is not only used by metal and rock bands, but also folk musicians. It allows power chords (also known as bare fifth chords) to be played with a single finger on the lowest three strings. It is also used extensively in classical guitar music and transcriptions since it allows open strings to sound the tonic and dominant as part of the bassline in the keys of D and D minor. Some guitarists choose to use a capo on the second fret with this tuning so that they can retain the ease of playing power chords without the darker sound created by the D tuning. Drop D tuning, also known as dropped D or drop-D, is a guitar tuning style in which the lowest (sixth) string is tuned (dropped) to D rather than E as in standard tuning. ... Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term folk music was synonymous with the term Traditional music, also often including World Music and Roots music; the term Traditional music was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the... In music, a power chord is a bare fifth, or a similar chord, usually played on electric guitar with distortion. ... A classical guitar, also called a Spanish guitar, is a musical instrument from the family of musical instruments called chordophones. ... The tonic is the first note of a musical scale, and in the tonal method of music composition it is extremely important. ... In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the scale. ... In popular music a bassline, also bass line, is an instrumental part, or line, which is in the bass or lowest range and thus lower than the other parts and part of the rhythm section. ... A capo (short for capotasto, Italian for head of fretboard) is a device used for shortening the strings, and hence raising the pitch, of a stringed instrument such as a guitar, mandolin or banjo. ... In music, a power chord is an interval which serves the diatonic function of a major or minor chord. ...

Dropped C: C-G-c-f-a-d'

This tuning is the same as dropped D, but each string is lowered an additional whole step, or two semitones. Technically a "drop C" tuning would be C-A-d-g-b-e'. However, the tuning technically known as "Dropped D tuned down one whole step" is commonly referred to as "Dropped C" tuning, as very few people drop only the sixth string. This gives the guitar a very low and heavy sound, and usually requires extra-thick strings to maintain tension. This tuning is frequently used by rock and heavy metal music bands as well as various popular metal bands to achieve a lower sound. Tuning a standard, non-baritone guitar any lower than this is difficult. Dropped C tuning: CGCFAD, also known as simply as drop C, is a guitar tuning style in which the lowest (sixth) string is tuned down two tone (dropped) to C rather than E as in standard tuning (EADGBE). ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... This article is about metallic materials. ... Mustapick Deep Baritone Guitar The baritone guitar is a variation on the standard guitar, with a longer scale length that allows it to be tuned to a lower range. ...

Dropped B: Bˌ-F♯-B-e-g♯-c♯' or Bˌ-G♭-B-e-a♭-d♭'

This tuning is the same as dropped D and C, but lowered from dropped C an additional semitone, or half step. This tuning is very popular with alternative metal/post-grunge bands. It has also become popular with doom metal/post-metal bands. Heavier gauge strings are required for this tuning, which may also require widening the string grooves in the nut of the guitar as well as re-adjusting the tension in the neck. Dropped B is an alternate tuning for a guitar. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Post-metal is a music genre, a mixture between the genres of post-rock and heavy metal, with roots in progressive rock and industrial music. ...

Dropped A: Aˌ-E-A-d-f♯-b or Aˌ-A-d-g-b-e'

A very low drop tuning used in metal and death metal bands. As with the Dropped B tuning, heavy gauge strings are required, and even minor modifications to some guitars. Drop A Tuning is an alternate tuning for an electric guitar. ...

E♭ Tuning: E♭-A♭-d♭-g♭-b♭-e♭'

This tuning is achieved when all the strings are flattened by a half step. This can be combined with other tuning techniques such as dropped D tuning and makes no difference to fingering. Often the key will be considered by the players as if played in standard tuning. This tuning can be used for a number of reasons: to make larger strings bend more easily, to make the tone heavier, to better suit the vocalist's range, to play with saxophone family more easily, or to play in Eb pentatonic minor formed by the black keys of a keyboard. Eâ‚® Tuning is a kind of guitar tuning where all of the strings are lowered by a half-step. ...

The tuning was made famous by Jimi Hendrix who used it extensively during his career and on all songs after Are You Experienced. This tuning was also a major factor in Black Sabbath's sound, as Tony Iommi played in E♭ tuning. This gave their music a darker sound. Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... Are You Experienced was the debut album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in 1967. ... For other uses, see Black Sabbath (disambiguation). ... Frank Anthony Tony Iommi (born February 19, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, England) is a guitarist best known for his tenure in the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. ...

D Tuning D-G-c-f-a-d'

Also known as "One Step Lower" and "Whole Step Down", this tuning is basically E Standard with all six strings tuned one whole step down. Although mostly utilized in heavy metal, one sometimes find this tuning in Blues, where guitarists use it to accommodate string bending. D Tuning, also called One Step Lower or Whole Step Down, is an alternate tuning to a guitar. ... “Blues music” redirects here. ...

C Tuning: C-F-B♭-e♭-g-c'

C standard tunes the strings of the guitar to produce a low tone. This tuning is commonly used by metal and hard rock artists as it is two whole steps below standard tuning. This tuning can also be written as C-F-A♯-d♯-g-c'. It allows for a low, heavy sound, while still maintaining the intervals present in standard tuning. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

B Tuning:

Also known as "B Standard" tuning, this tuning is a common tuning of seven-string guitars, which are tuned Bˌ-E-A-d-g-b-e'. On a six string guitar, the tuning is modified to Bˌ-E-A-d-f♯-b. B Tuning or B Standard Tuning is the standard tuning for a seven string guitar, where the strings are tuned B-E-A-D-G-B-E. B tuning can also be acheived on a six string guitar, when the strings are tuned B-E-A-D-F♯-B. This... Seven-string acoustic guitar as it is used in Brazilian choro music. ...

Classical guitar tunings

The classical guitar developed over a period of 500 years and a number of guitar tunings are commonly used this genre, some based upon historical practice. Unlike other musical styles, in which alternate tunings are used by artists largely as a matter of individual preference, in classical guitar styles, the decision to employ alternate tunings largely resides with composers or arrangers of musical transcriptions. Thus, classical guitarists performing known transcriptions are assumed to be using defined tunings. A classical guitar, also called a Spanish guitar, is a musical instrument from the family of musical instruments called chordophones. ...

• Renaissance lute tuning: E-A-d-f♯-b-e'

This tuning may also be used with a capo at the third fret to match the common lute pitch: G-c-f-a-d'-g'. This tuning also matches standard vihuela tuning and is often employed in classical guitar transcriptions of music written for those instruments. A medieval era lute. ... A capo (short for capotasto, Italian for head of fretboard) is a device used for shortening the strings, and hence raising the pitch, of a stringed instrument such as a guitar, mandolin or banjo. ... Orpheus playing a vihuela. ...

• "Pseudo Russian" or "g" tuning: D-G-d-g-b-e'

A versatile tuning examples of which can be heard in Choro de Saudade by Agustín Barrios and also in well known transcriptions of La Maja de Goya by Enrique Granados and Sevilla by Isaac Albéniz. Augstin Barrios Agustín Pío Barrios (also known as Agustín Barrios Mangoré) (born May 5, 1885 in San Juan Bautista de las Missiones, Paraguay; died August 7, 1944) was a Paraguayan guitarist and composer. ... Enrique Granados Enrique Costanzo Granados y Campiña (July 27, 1867 – March 24, 1916) was a Spanish pianist and composer of classical music; he is commonly considered to be a representative of musical Nationalism, and as such his music is in a uniquely Spanish style. ... Isaac Albéniz Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz (IPA: ) (May 29, 1860 – May 18, 1909) was a Spanish pianist and composer best known for his piano works based on Spanish folk music. ...

Open tunings

Main Article: Open tuning

An open tuning is a type of guitar tuning in which the open strings are tuned to form a common chord (usually major) which can be 'transposed' to any higher pitch simply by placing a finger across all of the strings at any chosen fret. Blues slide guitarists often take advantage of this effect, whereas fingerstyle guitarists tend to use various combinations of the open strings to provide a sustained chordal accompaniment to melodies played on fretted higher strings. In guitar playing, an open tuning is one where the strings are tuned so that a chord is achieved without fretting, or pressing any of the strings. ... In guitar playing, an open tuning is one where the strings are tuned so that a chord is achieved without fretting, or pressing any of the strings. ...

Open C: C-G-c-g-c'-e'

Open C Tuning is an open tuning for guitar. ...

Open D: D-A-d-f#-a-d'

Open D tuning is an open tuning for the acoustic or electric guitar. ...

Open E: E-B-e-g♯-b-e'

Open-E GmbH was founded on September 9, 1998 in Bremen, Germany. ...

Open G: D-G-d-g-b-d'

This tuning is commonly used for blues, or slide guitar. In classical guitar this is sometimes referred to as the dropped G tuning. It retains the relationship of the fourth between the two lower strings. This is also known as 'bluegrass guitar' tuning. Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones has become famously associated with this tuning after penning a number of hit singles in it, though he likely learned it from Ry Cooder. Muddy Waters, and Robert Johnson had used it before, and it is also frequently encountered in Folk music. Sometimes guitarists, Richards in particular, will remove the low "D" string so that they have easier access to the "G" chord rooted on the 2nd string. The Open G is also employed as the standard tuning of the Russian seven string guitar, as D-G-B-d-g-b-d'. In guitar playing, an open tuning is one where the strings are tuned so that a chord is achieved without fretting, or pressing any of the strings. ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental musical form which evolved from African American spirituals, shouts, work songs and chants and has its earliest stylistic roots in West Africa. ... Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943) is an English guitarist, songwriter, singer and a founding member of The Rolling Stones in 1962. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... Ryland Ry Peter Cooder (born 15 March 1947, in Los Angeles, California) is an American guitarist, singer and composer, known for his slide guitar work, his interest in the American roots music and, more recently, for his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries. ... McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1915 – April 30, 1983), better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician and is generally considered the Father of Chicago blues. He is also the actual father of blues musician Big Bill Morganfield. ... For other persons named Robert Johnson, see Robert Johnson (disambiguation). ... Folk can refer to a number of different things: It can be short for folk music, or, for folksong, or, for folklore; it may be a word for a specific people, tribe, or nation, especially one of the Germanic peoples; it might even be a calque on the related German... The Russian guitar, a seven-string acoustic guitar tuned to the Open G tuning, arrived in the beginning of the 19th century in Russia, most probably as a development of the kobza and the baroque lute. ...

Miscellaneous tunings

All fourths: E-A-d-g-c'-f'

This tuning is like that of the lowest four strings in standard tuning. It removes from standard tuning the irregularity of the interval of a third between the second and third strings. With regular tunings like this, chords can simply be moved down or across the fretboard, dramatically reducing the number of different finger positions that need to be memorized. The disadvantage is that not all major and minor chords can be played with all six strings at once. All fourths is an alternate tuning for a guitar. ...

All fifths: C-G-d-a-e'-b'

This is a tuning in intervals of fifths like that of a mandolin or a violin. Has a remarkably wide range, though it is difficult to achieve (the high b" makes the first string very taut such that it will break easily), and may not play well on an acoustic guitar (the low C is too low to resonate properly in a standard guitar's body). Luthier Todd Keehn claims to have been the first guitarist to adopt an all-fifths tuning, his being arranged G-D-a-e-b'-f#', and he has made an all fifths tuned guitar that can be seen at his website, http://tkinstruments.com/. The guitar is able to intonate in this radical tuning by slanting all the frets and the nut, and allowing each string its own bridge; and thus its own scale length. The idea of an all fifths tuning for guitar, while perhaps intellectually satisfying, denies the physics of guitar strings. ... This article is about the musical instrument. ... For the Anne Rice novel, see Violin (novel). ... An engravers impression of Antonio Stradivari examining an instrument. ...

D modal tuning: D-A-d-g-a-d' and D-A-d-a-d'-d'

Popularised by Davey Graham, who had been inspired by Arabic oud tuning while living in Morocco. D modal tuning D-A-d-g-a-d' is now encountered in Celtic music and contemporary music. DADGAD, or D modal tuning gets its name from the tuning of the guitar strings. ... David Michael Gordon Graham, known as Davey Graham (originally Davy Graham), b. ... Front and rear views of an oud. ... Celtic music is a term utilized by record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Western Europe. ...

Another similar modal tuning is D-A-d-a-d'-d' from low to high respectively. Used by guitarist Stephen Roy, it makes chords simpler to play. Having a "dropped D" effect in the bottom bass strings makes one finger chords easier. The top two treble strings can be slightly out of tune from each other, creating a chorus double guitar kind of effect.

"Hardcore" Tuning: C-G-C-F-A-B♭'

- A rather uncommon tuning, "hardcore" tuning is used by bands of hardcore, grindcore, and even some metalcore. It much resembles dropped C tuning, except for the high strings, which, depending on what is most useful for the guitarist, are tuned one semitone (a minor second) apart. This allows the guitarist to easily create the very harsh dissonance of the minor second. Hardcore tuning is an alternate tuning for an electric guitar. ...

Robert Fripp's "New Standard Tuning": C-G-d-a-e'-g'

This is a devised by Robert Fripp of King Crimson, used by most Guitar Craft students around the world. The tuning is similar to all fifths except the first string is dropped from b' to g'. Some guitarists maintain that the term 'New Standard Tuning' is a misnomer and consider it to be a source of controversy, but the name appears to have stuck due the absence of viable alternative designations. Time will tell whether the tuning is in fact accepted outside of GC as a viable all-purpose tuning. Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946 in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England) is a guitarist, record producer and a composer, perhaps best known for being the guitarist for, and only constant member of King Crimson. ... The New Standard Tuning (or NST) is a special type of guitar tuning, introduced by Robert Fripp of King Crimson. ... Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946 in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England) is a guitarist, record producer and a composer, perhaps best known for being the guitarist for, and only constant member of King Crimson. ... This article is about the musical group. ... Guitar Craft (GC) is a series of guitar and personal development classes, founded and often presented by Robert Fripp, who is best known for his work with King Crimson. ...

Complete range of string pitch combinations

Each of the six strings can be alternately tuned as low as a whole step lower and as much as a whole step higher without stressing the neck or the strings. With five possible tunings for each string (+2, +1, 0, -1, and -2), there are as many as 15,625 possible tunings for a six-string guitar.

A standard guitar sounds one octave below pitch as written in standard notation. That is, the first string in standard tuning plays the E note that is a major third above middle C, and is written on the staff as a major tenth above middle C. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

There are also tenor guitars, baritone guitars tuned BEADF♯B (or ADGCEA, GDGCDG, GDGCEA, GCGCEG, etc.) a fourth lower than a standard (prime) guitar, treble guitars tuned a fourth higher than a prime guitar and contrabass guitars, which are tuned one octave lower than prime guitars. Seven string guitars have an extra low string which is a B in standard tuning. The tenor guitar is a slightly smaller, four-string version of the steel-string acoustic guitar or electric guitar. ... Mustapick Deep Baritone Guitar The baritone guitar is a variation on the standard guitar, with a longer scale length that allows it to be tuned to a lower range. ... A contrabass guitar is a low-register six-string instrument in the guitar family, tuned B-E-A-D-G-C (B=B0 - the lowest B on the piano), usually with a solid wooden body. ...

See also

• Bass guitar tuning
• Scordatura
• Stringed Instrument Tunings

A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... A scordatura (literally Italian for mistuning) is an alternate tuning used for the open strings of a string instrument. ... This is a list of tunings for stringed musical instruments . ...

External links

• WA's Alternate Tunings for Guitar -- Comprehensive, categorized by key, illustrated with pictures and stories about players who use the tunings.
• Drop D Tuning - How to use drop D tuning, with examples
• Guitar Tuning - How To Tune A Guitar
• Guitar Tuning
• Guitar Tuner
• Visual Guitar Tuning Diagram
• How to Tune a Guitar
• Tips to keep Guitar in Tune
• Simple Guitar Tuning