This list of guitar tunings supplements the article guitar tunings. In particular, this list contains more examples of open and regular tunings, which are discussed in the article on guitar tunings. In addition, this list also notes dropped tunings.
Open
Major
Major open-tunings give a major chord with the open strings.
Open A
Alternatively: A-E-A-E-A-C
"Slide" Open A: E-A-E-A-C-E Used by Jimmy Page on "In My Time of Dying"" and Jack White on "Seven Nation Army"
This open C tuning is used by William Ackerman for his "Townsend Shuffle" and by John Fahey for his tribute to Mississippi John Hurt. This tuning is also commonly used by John Butler on his 12 string guitar. This tuning is used on most work by Devin Townsend in his solo work as well as his work with Strapping Young Lad. When playing on a 7 string guitar, he would have a low G as the lowest string to complete the fifth. The English guitar used a repetitive open-C tuning that approximated a major-thirds tuning. This open-C tuning gives the initial harmonic series when a C-string is struck. The C-C-G-C-E-G tuning uses the harmonic sequence of the note C. When an open-note C-string is struck, its harmonic sequence begins with the notes. This overtone-series tuning was modified by Mick Ralphs, who used a high C rather than the high G for "Can't Get Enough" on Bad Company. Ralphs said, "It needs the open C to have that ring," and "it never really sounds right in standard tuning".
Open D
Open-D tuning is used by Joni Mitchell for her "Big Yellow Taxi", Nick Drake for "Place To Be", Alt-J for "Interlude 2", Boys Like Girls for "Thunder" and by Soko for "No More Home, No More Love". Open-D tuning has been called Vestapol tuning. Richie Havens used Open D tuning to be able to play chords using only his thumb and one or two fingers.
Alternatively: D-A-D'-A'-D-D
This alternative Open D tuning is frequently used by Mark Tremonti guitarist for the bands Creed, Alter Bridge, and Tremonti. It was also used by Keith Richards on "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and the Stone Roses in "Love Spreads". Same as Open-D but tuned a half-step down. Used by Alice In Chains on the songs "Over Now", "Nothin' Song", and "Shame in You".
Open E
Open F
Alternatively : C-F-C-F-A-C
C-F-C-F-A-C is the more common of the two. Used by
F-Sharp Tuning: F-B-C-F-C-F
Alternative: C-F-C-F-A-C
F-F-C-F-A-C is also used by Dave Mason on "Only You Know and I Know"
Open G
Open G was used in rock by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin in the songs "Dancing Days", "That's The Way" and "Black Country Woman", Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones as well as in Mississippi blues by Son House, Charley Patton, and Robert Johnson, some songs by Alter Bridge, and in "Fearless" by Pink Floyd. Listing the initial six harmonics of the G note, this open-G tuning was used by Joni Mitchell for "Electricity", "For the Roses", and "Hunter ". It was also used by Mick Ralphs for "Hey Hey" on Bad Company's debut album. and on the Meowtain song "Alleyway" Stone Gossard also used this tuning in the song "Daughter" by Pearl Jam.
The following open-tunings use a minor third, and give a minor chord with open strings. To avoid the relatively cumbersome designation "open D minor", "open C minor", such tunings are sometimes called "cross-note tunings". The term also expresses the fact that, compared to Major chord open tunings, by fretting the lowered string at the first fret, it is possible to produce a major chord very easily. Cross-note or open E-minor was used by Bukka White and Skip James. Cross-note tunings include :
* C-C-G-C-E-A a cross-note overtones tuning that facilitates seventh chords.
Cross-note D: D-A-D-F-A-D
* Alternative: D-A-D-A-D-F
Cross-note E: E-B-E-G-B-E
Cross-note F: F-A-C-F-C-F
* Alternative: F-C-F-A-C-F
Cross-note G: D-G-D-G-B-D
Alternative Cross A: E-A-E-A-E-A. «Sitar A» - an alternative low guitar system. Recalls the sound of Indian sitar.
Modal
In modal tunings, the strings are tuned to form a chord which is not definitively minor or major. These tunings may facilitate very easy chords and unique sounds when the open strings are used as drones. Often these tunings form a suspended chord on the open strings. A well known user of modal tunings is Sonic Youth.
Asus2: E-A-B-E-A-E
Asus4: E-A-D-E-A-E
B modal: B-F-B-E-G-B
B modal: B-E-B-E-B-E
Bsus4: B-F-B-E-F-B
Badd9: B-F-C-F-B-D, a minor variation is used by Alter Bridge on the song "This Side of Fate" tuned B-F#-C#-F#-B-D
Csus2: C-G-C-G-C-D
Csus4+9: C-G-C-F-C-D
Csus4: C-G-C-F-G-C
Low C: C-G-D-G-A-D
Dsus2: D-A-D-E-A-D
Dsus4: D-A-D-G-A-D
Esus2: E-B-E-F-B-E.
Esus4: E-B-E-A-B-E
E7sus4: E-A-D-E-B-E
Gsus2: D-G-D-G-A-D
Gsus4: D-G-D-G-C-D
* Gsus4/4 / Orkney Tuning: C-G-D-G-C-D
EEEEBE a.k.a. "Bruce Palmer Modal Tuning," as named and used by Stephen Stills in " where Stills uses this tuning while the other guitar is in standard tuning.)
E modal: E-B-E-E-B-E
* E modal alternative: E-E-B-B-B-B
Extended chord
In extended chord tunings, the open strings form a seventh, ninth, or eleventh chord.
C6: C-A-C-G-C-E
Cmaj11: C-F-C-G-B-E
Open Page: D-G-C-G-C-D
Dmin7: D-A-D-F-A-C
Dmadd9: D-A-D-F-A-E
Dadd9: D-A-D-F#-A-E
D7: D-A-D-F-A-C
Dmaj7: D-A-D-F#-A-C#
Emin7/C: C-G-D-G-B-E
Fmaj9: F-A-C-G-C-E
G6: D-G-D-G-B-E
G7: D-G-D-G-B-F
Gmaj7: D-G-D-F-B-D
Gadd4: D-G-D-G-B-C
Emin11: E-B-D-G-A-D
Regular tunings
Major seconds
A compact tuning that fits within one octave and covers the chromatic scale between open strings and the first fret.
Minor thirds
In the minor-thirds tuning, every interval between successive strings is a minor third. In the minor-thirds tuning beginning with C, the open strings contain the notes of the diminished C chord.
Major thirds
Major-thirds tuning is a regular tuning in which the musical intervals between successive strings are each major thirds. Unlike all-fourths and all-fifths tuning, major-thirds tuning repeats its octave after three strings, which again simplifies the learning of chords and improvisation. Neighboring the standard tuning is the major-thirds tuning that has the open strings A lower major-thirds tuning has the open strings which "contains two octaves of a C augmented chord".
All fourths
This tuning is like that of the lowest four strings in standard tuning. Jazz musician Stanley Jordan plays guitar in all-fourths tuning; he has stated that all-fourths tuning "simplifies the fingerboard, making it logical".
Augmented fourths
Between the all-fifths and all-fourths tunings are augmented-fourth tunings, which are also called "diminished-fifths" or "tritone" tunings.
All fifths: "Mandoguitar"
All-fifths tuning is a tuning in intervals of perfect fifths like that of a mandolin, cello or violin; other names include "perfect fifths" and "fifths". It has a wide range, thus it requires an appropriate range of string gauges. A high b' string is particularly thin and taut, which can be avoided by shifting the scale down by several steps or by a fifth.
Ostrich tuning is a tuning where all strings are tuned to the same note over two or three octaves, creating an intense, choruseddrone and interesting fingering potential. Used by Soundgarden on the song "Mind Riot", and by Lou Reed in the Velvet Underground.
Dropped
Drop tunings lower the sixth string, dropping the lowest E string of the standard tuning. Some drop tunings also lower the fifth string. A drop one tuning lowers the pitch by one full step. Some lower tunings may call for a baritone guitar to more easily maintain high string tension and a rich tone. Others can be achieved using a capo and/or a partial capo.
Drop A in standard variation - A-a-D-G-B-E: The 6th string is dropped to A while the other strings retain their standard tuning. Used by Helmet on "Biscuits for Smut", Foo Fighters on "Stacked Actors", Opeth on the song "Sorceress", and the Melvins on "Boris". A 7-string version of this tuning is used by Muse on their song "Citizen Erased, tuned A-a-D-d-G-B-E
Drop A in D standard variation - A-G-C-F-a-D: Used by Mastodon on most of their first album and on some songs on other albums. Also utilized by Nothing More and Periphery. Also used on occasion by Black Label Society, who previously tuned it a half-step up, which Alter Bridge also utilizes on some of their songs such as "Broken Wings", "Come to Life", "I Know it Hurts", "Still Remains", "Breath Again", and "All Hope is Gone." Creed, Architects, and Sevendust all use this tuning tuned a half-step down on their songs "Bread of Shame", "Early Grave", and "Home" and "Chop", respectively. Danish industrial metal band Raunchy used this tuning tuned one and a half-step down on the song "Dim the Lights and Run" from the album A Discord Electric. Wage War also utilize this tuning one whole step down for songs like "The River" and "Spineless" off their album Blueprints.
Drop G/Drop A - G-D-g-C-F-A / A-E-a-D-F-B
Three full steps down from Drop D. Utilized by Hypocrisy, Dead by April, Metallica in the song "Invisible Kid" from St. Anger, Memphis May Fire, Asking Alexandria on their self-titled album, Damien Deadson, Love and Death, Wage War, and The Acacia Strain. Staind also uses this tuning, as well as several other modified variations of this, such as one in which the 5th string is also dropped from D# to C#.
Drop G - G-D-g-C-E-A
Three and one half steps down from Drop D. Used by Darkest Hour on the song "Wasteland", Attack Attack!, Baroness, Sleeping With Sirens on the song "Blood Lines", Bring Me the Horizon on a few songs from their album Suicide Season, Dead by April and In Flames. Also Pantera and Whitechapel recorded Sandblasted Skin in G-g-C-F-A-D, Drop G variation with D standard. Soulfly used this tuning on "Eye for an Eye" on their self-titled album, although live performances of this song are now in A standard.
Drop F/Drop G - F-C-f-B-D-G / G-D-g-B-E-A
Four full steps down from Drop D, or two full steps up from Drop D1. Used by Disfiguring the Goddess. In the recording of Limp Bizkit's song "Nookie", Wes Borland used a custom 4 string baritone guitar tuned F#-F#-B-E. Also Slipknot recorded their song "Scissors" from their debut album in F#-F#-B-E-G#-C#.
Drop F - F-C-f-A-D-G / F-C-f-B-D-G
Four and one half steps down from Drop D, or one and a half steps up from Drop D1. Used by Attack Attack! on "The Wretched" off "This Means War"
Drop E - E-B-e-A-C-F / E-B-e-A-D-G/
Five full steps down from Drop D, or one full step up from Drop D1. Another Variation can be mixed with a Drop A as follows: E-A-e-a-D-G-B-e modeled on an 8 string or E-A-e-a-D-F#-B/E-A-e-a-D-Gb-Cb on a 7 string.
Drop D/Drop E - D-A-d-G-C-F / E-B-e-A-C-F
Five and one half steps down from Drop D, or one half step up from Drop D1. This can also be a Drop D# standard octave variant tuning modeled on an 8 string D#-G#-d#-g#-C#-F#-A#-d#
Drop D1 - D-A-d-G-B-E
Six full steps down from Drop D. 8 string example; D-A-d-a-d-G-B-E. Black Tongue uses this tuning.
Drop C1/Drop D1
Six full steps down from Drop C/Drop D. Used on some After The Burial songs.
Drop C1
Six full steps down from Drop C. Used by Within the Ruins on the album Phenomena with the variation C-F-c-f-A#-D-G.
Drop C/Drop D in standard variation - C-A-D-G-B-E
Standard tuning but with the 6th string lowered one and a half steps. Used by Sevendust tuned one and one half-step down on some songs from "Home" through "Alpha".
Drop C in standard variation - C-A-D-G-B-E
Standard tuning but with the 6th string lowered two whole steps. Used by Mark Tremonti on the song "My Champion" as well as Sevendust on the song "Mountain". Also used by John Mayer on the song “Neon”, and by Chino Moreno of Deftones on some songs such as "Swerve City" and "Hearts/Wires", tuned down a full step.
Drop B in standard variation - B-A-D-G-b-E
Claimed to have been invented by guitarist Victor Griffin of Pentagram. Also used in the song "March of the Fire Ants" by Mastodon, "Rusty Cage" "Holy Water", and "Searching With My Good Eye Closed" by Soundgarden on their Badmotorfinger album, "Cowboy Hat" and some of "Silver Side Up" by Nickelback, "Gasoline", "Shadow on the Sun", "Bring Em Back Alive" and "The Worm" by Audioslave and "Prison Sex" by Tool. Today is the Day have used it on every album since Temple of the Morning Star, Shining use it on most of their album Blackjazz, and Black Label Society used this on much of their early material, often to emulate a 7-string guitar. Used also by Silverchair in the songs "One Way Mule" and "The Lever" from their album Diorama.
Drop B-E - B-E-D-G-b-e
Standard tuning with the 6th and 5th string lowered two and a half steps down. Used by Tool in the songs Parabol and "Parabola".
Shifted
These tunings are derived by systematic increases or decreases to standard tuning.
Lowered (Standard)
Derived from standard EADGBE, all the strings are tuned lower by the same interval, thus providing the same chord positions transposed to a lower key. Lower tunings are popular among rock and heavy metal bands. The reason for tuning down below standard pitch is usually either to accommodate a singer's vocal range or to get a deeper/heavier sound.
One and a half steps down. Famously used by Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi in the 1970s, as well as Carrie Brownstein, Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, Behemoth, Eyehategod, Decapitated, Architects, Dying Fetus, Anata, Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney, Between the Buried and Me, Machine Head, Down, Suffocation, All That Remains, Bolt Thrower, Pete Loeffler of Chevelle, Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle and Ashes Divide, Guns N' Roses, Attila, Slayer, and Stone Sour, as well as former guitarist Jim Root's other band Slipknot on the song "Snuff". Also used by Kyuss on the Sons of Kyuss EP and on the songs "Isolation", "Big Bikes" and "Stage III" from Wretch. John Prine downtuned most of his songs to this tuning for the rest of his life following a bout with throat cancer that took a toll on his voice. Used by Metallica on the song "Bad Seed" from the album Reload and live performances of "The Thing That Should Not Be" since 1987 and by blink-182 in "Obvious". Also used on Considered Dead and The Erosion of Sanity by Canadian technical death metal band Gorguts.
Three and a half steps down from standard tuning. Used by Soulfly, THEMES, Taproot, Xibalba, Yob, Wind Rose, Hypocrisy, Bolt Thrower, Dystopia, Arch Enemy on a few songs and on live performances of A tuned songs and their cover of "Symphony Of Destruction".
G/A tuning - G-C-F-B-D-G / A-D-G-B-E-A
Four full steps down from standard tuning. Utilized by Cannibal Corpse on some songs. Used by death/doom metal band Encoffination. Also used by Mark Tremonti on the song "In the Deep".
G tuning - G-C-F-A-D-G / G-C-F-B-D-G
Four and a half steps down from standard tuning. Used by the Doom Metal band Warhorse and the Brutal Death Metal band Mortician.
F/G tuning - F-B-E-A-C-F / G-B-E-A-D-G
Five full steps from standard tuning. Used by the Death Metal band Disfiguring The Goddess.
F tuning - F-A-D-G-C-F / F-B-E-A-C-F
Five and one half steps down from standard tuning. Used by the deathgrind band Maruta, the instrumental doom metal band Bongripper, and the progressive metal band "Meshuggah".
Octave Tuning - E-A-D-G-B-E
Six full steps down from standard tuning. The Low E has the same fundamental frequency as a bass guitar, essentially the same standard tuning as a bass guitar but with a high B and E added to mimic a regular guitar. This tuning is used on the Fender Bass VI and similar instruments. Notably used by John Lennon and George Harrison with The Beatles, Robert Smith of The Cure and Jack Bruce of Cream. In his early days with Ronnie Hawkins, future Band bassist Rick Danko was also seen with a Fender Bass VI. This is the tuning Earth used on their seminal drone doom album, Earth 2. Also used in some Doom Metal and Sludge Metal bands such as Thou.
Raised
From standard EADGBE, all the strings are tuned up by the same interval. String tension will be higher. Typically requires thinner gauge strings, particularly the first string which could be as thin as six thousandths of an inch. A capo is typically preferred over these tunings, as they do not increase neck strain, etc. The advantage of these tunings is that they allow an extended upper note range versus a capo used with standard tuning which limits the number of notes that can be played; in some cases, instruo B or E are more easily played when the accompanying guitar plays chords in the higher tuning. If standard gauge strings are used, the result is often a "brighter" or "tighter" sound; this was a common practice for some bluegrass bands in the 1950s, notably Flatt & Scruggs.
F tuning - F-A-D-G-C-F / F-B-E-A-C-F
Half a step up from standard tuning. Used in most of Johnny Cash's music, for "Love Buzz" on Nirvana's Bleach album - apparently by mistake, 3 Doors Down on "Here Without You", Vektor, Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun", Nickelback on their song "When We Stand Together", Burzum on his first 3 albums, Immortal on Pure Holocaust, John Fedowitz in his solo project "Ceremony", Joe Jackson on "Got the Time", and Social Distortion on "Ring of Fire".
F/G tuning - F-B-E-A-C-F / G-B-E-A-D-G
One full step up from standard. Primary tuning for the band The Chameleons. Johnny Marr also used this tuning extensively with The Smiths; bassist Andy Rourke remained in standard, however, even when Marr was playing in F#. British singer-songwriter Dave Mason also plays in F#. Alex Lifeson of Rush used this tuning on the song "The Big Money". Tremonti uses a variation of this tuning where only the 6th string is raised to F# while the rest of the guitar stays in standard tuning, and then tuning down the whole guitar one and a half steps, on the song "Trust".
G tuning also known as Terz tuning - G-C-F-A-D-G / G-C-F-B-D-G
One and one half steps up from standard.
G/A tuning - G-C-F-B-D-G / A-D-G-B-E-A
Two full steps up from standard.
A tuning - A-D-G-C-E-A
Two and one half steps up from standard. This is the standard tuning for the Lapstick travel guitar.
A/B - A-D-G-C-F-A / B-E-A-D-F-B
Three full steps up from standard.
Double-dropped
Similar to the dropped tunings, except that both the 1st and 6th strings are dropped one full step.
Double Drop D - D-A-D-G-B-D
Standard tuning but with the 1st and 6th strings dropped one full step. Favored by Neil Young. Has also been used by Lamb of God on some of their earlier songs.
Double Drop C/Drop D - C-G-C-F-A-C / D-A-D-G-B-D/
Same as Drop D, but every string is dropped one half step. Used by the acoustic rock band Days of the New. Also used by Our Lady Peace on the song "Starseed", as well as Los Angeles based Alternative band Failure, for the track "Sergeant Politeness". Also used by Tremonti on the song "Fall Again", as well as Myles Kennedy on the song "Cry a River"
Double Drop C - C-G-C-F-A-C
One full step down from Drop D. Used by Sevendust on the song "Seasons".
Double Drop B - B-F-B-E-G-B / B-G-B-E-A-B/
One and one half steps down from Drop D. Used by Aaron Turner of Isis.
Double Drop A/Drop B - A-F-A-D-G-A / B-F-B-E-G-B
Two full steps down from Drop D.
Double Drop A - A-E-A-D-F-A / A-E-A-D-G-A
Two and one half steps down from Drop D.
Double Drop G/Drop A - G-D-G-C-F-G / A-E-A-D-F-A
Three full steps down from Drop D.
Double Drop G - G-D-G-C-E-G
Three and one half steps down from Drop D.
Double Drop F/Drop G - F-C-F-B-D-F / G-D-G-B-E-G
Four full steps down from Drop D, or two full steps up from Drop D1.
Double Drop F - F-C-F-A-D-F / F-C-F-B-D-F
Four and one half steps down from Drop D, or one and a half steps up from Drop D1.
Double Drop E - E-B-E-A-C-E / E-B-E-A-D-E
Five full steps down from Drop D, or one full step up from Drop D1.
Double Drop D/Double Drop E - D-A-D-G-C-D / E-B-E-A-C-E
Five and one half steps down from Drop D, or one half step up from Drop D1.
Double Drop D1 Tuning - D-A-D-G-B-D
Six full steps down from Double Drop D.
Miscellaneous
Dad-Gad
DADGAD was developed by Davey Graham in the early 1960s when he was travelling in Morocco, to more easily play along with Oud music Among the first to use this tuning were the folk-blues guitarists of the '60s like Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Martin Carthy, and John Martyn. It was many years later in the 1970s that it became established for accompanists of traditional music, predominantly Scottish and Irish. Due to this popularity it is sometimes referred to as "Celtic" tuning, although this is misleading given its origin and its primary early use in a quite different field of music. Often vocalized as "Dad-Gad", DADGAD it is now common in Celtic music. In rock music, has been used in Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir". Pierre Bensusan is another noted exponent of this tuning. The post-metal group Russian Circles also employ this tuning, and also plays it tuned a half-step down: D-A-d-g-a-d'. Three down-tuned variations are used by the band Sevendust: A Drop C variation, or C-G-c-f-g-c'., a Drop B variation, or B'-F-B-e-f-b, and a Drop A# variation, or A'-F-A-d-f-a. Neighboring tunings D-A-d-e-a-e' and C-G-c-d-g-a have been used by Martin Carthy. Also D-A-d-a-a-d', was used by Dave Wakeling on the English Beat's 1983 "Save It For Later".
Dad-Dad
Nicknamed - "Papa-Papa". DADDAD is common in folk music, and for the execution of a rhythm guitar in "heavy" on 6th on the third string at the same time. To reach the tuning from DADGAD, Open D or Open D Minor, the G string is dropped to D so that the 3rd and 4th strings are tuned to the same pitch. DADDAD tuning is sometimes used on Dobro guitars for rock and blues. Notable users of this tuning include Billy McLaughlin and John Butler.
Cello/Standard guitar
Essentially a cello tuning with the deeper four strings in fifths and the two highest strings in standard guitar tuning. Used on numerous Pavement songs and by Foo Fighters on the song "Weenie Beenie"
"Karnivool" tuning
Hybrid tuning between drop B-tuning and E-standard. Used by the band Karnivool for many of their songs.
Mi-composé is a tuning commonly used for rhythm guitar in African popular music forms such as soukous and makossa. It is similar to the standard guitar tuning, except that the d string is raised an entire octave. This is accomplished by replacing the d string with an e' string and tuning it to d'.
Tuning used by Grizzly Bear guitarist Daniel Rossen in "Sleeping Ute", the opening song of their album Shields. Creates an F#m7/E chord when strummed open.
D-A-D-G-B-E This is a tuning favored by the Swedish singer-songwriter José González. He uses this on such songs as "Crosses", "Heartbeats" and "Cycling Trivialities". It is similar to the standard guitar tuning, but the low E string is dropped to D and the G string is dropped a half step to F/G. Dadd9 tuning D-A-D-F#-A-E. This tuning is used by Tonic in their song with a capo on the 4th fret.
Mr.Tom tuning
D-F#-A-E-F#-A This tuning was made by songwriter/composer Mr.Tom during the creation of an original indie folk instrumental "When You Stand By Me" . The tuning is based on the D Open tuning.
Microtonal tuning
The open strings of a guitar can be tuned to microtonal intervals, however microtonal scales cannot easily be played on a conventional guitar because the frets only allow for a chromatic scale of twelve equally spaced pitches, each a semitone apart. It is possible to play microtonal scales on a fretless guitar, to convert a fretted guitar into a fretless, or to make a custom neck with a specific microtonal fret spacing. Guitars can also be refretted to a microtonal scale. On many refretted microtonal guitars, the frets are split, so that the tuning of each string is independent from the others. To enable an adjustable microtonal tuning, there exist guitars with frets that can be moved across the fingerboard. Extended techniques such as the 3rd bridge technique, slide guitar and prepared guitar techniques can be used to produce microtonality without severe modification to the instrument.
Guitar tunings inspired by other Instruments
In his on-line guide to alternative tunings for six-string guitars, William Sethares mentions several that are inspired by instruments other than guitars, for example, balalaika, cittern C-G-C-G-C-G, and Dobro G-B-D-G-B-D.
Extended range and other guitar tunings
Five-string
Five string guitars are common in Brazil, where they are known as guitarra baiana and are typically tuned in 5ths. Schecter Guitar Research produced a production model 5 string guitar called the Celloblaster in 1998. A five-string tuning may be necessary in a pinch when a string breaks on a standard six-string and no replacement is immediately available. Some basic five-string tunings include:
Standard - E-A-d-g-b The standard tuning, without the top E string attached. Alternative variants are easy from this tuning, but because several chords inherently omit the lowest string, it may leave some chords relatively thin or incomplete with the top string missing.
High C - E-A-d-g-c' Standard tuning with the B tuned a half step higher to C to emulate a 6 string bass guitar, minus the low B. This is an all fourths tuning.
Celloblaster or Guitello - C-G-d-a-e' An all fifths tuning as used on cello or mandolin, extended to five strings. Used by the noise-rock band Lightning Bolt, and by Jeffrey McFarland-Johnson on his Bach Cello Suites album.
Baritone - E-A-d-f-b In this tuning, the fourth string is lowered a half-step, thus recreating the intervals between the top five strings, lowered a perfect fourth. Though chords can easily and more fully be played from this tuning, it sometimes results in awkward inversions, a relatively minor problem if the five-string is played in an ensemble with a bass guitar.
E-A-c-f-b Simulates the top four strings, followed by the second-from-bottom string on top, raised a whole step. It makes playing in the key of A major easier, though chord fingerings have to be altered unless the strings are rearranged to F-B-E-A-C.
Open G tuning - G-d-g-b-d' Some slide/bottleneck guitarists omit the bottom E string when playing in open G to have the root note as the tonic. This tuning is used by Keith Richards.
Open E5 tuning - E-B-e-b-e' This is achieved by removing the fourth string, tuning both Es and the B down a half step, and the A and D strings up a half-step. This creates a five-string power chord.
Seven-string
Similar to five-string bass guitar tuning, seven-string tuning allows for the extra string a fourth lower than the original sixth string. This allows for the note range of B standard tuning without transposing E standard guitar chords down two and a half steps down. Baritone 7-string guitars are available which features a longer scale-length allowing it to be tuned to a lower range.
Standard 7-string tuning - B'-E-A-d-g-b-e' This is the standard tuning for a seven-string guitar. Used by Fear Factory, In This Moment, Animals as Leaders, Unearth, Nickelback on the song "Burn It To The Ground", Decapitated, Trivium on much of Shogun, Dream Theater, Crossfade on some songs, Hypocrisy, Lacuna Coil, and All That Remains on some songs. John Prine also used it on performances of "Fish and Whistle" from 1998 to 2020, to accommodate the permanent change in his voice following his battle with throat cancer.
Drop D 7-string tuning - D-D-A-d-g-b-e' This is the standard seven-string tuning with the low B string raised to D and lower E string dropped to D.
Drop A 7-string tuning - A'-E-A-d-g-b-e'
This is the standard seven-string tuning with the low B string dropped to A.
Standard seven-string tuning with the low E dropped to D, which results in a minor 3rd interval between the two lowest strings of B and D. Used by Ed Sloan of Crossfade. Also used by Animals as Leaders on the song "CAFO". A flat variation of this tuning is used by Periphery on the song “Racecar”.
Drop D + A 7-string tuning - A'-D-A-d-g-b-e'
Seven-string tuning with the low E string dropped to D and a low A added below. Used extensively by Dir En Grey since the album "Dum Spiro Spero" as well as the song "Obscure" from the album Vulgar. Also used by Stam1na.
Thirds tuning - E-G-c-e-g-c'-e'
Same range as standard six-string. Allows over two full chromatic octaves without changing position, slides or bends.
All fourths tuning - B'-E-A-d-g-c'-f'
Expands the major third between the second and third strings, extending range a half step higher.
Russian Tuning - D-G-B-D-g-b-d 6-string Open G tuning with additional 5th B-string. Was a standard tuning for classic 7-string guitars in Russia in the 19th to 20th centuries.
A full step down from standard. Used by bands such as Korn, Paradise Lost, Dream Theater, VUUR, Obscura, ReVamp, Hypocrisy, Job for a Cowboy on "Sun Eater", and Fear Factory
G/A tuning - G'-C-F-B-e-g-c' / A'-D-G-B-e-a-d'
One and one half steps down from standard. Used by bands such as Deftones and Korn. Also used by Mark Tremonti on the song "Show Me A Leader" and Spiritbox.
G tuning - G'-C-F-A-d-g-c' / G'-C-F-B-e-g-c'
Two full steps down from standard tuning. Used by Luc Lemay of Gorguts
F/G tuning - F'-B'-E-A-d-f-b / G'-B'-E-A-d-g-b
Two and one half steps down from standard. Used by Danish band Mnemic in the albums Passenger, Sons of the System, and Mnemesis. Fear Factory also used this tuning for their cover of Wiseblood's "0-0 ", while their all other songs tuned in F/G were played with eight-string guitars.
F tuning - F'-A'-D-G-c-f-a / F'-B'-E-A-d-f-b
Three full steps down from standard. Used by Suicide Silence on the song "Witness The Addiction" and Meshuggah during the recording of Nothing. The songs are played live using 8 string guitars.
E tuning - E'-A'-D-G-c-e-a
Three and one half steps down from standard.
D/E♭ tuning - D'-G'-C-F-B-d-g / E'-A'-D-G-B-e-a
Four full steps down from standard.
D tuning - D'-G'-C-F-A-d-g / D'-G'-C-F-B-d-g
Four and one half steps down from standard.
C/D tuning - C'-F'-B'-E-A-c-f / D'-G'-B'-E-A-d-g/
Five full steps down from standard.
C tuning - C'-F'-A'-D-G-c-f / C'-F'-B'-E-A-c-f
Five and one half steps down from standard.
Octave Tuning - B"-E'-A'-D-G-B-e
Six full steps down from standard tuning. The open C tuning for 7-string guitar was Devin Townsend's preferred tuning for the extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad.
Higher
High A - E-A-d-g-b-e'-a' - Standard tuning with a high 'A' instead of a low 'B'. Because of the high pitch of the 'A' string, it usually requires a multi-scale fingerboard to provide enough tension.
C tuning - C-F-A-d-g-c'-f' / C-F-B-e-g-c'-f'
Half a step up from standard, used by Eddie Rendini during his time in Cold.
C tuning - C-F-B-e-a-c-f
The whole step up from standard. This tuning was used by Wes Borland with high E-string being lowered to C on the first two Limp Bizkit records.
Dropped
These tunings have the lowest string, and occasionally Scar Symmetry, King 810, Dry Kill Logic, Eldest 11, December In Red, A Fall To Break, and CFO$ on some songs. Also used by Nickelback on "Edge of a Revolution" and "Get 'Em Up".
Drop A - alternatively, A-E-A-D-F#-B-E
The same as drop A tuning for a 6-string on the low strings while retaining a high E. In effect converts a 7-string into a drop A baritone guitar, but with standard tuning's soloing capability. Used by Lorna Shore, Volumes, and Whitechapel on the song "This Is Exile".
One and one half steps down from standard Drop A. Used by Deftones, Rivers of Nihil, Shokran, Volumes, Spiritbox, Erra, and Thornhill.
Drop F - F-C-F-A-D-G-C / F-C-F-B-E-G-C /
Two full steps down from standard Drop A. This tuning is used on three tracks on Attack Attack!'s album This Means War: "The Hopeless," "The Abduction," and "The Wretched." The bands DVSR, Northlane, Crystal Lake, 3TEETH, The Acacia Strain, Vildhjarta, Aversions Crown Reflections, Carnifex, and "Conan" use this tuning as well. Triumphant Return uses a variation of this tuning.
Drop E1 - E-B-E-A-D-F-B / E-B-E-A-D-G-B
Two and one half steps down from standard Drop A. Used by Oceano and Currents.
Drop D1/Drop E1 - D-A-D-G-C-F-A / E-B-E-A-D-F-B
Three full steps down from standard Drop A. A variation of this tuning is used on Northlane's Alien album
Drop D1 - D-A-D-G-C-E-A
Three and one half steps down from standard Drop A. Used by Black Tongue.
Drop C1/Drop D1 - D-A-D-G-B-E-A / C-G-C-F-B-D-G
Four full steps down from standard Drop A.
Drop C1 - C-G-C-F-A-D-G / C-G-C-F-B-D-G
Four and one half steps down from standard Drop A.
Drop B0 - B-F-B-E-A-C-F / B-G-B-E-A-D-G
Five full steps down from standard Drop A. Six full steps down from a baritone Drop B guitar
Drop A/Drop B - A-F-A-D-G-C-F / B-F-B-E-A-C-F
Five and one half steps down from standard Drop A.
Drop A0 tuning - A-E-A-D-G-B-E
Six full steps down from standard Drop A.
Drop G#0 tuning -G♯-D♯-G♯-C♯-F♯-A♯-D♯
. Used by American deathcore band Anzu.
Eight-string
A continuation of the 7-string, adding another string a perfect fourth lower than the low B of the seven-string guitar. The eight string guitars additional low F string is just a whole step up from a bass guitars low E string.
Standard 8-string tuning F'-B'-E-A-D-G-B-E'
Standard eight-string tuning. Used by Scar Symmetry on the song "The Three-Dimensional Shadow" from the album Holographic Universe and "Mechanical Soul Cybernetics" from the album Dark Matter Dimensions, Deftones, Periphery, The Acacia Strain, Volumes, Fear Factory on "Mechanize", "Metallic Division", "God Eater" and "Soul Hacker" and by Devil You Know on some songs.
Lower
F tuning - F'-B'-E-A-d-g-b-e'
Half a step down from standard tuning. Used famously by Meshuggah, as well as After The Burial and Carnifex on some songs.
E tuning - E'-A'-D-G-c-f-a-d'
One full step down from standard tuning. Used by Meshuggah and Korn on their "Untitled" album and on songs "Illuminati" and "Way Too Far" from their The Path of Totality album.
E tuning- E'-A'-D-G-B-e-a-d'
One and a half steps down from standard tuning. Used by Meshuggah on "Nebulous" and Dissipate on their Tectonics EP.
D tuning - D'-G'-C-F-a-d-g-c'
Two full steps down from standard tuning.
D tuning - D'-G'-B-R-a-d-g-c'
Two and a half steps down from standard tuning
A tuning - A"-D'-G'-C-F-A-d-g
Three and one half steps down from standard tuning.
Higher
High A tuning - B'-E-A-d-g-b-e'-a'
Standard seven string tuning with a 'high a' Used by Rusty Cooley.
All fourths tuning - F'-B'-E-A-d-g-c'-f'
Regular tuning which extends range a half step higher.
Dropped
Drop E 8-string tuning - E-B-E-A-D-G-B-E A combination of standard 7-string tuning and the 8th string dropped one full step from F to E. Allows to play in the range of a standard electric bass, as well as one-finger power chords. Used by Animals as Leaders on most songs. and Whitechapel Also used by Deftones on Koi No Yokan and Gore, Allegaeon, and Emmure on the song "N.I.A. ". An open variation of this tuning is used by Hacktivist with 3rd and 4th strings tuned a whole step up to A and E respectively. Also used by Born of Osiris on the song "Silence the Echo" and Chelsea Grin on more recent material.
Drop A + E 8-string tuning - E-A-E-A-D-G-B-E A combination of 7-string drop A tuning and an 8th string dropped one full step from F to E, allowing both power chords rooted on A, and easy fingering with the E a fourth below. This is the tuning of the lowest two strings of a bass, along with all strings of a standard 6-string guitar in standard tuning. It is used by Rings Of Saturn on the album Lugal Ki En.
*Drop A + E - E-A-E-A-D-F-B-E A variation on Drop E, A with the G flattened one half step to F; this tuning is identical to 6-string Drop A, with two E strings added: one above, and one below. Like Drop E + A; this tuning allows easy fingering on the E since it is a standard fourth interval below the A. It also provides three high strings a fourth apart instead of the usual two. The tuning is used by Infant Annihilator on their album The Elysian Grandeval Galèriarch.
Drop E/D 8-string tuning - E-B-E-A-D-G-B-E Half a step down from drop E tuning. Used by Meshuggah in the album Catch Thirty-Three, in the song Shed, and used by Emmure in the album Speaker of the Dead in the song "Word of Intulo". Also used by After the Burial in the song "To Carry You Away" off of the album In Dreams.
Drop D 8-string tuning - D-A-D-G-C-F-A-D One full step down from drop E. Used by Meshuggah in the song "Obsidian". Also used by Issues in the song "Tapping Out."
Drop C 8-string tuning - C-G-C-F-B-E-G-C One and a half steps down from drop E.
Drop C + A 8-string tuning - C-A-E-A-D-G-B-E Standard 8-string tuning with the 8th string dropped 5 half steps from F to C and the 7th string dropped one full step from B to A. this tuning is used by Animals as Leaders on the song "Physical Education" using a guitar with two extra frets on the 8th and the 7th string.
Drop E/Open Tuning - E-B-E-B-E-F#-B-E 3rd string half a step down. 4th & 5th strings a whole step up. Used by The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza in and IV
Nine-string
A continuation of the eight-string guitar, adding a string lower or higher.
Standard 9-string tuning - C-F-B-E-A-d-g-b-e'. Used by After The Burial on some songs from Wolves Within, by Mick Gordon for the Doom soundtrack, and by Animals As Leaders for Private Visions of the World.
Lower
B tuning - B-E-A-D-G-c-f-a-d One full step from standard tuning. Gives the range of a five-string electric bass as well as a 6-string guitar in D tuning.
Higher
High A - F-B-E-A-d-g-b-e'-a'
Dropped
Drop E + B 9-string tuning - B-E-B-E-A-d-g-b-e Gives the range of a five-string electric bass as well as a seven-string electric guitar in standard tuning. Used by Rings of Saturn for their song The Husk.
Drop B 9-string tuning - B-F-B-E-A-d-g-b-e 9-string guitar in standard tuning with the lowest string dropped two half steps down to B0, the same note as on the lowest string of a 5-string electric bass. Used by Rob Scallon for his song Rogue.
Double Drop A - A-E-A-E-A-d-g-b-e This is the 7-string drop A tuning with another E and A string added one octave lower. Used by Rings of Saturn.
Drop A 9-string tuning - A-E-A-D-G-c-f-a-d Standard 9-string tuning tuned one whole step down, and the lowest string dropped another whole step.
Drop G - G-D-G-C-F-a-d -g-c.
Drop F 9-string tuning - F-C-F-A#-D#-g#-c#-f-a#
Used by American deathcore band Anzu.
Ten-string
A continuation of the nine string, adding another lower string to the standard or high A tuning.
Standard - G-C-F-B-E-A-d-g-b-e'
High A - C-F-B-E-A-d-g-b-e'-a'
Drop F 10-string tuning - F-C-F-B-E-A-d-g-b-e' 10-string guitar in standard tuning with the lowest string dropped two steps from G to F, which is a fourth lower than the low B string on a 5-string bass.
Standard bass plus standard guitar - standard E-A-D-g-b-e tuning for the top 6 strings and standard E'-A'-G-D bass tuning for the bottom 4 strings. It's set as a factory tuning for Agile Septor 1030.
Steel Guitar
On table steel guitar and pedal steel guitar, the most common tunings are the extended-chord C6 tuning and E9 tuning, sometimes known as the Texas and Nashville tunings respectively. On a multiple-neck instrument, the near neck will normally be some form of C6, and the next closest neck E9. Necks with 12 or more strings can be used with universal tunings which combine the features of C6 and E9. On a 12 string pedal steel guitar, all 12 strings are tuned and played individually, not as 6 double courses as on the 12 string guitar. On lap steel guitar there is often only one six-string neck. C6 tuning is popular for these instruments, as are open G, E6, and E7 tuning.
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, such as, for instance, "La Canción Del Emperador" and "Diferencias Sobre Guardame Las Vacas" by Renaissance composer Luis de Narváez.
