Guitar Tunings

All 45 guitar tunings with their notes and lowest string. Open any tuning to tune with your microphone, see the string frequencies and learn how to get there from standard tuning.

Standard & down-tuned

Tuning Notes Lowest note
Standard E A D G B E E2 · 82.41 Hz
Half Step Down E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭ E♭2 · 77.78 Hz
D Standard D G C F A D D2 · 73.42 Hz
C♯ Standard C♯ F♯ B E G♯ C♯ C♯2 · 69.30 Hz
C Standard C F B♭ E♭ G C C2 · 65.41 Hz
B Standard B E A D F♯ B B1 · 61.74 Hz
A Standard A D G C E A A1 · 55.00 Hz
Tuning Notes Lowest note
Drop D D A D G B E D2 · 73.42 Hz
Drop C♯ C♯ G♯ C♯ F♯ A♯ D♯ C♯2 · 69.30 Hz
Drop C C G C F A D C2 · 65.41 Hz
Drop B B F♯ B E G♯ C♯ B1 · 61.74 Hz
Drop A♯ A♯ F A♯ D♯ G C A♯1 · 58.27 Hz
Drop A A E A D F♯ B A1 · 55.00 Hz
Drop G♯ G♯ D♯ G♯ C♯ F A♯ G♯1 · 51.91 Hz
Drop G G D G C E A G1 · 49.00 Hz
Drop F♯ F♯ C♯ F♯ B D♯ G♯ F♯1 · 46.25 Hz
Drop E E B E A C♯ F♯ E1 · 41.20 Hz
Double Drop D D A D G B D D2 · 73.42 Hz
Tuning Notes Lowest note
Open C C G C G C E C2 · 65.41 Hz
Open D D A D F♯ A D D2 · 73.42 Hz
Open E E B E G♯ B E E2 · 82.41 Hz
Open G D G D G B D D2 · 73.42 Hz
Open A E A E A C♯ E E2 · 82.41 Hz
Open F C F C F A F C2 · 65.41 Hz
Open B B F♯ B F♯ B D♯ B1 · 61.74 Hz
Open D Minor D A D F A D D2 · 73.42 Hz
Open E Minor E B E G B E E2 · 82.41 Hz
Open A Minor E A E A C E E2 · 82.41 Hz

Alternate

Alternate Tunings
Tuning Notes Lowest note
DADGAD D A D G A D D2 · 73.42 Hz
FACGCE F A C G C E F2 · 87.31 Hz
CGDGBD C G D G B D C2 · 65.41 Hz
Taro Patch D G D G B E D2 · 73.42 Hz
Wahine C G D G B E C2 · 65.41 Hz
Orkney C G D G C D C2 · 65.41 Hz
New Standard C G D A E G C2 · 65.41 Hz
All Fourths E A D G C F E2 · 82.41 Hz
Nashville E A D G B E E3 · 164.81 Hz

7-string

Tuning Notes Lowest note
7-String Guitar Tuner B E A D G B E B1 · 61.74 Hz
7-String Drop A A E A D G B E A1 · 55.00 Hz
7-String Drop G G D G C F A D G1 · 49.00 Hz
7-String Open G G D G D G B D G1 · 49.00 Hz

8-string

Tuning Notes Lowest note
8-String Guitar Tuner F♯ B E A D G B E F♯1 · 46.25 Hz
8-String Drop E E B E A D G B E E1 · 41.20 Hz

12-string & guitalele

Tuning Notes Lowest note
12-String Guitar Tuner E E A A D D G G B B E E E2 · 82.41 Hz
Guitalele Tuner A D G C E A A2 · 110.00 Hz

How guitar tunings are organised

Standard and down-tuned tunings keep the same spacing between strings as E A D G B E. They move every string by the same amount, so all your chord shapes still work. Drop tunings lower the lowest string a whole step more than the rest, so you can play power chords with one finger. See the drop tunings chart.

Open tunings make the open strings ring a chord, which is ideal for slide guitar. See the open tunings guide. Alternate tunings such as DADGAD or FACGCE create ringing drones and widely spread chords. See alternate tunings. Extended-range guitars add more strings, so try the 7-string, 8-string and 12-string tuners.

Need the exact hertz values? The guitar string frequency chart lists every string of every tuning.

Tunings for other instruments

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common guitar tuning?

Standard tuning, E A D G B E (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4). Nearly all chord charts, tabs and lessons use it unless they say otherwise.

How many guitar tunings are there?

In theory, there is no limit. urTuner has 45 of the most used ones for 6-, 7-, 8- and 12-string guitars. The custom tuner lets you build any other.

What is the easiest alternate tuning to start with?

Drop D. Only the 6th string changes, down a whole step from E to D, and you can get back to standard in seconds.

What tuning do metal bands use?

Popular choices are drop D, drop C, D standard and drop B, plus drop A on 7-string guitars. Lower tunings usually need heavier strings.