In this article I want to clarify a little guitar tunings. What are they, why were they formed this way, and how to generally tune your guitar. Firstly, a little educational information. The order is indicated by letters. The letters are the notes that produce the open strings from the sixth (thickest) to the first (thinnest). Let's start with, so to speak, the standard - this standard guitar tuning.
Standard tuning E A D G B E (E)
In this tuning, the guitar is tuned in fourths, i.e. the interval between each string is a fourth. Read what it is. The exception is the second and third strings, the interval between which is a major third. They say in the jargon that the guitar is tuned in "E", i.e. these are the notes on the first and sixth strings. By tuning your guitar in this tuning, you can easily play regular full chords, major and minor. And in general, it seems to me that 90% of all songs can be played in it.
Low tuning Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb (E flat)
If all the strings are tuned to standard tuning and lowered each half a step, we get a lower tuning of E flat. The intervals between the strings are the same as in standard system Mi. What is this system used for? Mainly to make it easier for the vocalist to sing or for a lower and heavier sound (for example in heavy metal and other rock music).
Low tuning D G C F A D (D)
If in the standard tuning all the strings are lowered even lower - by 2 semitones, then we will get the D tuning. Here also the intervals are preserved. Essentially everything lowered tunings this type is just a standard one with a lower setting. Used again for a heavier and lower sound, for example in heavy metal. The standard can be lowered further and get, for example, C (to). The meaning will be the same.
Dropped D: D A D G B E
Now this is more interesting. Take the E standard and lower the 6th string to whole tone. Now we have 2 notes D on open strings Oh. Fifths on the sixth string are pressed not with 2 fingers, as in the standard one, but with one. This is probably the most popular tuning in alternative metal. Gives a meatier sound and expands the guitar's range. Well, convenience appears when playing fifths (power chords).
Dropped C: C G C F A D
Everything is the same as in the case of Drop D, only we take the lowered tuning of D as a basis and also lower the sixth string an additional tone. The favorite tuning of all metalcore players.
So, by equivalently lowering the strings, you can tune the guitar even higher or lower. That is, in fact, all these tunings above are variations of 2 tunings: standard and drop. They are probably the most popular among guitarists. Using just them, you can play 99% of all the songs in the world with ease. In addition to them, there are also a lot of non-standard tunings, but they are quite rarely used. And in general, you yourself can even come up with your own guitar tuning and figure out how to play it =)
Many guitarists wonder which strings will best suit their tuning. When choosing, it is worth remembering that preferences for tension and string diameter are a very individual thing. It is for this reason that you should not take information from of this material as an absolute truth: we will present the most generalized and averaged data, according to which you can choose the optimal thickness of the set to suit your preferences.
For ease of reading the article, we will use whole string thickness designations (for example, 9-42 instead of 0.009-0.042).
Factors influencing the choice of string thickness
- Guitar scale: the longer it is, the tighter the strings will be, all other things being equal. In the table below we will be using the standard 25.5" scale. If you have a guitar with a smaller scale, then you will need to make a slight adjustment and go with a thicker set.
- String tension: The higher their tension, the thicker the strings - accordingly, they have a more powerful and voluminous sound. However, on the other hand, thicker strings have a smaller vibration amplitude, which is why their sound is not as rich in overtones, it is duller and flatter - this is especially audible on thin strings without winding.
- Third string: in most sets this is not wound (plain). In sets with a first string thickness of 12 or more, the third string is usually wrapped. IN in this case It’s worth considering that braiding increases tension - you’ll have to forget about bending by one and a half to two tones, although, on the other hand, in lowered tunings The third wound string sounds much fuller and richer.
- Today you can buy guitar strings in balanced sets (8-38, 9-42, 10-46, 11-50, 12-54, 13-56, etc.) and unbalanced(9-46, 10-52, 11-52, 12-56/60, etc.)
The former are usually used for standard tuning or a tuning lowered across all strings by an equal number of semitones. The second type is ideal for lovers of drop tunings (the 6th string is lowered by a whole tone), as well as for those who use hybrid and open settings guitars.
- The thickest sets of strings (12-60, 13-72, etc.) are best suited for long-scale guitars - baritones. They have a scale length of 26 inches or more, and are used in very low tunings (for example, Standard A and lower).
In principle, such kits can also be used for instruments with a standard scale for deeply lowered tuning, but before purchasing you should consider a couple of nuances:
- You may simply not have enough scale adjustment options at the bridge, since lower tuning requires retuning. In this case, either replacing the bridge or switching to a thinner set will help.
- If you use a thicker set, you will either bore out the string grooves on the nut or simply won't be able to fit the strings into them. When switching back to thinner strings, they will hang around in the counterbore grooves, making it difficult to fine-tune the guitar.
In addition, thick strings may not fit into the peg - it will also have to be bored.
Which strings are suitable for a particular tuning?
|
Guitar tuning |
Matching String Sets |
|
Standard E |
8-38 is a specific set that is more suitable for experienced musicians. The very small diameter allows you to make microbends simply by pressing the strings harder against the frets (this is especially effective when using a scalloped neck). From famous musicians Yngwie Malmsteen is a fan of this set 9-42 - suitable for a beginning musician, installed on all production Fender guitars 10-46 is perhaps the most popular caliber for standard tuning: the perfect balance between comfort and tone. 9.5-44 - a compromise set for lovers of dynamic sound and frequent bends 11-50 - a favorite set of musicians performing blues and light rock: allows you to swing the guitar wood to full power 12-54 - suitable, for example, for guitars with voids inside the soundboard when playing jazz and blues. High tension |
|
9-46 - similar to the classic 9-42 set for drop tuning 10-52 - analogue of the 10-46 set for drop tuning 10-50 is not a very popular set, which, according to many musicians, is more balanced for drops and more pleasant to play than 10-52 10-60 - an unbalanced kit for those who play heavy music, this kit is used by Zakk Wylde 11-54 - bright and powerful sound when playing harmonic parts on low strings 11-56 - the most spacious and deep sound, suitable for musicians with strong fingers |
|
|
Standard D |
10-46 - light bends, tension below average. For singing lead parts 11-50 - perfectly balanced tension 12-54 - above average tension: every bluesman's dream 13-56 - strong tension, deep and powerful tone |
|
10-60 is a good choice for this tuning: 1-3 strings stretch well, low strings sound monolithic and deep 11-52 - minimum thickness for this tuning, tension below average 11-54 - classic set for drop C 11-56 - enhanced sound of low strings, the difference is not always noticeable 12-54 - thicker high strings, more suitable for playing harmonic parts 12-60 - strong tension, a good choice for heavy music with minimum quantity lead party |
|
|
Standard A |
14-68 - medium tension, excellent balance |
Helpful tip: If you want to tune your guitar to B Standard or lower, consider buying a baritone or 7-string guitar - you need to understand that not all types of 6-string electric guitars are designed for experimenting with strong detuning.
Let us repeat that these recommendations are conditional and partly subjective. Suffice it to remember the great SRV, which used the 13-56 kit for the Standard Eb build: therefore, the most important thing is your feelings. Try several different sets, experiment - and you will certainly find the optimal set for your music!
Based on materials from an article by Egor Kalgannikov, 12.2013.
In addition to the usual way to tune a guitar, there are alternative tunings.
Guitarists need them to diversify their performance and achieve an unusual or powerful sound, and also to simplify finger placement while playing. If you have problems with the setup process, there is a separate section about this on our website.
In this article, the tuning will be indicated from the sixth string to the first. Some settings are easier to remember this way.
Classical tuning and its variations
EADGBE - classic tuning
The generally accepted system, also called “Spanish”, is most often used to write songs. As an example, consider Ed Sheeran – Shape of you. Ed plays this song in classical tuning.
Variation one - DADGBE
Among guitarists it is called a drop-D, since the sixth string drops a tone to the note D. In it, power chords are pressed with one finger, which is why drop-D is often used in rock music.
Turns into this:
Stockholm Syndrome by Muse is played in this tuning.
Variation two - DADGBD
Also called Double drop-D, similar to the previous one, but the first string goes down a tone. It is convenient to play parts through the repeated note D, both on the sixth and on the first string. Skillet's Circus For A Psycho plays the main riff in this tuning.
Variation three - DADGAD
Among guitarists it is called “deadged”, often used in folk music because of its ease of imitation of bagpipes and sitar. Open strings do not form thirds, so this tuning is neither major nor minor, but modal. The first, second and sixth strings are lowered a tone. White summer by the Yardbirds plays just like that.
Drops and capo
Next, we will consider tunings formed by uniform changes in all strings from the classical tuning and its variations. The downward movement adds “heaviness” to the sound. The vocalist may be more comfortable singing. As the tuning goes down, it is better to switch to thicker strings; their tension will decrease and it will be uncomfortable to play.
Step one - D#G#C#F#A#D#
It’s also half-step-down, “half a step down.” All strings are evenly lowered by a semitone.
Guns`n`roses play their classic Sweet Child O`mine a little lower than it might seem.
Step two - CGCFAD
Popular in metal and heavy rock drop-C. This is the tuning that is almost always used, with all strings down a tone and the sixth string down another tone, i.e. one tone down from drop-D. First two albums System groups of a Down played in drop-C. For example, the song Toxicity from the album of the same name.
Step three - BF#BEG#C#
Another tone lower than the previous one, also known as drop-B. Even harder and more aggressive. Slipknot used this tuning on their first albums. Wait and bleed is no exception.
We will not consider the constructions below here, since in modern music For even greater reduction, guitars with additional strings, 7-, 8-, 9-strings, are used.
Capo
To improve the tuning, the guitar is very rarely retuned; for this, a capo is used, which evenly clamps all the strings.
This creates a movable threshold, and if you need to play a song in a different key, for example, for the convenience of the vocalist, you just need to move the capo to the desired fret.
For example, the Scarborough fair by Simon and Garfunkel is played with a capo at the seventh fret, which creates a BEADF#B tuning 3.5 steps higher than the classic one.
Open formations
Open tuning is the tuning of all strings not by intervals, but by the notes of a chord.
Such tunings are often used in folk music and when playing with a slide - usually a metal or glass cylinder that is placed on the finger of the left hand. It is moved along the strings as a “moving” fret.
Let's look at some commonly used open tunings.
Open D major Open D - DADF#AD
We have already discussed the DADGAD tuning as a variation of the classic tuning. Let's lower the third string another semitone - we get the notes of the D major chord.
For example, let's take the composition of guitarist Alain Johannes – Make God Jealous.
Open D minor Open D Minor - DADFAD
Let's lower the third string another semitone, and we'll end up in D minor, a more “sad” chord. Let's evaluate the changes in sound using the song Wine and Roses by John Fahey.
Open G major Open G - DGDGBD
Let's return the second and third strings to classical tuning, but let's drop the fifth one tone - we move into a G major chord. This tuning was used by Jimmy Page in Led Zeppelin's Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.
Modal scale G Modal G - DGCGCD
This system has the same features as discussed above. modal system in D (DADGAD), it is convenient to play both major and minor songs. Jimmy Page also used this system. He generally used many non-standard tunings and was their popularizer. For example, Rain song performed jointly with Robert Plant.
Open G minor Open G Minor - DGDGA#D
By lowering the second string a semitone, we form a G minor chord from the open strings. It is used on guitarist John Renbourn's Mist-Covered Mountains of Home and imitates a lute.
Open A major Open A - EEAAC#E or EAC#EAE
There are two setup options. In the first case, we raise the second, third and fourth strings by a tone, forming an A major chord.
In the second case, lower the second string by a tone, the third by a tone and a half, and the fourth string by a half tone. This variation is often found in delta blues compositions, one of the earliest blues movements.
Robert Johnson uses a slide to play in this tuning on Crossroads Blues.
Open C major Open C - CGCGCE or CGCGGE
The sixth, fifth and fourth strings repeat drop-C, the second string is raised by a semitone (or lowered by two tones), the third and first - as in the classics.
Chris Cornell's song Burden In My Hand, performed by Soundgarden, is written in this tuning.
There are many more rarer customization options. Nothing prevents a musician from tuning the instrument the way he wants or needs.
Come to us and we will teach you how to play the guitar and find innovative solutions to musical problems.
Each string on a guitar has its own name and letter designation. In this short note, let's figure out how all the strings of a guitar are designated.
As you know, there are six strings on a regular guitar. There are, of course, other types of guitars: the bass, for example, has only four strings; The Russian guitar has seven strings, there are twelve-string guitars, etc. We will look at the most common type of guitar - the six-string guitar.
Guitar strings are counted starting from the most thin string– to the thickest bass string. The thinnest is the first string. Accordingly, the thickest is the sixth string. When you hold the guitar in the position in which you play it, the first string of the guitar is lower, i.e. closer to the floor, and the very last, sixth string is higher. Bass strings differ from non-bass strings in that bass strings have a metal winding, so they are thicker in volume and produce a lower sound.
So, now about the names of the strings.
the first string is E,
second string – B,
third string – G,
fourth string – D,
fifth string – A,
the sixth string is E.
In some works, composers slightly modify the tuning of the guitar, for example, they rearrange the sixth string instead of the note E to the note D, or less often, instead of the fifth string A, they rearrange its sound into the note G. But these are exceptional cases that are quite rare.
In addition to the usual names, each string also has its own letter designation. These are the letters of the Latin alphabet that indicate the strings of a guitar.
As you noticed, the first and sixth strings have the same names. But this does not mean that these strings sound the same. The only thing they have in common is the name. In fact, the first E string belongs to the second octave, and the sixth E string belongs to the scarlet octave. Those. the distance between these strings is as much as two octaves!
Since not all letter designations of notes are indicated above, but only designations of guitar strings, I decided to simultaneously note the letter designations of all existing notes in music. As we know, there are only seven of them - do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si. For convenience of letter designation, we will begin to list the notes not from C, but from A. It will be more convenient this way:
If you look closely, it becomes obvious that we are looking at the initial letters of the Latin alphabet. In my opinion, this method of recording makes memorization much easier. letter designations all existing notes.
Attention! Take a guitar training course! Course duration: 90 minutes!
One of the problems that every guitarist faces while learning is choosing a guitar tuning. Guitar tuning is determined by the sound of open strings; accordingly, the transition to one or another key is carried out by tuning the strings to the corresponding notes. Below is a list of the most widely used tunings:
. "Spanish" or standard. This tuning is considered a classic. This is where mastery of playing technique begins. Many people continue to play it after completing their training, since this system is universal. Designation - EBGDAE, according to strings (1st to 6th).
Drop D. One of the popular tunings, often used in rock music, especially by hard rock performers. Literally translated as "lowered D". The reason for this name lies in the fact that in this tuning the 6th string sounds a tone lower than in the standard tuning, that is, it corresponds to the note D (D). This type of tuning sounds best on an electric guitar.
Drop C. This guitar tuning, like the previous one, is based on the fact that the sixth string sounds a full tone lower than the first. However, with Drop C, strings one through five are first tuned exactly one step down from standard tuning. That is, we get DAFCGC. In this tuning the guitar sounds lower and heavier. Used primarily in heavy music.
Open D. This tuning is most often used when playing slide guitar.
High and low tunings. Often musicians lower or raise the guitar tuning by a semitone, a tone, or even more. All strings can be tuned the same or differently. However (especially classic ones) when played in high formation they are at risk of getting damaged.
. Instrumental scale. Implies a standard tuning for another instrument. You can tune it like a balalaika, charango, or cithara.
I would also like to mention that the guitar, unlike many musical instruments, is not tuned in fifth scale. Why, despite the fact that the fifth gives the purest and most pleasant sound, is the guitar tuned in such an incomprehensible, at first glance, way? The answer to this question is more than simple: standard guitar tuning provides the greatest simplicity and ease of play.
Where to start? Naturally, with mastering the technique of playing in the classical (Spanish) system. Only after studying musical literacy, especially chords, you can choose in which tuning it is more convenient to play this or that chord, this or that song. It is worth noting that for a beginner to play alternative system it will be much more difficult, especially if he does not know the barre technique.
If you play or plan to play in the future, it's worth Special attention on the geometry of the neck, especially the height of the strings. The guitar may need to be re-tuned to avoid loose strings and rattling when played in the new tuning. Electric guitars for beginners are not designed for playing alternative tunings, and their sound, for example, in Drop C, may not please you. Be sure to take this into account when purchasing!