A natural question arises: "how to tune a 6 string guitar for a beginner?". If you have big plans and want to become a guitarist from God, at a minimum you need to be able to tuning your guitar correctly. But even if there are no such plans, you will still have to tune the guitar).
“I can’t tune my guitar” is a phrase you can often hear from a beginning guitarist, but first, let’s figure out how the strings should be tuned. The strings on a guitar are numbered from bottom to top, from the most thin string to the thickest.
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With classic guitar tuning The 6th string is tuned to , the Latin designation "E" is often used. Usually the sixth string is tuned first, and the rest from there, but more on that a little later. This is how the strings should be tuned when classical system:
- e (the first, thinnest string is the note "E")
- B (second string, note "B")
- G (third string, G note)
- D (fourth string, note "D")
- A (fifth string, note "A")
- E (the sixth, thickest string is the note "E")
Now that we know how the strings should be tuned, let's try to tune them. By the way, you know ? To do this, we will use pegs or, as some beginners call them, “twists”). can be turned in one or the other direction.
By turning the peg clockwise we tighten the string, giving it a higher sound, and accordingly turning it counterclockwise we loosen the string and it sounds lower.
At setting 6 string guitar twist you need to be careful so as not to break the string, especially for beginner guitarists. With experience, you will feel the tension of the string much more accurately, but for now, be more careful and turn the “twists” carefully.
Tuning the 6th string
First of all, we tune the sixth string on the guitar. To do this, we need a so-called reference sound, specifically the note “E”. Where can I get it? You can listen to it on our website, take it on another tuned musical instrument, you can use a tuning fork, or go to YouTube and write in the search “E note for tuning a guitar” or something like that.
Some people have perfect pitch and can determine the pitch of a note without using the above methods. This quality of hearing can be developed, but as a rule it is innate. However, not all professionals have such skills, so the method proposed below is used by both experienced guitarists and beginners.
And so, we have found a “sample” note, let’s start tuning. Tuning a 6-string guitar, as well as playing any other musical instrument, requires at least some degree of hearing. The presence of hearing in a beginner is very easy to determine, if you are able to distinguish which of two notes sounds higher and which lower, then you definitely have hearing. This is what we need now.
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Play standard note "mi" and at the same time start plucking the sixth string of your guitar. Do you feel the difference? Does your guitar string sound lower than the reference note? So you need to tighten it up a little, twist smoothly and continue tuning the 6th string until our string and the reference note sound . Try tightening and loosening the string a little until you achieve the desired sound.
Tuning the rest of the strings
can be tuned in a similar way, using standard notes, but as a rule, “in everyday life” they are tuned relative to the 6th string. The procedure is as follows:
We will use the 6th string clamped on the 5th fret and the 5th string open (that is, not clamped on any fret). We alternately pluck the fifth and sixth strings and adjust the sound of the fifth string until we achieve unison.
The remaining strings are tuned according to a similar pattern, but with a slight correction (pay attention to the setting of the second string). I will describe the entire string tuning scheme:
- Sixth string - tune either by reference note or by ear.
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 from the thinnest 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 the convenience of letter designation, we will begin to list the notes not from C, but from the note 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.
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In this article on the site we will talk about alternative guitar tunings.
Unusual setting guitars are a type of tuning that differs from the classical and generally accepted fourth tuning.
It is important to understand that we are talking here about open strings ah, that is, notes will be extracted from open strings without pressing.
Classic setting six string guitar in notes it looks like this (from the first string to the sixth): E (mi), H (si), G (sol), D (re), A (la), E (mi).
This tuning is used by guitarists 95% of the time and is considered the default tuning.
For example, if you see a chord grid with the indicated finger placement, it means that this classical tuning is implied, and you only need to use it.
On the other hand, there are a lot musical groups, who take advantage of their individual customization of tools. Often, such an alternative tuning differs little from the generally accepted one, and the changes affect only individual strings.
For example, the sixth bass string in heavy musical styles often drops a tone lower - from MI - to RE, adding an additional seventh string SI (the thickest).
Similar techniques of alternative tuning are used on the bass guitar, especially the five-string, where instead of the classical MI there is a SI or even a SI-flat in the bass.
If you look at the tabs of the same Korn, Sepultura or Cannibal Corpse, you will definitely notice the use of alternative guitar tuning.
However non-standard setting The guitar is not limited to just one string. The same metal bands, in order to give the music more heaviness and darkness, rebuild the entire guitar.
For example, classic guitar tuning Often the whole thing shifts down a semitone or tone, moving from the general tuning of MI fourths to the general tuning of RE.
All this is implemented simply: all the strings of the guitar are lowered at the same interval lower, which achieves a special lowered sound.
On the other hand, alternative guitar tunings are often used in other styles.
In jazz, in blues, in grunge and even in rock.
For example, when playing with a slider (a special tip placed on the guitarist’s finger), it is very convenient to line up the guitar in fifths, so that when the fret is pressed, a whole chord can be heard without dissonant notes. Similar practices are found in other styles of music.
Unusual guitar tuning, alternative tuning
In order not to bore the reader with long stories, we will present several alternative tuning options for a six-string guitar. You can use these settings variations at your own discretion.
For example, to diversify your playing, to find new musical ideas, to change the monotonous classical sound of an instrument...
Alternative tuning of a guitar is usually implemented so that all of the instrument's open strings produce a specific minor or major chord.
When playing in this tuning, you can simply press entire frets of the guitar and get new chords.
For example, by tuning a guitar in D major and plucking all the strings at the fifth fret, you will get a pure G major, and at the seventh fret you will get an A major.
Note: The examples below indicate an alternative order of notes from the SIXTH string to the FIRST string (the sixth is the far left and the first is the far right).
To execute correct setting you will have to either tighten or loosen individual strings, go beyond the generally accepted tuning.
1. Alternative guitar tuning in D major (D):
2. Unusual guitar tuning in G major (G):
3. Tuning a six-string guitar in the key of C major (C):
4. Alternative tuning E major (E):
5. Non-standard system G minor (Gm):
6. Alternative guitar tuning in D minor (Dm):
7. Unusual system six-string guitar in the key of A minor (Am):
And a few more completely unusual configuration options:
8. SOL fret tuning (G):
9. Alternative tuning in PE fret (D):
10. Guitar stand in A major (A major):
11. Tuning a guitar with sol bass:
12. Unusual tuning of an instrument with bass BEFORE:
13. Bass retuned to PE (D):
14. Guitar tuning with a lowered first string:
Note: "B" is the symbol for B-flat, and simply B is written as "H". Moreover, in the pictures for this article, “B” indicates the note SI.
This confusion is associated with the notation of the SI note in various options musical notation, but don't let that scare you. In the article, the pure note SI is designated exclusively as “H”.
As you can see, there are different approaches to rebuilding a six-string instrument. In some cases, all notes are changed, and in some situations, only some strings are twisted (not all).
For example, changes are often made to the bass strings, and you may see this variation especially often. The most problematic type of guitar tuning is adding strings.
To implement such a tuning, you will either need to use a seven-string instrument, or shift all the strings, adding a thick B string in the bass.
In general, such alternative settings you could come up with your own by experimenting with different guitar tunings.
Don't think that everything possible options are limited only to the 14 examples described above. In fact, there are many, many more alternative configuration methods!
Non-classical settings are used for the convenience of playing certain musical genres or pieces of music.
Classic setting method
- tuning fork
- The 1st string is used to tune the 2nd string, which, being pressed at the V fret, should sound the same as the 1st open (not pressed) string.
- The 3rd string, pressed at the 4th fret, is tuned to the 2nd open string.
- The 4th string, pressed on the V fret, is tuned to the 3rd open string.
- The 5th string, pressed at the V fret, is tuned to the 4th open string.
- The 6th string, pressed at the V fret, is tuned to the 5th open string.
Tuning with harmonics and temperament
Allows for much more precise tuning, since the accuracy of the frets is not always sufficient.
- The 1st string is tuned using the reference sound - the sound of a tuning fork - or the sound of an already tuned musical instrument.
- The 6th string is tuned so that its harmonic at the 5th fret sounds in unison with the 1st string.
- The 5th string is tuned so that its harmonic at the 7th fret sounds in unison with the 1st string, and then it is slightly pulled up so that a beat occurs with a frequency of 0.372 Hz (one beat in 2.7 seconds).
- The 4th string is tuned so that its harmonic at the 7th fret sounds in unison with the harmonic of the 5th string at the 5th fret, and then slightly tightened so that a beat occurs with a frequency of 0.497 Hz (one beat per 2.01 seconds).
- The 3rd string is tuned so that its harmonic at the 7th fret sounds in unison with the harmonic of the 4th string at the 5th fret, and then slightly tightened so that a beat occurs with a frequency of 0.664 Hz (one beat per 1.51 seconds).
- The 2nd string is tuned so that its harmonic on the 5th fret sounds almost in unison with the harmonic of the 1st string on the 7th fret, but is slightly shortened so that a beat with a frequency of 1.12 Hz is heard (one beat per 0.9 seconds).
When tuning using the tuning fork A (“A”), the 5th string is tuned first (the harmonic on the V fret in unison with the tuning fork), then the 1st and 6th, and then the 4th, 3rd and 2nd.
If you have good hearing and have gained enough experience, you can do without using harmonics, catching the beat of overtones in the sound of open strings.
Since changing the string tension leads to deformation of the guitar body and detuning of the remaining strings, it is recommended to tune the guitar in 2-3 iterations, the first of which can be done without temperament (without carefully counting the beat frequency).
Lower tunings of a six-string guitar
Decreased (i.e. lower than the normal EBGDAE tuning) tunings are used for more comfortable playing a certain key, or to obtain a lower, “heavy” sound. In particular, many rock guitarists love the so-called. Drop tunings, which are named by adding to “Drop” a note on the 6th string that drops 1 tone below the first (for example: Drop C = DAFCGC). To rebuild from classical system in any lowered mode, all the strings of the guitar are lowered by a certain interval (for example, to change to tuning D, you need to lower all the strings of the guitar by a tone). To lower the guitar's tuning by more than a tone, you may need to change the strings to thicker ones due to the weakening of their tension. Also, for tunings below B (B), mostly baritone guitars are used.
| String | Scale E♭ (E-flat) | Build D (re) | Scale D♭ (D-flat) | Build C (before) | System B (si) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Frequency (in hertz) | Note | Frequency | Note | Frequency | Note | Frequency | Note | Frequency | |
| First | e♭¹ (E-flat first octave) | 311.13 | d¹ (D first octave) | 293.66 | d♭¹ (D-flat first octave) | 277.18 | c¹ (to the first octave) | 261.63 | b (B small octave) | 246.94 |
| Second | b♭ (B-flat small octave) | 233.08 | a (A small octave) | 220.00 | a♭ (A-flat small octave) | 207.00 | g (small octave sol) | 196.00 | g♭ (G-flat small octave) | 185.00 |
| Third | g♭ (G-flat small octave) | 185.00 | f (f small octave) | 174.62 | e (minor octave E) | 164.81 | e♭ (small octave E-flat) | 155.56 | d (small octave D) | 147.83 |
| Fourth | d♭ (D-flat small octave) | 138.59 | c (to small octave) | 130.82 | B (big octave B) | 123.48 | B♭ (B-flat major octave) | 116.54 | A (A major octave) | 110.00 |
| Fifth | A♭ (A-flat major octave) | 103.80 | G (major octave G) | 98.00 | G♭ (G flat major octave) | 92.50 | F (major octave F) | 87.31 | E (major octave E) | 82.41 |
| Sixth | E♭ (major octave E-flat) | 77.78 | D (major octave D) | 73.91 | D♭ (D-flat major octave) | 69.30 | C (to major octave) | 65.41 | B¹ (B counter octave) | 61.74 |
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Open C
One of characteristic features is the ease of extracting basic major chords. A simple barre on the 2nd fret will give "D", 4th fret will give "E", 5th fret will give "F" and so on. Open strings will give you "C".
In order to tune the guitar in “Open C”, you need (starting from “ standard tuning"): 1st string (thin) Leave as in " standard system" - "Mi" ("E")
2nd string. Raise half a step to “C” (“C”)
3rd string. Leave as in “standard tuning” - “Salt” (“G”)
4th string. Lower one step to “Before” (“C”)
5th string. Lower one step to “Salt” (“G”)
6th string (thick). Lower by two steps from “E” to “Do” (“C”)
Raised tunings of a six-string guitar
Tuning a guitar, especially a classical one, can damage the instrument., as well as to injuries due to a sudden break of a tightened string.
To increase the tuning, you can use a capo. If rebuilding your guitar is necessary, it is recommended to use a thinner set of strings.
| String | Build F (fa) | Tuning F# (F-sharp) | Tuning G (sol) | G# scale (G sharp) | System A (la) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Frequency (in hertz) | Note | Frequency | Note | Frequency | Note | Frequency | Note | Frequency | |
| First | f¹ (fa first octave) | 349.23 | f¹# (F-sharp first octave) | 369.99 | g¹ (sol of the first octave) | 392.00 | g¹# (G-sharp first octave) | 415.30 | a¹ (A first octave) | 440.00 |
| Second | с¹ (to the first octave) | 261.63 | с¹# (C-sharp of the first octave) | 277.18 | d¹ (D first octave) | 293.66 | D¹# (D-sharp first octave) | 311.13 | e¹ (E first octave) | 311.13 |
| Third | g# (G-sharp small octave) | 207.00 | a (A small octave) | 220.00 | a# (A-sharp small octave) | 233.08 | b (B small octave) | 246.94 | c¹ (to the first octave) | 261.63 |
| Fourth | d# (d-sharp small octave) | 155.56 | e (minor octave E) | 164.81 | f (f small octave) | 174.62 | f# (F-sharp small octave) | 185.00 | g (small octave sol) | 196.00 |
| Fifth | A# (A-sharp major octave) | 116.54 | B (big octave B) | 123.48 | c (to small octave) | 130.82 | c# (C-sharp small octave) | 138.59 | d (small octave D) | 147.83 |
| Sixth | F (major octave F) | 87.31 | F# (F-sharp major octave) | 92.50 | G (major octave G) | 98.00 | G# (G-sharp major octave) | 103.80 | A (A major octave) | 110.00 |
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"Drop D" formation
This tuning differs from the classical one in that it is lowered by tone sixth string. It is often used by hard rock electric guitarists because it makes it easier to play 5th chords. power-chord), also some works were written for him classical guitar(in the keys of D major and D minor).
"Drop C" formation
Used to produce an even lower and “heavier” sound on an electric guitar. Unlike the classical system, all strings except the sixth tune in to tone below and sixth string- on two tones.
Like Drop tuning D is used to play fifth chords.
Double Drop-D formation
The tuning is similar to Drop D, differing in that the first string is lowered a tone. For tuning from classical tuning first And sixth the string is lowered to tone.
In this tuning, the top four open strings of the guitar form a G major chord, making it easier to play with slide. Double drop D was often used by performer Neil Young.
Build "DADGAD"
The tuning most often used in folk music. It was invented by British guitarist David Graham for more convenient playing from notes recorded for violin or bagpipes.
To reorganize the “DADGAD” system from the classic one, it is necessary to lower it to tone first, second And sixth strings.
Build "DADDAD"
The “Papa-Papa” tuning is most suitable both for use in folk music (Celtic) and for playing rhythm guitar parts in “heavy” (alternative) music, 4 notes at a time. To change the tuning “DADDAD” from the classical one, you need to lower it to tone first, second And sixth strings. A third tune in unison with fourth.
Build "Open D"
In this tuning, the open strings form a D major chord. It is used primarily on slide guitars.
To rebuild into this system from the classical first, second And sixth strings drop to tone, third goes down to semitone.
"Open G" build
In this tuning, the open strings form a G major chord.
To change to "Open G" tuning from the classic first, fifth And sixth strings drop to tone.
"New Standard"
Also known as "Crafty tuning". A tuning developed by musician Robert Fripp and used by him since 1983. In contrast to the classical “quart” tuning, the tuning proposed by Robert Fripp is closer to bowed string instruments, and first, second And third the strings are tuned similarly to a violin. Tuning to this tuning may require replacing the lower strings with thicker ones and the upper strings with thinner ones.
"Alternative tuning Cross A"
E-A-E-A-E-A. "Sitar A" is an alternative lowered guitar tuning. Reminds me of the sound of an Indian sitar. Great for creating Indian (oriental) music.
Seven-string tunings
Standard
The structure of the strings of a seven-string guitar is mixed - third-fourth, so the chord of the open strings is consonant (major quarter-sixth chord), unlike a six-string guitar. This system is considered classical (academic).
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 accomplished by tuning the strings to the appropriate 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.
Elevated and lowered 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!