Stringed instrument tunings: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 16:12, 29 October 2007
This is a list of tunings for stringed musical instruments . Strings or courses are listed from low to high pitch, reading from left to right facing the front of the instrument standing vertically. (The are a few exceptions to this, for instance the mountain dulcimer which is strung in the reverse direction, with the highest sounding courses on the left and the lowest to the right.) Octaves, where shown, are given in scientific pitch notation, where the A above middle C is "A4."
Single-string courses are simply separated by spaces; multiple-string courses (i.e., paired or tripled strings) are shown with the courses separated by bullet characters (•).
File:Octave Designations 4.svg
Octave Designation Diagram for Scientific Pitch Notation (used by The Acoustical Society of America) and Helmholtz
A
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andylin | F F • C C • G G • C C | 8 strings/4 courses | Andy Irvine | Pitched between mandolin and mandola | |
Archlute | F F • G G • A A • B B • C C • D D • E F G C F A D G | 20 strings/14 courses |
B
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baglama (Greek) | D5 D5 • A4 A4 • D5 D5 | 6 strings/3 courses | Greece | Modal D standard tuning | |
Bajo quinto | A A • D D • G G • C C • F F | 10 strings/5 courses | Mexico | Standard tuning. | |
Bajo Sexto | E E • A A • D D • G G • C C • F F | 12 strings/6 courses | Mexico | Standard tuning | |
Balalaika | E E A | 3 strings/3 courses | Russia | Standard alto tuning | |
Balalaika | E A D | 3 strings/3 courses | Russia | Standard bass tuning | |
Balalaika | E A D | 3 strings/3 courses | Russia | Standard contrabass tuning | |
Balalaika | E E A | 3 strings/3 courses | Russia | Standard piccolo tuning | |
Balalaika | E E A | 3 strings/3 courses | Russia | Standard prima tuning | |
Bandola | F♯3 F♯3 • B3 B3 • E4 E4 E4 • A4 A4 A4 • D5 D5 D5 • G5 G5 G5 | 16 strings/4 courses | Colombia | Standard tuning | |
Bandola Llanera | A3 D4 F♯4 B3 | 4 strings/4 courses | Venezuela | Standard tuning. | |
Bandola Oriental | G3 G3 • D4 D4 • A4 A4 • E5 E5 | 4 strings/4 courses | Venezuela | Standard tuning. | |
Bandurria | G♯ G♯ • C♯ C♯ • F♯ F♯ • B B • E E • A A | 12 strings/6 courses | Spain | Spanish tuning. One octave higher
than the laud. | |
Banjo (tenor) | C G D A | 4 strings/4 courses | USA via Africa | Standard tenor jazz tuning | |
Banjo (tenor) | G D A E | 4 strings/4 courses | USA via Africa | Irish tenor tuning | |
Banjo (5-string) | G D G B D | 5 strings/5 courses | USA via Africa | Open G tuning | |
Banjo (5-string) | G C G B D | 5 strings/5 courses | C tuning | ||
Banjo (plectrum) | C G B D | 4 strings/4 courses | USA via Africa | Standard plectrum tuning | |
Baritone guitar | B1 E2 A2 D3 F♯3 B3 | 6 strings/6 courses | United States (Danelectro[citation needed]) | Standard 4th lower tuning | |
Baritone guitar | A1 D2 G2 C3 E3 A3 | 6 strings/6 courses | United States (Danelectro) | Standard 5th lower tuning | |
Baritone guitar | E A D G B E | 6 strings/6 courses | United States (Danelectro) | Octave lower tuning | |
Bass guitar | E1 A1 D2 G2 | 4 strings/4 courses | Bass, electric bass | United States | Standard 4-string tuning |
Bass guitar (5-string) | B0 E1 A1 D2 G2 | 5 strings/5 courses | Bass, electric bass | Argentina[citation needed] | E1 A1 D2 G2 C3 is also used |
Bass guitar (6-string) | B0 E1 A1 D2 G2 C3 | 6 strings/6 courses | Bass, electric bass | ||
Bordonua | A2 A3 • D4 D3 • F♯3 F♯4 • B3 B3 • E4 E4 | 10 strings/5 courses | Puerto Rico |
C
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cavaquinho | D G B D | 4 strings/4 courses | Cavaco | Brazil | Standard tuning |
Cavaquinho | D G B E | 4 strings/4 courses | Cavaco | Brazil | 'Guitar' tuning |
Cavaquinho | G G B D | 4 strings/4 courses | Cavaco | Brazil | Alternative tuning |
Cavaquinho | A A C♯ E | 4 strings/4 courses | Cavaco | Brazil | Alternative tuning |
Cello | C2 G2 D3 A3 | 4 strings/4 courses | Violoncello | Standard tuning | |
Charango | G4 G4 • C4 C4 • E5 E4 • A4 A4 • E5 E5 | 10 strings/5 courses | Quirquincho, Mulita, Tatu, Kirki | Bolivia, Peru, Argentina
Chile, Ecuador |
Standard C6 tuning. 3rd course is an octave pair. |
Charangon | C4 C4 • F4 F4 • A5 A4 • D5 D5 • A5 A5 | 10 strings/5 courses | Baritone Charango | Andean Region | F6 tuning |
Charangon | D4 D4 • G4 G4 • B5 B4 • E5 E5 • B5 B5 | 10 strings/5 courses | Baritone Charango | Andean Region | G6 tuning |
Cittern | CC • GG • DD • AA • DD | 10 strings/5 courses | Celtic or Flatback Cittern | Europe | Mandocello tuning |
Cittern | CC • GG • DD • AA • EE | 10 strings/5 courses | Celtic or Flatback Cittern | Europe | Mandolin Low 'C' tuning |
Cittern | DD • GG • DD • AA • DD | 10 strings/5 courses | Celtic or Flatback Cittern | Europe | Irish tuning |
Cittern | DD • GG • DD • GG • DD | 10 strings/5 courses | Celtic or Flatback Cittern | Europe | Modal G tuning |
Cittern | DD • AA • DD • AA • DD | 10 strings/5 courses | Celtic or Flatback Cittern | Europe | Modal D tuning |
Cittern | EE • AA • EE • AA • EE | 10 strings/5 courses | Celtic or Flatback Cittern | Europe | Modal A tuning |
Cittern | GG • DD • AA • EE • BB | 10 strings/5 courses | Celtic or Flatback Cittern | Europe | Mandolin High 'B' tuning |
Cittern | AA • DD • AA • DD • AA | 10 strings/5 courses | Celtic or Flatback Cittern | Europe | Modal D tuning |
Cuatro | B3 B2 • E4 E3 • A3 A3 • D4 D4 • G4 G4 | 10 strings/5 courses | Puerto Rico | Standard tuning | |
Cuatro | A3 D4 F♯4 B3 | 4 strings/4 courses | Venezuela | Standard D6 tuning | |
Cümbüş | A A • B B • E E • A A • D D • G G | 12 strings/6 courses | Turkey | Standard tuning | |
Cümbüş | D D • E E • A A • D D • G G • C C | 12 strings/6 courses | Turkey | Alternative standard tuning | |
Cümbüş | D D • G G • A A • D D • G G • C C | 12 strings/6 courses | Turkey | Egyptian/Arab tuning | |
Cümbüş | E E • A A • B B • E E • A A • D D | 12 strings/6 courses | Turkey | Turkish/Armenian tuning | |
Cümbüş | C♯ C♯ • F♯ F♯ • B B • E E • A A • D D | 12 strings/6 courses | Turkey | Turkish Armenian alternative tuning | |
Cümbüş | F♯ F♯ • B B • E E • A A • D D • G G | 12 strings/6 courses | Turkey | New Turkish classical tuning | |
Cümbüş | A A • D D • E E • A A • D D • G G | 12 strings/6 courses | Turkey | Old Turkish classical tuning | |
Cura cümbüş | G G • D D • A A • E E | 8 strings/4 courses | Turkey | Standard mandolin-style tuning | |
Tambor cümbüş | D D • A A • D D | 6 strings/3 courses | Turkey | Standard tambor cümbüş tuning |
D
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Domra | E A D | 3 strings/3 courses | Russia | Standard tuning | |
Domra | G D A E | 4 strings/4 courses | Russia | Standard 'mandolin' 5ths tuning | |
Double bass | E1 A1 D2 G2 | 4 strings/4 courses | Bass, bass fiddle, contrabass, string bass, standup bass, doghouse bass | Orchestral tuning | |
Double bass | F♯1 B1 E2 A2 | 4 strings/4 courses | Bass (as above) | Solo tuning | |
Dulcimer | D3 A3 (D4 D4) | Generally 4 strings/3 courses | Mountain, Appalachian or lap
dulcimer |
United States | Standard Mixolydian tuning. The dulcimer
is generally diatonic. The melody strings are generally paired and sit nearest to the player's body. |
F
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiddle | G3 D4 A4 E5 | 4 strings/4 courses | Violin | Standard tuning | |
Fiddle | F3 C4 G4 F5 | 4 strings/4 courses | Cajun tuning | ||
Fiddle | G3 D4 G4 B4 | 4 strings/4 courses | Open G tuning | ||
Fiddle | G3 D4 G4 D5 | 4 strings/4 courses | Sawmill tuning | ||
Fiddle | G3 D4 A4 D5 | 4 strings/4 courses | "Gee-dad" | ||
Fiddle | D3 D4 A4 D5 | 4 strings/4 courses | Open D tuning | ||
Fiddle | A3 D4 A4 E5 | 4 strings/4 courses | Old-timey D tuning | ||
Fiddle | A3 E4 A4 E5 | 4 strings/4 courses | High bass, high counter | ||
Fiddle | A3 E4 A4 C♯5 | 4 strings/4 courses | Black Mountain Rag tuning |
G
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gadulka | A3 E3 A4 | 3 strings/3 courses | The Balkans | 3 playing strings, with up to 10 sympathetic strings. | |
Greek Bouzouki | C C • F F • A A • D D | 8 strings/4 courses | Tetrachordo bouzouki | Greece | Standard F6 tuning |
Greek Bouzouki | D D • A A • D D | 6 strings/3 courses | Trichordo bouzouki | Greece | Standard F6 tuning |
Guitar | E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 | 6 strings/6 courses | Axe (colloquial) | Standard tuning | |
Guitar | D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | DADGAD Dsus4 tuning | |
Guitar | D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | Double drop D tuning | |
Guitar | D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | Drop D tuning | |
Guitar | E2 A2 E3 A3 C♯3 E4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | Open A major tuning | |
Guitar | C2 G2 C3 G3 C3 E4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | Open C major tuning | |
Guitar | D2 A2 D3 F♯3 A3 D4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | Open D major tuning | |
Guitar | E2 B2 E3 G♯3 B3 E4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | Open E major tuning | |
Guitar | E2 B2 E3 G3 B3 E4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | Open E minor tuning | |
Guitar | D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | Open G major tuning | |
Guitar | D2 G2 D3 G3 B♭3 D4 | 6 strings/6 courses | " | Open G minor tuning | |
Guitar Banjo | E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 | 6 strings/6 courses | Standard guitar tuning |
H
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hualaycho | See Walaycho | ||||
Huapanguera | G2 • D3 D4 • G3 G3 • B3 B3 • E3 | 8 strings/5 courses | Mexico |
I
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish bouzouki | G3 G2 • D4 D3 • A3 A3 • D4 D4 | 8 strings/4 courses | zouk | Ireland | Irish tuning (octaves) |
Irish bouzouki | G2 G2 • D3 D3 • A3 A3 • D4 D4 | 8 strings/4 courses | " | " | Irish tuning (unison pairs) |
Irish bouzouki | G3 G2 • D4 D3 • A3 A3 • E4 E4 | 8 strings/4 courses | " | " | "Mandolin" tuning (octaves) |
Irish bouzouki | G2 G2 • D3 D3 • A3 A3 • E4 E4 | 8 strings/4 courses | " | " | "Mandolin" tuning (unison pairs) |
Irish bouzouki | A3 A2 • D4 D3 • A3 A3 • D4 D4 | 8 strings/4 courses | " | " | Modal D tuning (octaves) |
Irish bouzouki | A2 A2 • D3 D3 • A3 A3 • D4 D4 | 8 strings/4 courses | " | " | Modal D tuning (unison pairs) |
J
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jouhikko | D A E | 3 strings/3 courses | Jouhikannel | Finland | Standard tuning |
K
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|
L
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laud | G♯ C♯ F♯ B E A | 12 strings/6 courses | Spanish laud | Spain | Standard tuning |
M
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mandobass | E1 A1 D2 G2 | 4 strings/4 courses | Standard tuning | ||
Mandola | C3 C3 • G3 G3 • D4 D4 • A4 A4 | 8 strings/4 courses | Tenor mandola | Standard tuning. Pitched a 5th below mandolin tuning. Known in Europe as the tenor mandola. | |
Mandocello | C2 C2 • G2 G2 • D3 D3 • A3 A3 | 8 strings/4 courses | mandolincello or mandoloncello | Standard tuning. Pitched an octave below the mandola. | |
Mandolin | G3 G3 • D4 D4 • A4 A4 • E5 E5 | 8 strings/4 courses | Mando (colloquial) | Standard tuning | |
Mandolin (Octave) | G2 G2 • D3 D3 • A3 A3 • E4 E4 | 8 strings/4 courses | Octave mandola | Standard tuning. Known in Europe as the octave mandola. Pitched an octave below the mandolin. | |
Maulincho | See Walaycho | ||||
Mejorana | D4 A4 A3 B3 E4 | 5 strings/5 courses | Panama | Standard tuning | |
Mejorana | D4 G4 G3 B3 E3 | 5 strings/5 courses | Panama | Alternative tuning | |
Moodswinger | E2 A2 D2 G2 C2 F2 C2 A♯2 D♯2 G♯2 C♯2 F♯2 B2 | 12 strings | Holland | Standard tuning (forming a circle of fourths) |
N
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|
O
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Octave Guitar | E3 A4 D4 G4 B4 E5 | 6 strings/6 courses | Soprano guitar | see Soprano guitar |
P-Q
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quirquincho | Kirkinchu or Kirki | see Charango |
R
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Requinto | A2 D3 G3 C4 E4 A4 | 6 strings/6 courses | Latin America | Standard tuning | |
Ronroco | G3 G3 • C3 C3 • E4 E3 • A3 A3 • E4 E4 | 10 strings/5 courses | Ronrroco | Andean Region | Standard C6 tuning (tuned an octave below the charango). |
Russian guitar | D G B D G B D | 7 strings/7 courses | semistrunnaya gitara, semistrunka | Russia | Standard tuning |
S
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soprano guitar | E3 A4 D4 G4 B4 E5 | 6 strings/6 courses | Octave guitar | Standard tuning | |
Socavon | E D A B | 4 strings/4 courses | Bocona | Panama | Standard tuning |
T
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Taro Patch | G3 G4 • C3 C4 • E4 E4 • A4 A4 | 8 strings/4 courses | Taropatch | Hawaii | Standard C6 tuning. All 4 courses are double-strung. The taro patch is a double course uke. |
Tiple | D4 D3 D4 • G4 G3 G4 • B3 B3 B3 • E4 E4 E4 | 12 strings/4 courses | Colombia | Standard Colombian G6 tuning. All 4 courses are triple-strung. | |
Tiple | A D F♯ B | 10 strings/4 courses | USA | Standard Martin D6 tuning. The D and F♯ are triple-strung; the other strings are paired. | |
Tres | G4 G3 • C4 C4 • E4 E3 | 6 strings/3 courses | Tres Cubano, Cuban Tres | Cuba | Standard C major tuning |
Tres | A4 A3 • D4 D4 • F♯4 F♯3 | 6 strings/3 courses | Tres Cubano, Cuban Tres | Cuba | New D major tuning |
Tsouras | D D • A A • D D | 6 strings/3 courses | Tzouras | Greece | Standard tuning |
Twelve string guitar | E2 E3 • A2 A3 • D3 D4 • G3 G4 • B3 B3 • E4 E4 | 12 strings/6 courses | Standard tuning |
U-V
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ukulele | G4 C4 E4 A4 | 4 strings/4 courses | Uke (colloquial) | Hawaii | Standard C6 tuning for soprano, concert and tenor. |
Ukulele | A4 D4 F♯4 B4 | 4 strings/4 courses | Uke (colloquial) | Hawaii | D6 tuning for soprano, concert and tenor. |
Ukulele | D4 G3 B4 E4 (Baritone) | 4 strings/4 courses | Baritone uke (colloquial) | Hawaii | Standard baritone uke G6 tuning |
Viol | D G C E A D (bass viol) | 6 strings/6 courses | Bass viol tuning | ||
Viol | A D G C E A D (bass viol) | 7 strings/7 courses | 7-string bass viol tuning | ||
Viol | G C F A D G (tenor viol) | 6 strings/6 courses | Tenor viol tuning | ||
Viola | C3 G3 D4 A4 | 4 strings/4 courses | Standard tuning. Pitched a 5th below the violin. | ||
Violin | G3 D4 A4 E5 | 4 Strings/4 courses | Fiddle (colloquial) | Lombardy | Standard tuning |
Violin | F3 C4 G4 D5 | 4 Strings/4 courses | Fiddle (colloquial) | Cajun tuning to accompany accordion |
W-X
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Walaycho | C4 C4 • F4 F4 • A5 A4 • D5 D5 • A5 A5 | 10 strings/5 courses | Waylacho, hualaycho, maulincho | Andean region | F6 tuning |
Walaycho | D4 D4 • G4 G4 • B5 B4 • E5 E5 • B5 B5 | 10 strings/5 courses | Waylacho, hualaycho, maulincho | Andean region | G6 tuning |
Waldzither | C G C E G | 9 strings/5 courses | Forest zither | Germany | Open C major standard tuning |
Waldzither | G D G B D | 9 strings/5 courses | Forest zither | Germany | Open G major tuning |
Waldzither | G D G B D | 9 strings/5 courses | Forest zither | Germany | Open G major standard tuning. Mandolin-sized waldzither. |
Y-Z
Instrument | Tuning | Strings & Courses | Alternative Names | Origin | Notes |
---|
See also
- Guitar tuning
- Scale (string instruments) or "Scale length"