07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco

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VARIOUS TUNINGS FOR GUITAR
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Various Tunings For Guitar Including Open and Alternative Tunings
TUNINGS:
Sound
Midi Files:
USUAL
NAME:
ALTERNATIVENAMES &
INFORMATION:
T'n'T
No.:
6 5 4 3 2 1
E A D G B E
EADGBE
Standard
Tuning
Normal Tuning,
Universal Tuning,
Old Standard Tuning,
OST
001
D A D G B E
DADGBE
Dropped 'D'
Tuning
'D' Tuning,
Lowered 'D' Tuning,
Low 'D' Tuning,
Drop 'D'
Open G6 Tuning
Down D Tuning
002
D G D G B E
DGDGBE
Dropped 'G'
Tuning
Lowered 'G' Tuning,
Low 'G' Tuning,
Double Dropped 'D' Tuning,
Drop 'G', Bastard 'G',
Open G6th Tuning,
Dropped D-G,
Pseudo Russian Tuning
English Tuning
English D Tuning
Dropped DG, Drop D
003
D G D G B D
DGDGBD
Open 'G'
Tuning
Slack-Key,
Spanish Tuning,
Hawaiian Tuning,
Sebastopol Tuning,
Open G Major Tuning
004
D A D F# A D
DADF#AD
Open 'D'
Tuning
Vestapol Tuning,
Sebastopol Tuning,
'D' Tuning,
Nick Drake (9)
Vasserpoo Tuning
Vestibule Tuning
005
C G C G C E
CGCGCE
Open 'C'
Tuning

006
E A C# E A E
EAC#EAE
Open 'A'
Tuning (1)

007
E A E A C# E
EAEAC#E
Open 'A'
Tuning (2)

008
E B E G# B E
EBEG#BE
Open 'E'
Tuning (1)

009
E A E G# B E
EAEG#BE
Open 'E'
Tuning (2)

010
E B E G# C# E
EBEG#C#E
Open 'E6th'
Tuning (1)
C# minor 7th Tuning 011
E B E G# B C#
EBEG#BC#
Open 'E6th'
Tuning (2)

012
E A E A C E
EAEACE
Open 'A
minor'
Tuning (1)

013
E A C E A E
EACEAE
Open 'A
minor'
Tuning (2)

014
D A D F A D
DADFAD
Open 'D
minor'
Tuning
Cross-Note Tuning,
D-Cross-Note Tuning
Open Dm
015
E B E G B E
EBEGBE
Open 'E
minor'
Tuning
Cross-Note Tuning,
E-Cross-Note Tuning
016
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
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D G D G Bb D
DGDGBbD
Open 'G
minor'
Tuning
G-Cross-Note Tuning 017
D G D G C D
DGDGCD
G-Modal
Tuning
Saw-Mill Tuning,
Mountain Modal Tuning,
Strathspey Tuning
Gsus4 Tuning
018
D A D G A D
DADGAD
D-Modal
Tuning
'DADGAD' Tuning 019
E A D F# B E
EADF#BE
Lute Tuning Vihuela Tuning
Elizabethan Lute Tuning
Nick Drake (5)
020
E A D G B D
EADGBD
Lowered 1st
Tuning
Fake G
Flip D Tuning
021
E A Db G B E
EADbGBE
Lowered 4th
Tuning

022
C G C G A D
CGCGAD
'C-D' Tuning Rememberance Tuning
Michael Hedges Tuning (3)
023
C G D G B E
CGDGBE
Drop 'CG'
C Wahine Tuning
Keolas C
024
D A D G A E
DADGAE
Dropped 'D' (2) 025
E A D E A E
EADEAE
Open 'E' [modal] 026
C G C G C F
CGCGCF
Ravi Shankar Tuning 027
D A E G B E
DAEGBE
028
D A D A A D
DADAAD
Raga Tuning 029
C G D G A D
CGDGAD
Low 'C' Lowered 'C' Tuning,
New Jersey Tuning
Face Tuning
030
C G D G B D
CGDGBD
Drop C Open 'G' [major] (with C bass),
Wahine (1)
Ozzie Kotani Tuning
031
D G D G A D
DGDGAD
032
D A D G B D
DADGBD
Nick Drake
(8)
Double-drop 'D' Tuning,
Double Dropped 'D' Tuning
Drop D High D
033
D A D E B C#
DADEBC#
034
C G C G A C
CGCGAC
Pastoral Tuning
C6 no 3rd
035
D A D F# B D
DADF#BD
Phil Keaggy (1) 036
C G D G Bb D
CGDGBbD
037
D A D F# A C
DADF#AC
038
D A D F# A C#
DADF#AC#
Wahine (2)
D maj7 Tuning
Soft Tuning
039
D A D E B D
DADEBD
040
D A D E A D
DADEAD
Pelican Tuning
Halloween Tuning
041
D G D E A D
DGDEAD
042
D G D E B D
DGDEBD
G6 Tuning 043
D A D G D D
DADGDD
044
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
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D F# D G B E
DF#DGBE
045
E G D G B E
EGDGBE
046
G G D G B D
GGDGBD
Nick
Drake (7)
Open 'G' Tuning
Keith Richard's Tuning
047
D A D D A D
DADDAD
Open 'D' (2) Too Many D's
Four & Twenty
Modal Tuning
D Modal
Papa-Papa
048
D A D E A E
DADEAE
Overpower Tuning 049
D B D G B F
DBDGBF
050
C A B A B E
CABABE
051
G D G D B D
GDGDBD
052
C G C G B E
CGCGBE
053
C G C G C C
CGCGCC
McDonald Tuning 054
D G D G G D
DGDGGD
Open 'G' (2) Too Many G's 055
C G C G G C
CGCGGC
056
D A D A D D
DADADD
057
D A D F# A C#
DADF#AC#
058
D F# D G B D
DF#DGBD
059
E E B E B E
EEBEBE
060
D G D D A D
DGDDAD
061
C G D G C D
CGDGCD
Mountain
Minor
Shifted DADGAD,
Orkney Tuning,
Gsus4 with C bass
062
D A D F# A B
DADF#AB
063
C# F# C# F# C# F#
C#F#C#F#C#F#
064
D A D G G D
DADGGD
065
E E E E B E
EEEEBE
Still's Tuning Too Many E's 066
D A D G C C
DADGCC
Hedge's
Tuning (1)

067
D A E E A A
DAEEAA
Hedge's
Tuning (2)

068
E A D G B E
EADGBE
Hi-Note
Tuning
(See Note 2.
Below)
Hi-String Tuning,
Nashville Tuning
069
D B G D G D
DBGDGD
Open 'G'
Tuning (2)

070
G B D G B D
GBDGBD
Open 'G'
Tuning (3)
Dobro Tuning
High Bass Tuning
071
G Bb D G Bb D
GBbDGBbD
Open
'Gminor'
Tuning (2)

072
G C D G C E
GCDGCE
073
G G G G G D
GGGGGD
074
E A B E A E
EABEAE
075
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
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D G G D G A
DGGDGA
076
D A D A A E
DADAAE
077
C G C D G A
CGCDGA
A Martin Carthy Tuning 078
D G D G G D
DGDGGD
079
C G C G C Eb
CGCGCEb
C minor
Tuning

080
B F# B E G# C#
BF#BEG#C#
Heavy Metal
Tuning
Drop 'B' Tuning,
Dropped 'B' Tuning
081
D D D D D D
DDDDDD
Velvet
Underground
Tuning
The strings are tuned in pairs in unison
(i.e. strings 6&5, 4&3, 1&2)
Ostrich Tuning
082
E Ab B E Ab B
EAbBEAbB
Jackie Leven
Tuning

083
E A D G C F
EADGCF
Stanley
Jordan
Tuning
Tom Noonan Tuning 084
D G C F A D
DGCFAD
Ben Harper
Tuning
085
F# A D F# A E
F#ADF#AE
086
C G D A E G
CGDAEG
New
Standard
Tuning
As used by the:
California Guitar Trio.
Fripp Tuning
Robert Fripp Tuning
NST
087
D A D A D E
DADADE
Robin
Williamson
(1)
RW 1 088
C G C G C D
CGCGCD
Robin
Williamson
(2)
Same as (RW 1) (tuning 088) but
1 whole tone down , RW 2.
Modified Orkney Tuning
Open C
089
C G C F A D
CGCFAD
090
D A D G C D
DADGCD
D-Modal
Version 1a
ex Trey Buchanan (Ill)
Four d'en Haut
091
B E B E B E
EEBEBE
Nick Drake 1

092
D A C E B E
DACEBE
Sergio 1

093
C G C F C D
CGCFCD
Csus4/9

094
A A D G B E
AADGBE
Dropped 'A'
Tuning
Drop 'A' Tuning 095
E A D G C E
EADGCE
096
C A D G C E
CADGCE
097
C A D G B E
CADGBE
Dropped 'C'
Tuning

098
F G D G C D
FGDGCD
Eric Schoenberg 01 099
Eb Ab C F C Eb
EbAbCFCEb
Hamada
Takasi
Ragtime
Tuning 1
Otarunay
Tuning
100
C Ab C F C Eb
CAbCFCEb
Hamada
Takasi
Ragtime

101
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
5/13 www.stevemcwilliam.co.uk/guitar/tunings.htm
Tuning 2
E F# B E B E
EF#BEBE

102
E B E G A D
EBEGAD
Peter Finger
Tuning

103
D G D G A# D
DGDGA#D
Open 'G
minor'

104
C A D F A D
CADFAD
CADFAD Open D [minor] (with C bass) 105
E G C G C E
EGCGCE
Open 'C' (2)

106
E G# C# F# B E
EG#C#F#BE
Shifted 'E'
Tuning
Sinisa Petric Tuning 107
D G D G A E
DGDGAE
Old Spanish
Tuning
108
E A D F# A E
EADF#AE
Lute Tuning
(2)

109
A D A D A D
ADADAD
Roger Tallroth Tuning 110
D A D E B E
DADEBE.
Wizz Jones Tuning 111
B A G D A D
BAGDAD
A John Renbourn Tuning 112
B A D D A D
BADDAD
113
C C# D D# E F
CC#DD#EF
114
E B G D A E
EBGDAE
Reverse
Standard
Upside-down Tuning
Upside-down Standard
Lefty Tuning
115
B E B E B E
BEBEBE
Nick Drake
(2)
A Nick Drake-ism 116
C G C F C E
CGCFCE
Nick Drake
(3)
Back Country Tuning (2)
Open C Alternate
117
B B D G B E
BBDGBE
Nick Drake
(4)
118
E A D E B E
EADEBE
Nick
Drake (6)
119
E A D G A E
EADGAE
Nick Drake
(10)
120
A A D E B E
AADEBE
Nick Drake
(11)
121
C G C F G E
CGCFGE
Nick Drake
(12)
122
D A D G D F#
DADGDF#
Nick
Drake (13)
123
D A D G D G
DADGDG
Nick Drake
(14)
124
D A D G A G
DADGAG
125
G G D G G A
GGDGGA
Open G
Add 9
126
E A D E E A
EADEEA
Balalaika Tuning 127
C F C G C D
CFCGCD
Cittern Tuning (1) 128
C G C G C G
CGCGCG
Cittern Tuning (2) 129
C G C E A E
CGCEAE
Charango Tuning 130
C E G A# C D
CEGA#CD
Overtone Tuning 131
A C D E G A
ACDEGA
Pentatonic Tuning 132
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
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A C D E G A
ACDEGA
Pentatonic Tuning 132
C G D G B C
CGDGBC
Admiral Tuning 133
C F C G A# F
CFCGA#F
Buzzard Tuning 134
D A C G C E
DACGCE
Layover Tuning 135
A B E F# A D
ABEF#AD
Hot Type Tuning 136
C F C G A E
CFCGAE
Magic Farmer Tuning 137
D G D F A A#
DGDFAA#
Processional Tuning 138
D G D F C D
DGDFCD
Slow Motion Tuning 139
C# A C# G# A E
C#AC#G#AE
Spirit Tuning
Will Ackerman Tuning
140
E C D F A D
ECDFAD
Toulouse Tuning 141
F A# D F C D#
FA#DFCD#
Simon Fox Tuning (1) 142
E G D G B D
EGDGBD
143
F G C G C E
FGCGCE
Occasionally written as "FGCGB#E" 144
C G C E G C
CGCEGC
David Crosby Tuning
Open C
145
D A D D A F#
DADDAF#
146
F# A D F# A D
F#ADF#AD
Dobro 'D' Tuning 147
B E B E G# B
BEBEG#B
Low 'E' Tuning 148
C F C F A C
CFCFAC
Taropatch Albert King Tuning
Taro Patch Tuning
Spanish Fandango
149
F C F G# C F
FCFG#CF
Albert Collins Tuning 150
C# A C# A C# E
C#AC#AC#E
151
D G D G B C
DGDGBC
152
C G C F G Bb
CGCFGBb
Sitar Tuning 153
C G D G C F
CGDGCF
Modal Tuning, Passover Tuning 154
A A C# A A E
AAC#AAE
'A' Unison Tuning 155
A E C A C E
AECACE
'A' Minor Tuning 156
A A E E E A
AAEEEA
Drone Tuning 157
B E E G# B E
BEEG#BE
Octave 'E' Tuning 158
B F# D D F# D
BF#DDF#D
'B' Minor Tuning 159
B G B D G B
BGBDGB
Low 'G' Tuning 160
C G C G Bb Eb
CGCGBbEb
'Cm7' Tuning 161
C G D D A E
CGDDAE
Fifths Tuning 162
C G# C F
G#
F
CG#CFG#F
'Fm' Tuning 163
D G D A B D
DGDABD
'Gadd9' Tuning 164
D G D F# G D
DGDF#GD
'G' Modal Tuning 165
D A D F# G C
DADF#GC
Harmonic Tuning 166
D A E F# C D
DAEF#CD
'D9' Tuning 167
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
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D A E F# C D
DAEF#CD
'D9' Tuning 167
Eb G C G C D
EbGCGCD
'C minor add 9' Tuning 168
Eb G Eb Bb G Eb
EbGEbGEb
Inverted String 'Eb' Tuning 169
E E E E B B
EEEEBB
Unison Tuning 170
E A E G A C
EAEGAC
'Am7' Tuning 171
E B D G A D
EBDGAD
Graham Nash (1) Tuning 172
E B E F# G D
EBEF#GD
'E minor' Modal Tuning 173
F F C G G D
FFCGGD
High Fifths Tuning 174
F G C D C D
FGCDCD
'F' Modal Tuning 175
C G C G A E
CGCGAE
C6 Tuning 176
D A D E G C
DADEGC
C6add9 Tuning 177
D A D A C F
DADACF
Dm7 Tuning 178
E A E F# C# E
EAEF#C#E
A6 Tuning 179
D A A E A E
DAAEAE
Dick Gaughan
Simon Fox Tuning (2)
180
C G E G C E
CGEGCE
Eric Lugosch Tuning
Big Wreck Tuning
181
F A D G B E
FADGBE
Precious Bryant Tuning 182
D A D F C D
DADFCD
1/2 cercle 183
D A C G A D
DACGAD
McLynn 184
D G D G A C
DGDGAC
Quebec 185
D G D F Bb C
DGDFBbC
Memor 186
C G D E A D
CGDEAD
Contest 187
G C E G C E
GCEGCE
Peg-Leg Howell C Tuning 188
C E G C E G
CEGCEG
189
C E G A C E CEGACE
C6th Tuning 190
C# E G A C E
C#EGACE
C6th/A7th Tuning 191
C D F# A B C
CDF#ABC
D13th Tuning 192
C# D# F# A C# E
C#D#F#AC#E
B11th Tuning 193
F# A# C# F# A# F#
F#A#C#F#A#F#
Mayfield Tuning 194
E A B E B B
EABEBB
Steve Baughman (1) Tuning 195
B E A D G C
BEADGC
6-string bass tuning 196
C A C F A C
CACFAC
Open F (2) Tuning 197
D G C G C D
DGCGCD
Rainsong Tuning 198
E B D F# G D
EBDF#GD
E Minor Modal Tuning 199
B F# B E G# B
BF#BEG#B
Isis Tuning 200
C F C G A C
CFCGAC
F Modal Tuning,
Back Country Tuning
201
C G C A G E
CGCAGE
C6 (2) Tuning 202
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
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C C C G C E
CCCGCE
C (3) Tuning 203
D G D F# B D
DGDF#BD
Gmaj7 Tuning 204
D A E F C E
DAEFCE
William Eaton Tuning 205
D Bb D F Bb D
DBbDFBbD
Bb Tuning 206
E A E A C# D
EAEAC#D
A Modal Tuning 207
E B F# G# B E
EBF#G#BE
Steve Vai Tuning 208
F C D A C F
FCDACF
F6 Tuning 209
F# C# F# A# C# F#
F#C#F#A#C#F#
Slash Tuning 210
D A D G A C
DADGAC
Compact Tuning,
'D' Slow Motion Tuning
211
C G C G Bb D
CGCGBbD
G minor C bass Tuning 212
E A E E B E
EAEEBE
A Modal Tuning 213
D G C G C E
DGCGCE
Ragtime Passion Tuning 214
C F Bb Eb G C
CFBbEbGC
'C' Standard Tuning 215
D A E A C# E
DAEAC#E
A/D Tuning 216
E G C G C D
EGCGCD
Csus4/E Tuning 217
F# B E G B E
F#BEGBE
Em/F# Tuning 218
F# G D G B D
F#GDGBD
G/F# Tuning 219
D G D G Bb F
DGDGBbF
Open Gm7 220
F F C G A C
FFCGAC
Open F Alternate 221
D C G D G D
DCGDGD
Dominique Rivire Tuning (1) 222
E B B E A B
EBBEAB
Frailing Tuning 223
B G D A D G
BGDGAD
G Modal Tuning
Chatanooga Tuning
224
C F C G G C
CFCGGC
Modal Master Tuning
(the second string (a G) is tuned slightly sharp to create a chorusing effect)
225
D G D A Bb F
DGDABbF
Modal G Minor Tuning 226
E A E G# A C#
EAEG#AC#
Alternate A Major 7th Tuning 227
F Bb D G Bb D
FBbDGBbD
Bb/G Minor Tuning 228
E A D F# A D
EADF#AD
Open D9th Sweet Jivin Mama Tuning 229
E A B E B C#
EABEBC#
. 230
E A C# G B D
EAC#GBD
A11 Tuning

231
D A D A B C
DADABC
Graham Nash 2 232
C Bb D G A E
CBbDGAE
C13 Tuning 233
B E A E G# C#
BEAEG#C#
1/2 Bent 1 Step-Up 234
F# F# C# G# A E
F#F#C#G#AE
F#m7 Tuning The second F# (5th string) is tuned slightly sharp to obtain a slight chorusing effect 235
B E A G B E
BEAGBE
7/6 Tuning 236
B F# C# F# B D
BF#C#F#BD
Condemned Tuning 237
C G C G Ab Eb
CGCGAbEb
Spooky Tuning 238
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
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CGCGAbEb
D A C# F A C#
DAC#FAC#
Kryptonic Tuning 239
E G C A C E
EGCACE
C6 Tuning 240
Eb Bb F Bb C C#
EbBbFBbCC#
Ambient Tuning 241
E A C# F# B E
EAC#F#BE
242
E A B G B E
EABGBE
Josh Tuning 243
E A B G B D
EABGBD
Josh Alternative 244
E A D G A D
EADGAD
McLachlan Tuning
Michael Hedges Tuning (5)
245
E A C E A C
EACEAC
Accord Nouveau Alternative 246
E A D F A C
EADFAC
Flat Tuning 247
E A D G Bb F
EADGBbF
Swallow Tuning 248
E F# B E A D
EF#BEAD
Turkish Oud Alternative 249
E A B F# B D
EABF#BD
Josh Alternative 250
E G# Eb G# B C
EG#EbG#BC
Melt Banana Tuning 251
E A D G B C#
EADGBC#
We Never Change 252
E A D F# A Eb
EADF#AEb
Sharp Tuning 253
E A D G# B E
EADG#BE
Soft As Snow 254
E A D G Bb Eb
EADGBbEb
Off Your Face 255
D A D F C E
DADFCE
Nick Drake Tuning (15) 256
D Eb F A Bb D
DEbFABbD
Koto Tuning 257
D E G A B D
DEGABD
Koto Alternative 258
D A D E A C#
DADEAC#
259
D A C F A D
DACFAD
260
D A C# E A E
DAC#EAE
261
D A E B A E
DAEBAE
Armenian Oud Tuning 262
D A E B F# C#
DAEBF#C#
Armenian Oud Alternative 263
D G A D G C
DGADGC
Egyptian Oud Tuning 264
D A C E A D
DACEAD
Kora Reverse 265
D A E A C# D
DAEAC#D
Ambient-type 266
D A D A B D
DADABD
Stephen Malkmus Tuning 267
D A B E A B
DABEAB
Portugese Guitarra (1) 268
D A B E A D
DABEAD
Portugese Guitarra (2) 269
D G C# F# B E
DGC#F#BE
Laud Alternative 270
D Bb C F A D
DBbCFAD
Cuba Tuning
Cibao Alternative
271
D G C E A D
DGCEAD
New Lute Tuning 272
D A C G C F
DACGCF
Winter Funk
Dm11 Tuning
273
D A A F# A E
DAAF#AE
Big Tuning 274
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
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D A A F# A E
DAAF#AE
Big Tuning
Dadd9 Tuning
274
D A D E C D
DADECD
Blue Vertigo 275
D F B G D E
DFBGDE
Virch 276
D A D C# A C#
DADC#AC#
277
D A C# E B C#
DAC#EBC#
Peppino D'Agostino Tuning 278
C G C F C F
CGCFCF
Nick Drake Tuning (16) 279
C G E G A E
CGEGAE
280
C A C G C E
CACGCE
Goo Goo Dolls Tuning 281
C G D F C E
CGDFCE
Joni Mitchell (2) 282
C G C G B C
CGCGBC
Beau Tuning 283
C G Eb G C E
CGEbGCE
Cheb Minor 284
C F C F A F
CFCFAF
Bron Y Aur Stomp 285
C G D G B B
CGDGBB
Pavement 286
C A D G A D
CADGAD
C6/9no3rd Tuning
'CADGAD' Tuning
287
C G D A A C
CGDAAC
Zither Melody Tuning 288
C E B E B C
CEBEBC
Oddity 289
C G C Eb B C
CGCEbBC
Luna 290
C A C G G# C
CACGG#C
Thurston Jag Alternative 291
F A D A D E
FADADE
Swervedriver 292
F A C G C C
FACGCC
293
F A Eb G C E
FAEbGCE
F9 Tuning 294
F Bb D F G# C
FBbDFG#C
295
F A D D G D
FADDGD
The Edge 296
F Bb C F A D
FBbCFAD
Keola Beamer 297
F C D G C F
FCDGCF
Iraqi Oud Alternative 298
F A D G C F
FADGCF
Mid-Eastern Oud 299
F G C F A D
FGCFAD
Argentinian Tiple 300
F A C G C E
FACGCE
Poetic Tuning
Fmaj9 Tuning
301
D Bb D G A D
DBbDGAD
Michael Hedges Tuning (4) 302
C# E G Bb C D
C#EGBbCD
Leavitt 303
B D E G# B E
BDEG#BE
E7th 304
A C# E A C# E
AC#EAC#E
Old-time Hawaaian 305
G G C G C E
GGCGCE
306
B F# B B F# B
BF#BBF#B
Joni Mitchell (1) 307
A A D G A D
AADGAD
Ani DeFranco (1) 308
E E B A B D
EEBABD
Ani DeFranco (2) 309
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
11/13 www.stevemcwilliam.co.uk/guitar/tunings.htm

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NOTES ON VARIOUS TUNINGS
1. The most commonly used tunings are the first three in the list, Standard Tuning, Dropped 'D' Tuning (or Low D Tuning) and Dropped 'G' Tuning
(occasionally called Double Dropped D Tuning). Following this the major 'favourites' seem to be Open 'G' Tuning, Open 'D' Tuning, Open 'C' Tuning and
DADGAD Tuning. Some players use only one of the others and do not experiment any further. Some players, notably Classical guitar players, stick solely
with Standard Tuning. However, by far the majority of players use a small few for most of their playing and occasionally experiment with something a little
more outlandish. The main point is to try a couple; see if you can get along with them and if they can enhance your music; most of all have FUN with them.
2. Hi-Note or Hi-String Tuning: - (also known as Nashville Tuning) uses the notes EADGBE which looks as though it is the same as Standard Tuning. Do
not be fooled, it is not the same! The reason is that the bass strings are removed from the guitar and are replaced with another set of treble strings which are
then tuned to the relative notes. Consequently a much higher sound is produced which has a greater tendency to cut through when other instruments are being
played as part of a band. Be careful however, as not all finger-picked tunes which sound well on a normally strung guitar will sound well with this string
arrangement; some do and some don't - you'll have to try them and make the decision yourself. The tuning is most often used in 'Country & Western' music
but it does have other possibilities, which need investigating, for both solo/instrumental work and also for providing a contrasting backing accompaniment for
a low pitched singing voice. This restringing of a guitar and replacing one or more bass strings with higher, thinner treble strings is called re-entrant stringing
and nearly all of the tunings in the above table can be applied when they will be called re-entrant tunings as the bass strings will now be higher than some of
the mid/treble strings.
Nashville tuning is a little more involved than just tuning your guitar differently. It's also known as high-stringing a guitar because different strings need to be
used. It creates a 12 string effect on a 6 string guitar. The simplest way to explain it is, you use the high octave strings of a 12 string set of strings on a six-
string guitar. The first two strings of your instrument (high E and B) remain unchanged, and the lower four strings (G through low E) are tuned an octave
above standard tuning. It is possible to buy ready-made string sets for Nashville tuning but they may be hard to find. You can use a 12-string set ( just use the
octave or thin strings) but that's kind of expensive. The best way for you may be to buy the strings individually from your local music store's single-string bin.
The gauges for a medium set would be .012, .016, .010, .014, .020, .030 high to low.
A light set would be .010, .014, .009, .012, .018, .027 high to low.
All strings are unwound except for the low E which is wound.
3. The most accurate method of tuning available today (2001) is via one of the portable battery operated tuning machines distributed by companies such as
Boss, Sony, Yamaha, etc. All of the better models have a jack-socket input so that they can be placed between the guitar and the amplifier for electric and
electro-acoustic guitars. This has made tuning on stage very simple and direct and is not troubled by sounds from other instruments in the band or from
people in the audience. A new idea has recently appeared for those with purely acoustic (i.e. un-amplified guitars) and this is a small clip-on microphone
which clips to the edge of the sound-hole of the guitar, or even to the headstock, and then plugs into the jack-socket of the tuner. Again, this is said to allow
an acoustic guitar to be tuned accurately even while other people are playing and/or singing - this is a definite advantage as trying to tune a guitar by ear in a
room full of people playing is something I find impossible - I normally have to go and tune in the loo. Some people find they can tune by ear in a noisy
environment by placing the ear against the side of the guitar, not for me I'm afraid. Give me a decent tuner any day of the week!
A newer form of an electronic tuner (as at 2008) is the 'vibration' or 'headstock' tuner. This clips to the headstock of your instrument and instead of having a
microphone it picks up the vibration of the string through the neck and headstock of your guitar. They seem to work well, are relatively cheap (20.00) and
have the advantage of working in noisy environments. They also light the note display area making them excellent for on stage tuning. A good example is the
Intelli IMT-900 Clip-on Chromatic Tuner. Crafter also produce a decent one at 14 - the TG-200H. Both the IMT-900 and the TG-200H are Chromatic
Tuners.
A tuner will most definitely simplify changing to some of these altered tunings, particularly when you are under pressure in a performance either on stage or
even in front of your friends and relatives. At all these times you will often find that your 'ear' goes and you cannot even decide whether the note you need is
higher or lower than the note you are starting with. The machine does not get nervous and will give you the correct answer every time no matter what the
pressures. There is no great 'macho-ness' involved in being able to tune by ear. In fact even the best of the people who do so are usually still slightly out when
they have finished and are rarely in 'concert pitch' - (the standard for tuning for all orchestral instruments (A=440Hz)). Surely the most important thing, as far
as your audience is concerned, is that your instrument is in tune - no matter how good a picker you become you will still sound dreadful if your instrument is
not in tune. This becomes even more important if you want to play along with other people; then you must all be in tune together. Invest in a machine; it is well
worth it!
4. If you know of any other tunings please do e-mail me and let me know about them. I can then add them to the list above. E-mail me at:
steve.mcwilliam@btinternet.com.
5. See also, the Wikipedia article on guitar tunings over at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_guitar_tunings
07/05/12 Various Tunings For Acoustic Guitar - Consult-Eco
12/13 www.stevemcwilliam.co.uk/guitar/tunings.htm
6. Open Tunings - are those tunings where the strings on the guitar are specifically tuned to notes which when played unfretted will produce a recognisable
chord (e.g. Open 'G' produces a chord of 'G' (now there is a surprise) when it is strummed without any strings being fretted; likewise Open 'D' produces a
chord of 'D' and Open 'A' produces a chord of 'A').
7. Altered Tunings (occasionally called Amended Tunings or Extended Tunings, or even Enhanced Tunings) - are those tunings where the strings are tuned
to notes other than those in Standard Tuning (EADGBE - 6th to 1st string (thickest to thinnest)) but which do NOT play a chord when they are strummed
unfretted (e.g DADGAD).
Many thanks. Hope you enjoyed dropping in. Cheers, take care and keep on pluckin'.
Chord Shapes for Stringed Instruments

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