Standard guitar tuning is E, A, D, G, B, E, from the low 6th string to the high 1st string, with the pitches E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and E4. The strings are tuned in fourths, except for the 3rd to 2nd string, which is a major 3rd, and the tuning is the foundation of all guitar playing.
What is standard guitar tuning?
Standard guitar tuning is E, A, D, G, B, E, from the low 6th string to the high 1st string, with the pitches E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and E4, and the frequencies 82.41 Hz, 110 Hz, 146.83 Hz, 196 Hz, 246.94 Hz, and 329.63 Hz. The strings are tuned in fourths, except for the 3rd to 2nd string, which is a major 3rd, and the tuning is the foundation of all guitar playing, because every chord, every scale, and every song is built on it. The tuning is called standard because it is the tuning most guitars use, and most music is written for, and the other tunings, such as Drop D, open G, and DADGAD, are called alternate tunings, because they are different from standard. The standard tuning is the most versatile, because it allows open chords, barre chords, and scales, in every key, and the tuning is the same on acoustic, electric, and classical guitars, although the classical guitar uses nylon strings, and the acoustic and electric use steel strings. The guitar tuner tunes the guitar to standard tuning, and the note frequency calculator shows the pitch of any note.
How standard tuning works
Standard tuning works because the strings are tuned in fourths, which is five semitones, except for the 3rd to 2nd string, which is a major 3rd, four semitones, and the pattern gives the guitar its chord shapes. The 6th string is E, and the 5th string is A, a perfect 4th above E, five semitones, and the 4th string is D, a perfect 4th above A, five semitones, and the 3rd string is G, a perfect 4th above D, five semitones, and the 2nd string is B, a major 3rd above G, four semitones, and the 1st string is E, a perfect 4th above B, five semitones, and the pattern is fourths, fourths, fourths, major 3rd, fourths. The major 3rd between the 3rd and 2nd strings is what makes the guitar playable, because it puts the open chords in reach, and the barre chords in reach, and the scales in reach, and without it, the guitar would be harder to play, because the chords would be stretched, and the fingers would not reach. The tuning is a compromise, between the range of the guitar, and the playability of the chords, and the standard tuning is the best compromise, because it has been used for centuries, and it works for every style. The E major guitar chord and the A major guitar chord are the chords the tuning is built on.
Worked example — the notes of standard tuning. The 6th string is E2, 82.41 Hz, and the 5th string is A2, 110 Hz, which is a perfect 4th above E, five semitones, and the 4th string is D3, 146.83 Hz, which is a perfect 4th above A, five semitones, and the 3rd string is G3, 196 Hz, which is a perfect 4th above D, five semitones, and the 2nd string is B3, 246.94 Hz, which is a major 3rd above G, four semitones, and the 1st string is E4, 329.63 Hz, which is a perfect 4th above B, five semitones. The tuning is E, A, D, G, B, E, and the intervals are perfect 4th, perfect 4th, perfect 4th, major 3rd, perfect 4th, and the pattern is the standard tuning, and the key of E major is the key the tuning is built on.
How to practise standard tuning
Practise standard tuning by tuning your guitar every day, and by learning the notes of the open strings, so the tuning becomes a habit, and the notes are known without looking.
- Tune your guitar every day, using the guitar tuner, and check the tuning by playing the open strings, E, A, D, G, B, E, and listening for them to be in tune.
- Learn the notes of the open strings, E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4, and their frequencies, 82.41, 110, 146.83, 196, 246.94, and 329.63 Hz, with the note frequency calculator.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major in standard tuning, and listen for the chords to ring cleanly, and the guitar to be in tune.
- Practise tuning by ear, using the 5th fret method, and check your tuning with the guitar tuner, to see how close the ear tuning was.
- Learn the intervals between the strings, perfect 4th, perfect 4th, perfect 4th, major 3rd, perfect 4th, and play them on two strings, listening for the interval.
Common mistakes
- Tuning the strings in the wrong order — The strings should be tuned from the 6th to the 1st, or from the 1st to the 6th, in order, so the tuning is systematic, and no string is forgotten. Tuning in a random order will make the guitar out of tune, because a string will be missed.
- Not checking the tuning after playing — The strings go out of tune as they are played, because the tension changes, and the guitar should be checked, and retuned, regularly, especially after a song, or after a bend, or after a capo is used.
- Tuning to the wrong octave — The 6th string is E2, and the 1st string is E4, two octaves higher, and tuning the 6th string to E4 will break it, because the tension will be too high. Check the octave, and tune the string to the right pitch, not just the right note.
Quick reference
This table shows the standard tuning, with the string, the note, the frequency, and the interval to the next string, so you can see the tuning at a glance. The strings are tuned in fourths, except for the 3rd to 2nd string, which is a major 3rd, and the pattern is the standard tuning.
| String | Note | Frequency | Interval to next string |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string | E2 | 82.41 Hz | Perfect 4th |
| 5th string | A2 | 110 Hz | Perfect 4th |
| 4th string | D3 | 146.83 Hz | Perfect 4th |
| 3rd string | G3 | 196 Hz | Major 3rd |
| 2nd string | B3 | 246.94 Hz | Perfect 4th |
| 1st string | E4 | 329.63 Hz | — |
Use the table to learn the standard tuning: memorise the notes, E, A, D, G, B, E, and the frequencies, and the intervals, and tune your guitar to them, every day. When you can name the note and the frequency of any open string, without looking, you have learned the standard tuning, and the guitar is yours.
Frequently asked questions
What is standard guitar tuning?
Standard guitar tuning is E, A, D, G, B, E, from the low 6th string to the high 1st string, with the pitches E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and E4, and the frequencies 82.41, 110, 146.83, 196, 246.94, and 329.63 Hz.
Why is the 3rd to 2nd string a major 3rd, not a perfect 4th?
Because the tuning is a compromise, between the range and the playability, and the major 3rd puts the open chords in reach, and the barre chords in reach, and the scales in reach, and without it, the guitar would be harder to play.
Can I tune my guitar to a different tuning?
Yes, alternate tunings, such as Drop D, open G, and DADGAD, are used for different sounds, and the guitar can be tuned to any tuning, but standard tuning is the most versatile, and most music is written for it.
How often should I tune my guitar?
Every time you play, and during playing, when the strings go out of tune, because the tension changes, and the guitar should be checked, and retuned, regularly, especially after a song, or after a bend.
What is the frequency of the open strings?
E2 is 82.41 Hz, A2 is 110 Hz, D3 is 146.83 Hz, G3 is 196 Hz, B3 is 246.94 Hz, and E4 is 329.63 Hz, and the frequencies double every octave, so E3 is 164.81 Hz, and E5 is 659.25 Hz.