Consider how many hours you’ve spent crafting a sound through amplifiers, guitars and effects pedals with the intention of making it your own identity, only to feel that your lacking that certain something. An alternative tuning is what you’re looking for.
In this tutorial, I’ll explain how tuning your guitar to a nonstandard tuning gives your music a unique sound and approach and gives you an unique identity.
In this tutorial, I’ll cover the following topics:
- Equipment
- String gauges
- Setup
- Tuning tips
- Multiple guitars
- Types of guitar tunings
1. Equipment
Use a chromatic tuner. For tuning at home, a mobile phone application will be sufficient.
For live performing, invest in a chromatic tuner like the popular Boss – TU-3. Speed up the tuning process using a string winder.
2. String Gauges
You should restring a guitar with a different string gauge then the one you’re using for standard tuning. This helps in keeping the appropriate tension across the strings for consistency of tone and ease of playing.
When selecting a string gauge, you should be aiming for a gauge that gives you the same tension that the guitar was setup for, but with an alternative tuning.
The table below shows the average tension of a set of gauge 0.010 – 0.046 guitar strings.
| Pitch | String Gauge Diameter (inches) |
Tension (Ibs) |
|---|---|---|
| E | 0.010 | 16.2 |
| B | 0.013 | 15.4 |
| G | 0.017 | 16.6 |
| D | 0.026 | 18.4 |
| A | 0.036 | 19.5 |
| E | 0.046 | 17.5 |
Lets say you want to up-tune your 6th string from the standard E to a F—a rise of a semi-tone.
- Locate the tension for the 6th string (lower E) with a gauge of 0.046″ – This will be 17.5 Ibs.
- Now locate the closet string tension to 17.5 Ibs in the F column. The closet is 18.0 Ibs, which gives you a string gauge of 0.042″.
| Gauge (Lower E) |
c | B | A | G | F | E | D | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.039 | 32.2 | 28.7 | 22.8 | 18.1 | 14.3 | 12.8 | 10.1 | 8.0 |
| 0.042 | 37.2 | 33.1 | 26.3 | 20.9 | 16.6 | 14.8 | 11.7 | 9.3 |
| 0.044 | 40.5 | 36.1 | 28.7 | 22.7 | 18.0 | 16.1 | 12.8 | 10.1 |
| 0.046 | 44.0 | 39.2 | 31.1 | 24.7 | 19.6 | 17.5 | 13.9 | 11.0 |
| 0.048 | 47.7 | 42.5 | 33.7 | 26.8 | 21.2 | 18.9 | 15.0 | 11.9 |
| 0.049 | 49.5 | 44.2 | 35.0 | 27.8 | 22.1 | 19.7 | 15.6 | 12.4 |
| 0.052 | 55.4 | 49.4 | 39.2 | 31.1 | 24.7 | 22.0 | 17.4 | 13.9 |
You may wish to use the site String Tension Pro in selecting the most appropriate gauge for your alternative tuning.
3. Setup
Be aware that the guitar may bow slightly, which is normal, due to a change in string gauge and tuning. If so, a setup will most likely be required, which will involve altering the truss rod to correct the bow of the neck, and bridge to correct string height and intonation.
You may find Fariz Pahlevi’s tutorial on setting up a guitar to be helpful.
4. Tuning tips
Always start with the 6th string. Once the strings are tuned, pull on each string about an inch between the neck and the bridge, most likely send them out of tune.
Repeat the process until pulling the strings from the fretboard doesn’t alter the guitars tuning.
5. Multiple guitars
If you’re performing live with, for example, three different alternative tunings ideally your going to need three different guitars for the following reasons:
- Repeated tuning wears on strings
- Strings don’t become immediately stable
- Setup will alter—neck relief, string height and intonation
- Retuning takes time
6. Types of Guitar Tunings
The alternative tunings have been divided into 6 types:
- Dropped—D, Double D and B
- Lowered
- Open
- DAD-GAD
- Nashville
- Signature
How to read the tuning tables below
- The top row contains the string numbers—6th string being the lowest in pitch
- The bottom row contains the pitches. If a pitch is in bold, then this indicates that this string is in non-standard tuning
Dropped
Dropped D
Drop D is often the first alternative tuning that everyone tries. It’s not surprising given the amount of well known songs that have been created from drop D tuning and that it’s quick and easy to do.
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| D | A | D | G | B | E |
Recommend listening:
- Dear Prudence by The Beatles
- Go by Pearl Jam
Double Dropped D
The same as dropped D but now with the 1st string detuned to D too.
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| D | A | D | G | B | D |
Recommend listening:
- Nobody’s Fault But My Own by Beck
- Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young
Dropped B
Play a power chord on the 6th and 5th strings in dropped B and the playing octaves.
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| B | A | D | G | B | E |
Recommend listening:
- The Worm by Audioslave
- March of The Fire Ants by Mastodon
Lowered
This is when all the strings are lowered but at the same interval. You may find Ryan Leach’s tutorial helpful on intervals.
Lowered tuning is often used in hard rock and heavy metal music. Easy to play with guitars that have a high action or larger gauge strings or just to simply to keep in range with the voice.
One Half Step Lower
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| Eb | Ab | Db | Gb | Bb | Eb |
Recommend listening:
- Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix
- The God That Failed by Metallica
Two Full Steps Lower
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| C | F | Bb | Eb | G | C |
Recommend listening:
- No One Knows by Queens Of The Stone Age
- The Everlasting Gaze by The Smashing Pumpkins
Open
Open tuning is where you tune a guitar to a chord.
So, for example, if you strummed the open strings with out fretting them it would play a chord. It can also be good for complete beginners, as you only have to use one finger to barre the strings to perform a different chord.
This tuning is also useful for rhythm or slide guitar.
Open G
As the root is played from the 5th string, it’s not uncommon to remove the 6th string from the guitar.
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| D | G | D | G | B | D |
Recommended listening:
- Walking Blues by Robert Johnson
- Fearless by Pink Floyd
Open D
The open D has often has more bass to the sound then open G. This is due to the root note of the chord being on the 6th string, unlike the open G above where the root lies on the 5th string.
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st |
| D | A | D | F# | A | D |
Recommended listening:
- Time for Me to Fly by REO Speedwagon
- It Hurts Me Too by Elmore James
DAD-GAD
Sometimes refereed to as Celtic tuning, this catchy named tuning has found its way into folk and rock music.
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| D | A | D | G | A | D |
Recommended listening:
- Ain’t No Grave by Johnny Cash
- Save It for Later by Pete Townshend
Nashville
Nashville tuning was born in the home of country music. This doesn’t mean that it is used by country musicians only. It’s the same notes as standard tuning, but with the lower four strings (6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd) pitched an octave higher.
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st |
| E | A | D | G | B | E |
The EADG strings should be replaced with lighter unwound string gauges. You might one to read Toby Pitman’s tutorial for an more in depth look at Nashville tuning.
Recommended listening:
- Dust in the Wind by Kansas
- Skyway by The Replacements
Signature Tunings
Throughout guitar history artists have made a huge number of inspiring tones. Theses sound aren’t always created from amps and effect pedals alone. Below are a few guitarists who have sculptured their own sounds by exploring an alternative tunings that they have made their own.
Sonic Youth
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| F# | F# | F# | F# | E | B |
Recommend listening:
- Pipeline/Kill time by Sonic Youth
My Bloody Valentine
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st |
| F# | F# | F# | F# | C | F# |
Recommend listening:
- Swoon by My Bloody Valentine
Nick Drake
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| G | G | D | G | B | D |
Recommend listening:
- Place to Be by Nick Drake
Jimmy Page
| 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2rd | 1st |
| C | A | C | G | C | E |
Recommend listening:
- Friends by Led Zeppelin
Conclusion
Alternative tuning can open up a whole new world of possibilities. I hope this tutorial inspires you to write a first piece of music in nonstandard tuning and maybe even to create your own tuning, giving you and your music an individual identity.
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